Chuck especially liked the...
Chuck especially liked the clean lines of the '70 GTO and says that'swhat drew him to it. As you can see, this project took that philosophyto the next level. The body is obviously devoid of chrome--trim wasremoved or painted body color to make the GTO appear even cleaner. ButChuck couldn't resist adding the Judge rear spoiler.
Chuck explains that a set of Hotchkis front upper A-arms were extended 1inch to bring the alignment back into spec since the GTO is sittinglower than ideal for suspension geometry and is using the taller B-bodyspindles. Fatman Fabrications provided the front lower control arms, butthe rear control arms remain stock. A set of 13/8-inch H-O Racingstabilizer bars and H-O springs are used all around--the latter were cutto get the aforementioned lower ride height. Urethane bushings reducedeflection at all mounting points, and Koni adjustable shocks controljounce and rebound at the four corners. Baer brakes haul it all to astop with big 13.5-inch two-piece rotors up front with 12.9-inchexamples in the rear, taking the squeeze from two-piston calipers.
A Hurst Quarter Stick shifter...
A Hurst Quarter Stick shifter resides in the custom console, as does a Lexicon touch-screen home theater remote. It has been employed using Xantach electronics to control such onboard items as the heater, lights, trunk release, windows, nitrous, Line-Loc, and power mirrors. Chuck designed and executed the interior using wood, fiberglass, and black vinyl to create a one-of-a-kind cabin.
Barney Squiers, owner of Performance Auto Crafters in Frederickburg,Virginia, is also a good friend of Chuck's, so he let Chuck work on theGTO at the shop, taught him how to paint, and even chose the color. Oncethe body was straight and three coats of Euro-Prime were laid down andblock sanded between each, five coats of PPG urethane single-stage paintin Aqua were applied to the completely disassembled GTO's shell, bodypanels, engine bay, and trunk. Then they were sanded with 1,200-gritpaper and buffed out.
In the cabin, custom work abounds with only the carpet being premade.Dakota digital gauges are housed in a dash trim panel that was handmadefrom aluminum by Chuck and was textured by a machine shop.
With wood andfiberglass used for the foundation, the rear seat, door panels, rearseat side panels, and console were all handmade by Chuck and covered inblack vinyl. Flowfit Sport bucket seats reside up front and featurecloth inserts that are mimicked on the door panels, rear side panels,and rear seat. The rear side panels even hide twin Sony six-CD changers.Custom cloth was chosen for the headliner, and Chuck installed it andcovered all the reveal moldings with headliner material. Even the domelight--from a Lexus LX 470--was color-keyed to the interior andinstalled. For safety sake, a 10-pound Halon fire system from Firebottleis hidden in the GTO.
Here you can see why Chuck...
Here you can see why Chuck was voted one of the top 12 stereo installersin the country for 1998-99 and was in the top 100 for many years. Whatyou see here are three Boston Acoustics Pro 12.5-inch subwoofers mountedin a custom body color well in the rear package tray area.
For all you audiophiles, Chuck explains the stereo system. "The amps arePrecision Power Chrome PC Series with a 4800 (125 Watts x 4) for thefront speakers and an 1800 (800 x 1) for the subs. Front speakers areBoston Acoustic Pro Series with 4.5-inch separates in custom kick panelsand 6.5-inch mid-bass drivers in the doors. The three subwoofers areBoston Acoustics Pro 12.5s mounted in a body color well under the rearpackage tray. Sony's head unit is hidden and all stereo info is shown onthe dash-mounted 6.5-inch LCD screen and the trunk-mounted 8-inch LCD.The stereo, which is wired with Streetwires cable, can be controlled bythe touch-screen in the console, the Sony remote, or the handmadesteering wheel remote." There's also XM radio.
Future plans for this GTO include a Gear Vendors overdrive, 20-inchwheels, an all-aluminum Pontiac motor, and A/C. But for now, the '02Snap-on Tools calendar car will just be driven and improved upon as itsowner sees fit. "I learned a lot building this GTO," Chuck says. "I'dlove to be able to build hot rods for a living." With a portfolio thatincludes his '70 GTO, making that dream come true may not be far off.Old Blue Eyes would be proud.
The nitrous bottle, amps,...
The nitrous bottle, amps, 8-inch LCD, and DVD player are encased inbody-color fiberglass and wood enclosures in the trunk.
Chuck would like to thank Performance Auto Crafters and UltimatePerformance for their help in making this project possible.