How to clone a 1968 LeMans?
jokadrma
10-11-2005, 03:47 PM
I recently purchased a nicely condition 1968 LeMans. Mechanically, it's in very good shape, has a 400 ci GTO in it. The interior is very solid but not mint (has new carpet and a driver bucket that's about to tear).
My question is ... what all is involved and will need to be purchased to clone this baby into a 68 GTO?
Endura bumper
GTO Hood
Left and Right GTO grilles
Hood scoop inserts
Various GTO trim pieces
What am I missing? Thanks for any help ...
My question is ... what all is involved and will need to be purchased to clone this baby into a 68 GTO?
Endura bumper
GTO Hood
Left and Right GTO grilles
Hood scoop inserts
Various GTO trim pieces
What am I missing? Thanks for any help ...
MrPbody
10-18-2005, 12:39 PM
Tail lights, springs, transmission, rear axle asembly, etc. GTO is more than a "pretty face".
What heads are on that 400? Any idea what year the engine is? Later 400s "fit" but don't make the power a '68 had.
Consider just painting the front bumper. It's lighter than the Endura bumper, and the same shape. NOTE: There were a few hundred '68s with chrome bumpers, a "delete" option.
Please, under no conditions, represent the car as GTO. Even if you do a GREAT job "cloning", you show more class claiming "clone". There have been numerous lawsuits over misrperesented GTOs in the past. The VIN will give it dead-away.
Of course, if you're just cloning it so you can drive a GTO, more power to you!
Jim
What heads are on that 400? Any idea what year the engine is? Later 400s "fit" but don't make the power a '68 had.
Consider just painting the front bumper. It's lighter than the Endura bumper, and the same shape. NOTE: There were a few hundred '68s with chrome bumpers, a "delete" option.
Please, under no conditions, represent the car as GTO. Even if you do a GREAT job "cloning", you show more class claiming "clone". There have been numerous lawsuits over misrperesented GTOs in the past. The VIN will give it dead-away.
Of course, if you're just cloning it so you can drive a GTO, more power to you!
Jim
ramairgto72
12-11-2005, 01:35 PM
The only way you can get into any kinda problem is if you sell this car saying it's a GTO.
It's funny but they only car you could get away with this was a 1972 GTO, I have my orignal paper work from the guy I got it from, but my buddy found that with 72 being a "option" and not a "car" the numbers are allmost useless, your vin would have to show a non Pontiac engine like the 6banger Chevy or a 350 anything to really come up as a non GTO.
Life is what you make it, and with real GTO's going for big money I can see giveing a Lemans a "Battle Field Promotion" the thing is I would never do it unless I had A powerful drive under the hood.
If you can't find the correct endura bumper try VFN fiberglass, however this bumper protects you, so thing twice about this, if you go fiberglass I would take it to sombody that builds race cars to fab a light weight bumber sub.
I think the chrome on a GTO past 67 looks like crap, and most people will argue with you that it's a Lemans even with a real GTO with chrome.
Yes Endura is heavy, but not so that it maks a slow car, figure the differance is like haveing a young teen in your non endura Lemans (I was'nt making a joke and that still sounds bad).
My 68-68 GTO info is not all the good but I thin you have everything, I know that some badging inside is needed, and buckets are nice, but thats about it, oh yea and the ground pounding Pontiac engine.
Hope this helps, got pictures?
It's funny but they only car you could get away with this was a 1972 GTO, I have my orignal paper work from the guy I got it from, but my buddy found that with 72 being a "option" and not a "car" the numbers are allmost useless, your vin would have to show a non Pontiac engine like the 6banger Chevy or a 350 anything to really come up as a non GTO.
Life is what you make it, and with real GTO's going for big money I can see giveing a Lemans a "Battle Field Promotion" the thing is I would never do it unless I had A powerful drive under the hood.
If you can't find the correct endura bumper try VFN fiberglass, however this bumper protects you, so thing twice about this, if you go fiberglass I would take it to sombody that builds race cars to fab a light weight bumber sub.
I think the chrome on a GTO past 67 looks like crap, and most people will argue with you that it's a Lemans even with a real GTO with chrome.
Yes Endura is heavy, but not so that it maks a slow car, figure the differance is like haveing a young teen in your non endura Lemans (I was'nt making a joke and that still sounds bad).
My 68-68 GTO info is not all the good but I thin you have everything, I know that some badging inside is needed, and buckets are nice, but thats about it, oh yea and the ground pounding Pontiac engine.
Hope this helps, got pictures?
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