Mike's 65 GTO Ls1 T56 Build
12-18-2010, 03:47 PM
#1
Staging Lane
Thread Starter
Mike's 65 GTO Ls1 T56 Build Hello everyone, I have been a member here for a long time trying to get good information on the LS swaps, and it's now time to start my own. My name is Mike and I live near Niagara Falls, NY.
The car is a 1965 GTO post coupe that I have owned since 1981. It was originally a 4 barrel with an automatic, and A/C. I bought the car with a blown engine, and we rebuilt the car and painted it in 1994, I have been driving it since. The previous owner had already put in a Muncie M22 and a 12 bolt rearend. I kept those and put in a '69 400 engine with a tripower.
I am putting in a 2004 GTO LS1 and T56 Tranny, which came with the original computer and fuse box. I also have the '04 GTO seats, I will at least put in the front buckets now, and maybe later the rear seats. I am looking forward to driving this car next spring and summer and look forward to the build.
I have purchased a Retrolsx oil pan, and an alternator relocation bracket form Rockytopper to help with the install. My plans are to delete the A/C for now and maybe put it in at a later date. Disk brakes will also be installed.
Here are some pics of my progress in taking it apart so far:
The car is a 1965 GTO post coupe that I have owned since 1981. It was originally a 4 barrel with an automatic, and A/C. I bought the car with a blown engine, and we rebuilt the car and painted it in 1994, I have been driving it since. The previous owner had already put in a Muncie M22 and a 12 bolt rearend. I kept those and put in a '69 400 engine with a tripower.
I am putting in a 2004 GTO LS1 and T56 Tranny, which came with the original computer and fuse box. I also have the '04 GTO seats, I will at least put in the front buckets now, and maybe later the rear seats. I am looking forward to driving this car next spring and summer and look forward to the build.
I have purchased a Retrolsx oil pan, and an alternator relocation bracket form Rockytopper to help with the install. My plans are to delete the A/C for now and maybe put it in at a later date. Disk brakes will also be installed.
Here are some pics of my progress in taking it apart so far:
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BigBlockLover454 (02-23-2020)
12-19-2010, 09:09 AM
#5
Staging Lane
Thread Starter
Actually the car is no where near original condition. When I got it the floor was hacked open for the 4 speed (you can see it in one of the pics), it had a 12 bolt rear, and the original 389 had a cracked cylinder, with 670 heads on it. While it looks original, which I like, I don't feel too bad about putting in the LS1.
It would take a ton of work and searching for parts to put it back original.
Thanks for the comments, I'll post more pics as we go.
It would take a ton of work and searching for parts to put it back original.
Thanks for the comments, I'll post more pics as we go.
12-19-2010, 09:38 AM
#7
Beautiful car. Love the looks of those old goats.
I wondered about keeping the tripower for nostagia reasons also. Definitely has the wow factor. But that car will be so much more enjoyable with the OD trans and overall manners of the LS motor. Cars like that belong on the road. Maybe you could build the car with an oil leak or two to make people think it is an original Gas, Tires and Oil car (just a joke, son).
Pretty generous hole the PO put in for the 4 speed. Should feel pretty good to weld in a proper patch panel for that.
I wondered about keeping the tripower for nostagia reasons also. Definitely has the wow factor. But that car will be so much more enjoyable with the OD trans and overall manners of the LS motor. Cars like that belong on the road. Maybe you could build the car with an oil leak or two to make people think it is an original Gas, Tires and Oil car (just a joke, son).
Pretty generous hole the PO put in for the 4 speed. Should feel pretty good to weld in a proper patch panel for that.
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12-19-2010, 09:52 AM
#8
Staging Lane
Thread Starter
Nice GTO , enjoy it with the ls1 and keep the fuel injection on it!
I wondered about keeping the tripower for nostagia reasons also. Definitely has the wow factor. But that car will be so much more enjoyable with the OD trans and overall manners of the LS motor. Cars like that belong on the road. Maybe you could build the car with an oil leak or two to make people think it is an original Gas, Tires and Oil car (just a joke, son).
Pretty generous hole the PO put in for the 4 speed. Should feel pretty good to weld in a proper patch panel for that.
Pretty generous hole the PO put in for the 4 speed. Should feel pretty good to weld in a proper patch panel for that.
The tripower is very cool, but the LS has a cool factor to it also.
The large hole will probably make it easier to locate the new shifter, and then we'll weld up the hole.
12-22-2010, 04:41 AM
#9
Very cool, the '65 is my favorite year! I've owned two '65 GTO's and a '65 Lemans convertible over the years. One of my '65's came with the 389 and the 2 speed automatic, that I bought back in 1979, it was a pooch! I swapped the 389 for a (Pontiac 428) which really woke it up. You're going to have one very nice combination! Bob
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ATI ProCharger and Moser Sales 260 672-2076
PM's disabled, please e-mail me
E-mail: brutespeed@gmail.comob@brutespeed.com
https://brutespeed.com/ Link to website
12-28-2010, 03:18 PM
#10
Staging Lane
Thread Starter
Thanks Bob. I love the 65's also.
Just a couple of pics after we put the engine on a stand.
Do you think this car was beat on, or was the clutch ruined by slipping it too much? Looks bad, huh? I'll have to get the flywheel resurfaced, and I was going to buy a new clutch and pressure plate anyway.
Just a couple of pics after we put the engine on a stand.
Do you think this car was beat on, or was the clutch ruined by slipping it too much? Looks bad, huh? I'll have to get the flywheel resurfaced, and I was going to buy a new clutch and pressure plate anyway.
12-28-2010, 10:28 PM
#14
Thanks Bob. I love the 65's also.
Just a couple of pics after we put the engine on a stand.
Do you think this car was beat on, or was the clutch ruined by slipping it too much? Looks bad, huh? I'll have to get the flywheel resurfaced, and I was going to buy a new clutch and pressure plate anyway.
Just a couple of pics after we put the engine on a stand.
Do you think this car was beat on, or was the clutch ruined by slipping it too much? Looks bad, huh? I'll have to get the flywheel resurfaced, and I was going to buy a new clutch and pressure plate anyway.
12-29-2010, 10:12 AM
#19
Though not the best year, the '65s have been growing on me. I'm more a fan of the 'coke-bottle' look of the 66/67, myself. 
I see many A-body guys using Chevelle frame stands - what are you planning to run for motor mounts/stands? And keep the pics/info coming (esp. with that RetroLSX pan), since I'll be doing the same to my Goat in the coming year.
I see many A-body guys using Chevelle frame stands - what are you planning to run for motor mounts/stands? And keep the pics/info coming (esp. with that RetroLSX pan), since I'll be doing the same to my Goat in the coming year.