I am
sure everyone wishes they had some green Kharma.
This months feature car comes from Jeff
Harper. Thanks Jeff for the great article and awsome
picture. Please give the pic
time to
load. Trust me it's worth it.
Hello , I'm Jeff Harper, newsletter editor for the Greater
Ozarks
Chapter of POCI. I only have one Pontiac right now, but it is one
I
have wanted since I was in high school (graduated '81). My car is
a
1970 GTO 4-speed, Pepper Green with black interior. The car came
with
an average amount of options but I have added a few for my own
pleasure. Many of the added options are ones I would have ordered
if
could have bought a new GTO in 69 or 70.
I have done a frame-off restoration of the car and am currently
trying
to finish the undertaking. I can only recommend that if you get
this
far into a car make sure it is a car you love and have passion
for.
This has been a 5-year project so far, taking that long because I
have
done most of the work myself. You have to have real dedication to
be
successful with a frame-off. You will also need plenty of room to
work. Count on every procedure taking 3 times as long and twice
as
much money as you thought before you started. I have tried to
keep the
car as factory looking as possible, but I have done a few things
that
deviate from stock. All parts are Pontiac except for a few
aftermarket
additions. Even those exceptions are hard to spot thought and the
car
presents as a very stock GTO. All finishes are as "correct" as I
could
get them when I did them. A few things will eventually have to be
re-done as the restoration has taken so long that some early work
has
degraded somewhat.
The engine is the original 350 horsepower 400, but I have
upgraded it
to Ram Air III specs including the cold-air induction, exhaust
manifolds and 068 camshaft. Behind it is the original M-20 and
3.55
rear. I have also installed a stock-looking, but slightly tweaked
exhaust system for extra breathing. Jim Hand gave me some tips on
what
mufflers to use and I installed mandrel-bent head pipes so it
should
free up some horsepower.
Some other options either installed or soon to be added: Hood
tach (on
the car when I bought it, but not a professional installation),
Rally
Gauges (an installation story unto itself), AM-FM radio (AM
originally), 8-track tape player, and Formula steering wheel. I
also
have a Judge-style rear wing and an extra decklid so I can switch
that
out for a more aggressive or conservative look, depending on my
mood.
Under the car I have installed polygraphite suspension bushing,
gas
shocks and modern radial tires to make the car a very tight
handling
machine. Not a Corvette beater, but something you can drive
aggressively with confidence.
1970 was the pinnacle of GTO design to my eye. The styling for 70
was
ultra-clean and it was the last year for high compression
engines.
Nothing else on the road had the exotic look of the GTO with the
totally endura encased nose. You could, of course, get the Ram
Air IV,
one of the most exotic engines Pontiac bolted together on the
traditional V8 platform. The interior was more ergonomic and
comfortable than earlier GTOs, and at the time was a very modern
design. John DeLorean was now gone from Pontiac, and the engineer
could finally install the rear sway bar which really helped the
handling. I never will understand what DeLorean had against the
sway
bars.
I have always had some weird Kharma with green on my Pontiacs. My
first Pontiac, a 71 T-37 was Tropical Lime with Jade interior.
Now I
have a Pepper Green GTO. I purchased a green 70 GTO parts cars a
few
years ago, an most of the body parts I have purchase at swap
meets
have been green as well. I don't understand it, they just
gravitate to
me for some reason.
Well, regardless, this is my car and I have made it mine. I hope
to
see you at a show, or better yet, out on the road somewhere. GTOs
were
made to drive, and drive it I will.
