• Welcome to the CaliforniaSpecial.com forums! - You are currently viewing the forums as a GUEST. To take advantage of all our site features, please take a moment to join our community! It's fast, simple and absolutely free.

    If you have problems registering or can't log into your account, please contact Admin.

    Please Note: If you are an existing member and your password no longer works, click here to reset it.

1968 New family project

OP
OP
R

Ruppstang

Well-known member
Joined
May 22, 2009
Messages
3,080
More Pics
 

Attachments

  • 68 J code HCS 005.jpg
    68 J code HCS 005.jpg
    82.6 KB · Views: 58
  • 68 HCS J code 003.jpg
    68 HCS J code 003.jpg
    88.3 KB · Views: 56
  • 68 HCS J code 004.jpg
    68 HCS J code 004.jpg
    74 KB · Views: 60

clubpro

Well-known member
Joined
Feb 24, 2003
Messages
665
Wow! Now that's a project, but it is definitely in good hands. Love bringing them back from the dead.

Cheers,

Ron
 
OP
OP
R

Ruppstang

Well-known member
Joined
May 22, 2009
Messages
3,080
CSI ah. In the many hours it takes to repair a car like this it gives you a lot of time to think and wonder how it all happened. I wish the original owner or owners would find me and tell me the story of this cars life. I am sure it would be a dozy.
Marty
 

Konabully

Member
Joined
Jan 2, 2015
Messages
8
Location
So-Cal
I am amazed at the level of craftsmanship and dedication you have to not only breathe life back into these cars but to have them become a work of fine art. I am so glad my dad's car ended up in your stable when it could have easily been lost to the scrap yard.
 
OP
OP
R

Ruppstang

Well-known member
Joined
May 22, 2009
Messages
3,080
I am amazed at the level of craftsmanship and dedication you have to not only breathe life back into these cars but to have them become a work of fine art. I am so glad my dad's car ended up in your stable when it could have easily been lost to the scrap yard.

Thank you. We reserve this kind of restoration only for rare or special car and even then it is so easy to get upside down in them. This one is pushing the limits of how far we would go to save one. But it is a one of 251 HCSs and it is a J code GT plus a great color that makes it worth saving.
Marty
 
OP
OP
R

Ruppstang

Well-known member
Joined
May 22, 2009
Messages
3,080
I had a good weekend of work on the HCS. I got the floors and seat pedestals welded in, repaired that nasty hole hacked in the drivers door and rebuilt all four door hinges.
At least it is not a Flintstone car any more.
 
OP
OP
R

Ruppstang

Well-known member
Joined
May 22, 2009
Messages
3,080
Forgot the pics.
 

Attachments

  • 68 HCS  J code restoration 001.jpg
    68 HCS J code restoration 001.jpg
    89.2 KB · Views: 52
  • 68 HCS  J code restoration 007.jpg
    68 HCS J code restoration 007.jpg
    91 KB · Views: 50
  • 68 HCS  J code restoration 005.jpg
    68 HCS J code restoration 005.jpg
    99.3 KB · Views: 50
  • 1968 HCS J code 004.jpg
    1968 HCS J code 004.jpg
    90.2 KB · Views: 48
OP
OP
R

Ruppstang

Well-known member
Joined
May 22, 2009
Messages
3,080
I did not restore the 68 GT350. I just went through the drivetrain to make it safe to drive. I plan to tear it clear down in a few years and do a concours restoration. It has been repainted and will look like my last picture when I am finished.
 

Attachments

  • 68 GT 350 005.jpg
    68 GT 350 005.jpg
    101.2 KB · Views: 41
  • 68 GT 350 004.jpg
    68 GT 350 004.jpg
    106.4 KB · Views: 42
  • 6440273_orig.jpg
    6440273_orig.jpg
    101.5 KB · Views: 44

6t8-390gt

Well-known member
Joined
Jul 19, 2004
Messages
490
Location
Central Virginia
Marty,
What one piece floor did you use, dynacorn? Were you happy with the fit, install, etc.? Did you compare with the original floor and find any differences or problems.

Danny
 
OP
OP
R

Ruppstang

Well-known member
Joined
May 22, 2009
Messages
3,080
Yes it is a Dynacorn. It fit pretty well although I spent more time fitting than welding. I laid what was left of the old floor on top of the new one and they matched pretty well.
Two things that are off, the hole in the floor for the assembly line trolley pin was not centered in the frame. That did not matter. The other was the drain plug holes are 1/4 inch larger than the originals so the original plugs do not fit. Dynacorn does provide new plugs that do fit but they are not plated. I am just going to have them plated.
FYI the only way to get the floor in the car is through the windshield opening on a hard top.
Marty
 
OP
OP
R

Ruppstang

Well-known member
Joined
May 22, 2009
Messages
3,080
The HCS is almost ready for paint but last week dad needed emergency heart by pass surgery. He is doing well and wanting to get back to the shop. Mom and I are trying to keep him resting for a few weeks. He has a lot of time to read and discovered that there were only 18 HCS that were GT's. Of the 18 9 were R codes, 1 X code, 3 S codes and 6 J codes. Not bad our car is one of six J code GTs. He also found that only 9 of the 251 HCS were painted Q code Brittney Blue. So 1 of 9 of color.
Here are some pictures of the work.
Marty
 

Attachments

  • Photo May 28, 8 20 27 AM.jpg
    Photo May 28, 8 20 27 AM.jpg
    87.8 KB · Views: 54
  • Photo May 28, 2 23 38 PM.jpg
    Photo May 28, 2 23 38 PM.jpg
    95.1 KB · Views: 48
  • Photo Jun 04, 2 13 31 PM.jpg
    Photo Jun 04, 2 13 31 PM.jpg
    75.4 KB · Views: 56
  • Photo Jun 04, 9 44 44 AM.jpg
    Photo Jun 04, 9 44 44 AM.jpg
    77.2 KB · Views: 51

somethingspecial

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 13, 2005
Messages
1,795
Looiks GREAT Marty. I love to see a car move down the assembly line like that. The brown primer you used on the bottom of the car, I have seen this before V. the red oxide. Is this what you found on the bottom of this car? I know the assembly plant would mix thier paints to use up the small amounts left over, so you may find different shades of primer or SGB paints on the same car.
 

stangfan

Well-known member
Joined
Jun 12, 2012
Messages
1,890
Location
Victoria BC Canada
Glad that your Dad is doing well. It's a good indication that he wants to get back at it. The car is looking great! Nice that it is a rare one. :grin:
 
OP
OP
R

Ruppstang

Well-known member
Joined
May 22, 2009
Messages
3,080
Mike yes I found a good sample of the original color in the tunnel. The color in that picture is off a but due to the florescent lighting.
The car is great incentive for dad to do his rehab.
 

Attachments

  • Photo May 28, 1 20 20 PM.jpg
    Photo May 28, 1 20 20 PM.jpg
    54.5 KB · Views: 42
OP
OP
R

Ruppstang

Well-known member
Joined
May 22, 2009
Messages
3,080
It was painted this week we will soon be able to start assembly.
Marty
 

Attachments

  • Photo Jul 07, 9 45 33 AM.jpg
    Photo Jul 07, 9 45 33 AM.jpg
    63 KB · Views: 48
  • Photo Jul 07, 9 45 28 AM.jpg
    Photo Jul 07, 9 45 28 AM.jpg
    68.9 KB · Views: 52

robert campbell

Well-known member
Joined
Apr 10, 2007
Messages
4,322
Onward and upward!!! Now the fun starts!!! The halfway mark and going together instead of apart!

Rob
 
Top