76 Colt Galant GTO GSR 2000

[partyboyjay]

Hi guys,

On Sunday (11th November) i will be picking up a 76 Colt Galant GTO GSR 2000

However being the gung ho kinda guy i am ive jumped straight into the thick of things as this will be my first project car and also my dream car lol! i would like to not mess this up!

From the pics ive seen of the car it does seem pretty solid, but obviously pics can very decieving and it may well need a lot of work and parts! (i know for a start i need to find some original JDM stock wheels!)

I'm hoping this would be where you guys could hop in with any guidance/help/advice/contacts!

I look forward to hearing from any of you

Jay

[A112H]

Congrat's on your purchase mate. First project and your dream car all rolled into one is a heafty load to take on, hope it all goes smoothly and you achieve your desired result.
Once you get your hands on the beastie take a heap of pics and chuck them up here, I am sure we are all keen to have a look at it.
Oh, and welcome to the site

[yno26galant]

good buy mate cant wait to see some photos

[2Lgalant]

Will love to see some pics of the old girl too. I've just picked up a Gto myself which is undergoing a restoration.

[partyboyjay]

well only one more sleep to go! feel like a kid!!! i will definately be going mad with the camera tomorrow and will post them as soon as i get a chance! got a long ass drive though gonna be nearly 15 hours on the road tomorrow! but shes gotta be worth it!!!

[A112H]

[partyboyjay]

well guys, ive spent 10 hours on the road today, covered 560 miles avereaged 55mph and 29.6 mpg
BUT I DONT CARE!!! so for all who are interested here is the little beauty whos been getting me all excited! supposedly only 3 of these left in uk and i now own one! gonna be a slow and steady pace but she'll get there eventually! may i introduce you to my new (*not so new!) 1976 Colt Galant GTO GSR 2000






more pics coming up in a minute

[partyboyjay]

some more pics coming

[75wagon]

Very nice pick up there.

[partyboyjay]

[partyboyjay]

got a load of spares aswell
let me know what you think guys

[partyboyjay]

Very nice pick up there.

cheers buddy! im chuffed to bits!!!

just hoping that finding the parts im gonna need is gonna be as easy as getting it back! i think not though!

[A57C]

looks like all the important bits are there... now for the hard part .. MOT

btw, there's more than 3 in the uk (not all rego'd)

1) grey (diabolu)
2) blue
3) dk. blu
4) yellow
5) red
6) red (partyboy)
7) silver (jibby)
8) white rust machine

[partyboyjay]

there's more than 3 in the uk (not all rego'd)

1) grey (diabolu)
2) blue
3) dk. blu
4) yellow
5) red
6) red (partayboy)
7) silver
8) white rust machine

knew about diabolu's being trying to contact him for some advice and knowledge but no luck as yet!
was informed about the yellow one the other day,
spoken to the bloke about the white rust bucket, he said thats in russia now,
the others i didnt know about!

mot is last thing on my mind at the moment, this isnt for driving just yet! im giving her a thorough run through! she'll be getting the works!

[davetrees]

Looks like it's reasonably solid ...... certainly very restorable (assuming there's nothing seriously ugly hiding ... )

The vinyl roof is just sooo classic 70s ...

[partyboyjay]

(assuming there's nothing seriously ugly hiding ... )

yeah couldnt get a proper look under the carpets so want to get all that up pretty soonish so i can see what state shes in,

also want to take the vinyl roof off as its not standard on this car, its been added and id like to see whats under there!

[A112H]

Great pick up, looks the goods

[Nath76LA]

Great find you have there. Looks like you've got yourself a good project there.

I didn't think the vinyl roof was standard. Also do you know if that's the original red or has it been resprayed. My dad's mate has a red GTO GS but your GTO looks to be a different red to his.



Good luck with the project and keep us updated.

[partyboyjay]

Also do you know if that's the original red or has it been resprayed

It has been resprayed, it was originally blue, if you check out some of the sill pics with the rust on you can just make out the origibnal colour!

It's all getting taken off though, she's going to be whiter with red pinstripe down the side hopefully like this MR



On the subject of parts though guys, anyone know how hard it is to come by a good condition centre console as mine appears to have been cut out for a new head unit to fit! and i want to put her back to stock!

[Mitsiman]

Im so jealous - thats definitely one of my dream cars the Jap Spec GTO models. I love my 2 door but would give it up in a moment for one the GTO models. They just have that Mustang style look that makes them look like there going fast just standing there.

Good luck with your project.

[A57C]

mot is last thing on my mind at the moment, this isnt for driving just yet! im giving her a thorough run through! she'll be getting the works!

oh didn't realise the car needed that much work. look forward to the build!

[DriveBy]

So you're the lucky guy! I watched the auction keenly and could not beleive the fury of bids and how high it went. You've been very lucky to afford what is a dream car for alot of us!
Whatever you do, don't lose heart or momentum. Keep at her and make sure if you are't sure you can do it right, ask someone who can or learn how to yourself. Incredible car an I wish both of you a long and fruitful marriage. She's a beauty.

[partyboyjay]

oh didn't realise the car needed that much work

technically, not a lot needs doing for mot i dont think, theres a crack in the windscreen and some other minor bits, but i dont want to get her roadworthy then sideline the resto by being able to take her out for a quick spin! (guarenteed to happen!) so i think im going to focus on the resto and get her up to a standard i think is good enough! (i'm a bit ill when it comes to perfection )

So you're the lucky guy! I watched the auction keenly and could not beleive the fury of bids and how high it went. You've been very lucky to afford what is a dream car for alot of us!
Whatever you do, don't lose heart or momentum. Keep at her and make sure if you are't sure you can do it right, ask someone who can or learn how to yourself

Thanks Driveby, i feel on top of the world right now and unfortunately me being able to buy her has hammered what money i can afford to spend on her
so it's going to be a slow and steady race but i'm going to keep going hopefully in the right direction, i have a good friend who is close by for guidance in a way but i will most likely be looking for help and support from you guys aswell, this being my first go at it an all so please dont be afraid to offer up anything and everything you can!

[partyboyjay]

okay guys so i have a begun a little wish list of things im going to need, obviously i need to start on her first but at least if i get some feelers out there on the things i know i need at the moment then if something pops up i can at least collect it for when it's needed and not miss out on the opportunity!

Centre console (where radio slots into) mine has been cut to fit a new head unit but as i want to put an original radio in i'm going to need one that isn't!
Original radio
pair of JDM bullet style fender mirrors (JDM Murakami Bullet Type Fender Mirrors???)
set of original wheels
wheel centre caps (i am only missing 1 but obviously if theres a full set )
"galant" badge for drivers side rear quarter (will post a pic of the other one for matching when i get chance)

i could possibly do with a great condition front bumper as mine is kind of battered and bruised and i dont know if its repairable this is a maybe item but if the right one pops up!

I've spoke to affa, and he's told me he's got some gto stuff in, but obviously if anyone else can help me out here i would be eternally grateful!
i also have a few bits and bobs i might not need and i now i can source some other components i wont need so if you need something just give me a shout and ill see what i can do

[camB]

I'd never really noticed, but this photo shows it, that they borrowed heavily from this to get the front end of the '78 GE Sigma.
Nice to see they didn't just recycle the interior light.

[Nath76LA]

As NZ got the GTO's, Trademe is a good place to try and source parts for them.

http://www.trademe.co.nz/Browse/SearchR ... uggested=0

This guy has a spare car that he might be willing to part out some stuff maybe.

http://www.trademe.co.nz/motors/used-ca ... 890741.htm

[partyboyjay]

This guy has a spare car that he might be willing to part out some stuff maybe.

already had someone contact him, i was told he's not willing to break down or ship overseas

annoying thing is i could probably use loads off that spares car aswell!

[partyboyjay]

Ok, so first day back since picking her up, I hadnt really noticed much when i left her but opened up the doors and was greeted by the beautiful sight of her and her family getting along wonderfully after a little catch up!

decided that before i start any work i wanna hear her running, took of the front grill as it was looking a little loose and didnt want it shaking loose and breaking!

but that plan never came to action, after checking oil, water, fresh fuel, and a fully charged battery, all i got was a few coughs and splutters and a lot of bangs and pops from the exhaust! figure its the timing (figure is majorly guessing!) i'm not good when it comes to the oily greasy bowels of motors, and my friend assured me that given to his mechanic friend he'd have it running in half an hour! so wasnt wasting a days work just because she wouldnt start! i started on stripping the interior to check the damage underneath carpets etc. with nothing really hindering me apart from one rusted in screw for rear backrests and the console having many screw lugs missing already i was quite pleased!

belt clip nuts were a little bit tight so left them to cool down! will be taken off next visit!


obviously though when you start stuff like this you find casualties and as i have mentioned previously i do need some parts, and arent having much luck getting any feedback from a friend in NZ who's talking to auction holders for me as i cant register not being a resident and all! main casualty of the day is the main console

nearly all the securing lugs are snapped cracked or broken off (really wanted to say popped!)
so although it looks in good nick when in place it is as loose as hell! i wasn't holding out much hope when i got to it! i found it held on by 1 screw! i have asked affa for a little hunt and im still trying to contact a trademe bloke but if someone has one then i would be grateful for a pm.

other than that let me know what you guys think so far, any issues i should be looking for??? floor seems pretty much solid, no holes, little dabs of rust but nothing to worry about!

got tuesday and wednesday off so gonna finish off inside and start stripping exterior next, lights trim, seals etc. chrome trim around windows is that removable? if so how? i couldnt see a way although i was tired and hungry! (and are seals still readily available boot one is done for!) and then remove the vinyl roof!!!

[A112H]

Love the family catch up, nice collection. What's up the back hiding under the cover??? I see something with a targa top too
I am also interested in your shed, it looks like a cross between a puffy jacket and a nissen hut??

Great to see the floors in such good nick, are you keeping it red or going factory blue?
They do look awesome in that blue.

[dwlee]

The centre consoles are pretty lose in the car if the original radio has been replaced. The radio dials fitted through the the metal bracket and console with nuts on the dials holding the two together. I can't see how badly hacked the metal support frame is in the photo as the steering wheel spoke is in the way. The back of the console should be located with a bracket under the ash tray that has two screws that fasten to the trans tunnel. Your console doesn't look too bad from what I can see in the photo and you would be extremely lucky to find a better one. One of my GTOs had the same hack and I used a standard din stereo metal retainer to fasten the console to the metal bracket.

One area for the floor/firewall to check is just behind the accelerator where the sound deadening ends. This is likely if you have rust holes up behind the bonnet hinges. The front and rear window chrome trim does come off, but it is a real pain to do so with the window still in the car. The drip channel trim above the side windows isn't much fun either and is best to work from both ends towards the centre. A replacement boot seal is next to impossible to find, however Scotts old rubber had a replacement, but it's very tight.

Good luck