1967 GTO Convertible

[gtomike1967]

Hi all,
I recently purchased a 1967 GTO convertible project. Some of you might recognize it due to the unique interior. I bought it off eBay and the seller was in Texas however the car was originally sold new in WV at Gibbs Motor Company.

As mentioned, the car is a project and needs a good amount of work but it’s a genuine 67 GTO convertible 4 speed car. It came from the factory painted regimental red with red interior and a black top. It does not have the original engine but it appears to have a 67 GTO WS code engine which would be a 360 HP engine with a 4 speed. It also has rally gauges, power top, console, power disc brakes and close ratio power steering.

My plan is to get the car running good (currently runs) and driving. I’m ok with just cleaning up the paint as is for now. The interior will definitely get replaced with factory interior but not until after the car is drivable.

[gtomike1967]

One thing that has me confused is the block casting number. It appears to be 86138. Wallace Racing says a 67 WS engine should have a casting number of 9786133. If I assume the first 2 digits (97) were drilled out for the plug then it would read 9786138. I guess the last digit is actually a 3? It sure looks like an 8 to me but I can’t find anything online for 9786138. Everything I find is 9786133 which is a 1967 400 HO.

[gtomike1967]

Heads are correct 670 and it has HO exhaust manifolds. Any idea what the bracket is that's attached to the water neck? Sort of looks like a bracket to hold a coil? But thats an odd place for it on a Pontiac

[gtomike1967]

With pics this time :)

[scuncio]

Love it. My '67 is missing its original WS long block, cool to see yours has one.

Here's a picture of mine in '68 when the original owner was stationed at Ft Knox.

https://photos.smugmug.com/Cars/67-GTO-Convertible/i-CJBwzL5/0/KF6gmWdcWsHwN9bCftM98rmJv4mdzDSXBLwb98JSn/O/SCAN0026.jpg

[Too Many Projects]

That bracket may have held a fuel filter, as the fuel pump is on the left side of the block and the line came up to that location. If I recall the fuel hose now goes to the right for the engine to run on a remote tank ?

[60sStuff]

That bracket fastened to the thermostat housing is for the fuel filter on the early 1967.
Later in the year they went with different fuel line from pump to carb that did not need that bracket.

That early ‘67 GTO fuel filter bracket is tough to find.

Here is a reproduction photo showing how it looks.

[gtomike1967]

60sStuff, thank you so much, this is very helpful. I will be sure to preserve this bracket.

[grantprix]

Neat GTO, congratulations! That will make a fun driver as is and I think that wild interior would be a hit at the cruise nights. That block casting number looks correct to me, it's just a rough casting on that last "3".

[grantprix]

Here's another example...

[Bill Pritchard]

Good stuff Mike, keep up the great detective work!

[gtomike1967]

When I bought this car on ebay the ad had a picture of 4 Rally 1 wheels with old tires leaning up against a wall. I asked the seller if the Rally 1 wheels were included in the sale and he said they were. The seller said he would put them in the trunk or back seat when the car is shipped to me.

When the car arrived about a week later the Rally 1 wheels were not in the car. I called the seller and he apologized and said he just forgot. He said he would ship them to me at no cost. A week went by and no wheels. I texted the seller and he said he has been busy but would send them soon. So at that point I was pretty skeptical.

Today, the 4 Rally 1 wheels arrived via a pallet. I see a lot of people get scammed these days buy un-honest sellers and once you pay a seller in full its pretty hard to make them do anything that might cost them any money. So I just thought I would share this situation where the seller was already paid in full for the car and it cost him money to ship me the wheels but he was true to his word!

The car did have one Rally 1 wheel in the trunk as a spare so I now have a complete set of 5 Rally 1 wheels with trim rings and center caps. They are 14x6 so im not sure if I will actually put them on the car or sell them and buy some 15 inch wheels, maybe Cragar SS.

[Ramair4]

I'd be interested in the set of Rally 1s if you decide to sell. Thanks

[Bill Pritchard]

Sounds like your seller is a stand-up guy :biggthumpup:

[gtomike1967]

I finished up the fuel system. It took way longer than I expected. I replaced the fuel tank, the fuel line from the tank to the fuel pump, the fuel pump and the line from the pump to the carb. The car started after several cranks/pumps and no leaks!
The next project is the brakes.

[gtomike1967]

The brakes don't really work at all so I plan an replacing pretty much everything. Disc brakes are not on the PHS docs so I guess someone added them later. Based on the part number on the calipers they appear to be correct for a 67 GTO, along with other models in 1967.

[Too Many Projects]

You can get those rebuilt and keep the disc advantage. 4 piston brakes were an option for only 2 years. Quite obvious there is seized piston issues there...inner pad looks almost new and the outer is gone.

[scuncio]

I have those brakes on my 67 and they are fantastic. Had them stainless sleeved by Vette Brakes and they work great.

[olredalert]

----Someone on the sight might know if the discs were maybe packaged together with some other option? Hence not being on the PHS! Also may have been installed at the original dealer to satisfy the 1st owner....Bill S

[60sStuff]

Hi GTO Mike,

If you elect to keep this added disc brake option on your ‘67 I would SS sleeve everything front to back.

Four piston calipers
Master cylinder
Rear cylinders

Check the proportioning valve that’s circled in your photo.

The master cylinder is unique to 1967 disc brake as I show in the photo of the ‘67 HO I restored years ago.

BTW, your WT 335 HP has the added HO exhaust manifolds which require a completely different engine wiring harness.
But that’s another day.

Good luck on your project.

[olredalert]

Hi GTO Mike,

If you elect to keep this added disc brake option on your ‘67 I would SS sleeve everything front to back.

Four piston calipers
Master cylinder
Rear cylinders

Check the proportioning valve that’s circled in your photo.

The master cylinder is unique to 1967 disc brake as I show in the photo of the ‘67 HO I restored years ago.

BTW, your WT 335 HP has the added HO exhaust manifolds which require a completely different engine wiring harness.
But that’s another day.

Good luck on your project.

----That is a unique master. Can't remember ever seeing one....Bill S

[Too Many Projects]

Looks very much like the one I got from Inline tube years ago, when I swapped '67 power disc master onto my '66 Chevelle. I had a pair of '67 calipers and rotors, but sold them and went with '69 single pistons from, I think, a '69 Camaro. I don't have a good pic of it from the same angle, but I can take one, if wanted, for reference.

[60sStuff]

----That is a unique master. Can't remember ever seeing one....Bill S

Hi Bill,

I had someone question me privately about my photo of the smooth rounded master cylinder on my restored ‘67 GTO that was built at the Fremont factory with power front disc brakes.

Here is a New ‘67 RA from a magazine test article showing the same M/C and Proportioning valve.

[grantprix]

My old '67 had the same style master, not sure if it was the original to the car, but the disc brakes were.