[RobRoe]

New to the forum and hoping for some wisdom and advice. We have a 67 S code notchback with a C6, power front disk brakes and factory air with the deluxe interior. It was a project the previous owner lost interest in. Since the car appeared to be optioned as a GTA but not officially sold as one, the project is to finish it as a GTA clone as a driver for my wife. The body and paint are done with the GTA trim. The interior is 90% done. The engine has been rebuilt, but I’m not sure if it has a small cam. It has an edelbrock intake and carb. Recently started it after being stored for 5 years. Replaced fuel tank, lines and sender. It runs very nicely and sounds like it’s very healthy. I just finished the brakes including new lines, calipers, drums and rotors, booster, master cylinder and proportioning valve.

So now the advice part. What would you do with the steering?

The power steering was leaking with bad hoses and steering cylinder, so in the process of replacing those. It appears that keeping the stock steering set up with some mods is popular rather than switching over to rack and pinion. The Shelby Drop of the upper control arms also seems popular with the appropriate alignment changes. Roller spring perches and idler arm also sound popular. We need to get the new hoses installed before we can drive it a little and assess if the steering box and control valve need to be redone as well as ball joints, tie rods and bushings. So... any advice for these newbies on what we should do?

Great forum! Thanks for all the info you share!

 

[sixtysevenGTconv]

What does it have for heads? You only mention intake & carb.
Heads orig cast iron. Or aftermarket aluminum hds such as Edlebrock RPM? Note aluminum hds will have peanut (smaller) spark plugs.
Type of ignition? Orig points or electronic?
Does it have correct FE radiator & fan?
Stock manifolds?

 

[RobRoe]

What does it have for heads? You only mention intake & carb.
Heads orig cast iron. Or aftermarket aluminum hds such as Edlebrock RPM? Note aluminum hds will have peanut (smaller) spark plugs.
Type of ignition? Orig points or electronic?
Does it have correct FE radiator & fan?
Stock manifolds?

Great questions. It has cast iron heads and stock exhaust manifolds. Not sure what head mods were done if any. Looked brand new when I took the valve covers off for preoiling before starting. When I had the oil pan off there were paint markings on the rods and bearing caps that suggested they had been weighed and maybe balanced. MSD ignition with blaster 2 coil and pertronix billet distributor. Radiator is 4 row champion aluminum with dual electric fans.

 

[Knapper]

I was in the same exact spot you are....’67 GTA clone with a 390 AC, PS, etc...however I still have the 70# boat anchor iron intake.

Here is the list of what I did:

• Shelby drop
• Roller perches
• Blue printed UCAs from Open Tracker
• Stock Scott Drake LCA
• Bilstein Sport Valves on all 4 corners
• 600# 1” lowering coils from Open Tracker
• Eaton 138# 1” lowering spring from NPD
• Power steering unit rebuilt by @CHOCK
• New rubber stock strut bushings, end links etc...nothing exotic

Here are a few pics....

There are a couple more pics in my gallery, or whatever it’s called. I think the car handles great but need to spend a little more time aligning. I do plan to pull the box and send it to @CHOCK and will likely do the roller idler arm at that time.

 

[CJM68GT390]

I'd make sure the steering and suspension are in reasonably good shape and drive it. Then determine what you don't like and fix, or improve, that issue. What @Knapper listed is a good outline.
For more specific advice, we'd need to know what (or how) you plan to use the car ... drive to the Dairy Queen, race/drive it like you stole it, or somewhere in-between.

 

[sixtysevenGTconv]

You need to list how you wanna use car.

For my factory 67 390 GT 4spd vert, I wanted most original or period correct looking, being a rare car.
My use occasional long drive but mostly local shows.
Had orig 390 rebuilt, did Edlebrock RPM aluminum hds with matching SCJ exhaust exhaust manifolds, mild Comp Cam, because adding Ford's dealer option of Tri-Power had to reasonable. Had it broken in and tuned on dyno. Car still has orig 3 row radiator no cooling issues. Came with front disc brakes & tach.
Did go with 15" style steel wheels, suspension pretty stock. Good enough for my driving.

 

[RobRoe]

I was in the same exact spot you are....’67 GTA clone with a 390 AC, PS, etc...however I still have the 70# boat anchor iron intake.

Here is the list of what I did:

• Shelby drop
• Roller perches
• Blue printed UCAs from Open Tracker
• Stock Scott Drake LCA
• Bilstein Sport Valves on all 4 corners
• 600# 1” lowering coils from Open Tracker
• Eaton 138# 1” lowering spring from NPD
• Power steering unit rebuilt by @CHOCK
• New rubber stock strut bushings, end links etc...nothing exotic

Here are a few pics....
View attachment 774840 View attachment 774841 View attachment 774842 View attachment 774843 View attachment 774844
There are a couple more pics in my gallery, or whatever it’s called. I think the car handles great but need to spend a little more time aligning. I do plan to pull the box and send it to @CHOCK and will likely do the roller idler arm at that time.

Beautiful car. The front stance is just a little lower. Bet that handles great. Did you get your roller spring perches from open tracker? I see they suggest the perches and the roller idler for a street car. I’m leaning in that direction after driving it awhile. Was also considering a 1” front sway bar and a rear 3/4”. We don’t plan to do many shows and no racing. Just having fun driving it around town and a few road trips. It was a present for my wife but of course I’m the one enjoying it right now.

 

[RobRoe]

You need to list how you wanna use car.

For my factory 67 390 GT 4spd vert, I wanted most original or period correct looking, being a rare car.
My use occasional long drive but mostly local shows.
Had orig 390 rebuilt, did Edlebrock RPM aluminum hds with matching SCJ exhaust exhaust manifolds, mild Comp Cam, because adding Ford's dealer option of Tri-Power had to reasonable. Had it broken in and tuned on dyno. Car still has orig 3 row radiator no cooling issues. Came with front disc brakes & tach.
Did go with 15" style steel wheels, suspension pretty stock. Good enough for my driving.

Thanks for the ideas. We just want to drive it around town. Go to a few shows and some road trips. Not a concours car like yours. More like a very nice driver that could compete in a show. And reliable.

 

[RobRoe]

I'd make sure the steering and suspension are in reasonably good shape and drive it. Then determine what you don't like and fix, or improve, that issue. What @Knapper listed is a good outline.
For more specific advice, we'd need to know what (or how) you plan to use the car ... drive to the Dairy Queen, race/drive it like you stole it, or somewhere in-between.

Great suggestion and that’s our plan. Drive it at bit until we know what we want to change. Have a few cosmetic things like installing the grill/fog lights and installing new instrument panel. Probably install new trans pan gasket as it has seeped a bit while in storage.