'69 GTX Restoration

[JakeMA33]

1969 Plymouth GTX, A true Track Pack car (A33) – Dana 60 is present and the numbers matching 4 spd is present as well. Interior floors are solid but will need trunk floors and 1/4s. the Right side floor support (see pic is rotten). Frame rails look solid. Other rust is typical areas around vinyl top and under battery tray. The car does have power steering and a center console. B5 Blue and B7 Blue guts.

Link here to my blog site about my GTX Restoration.
The challenge with this build is that it is being done without a nice big shop. link here. Here is a build that is being done in a typical 3 car garage, while always keeping the daily drivers and other classics in the garage. Space management is an issue and the accomplished goal of downsizing to a retirement home, while good in theory, offers considerable challenges for car guys doing restorations. The paint and body is most certainly being outsourced. Choosing a good bodyshop to use, if you can find one, is one of the up-front tasks performed in the planning phase as discussed in my blog post Managing Your Restoration. Disassembly, small parts restoration, and most system restoration is taking place in my small garage. It is a challenge but it is working.

After the AAR Cuda build I said I was done restoring cars. Well the bug bit again on a walk around the lake with my wife. This ’69 GTX was sunk into the earth along a line of trees. Within a few days, and after coercing owner to sell, the car was on my trailer.

As of Feb 2021 The car has been stripped and all replacement metal work and metal repairs are complete. Block sanding is starting now and let's hop we see B5 Blue Paint, B7 Blue Interior in March of 2021.

The entire drivetrain has been rebuilt and is ready for reassembly, including the steering gear and the Dana 60.

I am working on cleaning and inspecting bolts, washers, clips and brackets that were “bagged and tagged”, as part of the disassembly process. I have an Eastwood tumbler that I have had for 10 years or so. I dug the unit out again and fired it up. This is what is meant when you hear the phrase, “nut and bolt restoration”. Literally each nut and bolt is restored.

All parts of the drive train are restored and rebuilt including the steering gear and the Dana 60.

I am currently looking for the W23 Kelsey Hays recall wheels and rings, repops are fine.

Lots of photos here on the hobby blog site. https://jakesgeneralstore.com/69-plymouth-gtx/

 

[CudaChick1968]

Wow, great story and a cool adventure Jake! Welcome aboard! Keep us posted.

 

[4mulas]

Good progress. Not wasting any time!

 

[69 GTX]

Looks like mine! Great rescue, hit me up if your looking for anything.
What color was the vinyl top?

 

[JakeMA33]

Looks like mine! Great rescue, hit me up if your looking for anything.
What color was the vinyl top?

Thanks, Top was black.

 

[JakeMA33]

 

[JakeMA33]

Feb 2021 Update- Metal work complete. Block sanding underway.

 

[JakeMA33]

Here are some pics for an update on the body work. B5 blue paint is starting. very exciting.

 

[JakeMA33]

All B5 paint work is done. The lower black is left to apply. Vinyl top is on and headliner is in.

 

[blue69runner]

Look's good. The feeling of having one painted goes a long way's. Now to start the assemble process.

 

[buenavides]

The progress looks cool, the rust is gone. I am excited to see the outcome, this car is getting back to life soon.

 

[Cojohnso1]

I certainly understand the downsizing delema. I will reach a retirement window in a little over a year. And would love to squeeze thru. BUT THE CARS! Housing market is screaming sell both my house and investment properties. And move out farther from the cities. But that is also alot of planning, financing, and work. Let alone less support options as I get older. Umm. How does one have their cake and eat it too?

 

[Wojo68]

I certainly understand the downsizing delema. I will reach a retirement window in a little over a year. And would love to squeeze thru. BUT THE CARS! Housing market is screaming sell both my house and investment properties. And move out farther from the cities. But that is also alot of planning, financing, and work. Let alone less support options as I get older. Umm. How does one have their cake and eat it too?

When you find out, could you please let me know? Lol

 

[JakeMA33]

I certainly understand the downsizing delema. I will reach a retirement window in a little over a year. And would love to squeeze thru. BUT THE CARS! Housing market is screaming sell both my house and investment properties. And move out farther from the cities. But that is also alot of planning, financing, and work. Let alone less support options as I get older. Umm. How does one have their cake and eat it too?

Rethink the downsizing because the reasons that used to define 'downsizing' and the rationale that drive people to do it are now very different. Less space to heat and maintain, clean can quickly become acceptable with existing housing prices and new construction markups/prices. Not to mention the moving and transaction costs. Sure you will get good money for your existing place but after fees and moving costs, stay put. Unless you are inheriting a house, or moving to South Dakota, most moves are not financially prudent. Bottom line, the cost of the new place, along with association fees drive the decision to stay put. A guy can't sell investment properties unless you are OK with paying 30% capital gains. People are screwed right now anyway they turn it seems. Stay put, ride this crazy economy out and tinker on your cars I say. One thing I may do is buy a big damn pole shed in the middle of nowhere, put everything we own in it and live in and then move from one investment property for the two year min. eliminating the capital gains, and then sell each one as owner occupied. Sorry off GTX topic but good convo.

 

[Cojohnso1]

Rethink the downsizing because the reasons that used to define 'downsizing' and the rationale that drive people to do it are now very different. Less space to heat and maintain, clean can quickly become acceptable with existing housing prices and new construction markups/prices. Not to mention the moving and transaction costs. Sure you will get good money for your existing place but after fees and moving costs, stay put. Unless you are inheriting a house, or moving to South Dakota, most moves are not financially prudent. Bottom line, the cost of the new place, along with association fees drive the decision to stay put. A guy can't sell investment properties unless you are OK with paying 30% capital gains. People are screwed right now anyway they turn it seems. Stay put, ride this crazy economy out and tinker on your cars I say. One thing I may do is buy a big damn pole shed in the middle of nowhere, put everything we own in it and live in and then move from one investment property for the two year min. eliminating the capital gains, and then sell each one as owner occupied. Sorry off GTX topic but good convo.

Yes. I have considered changing legal residency to my rental house and do the 2 year wait. Especially due to in a retirement situation? I wouldn't have to itemize tax anymore? So would not be that hard logistically. The good news? I don't need to make any decision today? And even if I laze out and not? That forces a decision that may very well been the correct choice? By staying put. Thus your consideration. It's really not a bad situation to be in? Either way can be considered the "Winning" move?

 

[Nxcoupe]

Thank you for saving another piece of history. What else did this guy have rotting out in the field?

 

[JakeMA33]

Thanks for the props gents. Yesterday I hauled the GTX home from paint and body.

 

[threewood]

Wow that looks nice!! I did my 69 GTX in my garage too.

 

[Nxcoupe]

I'm diggin the paint scheme and color. That would be my dream gtx

 

[JakeMA33]

Made some progress this past weekend- Installed the driveline: Engine, Trans and the Dana 60/Springs etc. The car is now sitting on rear tires. For the engine trans install I lifted up the front of the car with an engine hoist (Cherry Picker). Rolling the engine and trans under the car, then lowered the car onto the engine/trans. The engine landed right where is should and the height of the cart put the frame rails and K-Frame within 2 inches. The k frame bolts actually reached in the frame rails and started. No big shop, no big car hoist, just ground pounding floor jacks and jack stands. It took me a day of recovery in between the Dana 60 install and the engine install. I had to reload my daily “bend” allotment. Score one for the littles guys working in their garages.