The Dauphin Tech Project Car After 3 Months


Great things are happening at Dauphin Tech. The kids have dug into the '67 GTO with the great enthusiasm we fully expected. From our first meeting at Carlisle, everyone involved in the project -- Ames Performance, Carlisle Automotive Classroom Foundation, and Dauphin County Technical School -- is proud to be involved with this great group of students.
       
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The '67 body is slowly losing pieces and parts as areas are either prepared in place or removed for better access. Shop teacher Joe Macchioni used a solid common sense approach to this restoration: "I want the students to repair all possible panels in place so all the original jambs and body dimensions are retained. Once areas are welded solid then we'll remove fenders, deck lid, etc. for final preparation".
As you can see the body is now completely stripped. No chemicals were used -- just DA sanders and elbow grease.
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The left rear quarter has been a major project. Not only was an original panel poorly grafted years ago, but now it needed a repair panel plus outer wheelhouse work. This has been Jeremy's job since the beginning. Joe had him measure panels three -- maybe four -- times to be sure everything was ready for welding.
Notice Jeremy's using at least twice as many alignment screws as normal. The reason is simple: sometimes the kids have a bead flowing so well the patch starts to separate -- whoa, slow that welder down! The patch will be welded solid and all screw holes plug-welded.
Lower right photo shows the work needed for the right-hand quarter. Jeremy says he's got it all figured out now -- should be no problem.
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The left front floor rust repair was a joint effort of the trunk floor crew (Tom, Andrew, and Nick). They received the same instructions we all heard as a kid "Measure at least twice -- cut once". Patch has been welded solid and ground smooth.
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Speaking of the trunk repair crew (Tom, Andrew, and Nick), looks like they're moving along well. This was a badly rusted area. At the time of the photos, the new panels were in position for measurements. Since then both the left and right patches have been welded and the center is scheduled for next week. The only hold-up was that old problem of trying to fit in reproduction trunk extensions -- never easy.
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Scott and Kelsey tackled the front fenders and have them both ready for primer. The two photos to the right show their next projects. These are a body man's nightmare but both kids can't wait to try our patch panels for both front and rear rusted window channels.
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Another box of parts from Ames-it's just like Christmas Jeremy takes a bow. "Hey guys -- can you believe I stayed up all night watching MTV". "So I tell this guy, oh ya -- well, that "hemi" will be dog meat when we get the GTO project done".
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  "If Vin Diesel can wreck it -- I can fix it". "Look, there it is again - fuzzy ears - furry tail - whiskers - you can't tell me that's a hairball".  


  For everyone out there following this project, this posting brings you up to date. Joe is amazed at the interest already generated by the project. He is receiving one or two calls a week from interested Pontiac enthusiasts and even has had one caller receive a school pass to look at the progress personally.


Remember: the youth of today are the future of our hobby -- "Take a kid to a car show".