Re: Ackattack's Pro touring restoration thread
 

Still no baby (5 days overdue now) Since my plan book is pretty much cleared out, and no baby to fill the time, I have got some things done.

I got the floor finished up painting, removed the engine, got the cab and the rest of the body on.

http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s...5/CIMG1398.jpg

http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s...5/CIMG1399.jpg


http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s...5/CIMG1403.jpg

http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s...5/CIMG1404.jpg

http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s...5/CIMG1402.jpg

Tonight I went and picked up my toneau cover. I'm amazed at how quickly it got here. I ordered it last Tuesday, and here it is 8 days later and it's sitting on my truck. It was custom made to fit my truck, and it fits like a glove. I don't have the hardware installed yet, but so far I'm very pleased with it.

http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s...5/CIMG1400.jpg

http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s...5/CIMG1401.jpg

http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s...5/CIMG1406.jpg

Re: Ackattack's Pro touring restoration thread
 

where did you get bed cover from exactly, and how do you get a hold of them?

Re: Ackattack's Pro touring restoration thread
 

http://www.checkerpro.com/2.html

give them a call

Re: Ackattack's Pro touring restoration thread
 

Sweet :metal:

Re: Ackattack's Pro touring restoration thread
 

sticky,........enjoying your build.

Re: Ackattack's Pro touring restoration thread
 

Well, no progress on the truck this weekend. However I did end up with a little helper!

Baby Ethan was born on Sunday at 12:15am and weighed 8lbs 2.5 oz. It will be awhile before he can help on the truck, but hopefully he'll get a ride in it later this summer (that's why I'm putting the new style jump seat in there)

Re: Ackattack's Pro touring restoration thread
 

Congratulations!!!

Re: Ackattack's Pro touring restoration thread
 

x2.
Congrats to you & the Mrs. on your new arrival.

Re: Ackattack's Pro touring restoration thread
 

Congrats. Now your live begins!

Re: Ackattack's Pro touring restoration thread
 

Congrats on the newest addition! Now the fun really begins!!!! (I have two youngs boys myself... and wouldn't change a thing!)

Re: Ackattack's Pro touring restoration thread
 

Congrats on your trucks new owner!

Re: Ackattack's Pro touring restoration thread
 

Congrats on the little one. Happy and heathly. I sure he will want to ride in in the tourer as much as I do.

Re: Ackattack's Pro touring restoration thread
 

Congrats!

Re: Ackattack's Pro touring restoration thread
 

Congratulations on a job well done ;)

before you know it he will be asking for the keys!!!!




Ray

Re: Ackattack's Pro touring restoration thread
 

Congrats on becoming a father! I have two 2-legged projects of my own. It may be hard to imagine now, but you'll soon find that you want to spend more time with him than your truck. They grow up fast, so cherish every minute. You'll love it! Glad to see the update. I found it on Pro-Touring.com.

Re: Ackattack's Pro touring restoration thread
 

Congrats, project is looking good!

Re: Ackattack's Pro touring restoration thread
 

Congratulations!!

Re: Ackattack's Pro touring restoration thread
 

:cong:

Re: Ackattack's Pro touring restoration thread
 

Congratulations on the new arrival. My son is just over 21 months old now and he loves going in the shop and seeing all HIS trucks. I had Project LowBuck under way when he was born and now we are selling that one and building a pro-touring Tahoe:lol: So to save you some money just sell what you have built so far and start a Burb, you know you need one;)

By the way that cover looks great.

Kevin
LFD Inc.

Re: Ackattack's Pro touring restoration thread
 

My long term plan is to do a vehicle swap around. Right now my wife is driving an 05 1/2ton crew cab and I drive a 04 Jetta TDI (she drives ~3 miles to work....I drive 25ish one way (sold the corvette btw). Anyways I want to get a 67-72 suburban and set it on a 3/4 ton diesel frame and drive that, and then get her a Pontiac G8 to drive. We'll see if that happens down the road. Have to get some money around to do all of that though :)

Re: Ackattack's Pro touring restoration thread
 

Congratulations on the little one, mine is now 4 months old today, and wow they are alot of work!!! get ready for it.

Re: Ackattack's Pro touring restoration thread
 

Thanks for all of the kind words guys!

Well between feedings I managed to get a little work done on the truck today.

I got the cab bolted down and I got the holes drilled for the mirrors and mounted them up to make sure they fit correctly....looked good to me.

http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s...5/CIMG3747.jpg

http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s...5/CIMG3746.jpg

Re: Ackattack's Pro touring restoration thread
 

I loaded up the truck and we took the truck to the paint/body guy's. It's supposed to take about 2 months to finish. It will get painted "Blue Granite Metallic" off of a newer chevy pickup.

The paint guy is outside of Portland OR, so it's about 3ish hours from me. I'm going to make a trip back down here next month to do a little work on the truck. Help with some fitup of the tonneau cover and side glass.

I'm going to have to get another passenger door and a hood. The hood had a dent in the middle of it that the body guy didn't like and thought a better door would end up with a better quality finish.

He's going to get some shots for me every week or two, so hopefully I'll be able to continue with updates.

While the truck is gone, I'm going to do some much needed garage clean up, put together my instrument panel (new bezel with autometer gauges), as well as do some yard work now that it's starting to warm up.

Re: Ackattack's Pro touring restoration thread
 

how did you find the painter? I hope its done on time. Many times i've seen two months turn into four or more.

Re: Ackattack's Pro touring restoration thread
 

2months means you will see it in 7 or 8 you know that right???? Paint prison.

Re: Ackattack's Pro touring restoration thread
 

Frizzle Fry gave me his name and number.

I sure hope it doesn't become "paint prison". Talking to the guy, I don't think he wants it to take that long either.

Re: Ackattack's Pro touring restoration thread
 

With the truck being gone for awhile and having sold the corvette about a month and a half ago, I got bored with my vehicles at home....so I went and did it. I bought a new Pontiac G8 GT.

OK, the real reason I got it was because my Jetta TDI is just too small for the rear facing kid seat and us to sit in it comfortably. (the first reason sounds cooler though :) )

Some people haven't even heard of a G8. Basically it's a full size 4 door car that looks great, could sit 5 adults comfortably. The GT model comes with a 6.0L L76 engine (similar to the LS2 but with active fuel management, different heads and a few other things) that makes 361 HP!

There is also the GXP model that has a 415HP LS3 in it. I decided to pass on the GXP.

I'll throw some pics up later. Hopefully I can also get some pics of the progress on the truck from my paint guy.

Re: Ackattack's Pro touring restoration thread
 

And where are the pics?

J/k...I really like the G8's

Re: Ackattack's Pro touring restoration thread
 

May I ask why you opted out of the GXP? I dig the car, but think it's main flaw is price, and I wonder if that was your reasoning too.

Or is this a good excuse to "total" the car on "Accident" and "salvage" the LS3 for some "donations" to the Chevy? :lol:

Re: Ackattack's Pro touring restoration thread
 

The G8 is an unsung hero. Great family car! Let me know if you need me to check on your truck for you.

Re: Ackattack's Pro touring restoration thread
 

I didn't get the GXP for a few reasons.

1) I didn't want to pay for it. Not that I couldn't, but didn't want to. I had a hard enough time with my own mind to part way with that much money even though my wife pretty much told me I could get whatever I wanted :)
2) The GXP gets 20mpg vs 24 with the GT. I'm already taking a big hit going from my Jetta TDI (50mpg).
3) Really I just don't need it. My truck is going to be my "fun" vehicle and the G8 is my commuter.

http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s.../CIMG3872s.jpg

http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s.../CIMG3873s.jpg

http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s.../CIMG3874s.jpg

http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s.../CIMG3878s.jpg

Re: Ackattack's Pro touring restoration thread
 

god i love that car, and especially the front end of that car. not to big a fan of the taillights though.

Re: Ackattack's Pro touring restoration thread
 

yeah, I could do without the clear taillights too. Everything else is great. The interior is the 2nd nicest I've seen from GM (new CTSs are pretty darn nice too!)

Re: Ackattack's Pro touring restoration thread
 

Congrats on the G8! I drove one last summer and was amazed at alot of things...mostly when I sat in the back seat (6'-3") and the passenger front seat was all the way back my knees were still 4-6" from the seat back. OH, and the 361HP too.

Re: Ackattack's Pro touring restoration thread
 

Surely you did get a 6 speed?

Re: Ackattack's Pro touring restoration thread
 

6 speed automatic, the 6 speed stick only comes in the GXP, sadly/stupidly.

I see. When these 1st came out, new owners were reporting an easy 27 mpg on the freeway. The GXP, I'm sure could do fine with proper foot work. Shoot, the LS7 Z06 can achieve 27 mpg highway too.

Just curious, still a GREAT car though, and for the price it's pretty hard to beat. I'd take one... In black.

And, there are tail lights for this car with a red lense.. Maybe call the dealership and see if they can swap them on. Though, I dunno if maybe it's just to differ the V6 from the GT or what, but their out there.

Re: Ackattack's Pro touring restoration thread
 

Now that is stupid:crazy: So much for me wanting one then since no t56 for the g8 gt. I guess I will have to stick with a good used Z06;)

Re: Ackattack's Pro touring restoration thread
 

I'm sure you could easily find a willing shop to toss one in, but it's sad that you can't get it factory. That car would be a total win at under 30k with a 6 speed stick. The camaro can do it, with over 400 hp and a 6 speed.... =P

Re: Ackattack's Pro touring restoration thread
 

yeppers, no 6 speed manual. The A6 has a "manual" mode, but IMO it's a toy. Oh, the new 6 speeds in the vettes and GXPs are not t56 trannies. They came out with a different one that's supposed to be smoother. I had 3 LS1 cars with t56s and never had problems with them. Maybe it's cause now with the LS3s their pushing well over 400HP from the factory.

I think it pays at the pump because it's a big 4 door car. The corvettes are a lot lighter and surely more aerodynamic. I was getting between 25 and 28 mpg driving my corvette to work and got up to 33mpg on one trip. Not too bad for a low 12 second ride. Sadly there wasn't a back seat.

http://i149.photobucket.com/albums/s...e/CIMG0553.jpg

I can't remember if I posted it, but I sold it about the beginning of March.

Re: Ackattack's Pro touring restoration thread
 

I talked to the painter. They're working on it. He had gotten a new hood, and was expecting to get a new door (both used...new to me :) ) No pictures though. Maybe I'll get some this weekend.

I ordered my second set of drop spindles. I ordered the CPP modular spindles that move the front wheels in 1". Hopefully this will solve my issue with the front tire sitting on the inner wheel well at full dump. Additionally, this will alow me to use pretty much what ever brake caliper I want since it doesn't have a intergral caliper bracket like the factory styles do. So I'm going to be using a set of 98-2002 F-body calipers I already have. I'll just have to fab up a bracket to mount the caliper.

I guess I'll go ahead and clean up the caliper, powder coat it, and then rebuild it. I'll also have to get some brake pads for it.

So since I'm changing gears a little on my brake/spindle set up I'll have a few 0 mile parts for sale (ECE drop spindles, and Hawk HPS pads when I get my truck back from the painter) I'll post a for sale ad when the time comes.