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Login to post Forums » Grassroots Motorsports » My 1970 GT6, almost done!

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Nov. 11, 2008 10:45 p.m. irish44j None

A few here may recall a year or so ago I started with this:

Here's what it looks like today. Driveable for the first time in 12 years, registered, and legal! Still alot of work to be done to get it track/autocross-ready (this winter's project) but it's great to finally drive it again. Note that is is NOT intended for showing and purists would hate it ;)

notable upgrades from stock - better tires, of course - SU 1.75s with bored intake manifold - crap pacesetter 6-1 header....to be replaced asap - monza exhaust.....not vintage in looks, but I've always liked the sound - spax adjustables - rear leaf spacer - shock rear upper mount conversion - polybushes everywhere - all new non-Lucas wiring! and other stuff not worth noting...
Nov. 11, 2008 11:00 p.m. MrJoshua SuperDork

Very nice!
Nov. 11, 2008 11:05 p.m. Luke Dork

I remember your original thread, and wow, she's come a long way. Looks brilliant! Nice work.
Nov. 11, 2008 11:07 p.m. PHeller Reader

Man I love those!
Nov. 11, 2008 11:43 p.m. P71 HalfDork

Gorgeous!
Nov. 12, 2008 3:12 a.m. byron12 New Reader

Freakin awesome I like that car good work...
Nov. 12, 2008 5:14 a.m. Woody Dork

I love the way it looks with the Monza exhaust and no bumper. I still remember the first GT6 that I ever saw and I've had a thing for them ever since. Not sure that I'd fit in one though.

The 44 is a nice touch.
Nov. 12, 2008 8:36 a.m. spitfirebill HalfDork

I hope you have put some heat shielding inside. Them babies get hot!

Very nice BTW!
Nov. 12, 2008 8:36 a.m. Twin_Cam Dork

Man those PhillySCCA banners are still alive and kicking!

The car looks awesome. If I ever get enough disposable income and time to come autocross again, maybe I'll run in to you at an event.
Nov. 12, 2008 9:03 a.m. purplepeopleeater New Reader

I love it though @ 6'1" & 220lbs i don't fit. Be prepared, there aint a lot of vintage British iron at the autocrosses anymore, at least in the D.C. area. Some of that's because of the owners & some is because of the cars. Both tend to be old, cranky , & not real competitive. Flame suit is on for the last comment but the wife & I autocrossed our B/GT probably 20 times this year mostly with no vintage British competition. Alex
Nov. 12, 2008 9:13 a.m. Dr. Hess UberDork

My first car was a 1972 GT6.

Now, the main thing you need to do is to replace that gearbox with the Ford or Toyota one. Then you might be able to drive it.
Nov. 12, 2008 9:31 a.m. chknhwk Reader

That looks nice! Same number as my car.
Nov. 12, 2008 12:12 p.m. Tim Baxter Online Editor

Irish, make sure you post it over in Reader Rides.
Nov. 12, 2008 12:30 p.m. EricM Reader

very nice
Nov. 12, 2008 1:19 p.m. Ian F Reader

irish44j wrote: - crap pacesetter 6-1 header....to be replaced asap - monza exhaust.....not vintage in looks, but I've always liked the sound

Looks good! I'm hoping to get started on my Spit 6 in a month or so... I have less work ahead of me than you did - mine is driveable and more-or-less legal (insured, but not inspected), but still have a fair amount before I'm comfortable driving it regularily.

I've been drooling over the Bell 6-2-1 header and matching exhaust that SpitBits sells. We have the 4-2-1 version on our '79 1500 and it sounds great. It actually sounds more aggressive than the Pacesetter/Monza exhaust on my Spit 6. Not cheap, but I think it's worth it, and being all stainless, should last forever.
Nov. 12, 2008 2:58 p.m. alex Reader

I've always like GT6s and that's a damn good looking one. Nice to see it rescued. Good on ya.
Nov. 12, 2008 4:18 p.m. Ryan9118 HalfDork

That looks awesome. Good job on it. I really like the exhaust. Wish I had the motivation to finish a long-term project like that!
Nov. 12, 2008 4:48 p.m. Volksroddin Reader

hot damn. Makes me want to pick up anthor project.
Nov. 12, 2008 5:00 p.m. Carson Reader

That's awesome! Have a thing for black cars, have you?
Nov. 12, 2008 5:02 p.m. rob_lewis Dork

Beeaaauuuttiful!!!!!!

-Rob
Nov. 12, 2008 6:56 p.m. JoeTR6 New Reader

Drool.

That looks like a fun car.
Nov. 12, 2008 7:28 p.m. aeronca65t Reader

Speaking as someone who is also "Irish" (I'm from Kilkenny) and also owns some Brit cars, Great Job!

Thanks for saving this classic!

And don't forget to check out the various GT6s over at Classic Motorsports side of this website....

~Click Here~

~Or Here~

~Or Here~
Nov. 12, 2008 9:30 p.m. irish44j New Reader

blockquote>Woody wrote:

I love the way it looks with the Monza exhaust and no bumper. I still remember the first GT6 that I ever saw and I've had a thing for them ever since. Not sure that I'd fit in one though.

The 44 is a nice touch.

Thanks, that's actually the numbering from my EP Maxima (now sold), but it is convenient that my forum username on all forums has the 44 in it, and of course the reference to the Group 44 Triumphs as well :)

spitfirebill wrote:

I hope you have put some heat shielding inside. Them babies get hot!

Very nice BTW!

Yes, I most definitely did! I used to drive this car in college, and black vinyl seats in a GT6 in the summer are simply sticky!

Twin_Cam wrote:

Man those PhillySCCA banners are still alive and kicking!

The car looks awesome. If I ever get enough disposable income and time to come autocross again, maybe I'll run in to you at an event.

Yeah...those magnets I just threw on for the photos I took. In the past few years they were more often seen on my Maxima..

<
Nov. 12, 2008 9:31 p.m. irish44j New Reader

purplepeopleeater wrote:

I love it though @ 6'1" & 220lbs i don't fit. Be prepared, there aint a lot of vintage British iron at the autocrosses anymore, at least in the D.C. area. Some of that's because of the owners & some is because of the cars. Both tend to be old, cranky , & not real competitive. Flame suit is on for the last comment but the wife & I autocrossed our B/GT probably 20 times this year mostly with no vintage British competition. Alex

I still have a good bit of work to do before I actually trust this car to do anything competitive! It's a major accomplishment to safely drive a few miles from home and make it back right now! And then I have the other problem that my new 09 WRX will be nagging me to run autocross with it as well, haha.
Nov. 12, 2008 9:40 p.m. irish44j New Reader

Dr. Hess wrote:

My first car was a 1972 GT6.

Now, the main thing you need to do is to replace that gearbox with the Ford or Toyota one. Then you might be able to drive it.

Yeah....plenty of plans I have, but not plenty of time or money! I pretty much blew through my budget on the car already, and I have other projects (home and automotive) ongoing too. Baby steps!

I would like a T-9 conversion eventually....but will see how long this gearbox lasts. It's made it 38 years so far and is still smooth!

derekshannon wrote:

Is it me or does satin black make just about anything look BAD (as in REALLY good)? I love it! Congrats so far and good luck this winter.

thanks....though in person it's not quite as slick...it's just a rattle-can job right now. Once I do some more bodywork and get things nice and straight, then I might get a pro job done (matte black most likely)

Tim Baxter wrote:

Irish, make sure you post it over in Reader Rides.

Roger that Tim. Still getting used to the way photos are posted on here. Used to the [IMG] type tags!

Ian F wrote:

irish44j wrote: - crap pacesetter 6-1 header....to be replaced asap - monza exhaust.....not vintage in looks, but I've always liked the sound

Looks good! I'm hoping to get started on my Spit 6 in a month or so... I have less work ahead of me than you did - mine is driveable and more-or-less legal (insured, but not inspected), but still have a fair amount before I'm comfortable driving it regularily.

I've been drooling over the Bell 6-2-1 header and matching exhaust that SpitBits sells. We have the 4-2-1 version on our '79 1500 and it sounds great. It actually sounds more aggressive than the Pacesetter/Monza exhaust on my Spit 6. Not cheap, but I think it's worth it, and being all stainless, should last forever.

fully agree....the pacesetter has been on the car since the 80s (so it was free) and the monza setup I got on closeout so it was cheap. Would like to eventually put a full stainless setup on it with a 6-3-1 Phoenix header. All my research indicates it gives a better power-band than the 6-2-1 setup....though don't quote me on it!

Carson wrote:

That's awesome! Have a thing for black cars, have you?

Before I sold the (black) Maxima last month I had - black 90 cherokee - black 08 4Runner (wife's) - black GT6 - black 00 Maxima - black 09 WRX.

what can I say, I really love having cars that are ALWAYS dirty, even right after being washed :)

aeronca65t wrote:

Speaking as someone who is also "Irish" (I'm from Kilkenny) and also owns some Brit cars, Great Job!

Thanks for saving this classic!

And don't forget to check out the various GT6s over at Classic Motorsports side of this website....

~Click Here~

~Or Here~

~Or Here~

Definitely. As soon as my CM comes in the mail I always scour it for GT6s :) I've been on the UK TriumphTorque forum for a while too....

I know Andre's site well and have gotten inspiration from it. Unfortunately his budget it clearly larger than mine and he is clearly more patient and detail-oriented than I am!!

(my family is 4th generation American now, but my ancestors came over from Claire)

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