1965 GTO “Unrestored Survivor”

[m22mike]

WOW !

[grantprix]

Chris... I'm so glad to see that you've finally shared "Cream Puff" here for all to enjoy. A great story and beautiful survivor car like this needs to be seen. You my friend are the perfect caretaker for Cordelia's GTO!!

Grant

[60sStuff]

389 CI / 335 HP / Carter AFB

A few odd things under the hood as one would expect.
Easily resolved over time.

Valve covers on wrong sides.
Red heater hoses. Fit-All radiator hoses.
There was an alarm horn and switch before I tossed them.
The large fan guard had what looked like numbers etched into the top through the paint.
Also looks like someone did some touch-up with a black rattle can.

I removed most everything down to the bare engine.
I slid a large 4’x4’ tray underneath the engine and emptied a case of GUNK over a few days and I began to see more of that ‘65 blue paint.
I didn’t expect to see the OK-5 on the cylinder head, but there it was, cool.

The after clean photo with the 4 red arrows points to a few of the early items used for about the first 4-5 months of ‘65 production.

RH View
1) Red positive battery cable
2) Fan guard “without” the turn down corner. Later ‘65 had this single corner turned down to give more clearance for the upper radiator hose.
3) Steel plug at top RH corner of intake manifold.
4) Heater hose bracket was a silver cadmium. Later brackets were all black paint.

LH View, other early components.
5) Power steering pulley was an open cast iron.
6) Aluminum fuel line with 4 bends. Later ‘65 had 5 bends.

Born with plug wires (3-Q-64). They are original to this car and in perfect condition.

I was able to locate NOS upper and lower radiator hoses with the correct factory yellow ink with part numbers and alignment lines.

The long heater hose with 3 raised lines was removed about 45 years ago from a low mile wrecked Lemans. I finally found a car for it, LOL.
I spent decades in wrecking yards accumulating OEM goodies.

Voltage regulator and master cylinder with their factory coding were saved, which I had rebuilt and reinstalled.

Check the blue paint on the OEM dated fan clutch.

Chrome valve covers, twist AC oil cap and air cleaner lid are factory.
A gentle bronze wool and polish brought them back.

PS, Notice the blue overspray around the bottom edge of covers = Factory.

I’m tired.