Returning a 1966 GTO to its Glory Days

In 1966 Pontiac campaigned two identically prepared GTOs at drag strips around the country providing the crowds with a show that became legend—the GeeTO Tiger Show. In "Bringing a 1966 GTO Back to Life: Transforming an Old Goat into a New Tiger," the restoration began of a '66 GTO destined to become a legend reincarnated. Completed was the search for a representative car, the gathering of parts and partners, and the resurrection of the beautiful body and requisite lettering and logos.

Rear End Elements
At this stage, however, nothing was yet done with the stock rear end, wheels or the original suspension components. The builders had more ambitious plans in that department. Already delivered and lurking in the assembly area was an entire flange-to-flange shortened rear end from Moser Engineering in Portland, Indiana. Fitted with a high-strength 4.10-geared 12-bolt third member and bulletproof 35-spline steel axles, this reasonably priced gem also featured extended upper torque-arm mounting tabs, repositioned lower-arm tabs and reinforced spring mounts. Adding a touch of sparkle as well as increased strength was Moser's thick aluminum reinforced rear-cover plate with a conveniently placed fluid drainage plug.


Also ordered and delivered was Hotchkis Performance's complete '64-'67 GM A-body high performance street/strip adjustable rear suspension package. Among the items included were thick-gauge lower torque arms matched with a much-needed rear sway bar, and a full set of polyurethane bushings. Fully adjustable and super-beefy upper torque arms and tubular struts intended to reinforce both sets of bars and the upper cross-member, as well as anodized grade-8 bolts for all components were also included. New front and rear springs were spec'd out and obtained from Eaton Detroit Springs. Not everybody can afford to rent a vehicle hoist, but with one already installed in the shop, plus a couple of husky helpers to lift the rear end onto a rolling tool cabinet, the whole rear suspension installation procedure was almost a slam dunk. Much of the time spent on the rear end installation was actually consumed determining the correct wheel offset.

Wheel Offset
Although it is certainly possible to pound away and cut away enough metal to wedge oversize tires as large as 29.5 inches in height and 12 inches of width into an early GTO wheel-well, our builders had no intention of cobbling up its beautifully restored rear quarters. It was thus determined that, with the proper wheel offset (in this case, 3-3/4-inch backspacing with a 5/16-inch wheel spacer), a 29.5x9-inch tread tire would fit nicely without interference. As soon as these measurements were taken and verified, a set of classic-looking American Mag Torq-Thrust D 15x8.5 rear wheels were ordered along with a set of Mickey Thompson Sportsman Pro 29.5x9x15 ET drag slicks. Up front, Amercan Mag 15x4.5 wheels would be shod with M/T 26x7.5x15 Sportmans. Lee Manufacturing was contacted to provide a 20:1-ratio manual steering box and rag joint.

Stop- and Go-Power
Stainless Steel Brakes Corporation supplied perhaps the most important components with respect to moving the GTO into the present day with respect to superior braking. Their impressive-looking front and rear disc brake conversion kits were augmented with a 7-inch booster with master cylinder, an electric vacuum pump and an adjustable proportioning valve with pressure gauge. Classic Tube provided the important stainless steel brake lines. The GeeTO Tiger project now qualified as a "roller."