Two Goats and A Girl

anyone?

2009-01-23T07:42:00.001-06:00

anyone want to put convertible tops on two 68 GTO's for nearly free?

body work?

paint?

Anyone have carports for nearly free?

Sometimes it doesn't hurt to ask.

ARRRG

2008-08-22T21:27:00.004-05:00

Yeah, I have nothing new to post. But I'm still here.

OH! I did get car covers. lol

Thank You....

2008-03-19T19:35:00.002-05:00

Thanks to whoever complained, and the city for following their codes, work has been done on the GTOs. They both run.... which we knew. They both have been driven. We knew they could. Hopefully we will get going on further steps to continue this project.

it was nice to go to walmart in the green one, I wasn't willing to drive it yet, but soon..... I'm itching too.

Driving in the slow lane

2008-01-19T16:37:00.000-06:00

well we're not getting anywhere fast on the project which keeps ripping at my heart. Mom keeps seeing these wheels for sale when she goes to work in the morning, but when she's got time to stop they're not outside. I'm going to try to go look again tuesday and see if I have any luck. Sadly the money I have saved that is supposed to be for a house, (or towards the gtos)... will probably be going towards a new computer because mine crashed. So to help with the GTOs, hopefully, I've posted a want ad on craig's list. And as for the house money from savings, well it will go back to having no money down to put towards a house. and a computer, can wait a little while since we have the one in the computer room, but I like having my own.

well I was posting on craig's list... i lost my post. I'll try again later.

that frickin' rocks!

2007-06-30T08:59:00.000-05:00

went to Douglas Tire today to get the tires off the wheels that I can't use... but I can't get rid of the wheel yet.... makes my car a lot lighter. anyways, they're awesome there.

Then I went out to Randy's Lakeview Nursery off of Country Park Road (and colbern)... for crush and run, $26 a ton. for what I measured out - I want to cover a 30 x 25 space.... so I don't have gaps to mow between gravel and fence... and that whole buffalo needs a spot. anyways... 7 tons, full load for a little truck (that will fit in our backyard), $6 delivery.... I think I figured a little over $200 for that. dad's 2 back wheels & tires are going to be between $300-$400... so how excited am I over rocks? so FRICKIN' excited! that way maybe we can keep the cars from getting worse.

I know I still need overhead cover, and 4 more tires, but still, I almost cried when I found out how realistic gravel was going to be, everyone seems to make it sound more complicated that it might very will be.

so my goals are, get dad's gto with all 4 wheels and tires so it at least rolls.

get gravel

seek carports

feed goats and make mobile - safe and mobile

have gary or marty check other 4 tires

save for tops.

yeah I know the feeding of the goats and making them easy to start and safe to move will be a big task but I have Bill's phone number and he went so far over my head when I talked to him yesterday that I will be using his cell when it comes to the engine my dad worked so hard on.

its getting there... with a ton of help from everyone.

I think it will be fun to make a thank you board or a scrapbook for these cars, I know business cards will always be kept with them. no hesitation advertising for anyone.... have you read this post? I mean thats pretty obvious. :-)

BTW

2007-06-26T18:58:00.000-05:00

Whenever I do get the cars going, and if I ever make it to show them off... next to all that info people want to know will be a list full of Thank You's to the people and places that have helped in any sort of way at all. It will be a long list, but one that is important. no thing, large or small will be forgotten

round and round we go....

2007-06-26T15:13:00.000-05:00

here are the tires next on my list to get replaced. they're from the back of my dad's (the blue) GTO....
-BUT- because of mainly this chunk and a few others Gary doesn't feel safe putting new tires on those wheels.... which means new wheels. he estimated for ones like the ones we have $70. the tires $90, the labor $? = finished project..... priceless.... for more than one reason. lol

we have wheels above the garage but they look nothing like the GTO's but maybe they were upside down, or maybe it was just too hot up there. there were some marked "Ford" so only God knows what those came off of.

Sing it with me now....

2007-06-24T18:20:00.001-05:00

"Working at the car wash..."

washed my mom's GTO, I'd take a picture but I'm not sure you'd notice in the pics, but if you knew the car in person, you'd know. even did a quick wash of the top. still looks in bad shape, but better bad shape. :-) tuesday in the mess of things I need to get done, I hope to wash my dad's. then next weekend, the Truck.... well the 4th is coming up eventually, maybe I'll get more done in that week.

got a 'second' job. its only a couple days this summer helping Kat out but its some extra money to add to the jar. we'll see what else God blesses me with.

like christmas

2007-06-20T05:42:00.000-05:00

I woke up this morning and saw no notes hanging about. just for kicks I looked outside to see where the tires where. (I slept from 5 last night to 5 this morning, I knew I missed mark's normal night over.) and the wheels werent there by the shed. so I looked at the blue GTO, and its back wheels are off, and I ran to the green one, and the new ones are on, and I just about started crying. I don't know where my dad's are... but I'm excited.

and I sent out a lot of letters to anyone basicly that I knew the name off in my dad's cell phone, and my uncle danny wrote back last night.

I'm on cloud nine right now. but I know, time and money, time, and money...

gravel, tarps, gravel, tarps.

donations accepted, please apply within

2007-06-19T09:17:00.001-05:00

well, went to take the truck to get inspected.... once again... wouldn't start. so basicly I get to start taking it piece by piece to brian and figure out whats up with it.

I did go next door to the classic paint and collision shop, and talked to kenny, who then gave me the number of Clarence (who does convertible tops). at least $745 a piece using the old glass. which is what I was expected

lots of work a head, well worth it though. if they run right, tops are nice and the tires are good, those are my important 2007 tasks. who cares if you can see the road under your feet?

celebrate the daddy

2007-06-16T07:49:00.001-05:00

penny pinching....

2007-06-15T13:17:00.000-05:00

well I emptied my bank into a GTO jar, which was full from the transfer. took it to the bank, $50.91 thats like 3/4 a tire lol

ok so it takes little to make me happy....

....Baby Steps....

2007-06-15T06:08:00.000-05:00

guess who's getting tires for the GTOs? yep... its me *does happy dance*

I get 2 today for the front of the green gto, and then I need to order the more expensive 2 for the back of my dads. Mark says the other 4 tires are ok, but I'm afraid once they move they won't be... so I'm expecting another 4 tires in the next couple paychecks. its not as bad as I was fearing.

I'm lucky, mark isn't afraid to drive the cars up to SS. BP said that he'd gladly have them look at the car and tell me the repairs needed, once they weren't so busy. so pending if the truck actually starts and makes it to the appointment on tuesday, I'll try to book some time with them even if its not for 3 months.

this weekend/any spare time, I get to call around and get guesses on top repairs, gravel, and carports or if lucky 2 car garage. its nice for things to finally get set in motion, its like no one believed me that it would happen. God has placed it on my heart, and out of no where the confidence has come full force and while i've got it I'm going to use it. I do have to admit meds have helped. now that they've figured out something thats wrong with me, I've been feeling like a whole new person.... its who I've been trying to be but just couldn't get out of the personal prison.

Its nice to feel like me.... the real me.

Everyone do a happy dance for progress.... don't forget to tape it - you know that youtube.com just lives on that stuff ;-)

*Love & God Bless*

GUESS WHAT?!?!?!

2007-06-13T06:14:00.000-05:00

well I took the plunge and traveled out to car places around LS to get some estimates and ideas on how to work on the GTOS, and I'm in the process of getting tires, I'm getting 2 and then my mom said she'd pitch in for 2. well that makes 4 so we're half way there lol. and then summit south said when they weren't so busy they'd be able to take a look under the hood and see what all might need to be done. they all new my dad, they all now the gtos, and they know the importance of the task ahead... and the cost. we'll see how far we can get.

Spring Rain

2007-03-31T08:58:00.000-05:00

normally I'd go with beautiful but after thinking about it, the tarps are in bad shape and most likely creating swimming pools in the cars....

not to mention.... the cars still haven't moved, and we still have no gravel/foundation.

talk about depressing.

Don't get me wrong, there is a lot of good going on too, just not as far as the cars go. Thats all on a different blog.

NOT FOR SALE

2006-10-21T10:30:00.000-05:00

Apparently last week another guy had stopped by. This guy had taken a wrong turn on the way to someones house in the winter and saw the cars and felt like coming back when it was warmer. I'm starting to keep the names and numbers in a box... I'm not sure why, other than for my amusement.

Mom is ready to do the gravel thing. She asked me if we should do foundation or just standard gravel... foundation would be ideal 'cept it cost more, and the way our ground shifts it would just crack anyways. The gravel will keep water away from the body a little bit more than the grass so we can try to prevent a little bit of rust... or at least thats our story. We should be able to change the tires around enough that they'll hold air long enough to move them.... I'm sad Douglas Tires never got back to us on the price of new tires. Thats going to be a big thing we need to do... I need to do. I was told the tire we have in the garage will be able to replace the one on the green gto (which is beyond any repairs) but it will not hold air very long. But it will look better. :-)

I still don't know what to do when it comes to a roof or some sort of shelter. We can tarp them for now - once they dry out - but any repairs seem pointless without proper storage. This shouldn't be such a hard task but we haven't exactly been blessed with the extra funds to do this. I know its all a selfish desire but I believe God will provide for this.

Verdoro Green & Alpine Blue....

I can't wait!

The Pressure

2006-10-03T07:50:00.000-05:00

Amanda saw the for the 2nd time someone stop by and ask about the GTOs.... this time the guy was persistant and made me feel about an inch tall. You could tell he was looking the house over trying to make me feel like I will never be able to fix up my parents cars. "The green one alone is going to cost $30,000"... No duh. Just because I'm a girl doesn't mean I don't know the numbers. I'm still not selling. Heck, they're not even mine to sell. But its not happening. He said he'd be back... he's got two 67's... good for him. "I have 5 cars, I know what it cost to fix them up" Good for you, why do you need another? He didn't even hear me say, My dad passed in Feb, they were his cars. He didn't even have the slightest respect. I'll be damned if that guy ever lays a finger on our cars.

However, when I went to the eye dr last week I was wearing a B&M Tracker Pulling shirt and so he asked if it was a real team and I went into the details of that. And he asked if the noise was too much for the young kids, and I said I didn't really remember, but my dad drove a GTO so I was used to the noise. He laughed and then we talked about the cars. (Its nice to break the tension with conversation. Now if I could just find a common ground with Dr Gore... anyways) He was really nice about it and told me to keep him updated when I go in... that is what I'm used to... that I don't mind at all.

Still Dreamin'

2006-08-20T20:24:00.000-05:00

Its been a while since I've posted last but not a lot has changed. Summer has come and it leaving us soon.

In may we uncovered our pool and put the tarp ontop the blue GTO hoping that it would dry the tarp out, and if it rained would protect the car since it has those wonderful holes in the top. well before long the heat had gotten to be to much in the car (I'm guessing) and the front windsheild cracked. Not the highlight of my summer, but it was one thing I wasn't going to have to replace.

I have seriously started to save money for the future, be it the cars or moving out. but hopefully I can put it towards both. The first step will be creating/finding a place to store the cars so that the money spent isn't wasted.

I haven't lost hope yet. It kills me to look outside and see the cars falling to pieces. I know that it will work out in time - just wish it was my speed lol

The Damage

2006-03-13T20:22:00.000-06:00

Well in my little bubble I've been making mental notes of what I need to get the cars able to drive, and then what needs to happen after that. I got batteries for both cars saturday, but because I really don't know anything about cars, I don't know how they go back in. Sounds stupid and it is, but the GTO work is all about me learning, and the cables in the GTOs aren't colored or labeled... Mark will have to help me on that.

My sister is my hero with support in the GTO situation.... she called a local tire store that my dad knew people at and asked about tires, she's waiting to hear more about them.... that will be my next step. Sadly fixing (or rigging) the tops has moved up on my to do list. Tarping them until the tornado/hail season dies down might be my best bet but not what I really want. You see the storm systems yesterday produced large hail - golf ball size..... and other sizes

causing huge holes in the convertible tops - which are not fully covered by our insurance anymore.... meaning duct tape tops are now the style. :-) I think what kills me the most about it all is that my dad's top I wasn't going to have to replace right away, it was in fine condition - or at least looked it. But now - not so much.

-thats my hand, we'll just go with the hole being about 5 in long.-

(moms - green, you cant see as much)

Yes we went redneck to white trash. . . we're all very thankful though that out of everything that could of happened we only have that damage. I guess I need to start on some deep research of body shops in the area. One step at a time.... I have a feeling I will be saying that a lot.

..little gto....

2006-03-01T08:43:00.000-06:00

My dad passed Saturday the 25th and was laid to rest yesterday Feb 28th. The GTO's mean as much to my brother and sister as they do to me, and it showed. I had been wanting to get the blue one up and running before - and more so before dad passed so we could drive it to the funeral. Well when my dad actually died, my sister thought the same thing... apparently so did many others. But in fear of things like the breaks not working, we didn't... but my sister did get my dad's friends to start up both the GTOs, they really needed it. Its good to know they both still start. My dad's doesn't sound as loud as I remember but only 1 out of 3 carburetor were working. We need to get new tires and work on the body. My dad's best friend Mark told me he'd like to be a part of fixing them up - and he'd try in a couple weeks to contact the guy my dad said is supposed to have parts for our GTO. He has a 68 hardtop. My dad had planned on asking mark to get a hold of the guy, just hadn't gotten there.

The services were great and we were a little redneck about it - but we were comfortable and though it might of come off disrespectful, we felt dad wouldn't of minded. We stood around the car singing to Alabama before lowering my dad down into the earth, and some people looked shocked. I asked, which would dad rather of done at a funeral - be the first one in or listen to the radio. I think my brother responded with, I know what dad would of done but he would of preferred listening to the radio. My dad was a great man.

The GTOs will drive again, but it will take time.

one step forward, two steps back

2006-02-23T09:51:00.000-06:00

Its almost spring like here and its actually almost that time of the year which excites me. I got my new Year One catalog yesterday, well newer - its a $10 book so the one I got for free is from 2004, and is about $5 off on everything.... if only those prices would still work. I have been training at my job and I think I will like it when I get the hang of it. Things have been rough at home, and so at work I've been getting frustrated easily and somethings just won't stick in my head often resulting in tears. I have a great co-worker and she knows everything that is going on and has been very understanding. Its a blessing. But with work it means money and money means I can start putting some aside for my car and some for the gtos - that is still my plan.

I have a friend from church that I have shown pictures of the cars but he's never seen them in person. He doesn't think by the pictures he's seen they'd be too much work - he'll probably be in shock when he sees them today. What can I say the cars photograph well. :-) So he wanted to see them before he leaves for bootcamp and he leaves on the 6th I think, therefore making today a good day. We'll see what he says and then I'll go back thru my parts books and add up damage.

I really want to have them run for a while but my dad won't tell me how. Sounds stupid I know, but they both run, it just takes a lot of work to do it. I don't think he's ever going to tell me how, and I think out of respect I won't mess with them too much while he's at home in the hospital bed - I know it frustrates him that he can't get up and do things. The past couple days though he hasn't been making much sense, he's getting easily confused so I don't know if I'll ever get the tips on making them run.

" Anything worthwhile is always worth waiting for."Author Unknown

Overhaulin'

2006-02-11T13:12:00.000-06:00

Well my dad is home from the hospital and he is paralyized. Well he thinks at times he can move his toes but if you stare at anything long enough it tends to move on ya. He's in amazingly good spirits about it all and it makes a huge difference.

Yesterday he was transported home by an ambulance from the Kansas City Fire Department and one of the paramedics commented on the GTOs, no big deal...it happens. Then the tech from hospice that came over to help set up my dad's bar mentioned that he was on call this weekend if he decided he wanted to sell them lol, because money talks. We all told him it doesn't talk that loud. Money hasn't ever meant very much at all to my family - its a blessing.

My Aunt Karen had called early in the day and was talking about Extreme Makeover Home Edition for the house, and Overhaulin' for the cars.... Extreme Makeover Home Edition just doesn't seem like a reality for the situation we are in, though my church friends have offered to help us with anything that we needed at no cost... my dad has also decided that things need to be taken care of and money doesn't really matter. And more than just my aunts have mentioned Overhaulin' the GTOs, even my mom and I had talked about it.

The catch:
Overhaulin' always surprises people... pranks them into thinking someone stole the car, or wrecked it... well first if something happened to both GTOs it would be obvious that something fishy would be going on. Second, with everything going on, the stress would probably be a little overwhelming in itself... think about whats going on and trying to fix up the house to make my dad more comfortable - and then think of the fact he has anaplastic thyroid cancer..... and is stuck in bed, can't get out..... then think of something happening to our 2 GTOs and not being able to do anything about them.... Have you seen how those people react? As much as I'd love our cars to be restored so that I wouldn't have to - it just seems to be a bit much. But I'm always the one that puts a damper on things, I don't like the risk and I don't see how things can happen when they seem to good to be true. Plus I'm afriad a show like that would add too many whistles and bells to the cars, I think we'd just like them back to normal - well normal for us.

wishing on a falling star

2006-02-07T23:35:00.000-06:00

I was in the process of creating a wish list on year one's site - to get an idea of what I need and try to figure out how to do things and God thru me another curve. I thought since my dad walked into the hospital he'd be walking out, he's not going to be. I still plan on putting up a wish list and keeping this site going - mainly to be able to put focus somewhere else, but I'm not sure what will become of it at this moment. I don't want this to be another girly journal, I want it to focus on the cars and increasing my knowledge of them. this post excluded.

Bits & Pieces

2006-02-06T00:45:00.000-06:00

GTO:
•Grand Tourismo Omologato
•Gas, Tires, Oil

From: Great Old Cars Dot Com

"The 1964 model year introduced General Motor’s all new A-Body Platform.
The $295.90 GTO option, RPO 382, joined the 1964 Pontiac Tempest/LeMans option list. The heart of the GTO option package was a 325-horsepower 389-cubic-inch V8 with a 421 style cylinder head, dual exhausts, Carter AFB four-barrel carburetor, a mild hydraulic camshaft, special hydraulic lifters, manual three-speed transmission with a Hurst shifter, a heavy-duty clutch, heavy-duty suspension, US Royal red-line tires, a 3.23:1 rear axle ratio, twin hood scoops, an assortment of GTO emblems, twin simulated hood scoops, bucket seats. The GTO option was available on three LeMans bodies; the two-door coupe, hardtop, and convertible."

"Motor Trend named the 1968 Pontiac GTO its "Car of the Year"
Coupes were no longer manufactured in 1968. 77,704 hardtops and 9,980 convertibles were sold."

From: I s It A Lemon Dot Com
The Goat. Wangers put together an ad showing a young man standing in his driveway, a pail under his arm, posing with his freshly washed bright red GTO. The ad was titled, "A Boy and His Goat,"

"The ad suggested that everyone ought to have a GTO in order to complete their life cycle," Wangers said. " The corporate committee rejected the ad based on its perception of what the word goat defined. "The guys downtown told us a goat is the butt of a joke or the butt end of a mistake," Wangers commented.

From: Muscle Car Club Dot Com
"Pontiac had a hit on its hands with its GTO. To really advertise it, they choose a tiger theme. Ads such as this one played with that theme as tigers (real and fake) were shown sitting in, jumping out of, and waiting in the engine bay of GTOs. And it didn't stop there. Pontiac put out a song, had Uniroyal Tiger Paws tires, and numerous tiger themed toys for kids. Despite all this, the GTO became known by its fans as the "Goat" and the name has stuck with it ever since."

* * * * * * * *

just a bite of background. sheila mentioned that people might not know that a gto was a goat and I might get some weird comments for it.... though I never really knew how it came by it. I know that some people thought that it was what GTO stood for - Goat. My mom used to tell people we had two goats and a buffalo in our backyard, their looks were priceless. We don't have the water buffalo anymore but we've got a great watering hole.

Goat CPR

2006-02-05T21:11:00.000-06:00

My parents own 2 1968 GTO Convertibles, which you've probably already read. They were both 2nd owners on each of them, we've had them both since 73-74 at least I think - I'd have to check the titles. My dad has tinkered with is in the past and it used to live in the garage. It was his baby, so its in pretty good shape (all things considered). My mom's was the family car and is going to need a lot more work.

My goal is to post all the pictures I've taken of them the past couple days, but its going to be a lot of work and nothing is letting me upload the way I want to. so we'll see what I can do.

this one is my dad's. its a standard.

This is my mom's. its an automatic.

I've been wanting to fix these cars up for years, but have had the fear of taking over my dad's toys. Since my dad has been diagnosed with ATC, he's been letting me move in a little - not that I know what I'm doing. I still don't have the money or a clue but I'm learning and can't wait to start taking action. Its amazing how many people want to have a piece of the work.... everyone wants to play with the cars lol.

The green one (which I will be working on first) badly needs new floor panels, that I think is the first step. Rear fenders would also be nice. The trunk and rear bumper where hit, so they also need to be replaced. Carpet and seats would also be nice.... but one thing at a time. From what I saw from Year One a floor pan isn't that expensive ($237), its just figuring out how to put it in. I'll learn, I've got friends. :-) I guess there are places that can do it for me but then where is the fun?

First things first though, my dad needs to get out of the hospital (he's in for shingles).... and I need to start getting a paycheck. I will also need to create a work space. I'd like to get one of the carport canopies with walls to give the car that I'm working on at the time shelter. Then everything I want to do I will need to get approved by my dad - mainly to see if I really need to do it and if there is a cheaper/easier way to go about it.

Once I get a paycheck, I'll get my bills paid and hopefully be paying for a newer, more reliable car, then I'll put money aside for the GTOs.

This is going to be a very long process but I'm so excited.

here are some pictures. The blue one has black interior, green one has pearl.

more pictures check out my photobucket album