Kathleen Newton's 1968 Pontiac LeMans Restoration

1/27/12

This week on the LeMans project, doors and quarter panels were fabricated and fitted to ensure the correct body lines. As you can see in the first two pictures, there was a large gap in the seam where the doors and quarter panels came together. In the third and fourth pictures you can see how the quarter panels were cut, widened and reinforced. Doing this made a noticeable difference in how much smaller the seam is between the door and quarter panel. In the last two pictures you can see the end result, the quarter panels were welded together and the welds were smoothed . This was done to both sides of the LeMans.

1/13/12

As with many older vehicles, rust can happen. In this case the cowl was in rough shape. The cowl is what the bottom of the windshield sits on and is a fairly important part of the vehicle for a few reasons. There are two close up pictures, one on from each side of the LeMans and a picture of the entire cowl. I hope you are enjoying following the progress on this big project.

1/6/12

Happy New Year!

As we get further along with the project, we may be slowed down. Last week, little was done on this beloved LeMans as we were waiting for parts to arrive. Many of the body panels are being replaced on the car, as you can see. We are using OEM equivalent parts. In other words since the LeMans is 44 years old we can no longer get original parts from the manufacturer, so we are getting aftermarket parts from places that specialize in making OEM or original equivalent parts.

This week continued work on the rear of the vehicle. As you can see the rear body panel is clamped into place and adjustments are being made to ensure a perfect fit with the trunk lid and the quarter panels. As you can see we are using the original trunk lid, but all of the paint has been taken off and when the time comes it too will be primed and painted just like the rest of the car.

12/23/11

This week, with a good portion of the welding done on the inner panels of the rear of the car, the exterior pieces have been mocked up to ensure the fit. Both the passenger and driver side quarter panels have been clamped into place, along with both doors. If you look closely at the photo from the rear you can see some of the clamps holding thequarter panels in place.

Thank you to all of those that have been following along with the progress of the LeMans. Lefler Collision, Glass & Mechanical would like to wish you and yours a very Merry Christmas!

12/16/11

This week, things are being welded back together. Our shop has a welding machine that is able to make spot welds that look fresh from the factory. In these photos you will see the side of the trunk floor pan being welded into place, as well as the inner and outer wheel housing being spot welded together. All of this is being done on the passenger side of the LeMans. Notice the close up pictures of the spot welds.

12/2/11

This week Kathleen and her husband came in to check out the progress. She is quite excited about the restoration of her beloved LeMans and has been very involved in the process. She comes in to check things out every now and then and has been able to pick out some things for it. She recently picked out the interior carpeting and the dash.

11/18/11

There aren’t a ton of pictures this week as restoring a vehicle is a slow process. This week’s photos are a perfect example of why restoration can be a slow product. A new radiator support cannot be ordered, so we found a local person that was able to custom make one. As you can see the old one is quite rusted, but he was able to match exactly the bolt patterns and holes as he machined the new one. There is also a close up picture of one of the clamps holding on the parts that have not yet been geminately attached.

11/11/11

This week, more parts have arrived and the long process of fitting the new parts has begun. In these photos the doors, quarter panels, fenders and trunk floor have been mocked up on the frame. These parts will come off and be put back several times before the LeMans is completed to ensure the proper fit. In a few of the photos notice the clamps holding things in place.

11/04/11

This week new parts started arriving and the rear of the LeMans was taken down to the frame. Some of the parts that arrived included both door as well as the new trunk floor.

10/28/11

This week we continued to tear down the exterior of the vehicle and started on the interior. Both rear quarter panels and wheel wells were cut out. There are two pictures in which you can see all the way through the rear end of the LeMans, from one side to the other. When we were took out the interior, we found a Dentyne Gum wrapper from 1968. We’ve included a picture of the gum wrapper, although it’s hard to read.

10/21/11

This week we really got into tearing down the front end of the LeMans. The hood and fenders have been taken off, as well as the radiator support.

10/14/11

This week we have begun the tear down process of Kathleen’s ’68 Le Mans. The vinyl top is being taken off of the roof and the front end of the vehicle is being taken apart. In this week’s photos you’ll see the front bumper and grill inserts just before they are taken off and the headlight buckets with the headlights taken out, among others.


10/7/11

Lefler Collision, Glass & Mechanical is by no means a restoration company, but in this situation we are honored to breathe some life back into a vehicle that has such sentimental value to its delightful owner, Kathleen Newton!

Here is what her LeMans looked like when it came to us:

 

Let us know your thoughts on our special project or just share memories of your favorite vehicle!

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