1965 Pontiac GTO Restoration - Episode 6 - Rear Deck Filler Installation

Hello and welcome to my channel! I want to introduce my 1965 Pontiac GTO. I discovered this car in Salt Lake City where it was destined for the scrap heap. It will require extensive restoration work and I will do my best to document the process in what will be a long series of videos. My goal is to transform this car into a 10 second street car in the next 12 months!
In this episode I replace the rear deck filler panel. This same process can be used on all most makes and models of classic cars. This job in about 4-6 hours barring any major rust issues.
RUST BUCKET RESTOS MERCH IS NOW AVAILABLE! Please send me a message on Instagram for pricing and more pictures of the build. @Rust_Bucket_Restos

[@jdean1610]

Shout out to you rustbucket doing a great job and say hey to your little T-bone

[@rustbucketrestos6511]

Thanks brother

[@relaxinmaxin7246]

Their are dreamers and doers. You sir are a doer. Excellent work, and such a patient dad. Awesome!

[@rustbucketrestos6511]

Thanks brother

[@wastingmymoneyonmotorcycles]

Dude you just moved, have 3 young kids, a prem baby in the hospital, a job, and your wife let's you spend this much time in the garage... You are my hero!

[@rustbucketrestos6511]

I’m a lucky man!

[@jbtoptc7327]

I have watched you on both the Charger and GTO. To me these cars are basket cases and are not worth what effort you are putting in them. I have to admire your determination to save these and I believe you get off on doing the metal work to save these classics. MY HATS OFF TO YOU.

[@rustbucketrestos6511]

Well said… I love doing the metal work on these cars and bringing them back to life!

[@joem1767]

I'm replacing the exact same panel on my 1964 Skylark with the exact same sheet metal. This was super helpful just to see how someone else tackled this job. Looking forward to more updates!

[@rustbucketrestos6511]

Thanks for watching! 😎🤘

[@joshuamyers4625]

I’m watching your videos on this project and mimicking what you are doing on my 1965 Pontiac Bonneville project. I just got a new rear deck filler and am getting ready to cut out the old one and fit the new one. Thanks for the detailed video footage!

[@rustbucketrestos6511]

Hell yeah! Glad the videos are helping others with their builds

[@steveosteen1815]

T bone going to grow up a car fanatic as well . Great job on the car wish I lived close enough to help .

[@rustbucketrestos6511]

Yes he is. He’s already obsessed!

[@deanrayne7302]

I love watching you fix rust right and not take short cuts. The cars you fix will last longer than the factory made them last. Keep the videos coming.

[@rustbucketrestos6511]

That’s my goal! I hate rust! & rust hates me!

[@markpothier4017]

Good job on your GTO so far! I have used POR 15 on my projects, and I always dump the remaining POR into a mason jar. The jar seals great and it keeps perfectly until the next time I need it. The can would never seal up, or crush and it's far to expensive to be wasting.

[@rustbucketrestos6511]

Absolutely!

[@Jokatyal]

Glad to see you restoring this car Brings back a lot of memories for me , Because I owned one of these in 1969 Red outside Black interior with a 421 and three two barrel carbs four speed tranny

[@rustbucketrestos6511]

Bet that was a screamer!

[@Jokatyal]

@@rustbucketrestos6511 Yes it was The only thing that kept me from keeping her was a Draft notice in the mailbox

[@r.-m.d.]

Thank you for letting us participate in your work. Your videos are really very interesting. Please never stop doing it!😎👍👌👏

[@rustbucketrestos6511]

I enjoy making them!

[@DennisMurphey]

You are walking through mud up hill in the rain, but by golly you are making wonderful progress, your results are outstanding. It shows given determination these old boys can be saved, and look real nice too. Wow! Great efforts.

[@rustbucketrestos6511]

They are all worth saving in my opinion!! Glad I get to bring a few of these girls back from the dead. Can’t wait to burn rubber with them!

[@robshipman8691]

Great work...I´m restoring a 68 Rover P6 for myself and a 59 Land Rover for a client but just finished my 101 Forward Control V8 Land Rover...subscribed and watching from Portugal...also great that you involve your kids AND reply to comments keep up the great work and stay safe...

[@rustbucketrestos6511]

Awesome! Thanks for following our builds!

[@tomp3981]

That GTO is definitely a challenge for anyone to rebuild literally from the ground up but with time and alot of cutoff wheels and weld wire it should happen.

[@rustbucketrestos6511]

& Michelob Ultra!

[@robertmalmgren4640]

Makes my truck floor ,rockers and cab corners seem easy.

[@rustbucketrestos6511]

You could do those on a Friday night and still have the weekend to have fun!

[@robertmalmgren4640]

Thanks for the encouragement . I am good at procrastination.

[@rustbucketrestos6511]

Get it done!

[@scottkovacs7634]

Came afar from what you started with looks very nice

[@rustbucketrestos6511]

Thanks Scott! She’s definitely come a long ways!

[@joevergnetti767]

Let’s GO GTO!!!! Awesome work once again. Never disappointed with these episodes, the work is top notch and I love seeing the boys in the background- they’re already car nuts!! Can’t wait for the next one!!

[@rustbucketrestos6511]

Thanks brother! They love being in the garage with me!

[@kypo2674]

I admire your attention to detail and the layed back approach you give off. Great work.

[@rustbucketrestos6511]

This stuff should be fun!

[@larrygoodwin4103]

Hey -when I did my filler panel and the gap between quarters I made a slice in the panel near the gap then used a straight blade screw driver to ply the gap tight then tacked the slice a little at a time and work my to the bottom of the panel a section at a time.i have seen guys used this technique of quarter to door gaps as well.

[@joeswartz1238]

So glad that I’m not the only one getting smashed cans from Eastwood!!! Fortunately all of the product has been good, but I’ve received at least 6 or 7 cans that looked like they were dropped off the roof. Excellent work, though. Thanks for sharing and looking forward to more videos! Keep it up!

[@rustbucketrestos6511]

I don’t know what the deal is… everything I get from them is super smashed. I told them how bad it was when I went to their store in Ohio. Cans on the shelf look pristine!

[@jeffsratsrodsrebuilds1535]

I'm glad I found your channel. I inherited a 65 lemans when my dad passed. He got the edges painted but its gutted so I have a lot of work left. Hopefully I can watch the rest of your build and put mine back together. Thanks for the awesome content.

[@rustbucketrestos6511]

Thanks for following! & good luck with your lemans!

[@erice5353]

Doing a great job thanks for documenting will help others... One tip if I may on windshield channels. I always screw the metal i prior to welding this will enable you to test fit the glass and more important ...Test fit the GTO stainless window trim to see where you may need to adjust. Some of the repo quarters say will need work around the lower lip to get a good factory stainless trim to quarter or area fit.

[@rustbucketrestos6511]

Absolutely. A little more massaging and tweaking will be needed.

[@dennisostler9613]

You are doing an awesome job of restoring the integrity of the window channels! Keep the videos coming 👍

[@rustbucketrestos6511]

Amazing how much it firmed up the roof doing these!

[@paulgunter1538]

Enjoy your video's, lots of work on this one for sure! Nice Work !

[@rustbucketrestos6511]

Thanks brother! 🤘🤘

[@vegansynths7757]

I’m about to try this exact replacement on my 65 GTO of the tray between the back window and the trunk. Never welded before. Never done body work before. Inspired to give it a try thanks to you.

[@rustbucketrestos6511]

It’s not bad at all to do!

[@vegansynths7757]

@@rustbucketrestos6511 question: do you use gas with your MIG welder or no gas? Would love to know your setup.

[@rustbucketrestos6511]

I use a Snap-On MM250SL w/ C25 welding gas. Absolutely love the welder!

[@vegansynths7757]

Lil too expensive for me. Starting out with an all in one from Amazon. For now. Looking at a TOOLIOM 135A Flux Core. Wish me luck!

[@crbrepairmotorcycles6608]

You are truly blessed,,God speed

[@rustbucketrestos6511]

Extremely! Thanks for watching!

[@alcohotrods5481]

Hey I watch your videos all the time. Good work. Btw the tip on your welder is sticking out to far. Try adjusting it you'll have better gas coverage on your welds n will work better

[@rustbucketrestos6511]

🤘😎🤘

[@buffdoc46]

Fantastic 💪work. One step closer

[@rustbucketrestos6511]

Getting there!

[@thevinylcollector3472]

awesome job man looking great

[@rustbucketrestos6511]

Thanks man

[@axe6xforce]

Nice work!

[@rustbucketrestos6511]

🤘🤘

[@patvandeveken5391]

Nice work.... maybe buy t-bone a pedalcar to work on 😉

[@rustbucketrestos6511]

Funny you say that. He actually has an original 68 GTX pedal car that he toys with. I bought it to restore but he's torn it up pretty good.

[@robertreavley7145]

Belt & braces with the rust encapsulator!! I use the Bill Hirsch Miricle paint encapsulator paint. As I was told it’s the best?? Great to see the progress!! Love the music too! If you do request can you play some Union station bluegrass?

[@rustbucketrestos6511]

I’ll definitely check it out! I try to change it up every video

[@KrishnaDraws]

Love the videos. You’re making great progress. Thanks for taking us along on the journey!

[@rustbucketrestos6511]

Glad you like them!

[@caddy1008]

Those deck seams from the factory are not hid, maybe some kind of sealer?? Great work don't stop.

[@rustbucketrestos6511]

I can’t stop!

[@toms1348]

Dude!!! You used Clecos....awesome!! Admittedly, I'm surprised they aren't more widely used in the resto community. They're Primarily an aviation fastener for sure....but they translate over to restos pretty well. I expect you'll make greater use of them in the future. PS.. good luck with thr Eastwood rust encapsulater. Admittedly, I've been a Paint Over Rust-15 junky for years. I hope the Eastwood product works well for you.

[@rustbucketrestos6511]

Same here. I tried the Eastwood stuff on a whim. I think I’ll stick with POR but that’s just my preference. Both are good!

[@DScaglione.]

Great job!

[@rustbucketrestos6511]

Thanks brother! 🤘🤘

[@ibiscar06]

Those window channels look like a pain. Awesome to see how you fix it. Looks like a ton of work left, but looking forward to the next video. Have an awesome week.

[@rustbucketrestos6511]

Thanks brother! Once the window channels are all done I’ll feel a ton better! The rest of what’s left is a whole lot more enjoyable!

[@ibiscar06]

@@rustbucketrestos6511 im really looking forward to seeing that camaro. If there's any car I'd like to have, its a 67 or 69 camaro. Well any pre 1993 for that matter 😄. But really love first gen camaros.

[@rustbucketrestos6511]

It’s for sale…

[@ibiscar06]

@@rustbucketrestos6511 o really 🤔 lol. I'm sure it'll be all its worth, might be out of my budget, plus shipping or the drive is kinda far. I'm literally at the southern border tip in texas

[@rustbucketrestos6511]

Yea ill be finishing it in the next couple months and it’ll be time for a new home. I have ideas for another car or two id like to build… 😬

[@samperras]

Please cover the wheels on the camaro lol, love your work

[@rustbucketrestos6511]

I try!

[@samperras]

@@rustbucketrestos6511 next video those beautiful wheels !!

[@simonturner10]

Absolutely LOVE your attention to details, this is PROPER workmanship, On the panel below the deck filler I would drill a hole at the lowest point of each of the new bits you put in to allow any water to drain out in future?

[@rustbucketrestos6511]

I think the water got in there from the window channel being rotted out. Hoping I do a good enough job on the channels and deck filler to not have any water in there ever again!

[@simonturner10]

@@rustbucketrestos6511 Lets hope so, but thats just my way of thinking about safeguarding as much as poss for the future,

[@yepyep340]

WHOA! SUBSCRIBED FOR SURE.

[@rustbucketrestos6511]

Thanks Bert!

[@barrydevlinred]

Looking gud as usual mate but i couldnt help but notice thats the like 3rd video with the vette behind u is that lady urs as well also your music workshop noise ballance is on point with this video nice job

[@rustbucketrestos6511]

It’s taken a little adjusting but it’s a lot better than 2-3 videos ago! Using a new video editing software and what I hear while editing is different than the final product.

[@barrydevlinred]

@@rustbucketrestos6511 nice one chum great content awesome channel.

[@rustbucketrestos6511]

Thanks Barry 🤘🤘

[@davidbrown-55]

Coming along boss. Welding is fun, grinding the welds blow. Por15 or Eastwood?

[@rustbucketrestos6511]

Both are good products for sure. I honestly can’t tell the difference. I’d go Eastwood based on price

[@patrikpolda]

I work part time at a shipping company so I'm not really surprised that that can looks like that. It isn't rare to have a 60-70 pound package. And when you have 10 in the row and minute later another 10 it isn't fun.

[@rustbucketrestos6511]

I order through Summit & Jegs all the time too. Never had anything close to that show up at my place. I had a full gallon can rupture in a box before from Eastwood!

[@andreacalloway7259]

love the show and the content i have a 1965 pontiac grand prix that i’m going to start restoring and am wondering if you know a good source of sheet metal for replacement of rear quarter panels and window channels

[@williamradecki450]

Great show , just picked up 1965 GTO convertable was in storage for 15 yrs . You have any spare parts ? Thanks

[@rustbucketrestos6511]

I have a ton of parts… when I get the car assembled I’ll cut loose everything I don’t use. I do have two complete engines-a 389 and a 400 that will not be using.

[@theredstonetorchlogotrt1396]

Sorry if this is a dumb question but do you not weld the gap between the quarter and deck filler? I think it’s a factor lead seem so does that mean you’ll go back with bondo or something?

[@rustbucketrestos6511]

Great question. I’m not sure if this seam was leaded originally. Looking at pictures of other cars the lines are still there and are well pronounced. I’ll probably apply a think layer of duraglass to the seam and shave it.

[@randycarr5168]

@@rustbucketrestos6511 I'm sure the factory didn't use any lead in those joints. Maybe a little seam sealer. I used duraglass to fill on my 67 goat and it worked great to hide the seam.

[@rustbucketrestos6511]

Exactly my plan!

[@gerardlawrence8491]

What were those little fasteners you used on the rear deck????

[@rustbucketrestos6511]

The are called Clecos. I get mine through Eastwood. They sell a kit with the pliers and 10 of each size for a reasonable amount. Definitely worth it!

[@timothychop]

I have a 1965 lemans and it needs some of the same repares. Can you provide some part numbers from the patch panels I was lookin an AMD and couldn't find som of the parts you have used thanks

[@rustbucketrestos6511]

A lot of the sheet metal came from either AMD or year one. Which ones are you looking for specifically?

[@timothychop]

@@rustbucketrestos6511 I am looking for the lower inner A pillar patch panel

[@rustbucketrestos6511]

They don’t make them for a 65. The 66-67 is identical with the exception of the angle of the window channel. The lower section is the same as 65.

[@andrer3854]

Where did you purchase your panel or where do recommend purchasing from.

[@rustbucketrestos6511]

AMD is the best out there in my opinion!

[@andrer3854]

I would like use them, but don't have it for 1970 gto

[@jolsen1983]

What are you gonna do with the extra engines? I'm looking for one.

[@rustbucketrestos6511]

Where are you located?

[@jolsen1983]

@@rustbucketrestos6511 I'm in utah. Thought I saw in one of your videos you are also.

[@johndeffenbaugh5709]

So I couldn't really tell did it lay down as smooth as POR 15 which one ya like better

[@rustbucketrestos6511]

I’ll probably stick with the por 15, but the Eastwood product comes in a very close 2nd

[@randyd3005]

What is the status of this project? Will you have more videos of you finishing the car?

[@rustbucketrestos6511]

She’s still in work. I’ll be bringing it back to the channel this year at some point.

[@scottkovacs7634]

What size engine are you putting in

[@rustbucketrestos6511]

468 Stroker

[@danesmith3307]

How do you get one of the red shirts? Do you have a website or Facebook?

[@rustbucketrestos6511]

Please send me a message on Instagram if possible.

[@rustbucketrestos6511]

Or send me a message on Facebook. My name is Dave Swearinger

[@DScaglione.]

Y E S S S

[@rustbucketrestos6511]

😎

[@Lecknye1961]

Did that car get burned?

[@tonni4274]

not to be that guy but i kinda miss the charger

[@rustbucketrestos6511]

Charger update in next video!

[@tonni4274]

@@rustbucketrestos6511 looking forwerd to it man keep up the good work

[@michaelhill2844]

What is seen, can not be UNseen.

[@rustbucketrestos6511]

A ton of hidden rust that I couldn’t see! It disintegrated once the wire wheel touched it and my heart sank… oh well. Cut it out & make it new again!

[@stevehartz4615]

Did u go to school for body work??

[@Mokearoint]

wow, that car is in worst shape than mine when it comes to all that rust. my car had a ton of 70s style body work. yeah bondo, the miracle fix. lol

[@JohnSmith-fm6wx]

Are you retired we’re do you find the time to do this with a wife and kids and job

[@rustbucketrestos6511]

Nights & weekends! Also helps that my wife & kids all share the same passion I do with rebuilding the cars.

[@nicholasbrown6481]

I dont care for Eastwood, the gallons of epoxy primer wasn't what u was hoping. Summit racing sells better stuff. It's their own brand. No clue who makes it. And Eastwood rust encapsulator is terrible. Did a super good job on surface prep and it would just peel away. Regretted not using por15. That stuff sticks to anything. And same as you. Every can looked like they were kicking it around

[@ralphfuller8680]

What gauge metal are you using

[@rustbucketrestos6511]

I use mostly 18 gauge for exterior panels

[@ralphfuller8680]

@@rustbucketrestos6511 ok. Thanks for the reply. I'm working on 70 Ford torino gt and just trying to get some information

[@rustbucketrestos6511]

Cool car!