Anyone heard from

[bassboogieman]

NFE? He hasn't uttered a word in a week. Not like him to be able to keep quiet THAT long. He's keeping a low profile this week, why is he keeping his head down? Did Vegas put out a contract on him, or what? Did he pop some Viagra just before Mitt's speach and now he still can't set a computer on his lap? Hey man it's been more than 4 hours - CALL THE DOCTOR.

[Bubba_Bruiser]

Like an older friend once told...4 hours? Call a doctor? NO! I'm calling some more hoes!

I don't condone derogatory comments, but it was funny hearing it come from that man. No offense meant, but if it did offend, you are rolled too tight.

[bcklash]

Originally Posted by Bubba_Bruiser

Like an older friend once told...4 hours? Call a doctor? NO! I'm calling some more hoes!

I don't condone derogatory comments, but it was funny hearing it come from that man. No offense meant, but if it did offend, you are rolled too tight.

In Alabama, they go out into the pastures and find some "stump broke cows"

[nofearengineer]

Sorry, but I've been spending a lot of time reading the good book; by which I mean



It's photocopies of the actual drawings the guys on the GM assembly line looked at when building the cars. A lot of interesting things in it. Boy, oh boy am I in for a bit of work trying to put a factory air-conditioning system in my non-a/c car. Dash modifications, firewall modifications, electrical modifications, oh my!

[bassboogieman]

Don't "modify" you will run into a miriad of problems trying to do so. Replace the affected sections of the vehicle. For the A/C, replace the firewall, replace the dash. Restoring a junker like a '65 chevy full size - there, got your attention with "junker" didn't I? - should not be that difficult. Junk yards or businesses that speciallize in factory original parts (FOP) should be able to provide the parts you need. One thing you should really consider is an upgrade to the suspension and brake system. Modern suspensions and brake systems handle, perform and are safer than those of a 1/2 CENTURY ago. And, since you want to drop a big block under the hood, that should be a given. I think you can also get a complete wiring harness, that should take care of all your additions/changes. In a 50 year old car, replacing the harness may not be a bad idea anyway. You thought a boat was a "hole in the water that you throw money into" or "break out another thousand" - you ain't seen a money pit, until you start a restoration project. I've been there, done it and I can tell you for a fact - you will not profit from it, other than in your own personal satisifaction - which is why such projects are undertaken anyway. Have fun, I cannot wait to hear how this progresses over the YEARS! I think my original post has been hijacked.................

[nofearengineer]

Originally Posted by bassboogieman

Don't "modify" you will run into a miriad of problems trying to do so. Replace the affected sections of the vehicle. For the A/C, replace the firewall, replace the dash. Restoring a junker like a '65 chevy full size - there, got your attention with "junker" didn't I? - should not be that difficult. Junk yards or businesses that speciallize in factory original parts (FOP) should be able to provide the parts you need. One thing you should really consider is an upgrade to the suspension and brake system. Modern suspensions and brake systems handle, perform and are safer than those of a 1/2 CENTURY ago. And, since you want to drop a big block under the hood, that should be a given. I think you can also get a complete wiring harness, that should take care of all your additions/changes. In a 50 year old car, replacing the harness may not be a bad idea anyway. You thought a boat was a "hole in the water that you throw money into" or "break out another thousand" - you ain't seen a money pit, until you start a restoration project. I've been there, done it and I can tell you for a fact - you will not profit from it, other than in your own personal satisifaction - which is why such projects are undertaken anyway. Have fun, I cannot wait to hear how this progresses over the YEARS! I think my original post has been hijacked.................

Bruce, there are no reproduction firewalls available for 65 Impalas (unbelievably, they don't even make front fenders for them either...good thing mine are nearly perfect). So whether I will cut one out of a donor car or simply "move the holes" in my firewall is essentially no difference. Either way, it's a bunch of cutting, welding, and patching.

I have been toying with several A/C possiblities:

1. Simply make the dash look like factory a/c and install an aftermarket a/c system that requires no firewall mods.
2. Go full out and rip the a/c system ductwork, fans, heat exchangers, and controls out of a donor, and make it look completely factory. This is how I am (heavily) leaning. They come up for sale already removed from time to time.

As far as brakes go, that's a no brainer. The old single master cylinder will get replaced with a modern dual-cylinder. All new brake lines. The rear drums will get swapped for modern discs, as will the tired old front discs.

Suspension is a slightly different story. The big block I will be putting in will have aluminum heads, intake and water pump, so it will only weight about 20 lbs more than a factory small block. It would drive perfectly fine with new shocks and suspension bushings. However, I want to do it right, and if I can resist getting impatient, I will probably put a modern suspension on it while I have the body off the frame. That sucker is getting stripped to bare metal and basically protected from rust for my lifetime at least. I will say I have been a guy run 8 second quarter miles in a 66 Impala with the exact same stock suspension.

Yes, I will buy an aftermarket wiring harness. Totally worth the money.

I do know this car will end up costing more than my boat could even dream about, but it's always been a dream, and now that I have the means to do it (albeit slowly) I'm diving in headfirst.

Folks, THAT is how you hijack a thread.

[3dkicker]

Originally Posted by nofearengineer

Folks, THAT is how you hijack a thread.

Really? Hmmmm and here I was thinking that I got it all wrong......



Sweet 'n low baby, sweet 'n low.

[nofearengineer]

I stand corrected, and bow to the master.

I must admit, it was a full 10 seconds before I realized there was a car in that picture. Such a shame to destroy a classic like that.

[3dkicker]

Are you saying that you like them all original????

[nofearengineer]

Yes, while I have seen some of the low-rider cars that exhibit insane levels of craftsmanship, and I do respect that, it just isn't my cup of tea. I much prefer the muscle car flavor. Your second photo is perfect. Though mine is not an SS, it is a convertible, so please remove the top (on the car too).

[Bubba_Bruiser]

Viva la raza!

[WTL]

I must say, I do like some of the classier lace paintjobs I see here and there. Not a fan of lowering cars, and I am slowly working towards restoring my car to something like original, but there is a way to tastefully pimp a ride.

[joedog]

Both are very nice!
I'd take eithier one!
Just thinking of the first ride brings a smile to my face!

Oh and the cars are nice too.

[3dkicker]

Originally Posted by nofearengineer

Though mine is not an SS, it is a convertible, so please remove the top (on the car too).

How's this???


Or is this better???

[bamabassman]

smitty..more is always better in a rag top,lol.


and i agree with billy, TASTEFULLY new mods are nice. upgrading the braking system and wheel size without destroying the looks (taking 15" wheels to 16"-17") is good for handling and so forth. as well as upgrading the brakes to newer, better braking systems...etc.

doing this sort of stuff helps the older autos with out drastically changing the looks. at least that is what i believe. i have seen pics of bryce's car....man is it nice ALREADY. not much body work at all folks. and i love the year model. i look forward to seeing the progress bryce.

[nofearengineer]

Haha....."not much body work". John, you are even more of an optimist than I am.

I'm going to have to weld in new rear quarters on both sides, rear wheel wells, and trunk sides, as well as fix a few little rust holes (I'm sure I will discover more, but that's the name of the game).

Plus, it needs a new top, engine, trans, and a whole heck of a lot more.

I'm glad Bama can see the beautiful car trying to get out like I can though.

This first year is mainly going to be spent on disassembly, evaluation of the best way to fix stuff, and what order to fix it in. My first task is getting the body off the frame and onto a rotisserie so I can get the frame sandblasted.

Oh wait...my first task is actually making room for it in the garage. My boat is going to be pissed!!!

[bamabassman]

bryce, most of that stuff can be bought easily man. body panels are sold online. yes they are made elsewhere, but try to find a radiator core supposrt for a 71 chev c10...near impossible. when i had mine, it took me 3 months to find one. and i got lucky..they had NOS! 3 of them. i started to buy all 3, hahaha. but at $350.00 each PLUS shipping...lisa said no way.
wheel wells should be easy to find for real. and IF oyu plan on upgrading the size wheels, they may not do oyu any good. cuse oyu'l probably have ot cut them so the fat tires will fit. but oyu already know more about that sort of stuff than i do buddy. i WANTED ot with a wider wheel and tire on my ol truck (10" wheel) and i would have had ot cut the front wheel wells, after recieving new ones made in china or somewhere. but at $100.00 a pop, i decided not to. i was gonna lower the front 2" and the rear 4" make it level. not too low and it would looked really nice. oyu wouldn't have been able to tell if oyu didn't know much about trucks and thier height. but alais...i didn't andit was stock. i was talking jsut today about that truck. spent almost 8 grand on it before we moved up here. lisa said to sell it cause she didn't want her dad to always be complaining aobut it being sitting in his backyard (at teh time we didn' know where we were gonna be living) in peices. see, i had it all together but took the bed off to start on a fleetside bed instead of the old stepside. i hate stepside beds, hahaha. was going to turn the step side into a trailer that matched.

as for storage, oyu might be better off either finding a garage to rent, or move of build an addition. my offer to store it for oyu is still good too hahaha. i got lots of room for anothe building here. hahahaha!!!

post up the pics of here for everyone to see.

by the way, i spotted one, not a rag top, somewhere out in the county i work in. but can't find it again. i was gonna ask if it might be up for sale or trade. got 3 boats here ya know. 2 could be barter for a good car or truck project. gonna keep looking for it too.

and yes, i CAN see the finished product. i always look at what it "could be" when i see a car or truck...or house for that matter. jsut ain't got the funds for such a project. but i still look and ask if it's for sale.

can't wait to see waht oyu find breaking her apart bryce. so go for it man. those frame spinners are great! knew a guy who had one. he said it saved a lot of work for him.

[kingfish]

Bryce, here is a website that has alot of impala parts. www.impalaparts.com
I've been working on a 65 mustang conv. AKA RUSTSTANG! for alot longer than planed.
going on four years, but we are getting close. Putting the motor together now should be able to move under its own power in a month or so. I'll have to get Anthony to post some picts. When this is done I think I'll go back to Chevys camaros or corvettes.

[bassboogieman]

Too much bondo on that baby. Bondo just won't hold up and in a few years she won't look near as good.

[nofearengineer]

Thanks, Jeff. I love that site. So many parts you don't even know you need until you get into it. I also frequent Impala Bob's, impalas.net, and layitlow.com. Lots of good info. I hope you don't mind if I bug you a couple times over the next 3-4 years it takes to bring this thing back to life.

Bruce, I agree with you about bondo in one's "ride". Though in that case I might make an exception and later blame it on temporary insanity. With regards to the car, my goal is no more than 1/8" between the body metal and the clear coat in any spot. We'll see. I'll post a bunch of pictures next weekend when I get it in the garage.

[kingfish]

Bryce, Your right about the parts you need. It's just as bad when you get toward the end of the restoration. I have National Parts Depot 50 miles away, I'm there 2 to 3 times a month. It doesn't get any cheaper either! I was there yesterday spent 350.00 and it all fit in one shopping bag. The little parts sure add up. It's worse than the bait monkey!

[nobass]

Yes but the good thing with bondo is you can always sand doowñ and make it look better

[woody]

Originally Posted by nobass

Yes but the good thing with bondo is you can always sand doowñ and make it look better

I don't think you can make that look much better.


-Mark

[nobass]

Maybe true but you can always keep her looking good and car to

[bamabassman]

woody....she needs BUFFED at least once a day to keep her all shiny. hehehehe!!