So It Starts! - 1970 Chevelle Resto - Page 3

James NICE,

Are those SS Rally Chromes ??

Kyle, being from new york you should go to the adirondack nationals, me and my dad will be going this year.

I'll be all over that once I get the Chevelle finished.  Right now it's difficult to just take off with my two sons (Kaleb 2.5 years & Gavin 4 months).  That's what is keeping me from really digging into my Chevelle.  Their too darn fun to play with right now!

just wait'll they become teenagers...they stop being so much fun lol have a 14 and 15 yr old and another about to turn 13 (and twins about to be 11) enjoy em all you can now in a few years you'll wanna get as far from em as possible lol.

No, they are Torque Thrust II by American Racing.  One off on the back-only set like em.  The available sizes/offsets just weren't right so I called AR and they were REAL helpful in making a set.  Wanted as much wheel as I could get away with without cutting the car.  Turned out good, but obscene $$$.

Gorgeous car man, can't wait to see it finished. My dad needs to finish the body work on his '70. 

quote:

ORIGINAL: swartlkk

Yeah, I'll be attempting to make it down to Carlisle next year. The last time I tried though, I blew a transmission going through the Lehigh Valley tunnel, LOL... I'll definitely be going to the Syracuse Nationals with my mom's cousin and his '66 Nova.

Nice '71 James!

My father-in-law is always at Syracuse with his Merc....look for the flat black 49 with red Von Dutch style pinstripes.

Any updates?

Sad to say...  No.  I've been saving up for the big dollar items.  Between the new full floor pan and the new trunk floor, I'm looking at almost $2k!  I want to get that on before I put it onto the rotisserie. 

I just haven't had the time recently to get down to continue work on it.

Dang kyle if you were here in AZ I would give you hand with all your metal work!! I am stackin up some business right now for chassis work and body work!! I offer out my help to those that are close, too bad your not!!!

Well, I spent today out there working on it.  Exhaust is out.  Gas tank is out, but leaks at the filler neck so unless i can find a way to seal it back up safely, it'll be replaced.  Dash and heater box are both out. 

The heater box needs some work.  Gotta figure out how to remove the doors and redo the seals.  I'll sand blast it before painting.

Seems there was a small fire under the dash:

Dash all out:


Total picture (dash wasn't out at this point):


Center of the trunk is good, but the rear body mount supports in the trunk floor are shot, taking that section of the trunk floor with it.  The firewall looks good inside and out.  The ends of the firewall will need work, but I knew this long ago.

I have some more pictures in my 1970 Chevelle Album towards the bottom of page 5 and all of page 6.  Most of the rust that is shown is just surface rust.

Now, once I get the rear quarter windows, the windshield, and the rear window out, it'll be time for the rotisserie!! 

I cant wait to see the finished product!!  that car is gonna kick ass.....Chevelles are very kool good luck with the build...

wow its gunna be awhile u might wanna grab a snickers lol progress is always good tho kyle cant wait till its done! tight garage setup btw

Lookin good kyle, can't wait to see more updates as you go along!!

quote:

ORIGINAL: swartlkk

  I'm not going to keep it red anyway.  I'm planning on a nice heavy metallic dark blue with probably black stripes.  I don't want it to stick out, but I still want it to be recognizable.

If you want to keep it's value to keep increasing stick with the original colors. The bigest killer in a restoration is repainting it a different color than what the body tag code is. Knock anywhere from $5K to $15K off the price of the car. It mostly depends on if the car started life as a plain jane, or a true muscle car.

My '69 Firebird 400 4spd convertible is only worth $20K with a non factory black color. When funds permit, it will be returned to the factory #55 Crystal Turquoise. When I do that it's value will be at least $30K. Thank goodness my '69 Firebird OHC-6 3spd coupe was repainted in it's factory #57 Midnight Green before I bought it.

If your Chevelle is a true SS, even a 350 SS, I'd leave it the factory color. If you have a Malabu cloned SS, do whatever you want. Regardless, it's your baby...

It is a Chevelle Malibu which I will be returning to its original seamist green.  I will not be putting the green vinyl top back onto it, but may do a black top with black stripes as seen in the picture I posted on page 2.  And I will be putting all of the Malibu trim back onto it.  No SS stuff other than possibly the stripes which I'm not dead set on doing.

quote:

ORIGINAL: swartlkk

I would do the stripes kyle, they look sharp on that color!!!

the black stripes look good and complete the look w/ the black vinyl top

quote:

ORIGINAL: swartlkk

It is a Chevelle Malibu which I will be returning to its original seamist green.  I will not be putting the green vinyl top back onto it, but may do a black top with black stripes as seen in the picture I posted on page 2.  And I will be putting all of the Malibu trim back onto it.  No SS stuff other than possibly the stripes which I'm not dead set on doing.

quote:

ORIGINAL: swartlkk

A very old friend of mine had the same car. His was a '70 Malibu in the same color (Sea Mist Green) with a dark green top and interior. He held onto that car for the longest time, but life got in the way and he sold it before he could restore it.

I cut my teeth on Chevys. My first car was a '65 Impala SS, and I had owned a variaty of bow ties including a '71 and '72 Malibu. My all time favorite Chevy was my beat up '62 Custom Cab 1/2 ton step side.

At one point, my friend Pat let my drive his '68 GTO. That's when I switched to the dark side, and have owned Pontiacs every since. But I have keep in touch with Chevy by keeping a truck on hand.

For sure, go with the green!

quote:

ORIGINAL: swartlkk

It is a Chevelle Malibu which I will be returning to its original seamist green.  I will not be putting the green vinyl top back onto it, but may do a black top with black stripes as seen in the picture I posted on page 2.  And I will be putting all of the Malibu trim back onto it.  No SS stuff other than possibly the stripes which I'm not dead set on doing.

quote:

ORIGINAL: swartlkk

 
I would say go with the stripes, it gives the car a more distinct look IMHO. I just have a feeling that it would look too plain with out them.

I do think I will be going with the stripes, but maybe not the vinyl top.  Depends on how the roof looks when I get the current top off (hopefully this weekend).  

I can't wait to see this when it's finished. I think I asked before, but are you planning on showing it once it's done, or just using it as a family cruiser?

This will be a driver most definitely.  I might show it here and there, but I will also be racing it sooner or later.  The focus right now is in the restoration of the body, chassis, and to blow the cobwebs off the engine/transmission.  If I can right now, I will mini tub the rear just so I don't have to go through any more body work later on.

Later on down the road, I have another small block for it that WILL be fuel injected and forced induction (currently looking at twin turbo).  The rear will be changed out, suspension completely revamped, and whatever else it takes to make it a 1/4 mile screamer!  LOL

Well, I was looking forward to getting the glass out tomorrow...  However, my wife's great grandmother died Wednesday night.  The funeral is tomorrow about 2 hours away.  Such is life & death.  She's in a much better place now and it really is a blessing.  The last few years have been quite rough.  

Sorry to hear of that news Kyle. Loosing family members can be a trying time. I'm sure I can speak for the fourm, and pass along our thoughts and prayers to your family.