Enter your username:
Do you want to login or register?
  • Forgot your password?

    Login / Register



    Page 1 of 3 1 2 3 LastLast
    Results 1 to 20 of 41
    1. #1
      Join Date
      Jul 2007
      Location
      Northern Virginia
      Posts
      85
      Country Flag: United States

      1996 Impala MistreSS

      Here is my progress on my 1996 Impala SS. It is a 7600 mile car that was garaged kept and driven to Car Shows.

      Stats:
      LPE LT4 Heads and Intake
      9lb Powerdyne Supercharger
      T-56 6-Speed transmission
      American Racing 17x9 1/2 Torq Thrust D
      LT1 Edit Programming

      As you can see in some of the photos, the frame is not painted by the factory but is dipped in a "black pariffin wax" for corrosion protection. Thanks GM. The frame has been completely media blasted and I am awaiting to get further direction from this forum on deciding my paint direction. I would love to have the frame powder coated but the wax still remains in the enclosed portion of the frame an it will melt and ruin the powdercoating during its process according to the powdercoat shop.

      Attached Images Attached Images                    
      Last edited by andrewb70; 01-15-2012 at 08:39 AM.
      Ray
      1996 Impala SS aka MistreSS (7800 original miles)
      LPE LT4 Heads/Intake
      Powerdyne Supercharger\T-56 Conversion

      MistreSS Updates: https://www.pro-touring.com/showthre...light=mistress


    2. #2
      Join Date
      Jul 2002
      Location
      Mesquite, TX
      Posts
      4,901
      Country Flag: United States
      Awesome. I'd still like to get my hands on one of those.

    3. #3
      Join Date
      Apr 2007
      Location
      Huntsville, Tx
      Posts
      481
      Country Flag: United States
      Just tell the powder coater to put the frame in the oven for an hour at 400 deg. This will melt the wax and then he can re-clean any residue. That's how my guy does it. He said when ever he gets a new piece to work on, even if it has already been sand blasted he will put it in the oven and re-clean it before he puts powder on it. He said that is the only way he will warrant his work.

      Sam
      69 Firebird convertible T/A pro-touring custom, Now LS1/T56 six speed, 3:42 Eaton posi, 18" Iforged wheels, 04 GTO interior.
      www.fquick.com/SamHatco
      Jack of all trades, master of none.

    4. #4
      Join Date
      Oct 2004
      Posts
      394
      Ray - Your Impala SS is very nice. Best of luck with the work you have planned.

      Forgot how awesome the Impala SSs' were.

      Amazing, 12 years later and GM still cannot realize that a full-size, rear-wheel drive, V8 powered car, offered in affordable trim styles would sell like hot-cakes.

      Its so simple GM........offer a capable V8 in a rear driver and allow it to be purchased with or without power windows, AC and such and it will do well. Just my $.02.

      Keep up the great work Ray.

    5. #5
      Join Date
      Aug 2004
      Location
      Dunwoody, GA
      Posts
      4,984
      Country Flag: United States
      I agree with Sam. Have any pictures of the body lifted off the frame? That would be a cool picture to see.
      Trey

      "The early bird may get the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese."
      ~ Jon Hammond

      1979 WS6 Trans Am stock LT1/T56 drive train out of my Formula. BMW M-parallel rims. C5/C6 brakes

      build thread https://www.pro-touring.com/showthre...ghlight=begins

    6. #6
      Join Date
      Mar 2008
      Location
      Brisbane Australia
      Posts
      410
      Country Flag: Australia
      I think you guys will get the new holden commodore badged as a pontiac, that should fill the hole in the market you're talking bout.

    7. #7
      Join Date
      Dec 2004
      Location
      North Jersey
      Posts
      983
      Very nice car, lots of luck with the project! I still miss my DGGM '96 SS. They're deceptively quick, and are really comfortable on the long haul. I drove mine 15 hours straight (with a few stops for fuel/food) from North Jersey to Bowling Green, KY in 1999 for Impalapalooza. What a fun trip!
      Steve Ragusa - North Jersey
      2006 Infiniti G35x
      Former Build - 1988 Monte Carlo SS - ZZ4-cammed TPI 355, F-body serpentine conversion, World-Class 5-speed, Eibachs/Bilsteins, Howe tall LBJs, 34mm hollow front swaybar, 3/4" straight rear bar, 17" Coys C55s, 12" front discs, and more. Sold on 2/28/11.

    8. #8
      Join Date
      Jul 2007
      Location
      Northern Virginia
      Posts
      85
      Country Flag: United States
      Trey, here are some picture of the lift-off.

      Step 1: I pulled the car under 4-post lift.

      Step 2: After carefull measurements, I designed/built a cradle out of 2x2 steel that was bolted together after jacking the body off the frame. The 2x4 wood is in place to cushion the contact point on the body.

      Step 3: Using the four post lift at it's lowest point, we ran some straps through the 2x2 steel and around the lift ramps.

      Step 4-5: Use lift to seperate body.

      Step 6: Remove wheels to lower frame onto wheel casters so it can be dragged out.
      Attached Images Attached Images            
      Ray
      1996 Impala SS aka MistreSS (7800 original miles)
      LPE LT4 Heads/Intake
      Powerdyne Supercharger\T-56 Conversion

      MistreSS Updates: https://www.pro-touring.com/showthre...light=mistress

    9. #9
      Join Date
      Aug 2004
      Location
      Dunwoody, GA
      Posts
      4,984
      Country Flag: United States
      that's awesome Ray. Is the body sitting on a cart now or is it still hanging off the lift? Thanks for posting those. I've never heard of someone lifting the body off on these new ones. I guess it can't be mush different than lifting the body on the classics.
      Trey

      "The early bird may get the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese."
      ~ Jon Hammond

      1979 WS6 Trans Am stock LT1/T56 drive train out of my Formula. BMW M-parallel rims. C5/C6 brakes

      build thread https://www.pro-touring.com/showthre...ghlight=begins

    10. #10
      Join Date
      Jul 2007
      Location
      Northern Virginia
      Posts
      85
      Country Flag: United States
      Once the frame was rolled outside and stripped down, I put the four wheel casters on all four corners of the 2x2 jig and lowered the body onto them. I then moved the body out of the way so I can use the lift.
      Ray
      1996 Impala SS aka MistreSS (7800 original miles)
      LPE LT4 Heads/Intake
      Powerdyne Supercharger\T-56 Conversion

      MistreSS Updates: https://www.pro-touring.com/showthre...light=mistress

    11. #11
      Join Date
      Jul 2007
      Location
      Northern Virginia
      Posts
      85
      Country Flag: United States
      Finally started working on the ol Impala SS again. I'll post pictures on the progress.
      Ray
      1996 Impala SS aka MistreSS (7800 original miles)
      LPE LT4 Heads/Intake
      Powerdyne Supercharger\T-56 Conversion

      MistreSS Updates: https://www.pro-touring.com/showthre...light=mistress

    12. #12
      Join Date
      Aug 2004
      Location
      Dunwoody, GA
      Posts
      4,984
      Country Flag: United States
      Sounds great Ray. I love these cars. I just wish I could physically fit into them comfortably. I'm way too narrow.
      Trey

      "The early bird may get the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese."
      ~ Jon Hammond

      1979 WS6 Trans Am stock LT1/T56 drive train out of my Formula. BMW M-parallel rims. C5/C6 brakes

      build thread https://www.pro-touring.com/showthre...ghlight=begins

    13. #13
      Join Date
      Dec 2008
      Location
      Lehigh Valley Pa
      Posts
      1,269
      I love the B-bodies. Can't wait to see what you do with it.
      1996 Federal Cadillac hearse
      1988 Eureka Chevy hearse

    14. #14
      Join Date
      Oct 2009
      Location
      Northern IL
      Posts
      14
      Country Flag: United States
      I will be watching to see this one...Glad to see another SS
      Good Luck

    15. #15
      Join Date
      Jun 2006
      Location
      Phoenix
      Posts
      89
      Country Flag: United States
      Nice... Looks like fun.. I may pull the frame on my Caprice soon, nothing like a nice looking clean painted / coated frame under a car.. Roger
      1995 Caprice 6.0 LQ4,L92,L76 Leading Edge Performance Tuned
      http://www.cardomain.com/ride/456803...caprice/page-1

    16. #16
      Join Date
      Jul 2007
      Location
      Northern Virginia
      Posts
      85
      Country Flag: United States
      It's been awhile, but I finally got the frame powder coated and I will be picking it up today. Coater had to bake the frame in order to get the "black wax" out of the inside of the frame rails. He laughed and said his booth now smells like candle. I'll post photos soon. Here is a photo of the frame when I dropped it off Monday. Notice the jig that he set it on, cool idea.
      Attached Images Attached Images  
      Ray
      1996 Impala SS aka MistreSS (7800 original miles)
      LPE LT4 Heads/Intake
      Powerdyne Supercharger\T-56 Conversion

      MistreSS Updates: https://www.pro-touring.com/showthre...light=mistress

    17. #17
      Join Date
      Jan 2008
      Location
      Charlotte
      Posts
      1,295
      Put that black wax back in?

      I'd think that it prevents rust..
      2005 LeMans Blue Corvette w/ T56 & Z51 & C6Z06 Brakes, Build Thread: https://www.pro-touring.com/showthread.php?64496
      2005 GMC Sierra 2500HD LLY / Allison
      2014 Chevy SS LS3 / 4 Door

    18. #18
      Join Date
      Jul 2007
      Location
      Northern Virginia
      Posts
      85
      Country Flag: United States
      Picked up frame. It looks great, Daryl (powder coater) even powdercoated the inside of the front frame horns along with the inside of the rear wheel frame rails. More pictures to come. Now, where did I store the brake lines?
      Attached Images Attached Images  
      Ray
      1996 Impala SS aka MistreSS (7800 original miles)
      LPE LT4 Heads/Intake
      Powerdyne Supercharger\T-56 Conversion

      MistreSS Updates: https://www.pro-touring.com/showthre...light=mistress

    19. #19
      Join Date
      Jan 2011
      Location
      CENTEX
      Posts
      67
      Country Flag: United States
      Holy time warp batman. I was in 2008 then popped into 2011 suddenly...lol Nice Impala. It has been a dream of mine for some time. The closest I came to one was my 94 Caddy Fleetwood beater. 180K miles on her and she was still rolling strong.
      J. Will.
      70 Chevelle Malibu, 69 Cutlass S convertible, 71 Monte Carlo, 16 Chevy SS (yes, that one)

    20. #20
      Join Date
      Sep 2005
      Location
      Athens, GA
      Posts
      341
      No way I would have torn down a 7,600 mile garage kept car.

      You are a better man than me.
      The difference between an environmentalist and a developer is that a developer wants to build a house in the woods, an environmentalist already has one.

    Page 1 of 3 1 2 3 LastLast




    Advertise on Pro-Touring.com