Joris 69 chevelle budget build

[Joris69velle]

Helle everybody. Im Joris and im 23 from Ontario
im here to post my 1969 chevelle project. Its my first american car and my first project to this extent. Im farm mechanic so ive got access to space and lots of tools. Im mostly learning as i go and researching things but figured id share and hopefully receive some pointers and advice here too.
i picked up a 69 chevelle malibu this April 2021 after having wanted one for about 2 years. I wanted a rough and cheap one since i knew id be redoing the whole car anyway. The previous owner had it since 72 and was forced to sell due to changing properties and having no way of moving the car really. It sat parked outside for about 20 years so its a rust bucket. It looked better on the ad but after a 6 hour drive to pick it up there was no turning back. Got back home at 4am and back to work at 7 haha.
Blue exterior. Blue interior. Original 307.
Quick project overview.
bought an fresh build ls2 with forged internals and a custom cam.
F-body T56 that im rebuilding at the moment.
straightened and repaired the frame. Then boxed and braced it with 1 3/4 pipe. Then galvanized. I have yet to confirm it didnt warp during that process
rebuild 12 bolt posi with 3.55 gears. Seller told me it was a 4.10 but i recently discover its a 3.55 or something close to that.
all tubular suspension of mixed brands. Aldan american coilovers.
all try to post some pictures in my second post.

[Joris69velle]

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[raustinss]

ontario california ???? or canada lol

[oldschoolmuscle]

looks great, looks alot like my dads chevelle he has.

[Joris69velle]

ontario california ???? or canada lol
Canada! Just south of woodstock

[Joris69velle]

looks great, looks alot like my dads chevelle he has.
Thanks!

[Joris69velle]

First question i have is regarding the steeringbox. Mine has a non power steering box with 3 mounting holes. All the fast ratio boxes i see have 4 mounting holes. Do the 3 line up and can the 4th one be drilled in? Or is this a totally different gear box??

[raustinss]

you don't need the 4th hole ..leave it empty lol. Being as you're 30 mins down the 401 let me know if you have any interest in brand new ceramic coated headman headers for a ls a body, and or a ABC performance weld on clutch slave bracket also brand new . might have a few other goodies . if you need a fabricator i work for beers lol

[Joris69velle]

you don't need the 4th hole ..leave it empty lol. Being as you're 30 mins down the 401 let me know if you have any interest in brand new ceramic coated headman headers for a ls a body, and or a ABC performance weld on clutch slave bracket also brand new . might have a few other goodies . if you need a fabricator i work for beers lol
Ok good to know. Thanks
yes still needed to buy headers.
maybe text me at 226-970-2453. Then we can meet up perhaps
as far as fabricating goes im gonna try to do that all myself haha

[Joris69velle]

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Engine is starting to look good

[Joris69velle]

Frame is back from the galvanizer.
I was really worried about warping but it came back straight.
Bolting up the front suspension now
Ive used the drum brake hub on a disc brake spindle. It requires a 1/2” bushing on the top bolt hole to mount the laser cut plate. Then i can bolt up the 4 piston cadilac brembos. But i still need to purchase rotors yet too.

[Joris69velle]

Hey all.
Ive made some progress in the last few week. Got all the suspension and brake components on the car. Next up is engine removal one more time to notch the cross member a bit for my headers to fit. As well as to drill and tap the ls2 knock sensor holes bigger for ls1 knock sensors. Ill be using an ls1 computer and all sensors.
Front brakes are c7 corvette. I had to machine my hubs smaller to fit the rotors.
The rear are ls1 camaro brakes. Bolted right up to my 12 bolt but i needed to space out the calipers to line up with the rotors perfectly.
Here are some recent pictures 194370194371194372194373194374

[raustinss]

Nice ...coming along for sure

[lbsurfer11]

Looking Rad so far.

[Joris69velle]

Hey guys
Heres some updates on the chevelle.
I got a rolling chassis. That is 90% done
But recently ive been working on the body.
Sofar i replaced: rocker panels. Rear seat pan. Full floor pan. Floor braces. Toe boards. Front body mount brackets. Cowl panel and windshield channel. 196666196667196668196669

[slazisme]

Hey guys
Heres some updates on the chevelle.
I got a rolling chassis. That is 90% done
But recently ive been working on the body.
Sofar i replaced: rocker panels. Rear seat pan. Full floor pan. Floor braces. Toe boards. Front body mount brackets. Cowl panel and windshield channel. 196669

Glad to see that you're resurrecting another 69 GM product and with good progress, in for more.
Couple things I wanted to mention and I don't know if they'll pose problems are the O2 sensors on the headers might interfere with the tunnel/body? My 1st gen Camaro had to have them just above the center at around 10:00. Also the proportioning valve might get a bit hot near the collectors.
Now would be a really good time to check you're driveline angles as well with everything open, its a pain with the body in place crawling underneath. Just suggestions to keep in mind.

[raustinss]

At this rate you will for sure be driving it this year

[Joris69velle]

Glad to see that you're resurrecting another 69 GM product and with good progress, in for more.
Couple things I wanted to mention and I don't know if they'll pose problems are the O2 sensors on the headers might interfere with the tunnel/body? My 1st gen Camaro had to have them just above the center at around 10:00. Also the proportioning valve might get a bit hot near the collectors.
Now would be a really good time to check you're driveline angles as well with everything open, its a pain with the body in place crawling underneath. Just suggestions to keep in mind.
Thanks for mentioning these concerns. Its my first big car project and i learn as i go.
makes sense about the O2 sensors. I will probably have to move them as you suggest.
as for the proportion valve, i recently bought a brake booster with a bracket on it for the valve. Maybe thats a idea to keep it cooler
driveline angles: my engine and trans are just slightly pointed down. Only a few degrees. If i tilted it down more the transmission casing would be too low for my liking and hanging under the frame a bit. In the rear i have the non adjustable control arms. I might have to switch to adjustable uppers or lengthen them a bit. I have yet to do more research into this and see what the proper angles need to be.

[Joris69velle]

At this rate you will for sure be driving it this year
Hey Ryan. Hopefully. Even tho i feel like im running behind on the schedule that i had hoped for. Some of the bodywork pieces that i need to complete are out of stock every where so that might slow me down.

[Tynitty]

Love the project, 69 is my favorite year chevelle. When I installed the 5 speed in my 69 I had to make a new tunnel I’d guess the t56 will need a tunnel also. My chevelle was originally an auto maybe the 4 speed trans tunnel is bigger from the factory, anyway I can’t wait to see it done looks great so far!

[chevelletiger]

I would change the bind o matic rear arms these 4 links need articulation

[Joris69velle]

Love the project, 69 is my favorite year chevelle. When I installed the 5 speed in my 69 I had to make a new tunnel I’d guess the t56 will need a tunnel also. My chevelle was originally an auto maybe the 4 speed trans tunnel is bigger from the factory, anyway I can’t wait to see it done looks great so far!
Thanks.
yes im aware that some tunnel work will need to be done. I dont yet know to what extend. Whether just the front piece needs to be brought up or whether i need to heighten the tunnel all the way to the axle. Any advice or pictures on this would be greatly appreciated

[Joris69velle]

I would change the bind o matic rear arms these 4 links need articulation
Can you be more specific? What arms do you recommend?

[Tynitty]

Thanks.
yes im aware that some tunnel work will need to be done. I dont yet know to what extend. Whether just the front piece needs to be brought up or whether i need to heighten the tunnel all the way to the axle. Any advice or pictures on this would be greatly appreciated

196719196720
So I did end up having to pretty much cut the whole tunnel out and then the one that was built for it was enlarged quite a bit just to allow airflow around the trans. Sorry these aren’t the best pics, the second one is the new tunnel just have to zoom in.

[Joris69velle]

So I did end up having to pretty much cut the whole tunnel out and then the one that was built for it was enlarged quite a bit just to allow airflow around the trans. Sorry these aren’t the best pics, the second one is the new tunnel just have to zoom in.
Looks good. I cut a patch tonight but the material is too heavy to bend by hand nicely. Ill post updates when i get it finished

[Joris69velle]

So im getting close to finishing the new trans tunnel. Its quite large and bigger than what most people do i think but whatever. It should give me some nice space incase the trans needs to come out in the future. I found a template online and cut and bend it to shape. Then i put it in the car and marked some lines and started cutting. Here are some pictures:

[Tynitty]

Tunnel looks good! I think it’s just about the same as the one in my car! Looking forward to seeing more progress

[chevelletiger]

Can you be more specific? What arms do you recommend?

The rear control arms uppers and lowers,they need some form of articulation on one end.

[Joris69velle]

Some more pics. Will be installing the second door tonight and then im bringing the chassis back in the shed for some little things.
Body will be back on the frame soon. So i can do the sheetmetal on the rear half of the car

[syborg tt]

Wow you are cranking on this project. I am looking forward to more updates.

[Joris69velle]

So the body is back on the frame after almost a year. Made the steel washer/bushings to go in the poly body mounts myself and all the holes lined up perfectly so that was great. However my body was a little twisted and the one front corner was half an inch off the bushing. I pulled it down and got the bolt in. I dont know if thats much of an issue tho.
Now im doing the full floor. Then the wheelwells quarters and the rear panel. Busy season is starting on the farm so progress might be getting slower. Anyway here are some pics

[Tynitty]

Looks good!

[Joris69velle]

Quick question everybody.
Does anyone know if the trunk dropoffs can be installed after the trunkfloor and quarter are in place? I dont have them yet and im working on the wheel wells and quarters now. The trunk floor is in place already. Thanks

[Joris69velle]

Still welding sheet metal. Starting to look like a car again tho