64 Impala ss - looking at going pro touring, need guidance

[guys64impala]

Hey, I just picked up my dream car. It is a 1964 Impala SS 2 door hardtop 327. I am looking to go the pro touring route. My goal is for it to handle like a sports car but keep its original essence and swagger. Thinking staggered 20's, maybe 20/22 depending. I do not want to cut the car up for wheels to fit, I do not want it to rub etc. I have an Chevy OBS with approx 800hp and on air bags and it is nuts. This one i want to make it a cruiser that i can drive it and enjoy it and still keep up with modern sport cars. Bigger brakes, thinking some kind of coil over set up. Looks to have a lot of options out there. What have you guys used, what mistakes have you guys made? I feel like this is a huge step up from my last build and if I built another obs I would spend a lot less since i already know what works well etc., so I am hoping some of you guys can bestow your wisdom on me as well.


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[marolf101x]

I would contact Boris Maryanovsky at Street Machinery.
He deals with a lot of Impalas and can provide sound advice.
https://streetmachinery.com/

[dhutton]

I would think that the frame itself needs work. They were designed to articulate and rotate and that’s not what you want in a Protouring ride. I am sure there are solutions out there.

Boris will be happy to sell you a Roadster shop chassis. He sells a lot of them.

[Vimes]

I think a Gen4 6.2L/6L80E will make it a nice, efficient cruiser. The aluminum block will take weight off the nose as well, helping with handling. The two extra gears will let you play with the rear ratio to get a snappy takeoff while still pulling decent cruise mileage. I would suggest the 8 speed, but that only comes on the Gen5 engine and I just can't bring myself to recommend direct injection.

[guys64impala]

Not looking to engine swap and go as extreme as a frame swap, just want to make it feel tighter and keep its old school feel. Brake alittle better and just enjoy it

[Jk918]

Id check out the options from ridetech, they have the street grip kits or you could step up to coilovers. I would likely replace the steering box as well as the steering components.

[dontlifttoshift]

That. Pick the parts from the Ridetech catalog that fit your budget and skill set. Use a Borgeson steering box, you will have to change the radiator to clear the box. It's worth it. After that, desired wheel diameter determines brake diameter.

[ProTouring442]

I would think that the frame itself needs work. They were designed to articulate and rotate and that’s not what you want in a Protouring ride.

What?? Where in the world did you get that idea?

[c4racer2]

What?? Where in the world did you get that idea?

I don't think the frames were designed to flex, but those frames most certainly do flex quite a bit.
It's an X frame. Not really a very good design.
I would think the best thing you could do is start from the frame up honestly.
If you want a pro touring ride by any definition.

If you just want a fun classic cruiser - that's a different matter.

Start with what are your goals and build it accordingly.

first call I would make is to one of these places:

https://www.schwartzperformance.com/gm_full_frames/1958-1964-fullsize-chevy-impala-biscayne-chassis/

https://roadstershop.com/product/1961-64-impala/#engine-mount-options

https://artmorrison.com/chassis/1959-1964-chevrolet-chassis/

Yes - I have owned one, a '63 set-up for drag racing. I fixed the chassis issue with a 8 point roll cage.
But if I were building one as a pro-touring type ride I would not mess with anything on the stock frame period.

[dhutton]

What?? Where in the world did you get that idea?
I thought I read it but I can’t find it now so it must have been my early onset senility… :)

Apologies for any misinformation.

Don

[ProTouring442]

I thought I read it but I can’t find it now so it must have been my early onset senility… :)

Apologies for any misinformation.

Don

No worries! It was actually a pretty good frame for its time. For a modern Pro-Touring car, it definitely needs some assistance (or replacement).

[ProTouring442]

Hey, I just picked up my dream car. It is a 1964 Impala SS 2 door hardtop 327. I am looking to go the pro touring route. My goal is for it to handle like a sports car but keep its original essence and swagger. Thinking staggered 20's, maybe 20/22 depending. I do not want to cut the car up for wheels to fit, I do not want it to rub etc. I have an Chevy OBS with approx 800hp and on air bags and it is nuts. This one i want to make it a cruiser that i can drive it and enjoy it and still keep up with modern sport cars. Bigger brakes, thinking some kind of coil over set up. Looks to have a lot of options out there. What have you guys used, what mistakes have you guys made? I feel like this is a huge step up from my last build and if I built another obs I would spend a lot less since i already know what works well etc., so I am hoping some of you guys can bestow your wisdom on me as well.

What's your budget?

If high, an aftermarket frame would be your best bet.

If lower, I would look at using the floor pans and frame from a Ford Crown Vic or 80s/90s Chevy Caprice and upgrade from there.

[dontlifttoshift]

Using a 40 year old car to upgrade a 60 year old car is a choice, but not one I would make.

Did you see where he said he doesn't even want to engine swap it?

StreetGrip, Steering box, Power Wilwoods, 18" wheels. Done.

[c4racer2]

No worries! It was actually a pretty good frame for its time. For a modern Pro-Touring car, it definitely needs some assistance (or replacement).

ya - it was designed with a 300hp cruiser in mind. Stuff a 500hp+ motor in there and things get very dicey. Totally fixable with a 8 point roll cage.
But for a pro-touring car you want to handle and ride like a modern car, I would start over there before you start spending $ on making the stock suspension better. Suspension only works as well as the frame under it at the end of the day.

Some factory frames are pretty decent and can be made very stiff with some minor re-inforcements (good example is 2nd Gen Camaro or an A body).
Even the '65+ Impala frames are not bad. Early 60's X frame - not in that category. Sorry to break the news to you but it is what it is.

[ProTouring442]

ya - it was designed with a 300hp cruiser in mind. Stuff a 500hp+ motor in there and things get very dicey. Totally fixable with a 8 point roll cage.
But for a pro-touring car you want to handle and ride like a modern car, I would start over there before you start spending $ on making the stock suspension better. Suspension only works as well as the frame under it at the end of the day.

Some factory frames are pretty decent and can be made very stiff with some minor re-inforcements (good example is 2nd Gen Camaro or an A body).
Even the '65+ Impala frames are not bad. Early 60's X frame - not in that category. Sorry to break the news to you but it is what it is.

I used to drag mine pretty regularly with a good 500hp and a ton of torque (bored and stroked 409 to 482). Never had an issue. Well, I blew a few differentials...

I'm not saying modern frames aren't better, but the 1961-1970 X-frames weren't all that bad either.

[ProTouring442]

Using a 40 year old car to upgrade a 60 year old car is a choice, but not one I would make.

Did you see where he said he doesn't even want to engine swap it?

StreetGrip, Steering box, Power Wilwoods, 18" wheels. Done.


If he doesn't want to do an engine swap because of cost...

Which is why I asked about budget.

The B-body frame I mentioned has the same front suspension as the second gen F-body, and so is very eaily upgraded with larger brakes (12"), etc. The rear suspension isn't all that bad, but could be upgraded to a torque-arm at pretty low cost if the converging link 4-link isn't to his liking.

The frame itself can be boxed and fully welded for little to no money.

So all you have is the floor to swap, and since that would come on the very-inexpensive donor car...

[dontlifttoshift]

Read post number five. He can accomplish those goals with simple and easy upgrades and you are recommending cutting two cars apart to merge them together in a *******ization that has very little net positive.

[ProTouring442]

Read post number five. He can accomplish those goals with simple and easy upgrades and you are recommending cutting two cars apart to merge them together in a *******ization that has very little net positive.

Actually, it would have a lot of net positives. Better suspension, stiffer frame, better room in the floors, more headroom, cheaper, etc., etc.. But it's all moot as de doesn't want to tackle such a thing (and I can certainly understand that!), but that's not what you challenged. You challenged the value of such a swap.

Anyway, good discussion. Back to to the OP!

[guys64impala]

Well my limitations is not necessarily budget, as I would eat ramen if i had to, to get my dream car to where I want it. Not that it would make my wife very happy. But i really love and respect this car. It is very clean and I dont want to change it from what it is, i just want to make it more enjoyable to drive and use. With that said, I have already gathered all the parts, I just need to get them on the old girl. I got front cpp tubular upper and lower control arms, front Viking coilovers with Viking dual adjustable shocks, front sway bar, rear 1.5" lowering springs, rear dual adjustable shocks, rear tubular trailing arms and rear tubular upper control arm. Then I need to address the drum brakes, so i went to inline tube and ordered full stainless replacement lines for a dual res master cylinder. Got a new booster, wilwood master cylinder and wilwood adjustable proportioning valve, then 4 piston wilwood front caliper with slotted and drilled front rotors and the gm calipers in the rear in gloss black to match with the ebrake provision. Then got extended studs for the rear since they will be too short now. Then i got a set of Boze Flow formed staggered 20" wheels to finish it off.

I have all these parts taking up half my garage, but since my lift at home does not have arms long enough to reach the xframe, i have to wait till i can tie up a lift at work for a few days to get it done. Cant wait to post pics

[guys64impala]

1/2 way there. installed the cpp upper and lower control arms, front viking coilvers with dual adjustable shocks. Rear cpp lowering springs, lower tubular rear trailing arms and upper arm, with dual adjustable viking shocks. Now i am working on the brake lines, and the front and rear brake conversion, with master and booster. Also putting extended studs in the rear. Needed for my wheels. I have had the parts for a while, but was not able to lift the ss on my home lift, so i had custom brackets made to adapt my lift to the xframe on my impala to be able to safely lift it. Hopefully this weekend i get more progress going.219538219539

[jaybee]

Looks good. I think you made the right choice for a car that you just want to perform well on the road.

[guys64impala]

Just finished her up this weekend. Still need to change the steering box so i can install the sway bar, but with that said, very happy with the results. Much more modern feel on how she drives. Does not feel like im driving a big sofa lol


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