strangler
11-12-2007, 11:31 AM
Hello. I am in the process of re-restoring my 68 Chevelle and thought I would start a build thread to document my progress and recieve CONSTRUCTIVE criticism.
I have owned the car since the fall of 1996. It was a complete bondo wagon when I got it, plus no engine, trans or interior and those were its best assets. Bringing the car home from its previous owner really set the stage for our relationship....... the truck/trailer jacknifed and I put the whole rig in the ditch, coming to rest with the roof of the car against a tree.
I was 16 at the time, so my father helped me build a mild 350 for it, and along with an old Muncie and a junkyard interior I used and abused it as any teenager would. I can't believe the way I treated this car......
In the summer of 1997 I was hit from behind by a drunk driver while waiting for a stoplight to change. The impact pinched me between the drunk and the truck in front of me, shortening the car and scuffing my bondo.
The accident proved to be a turning point for myself and the Chevelle alike. No longer was it my beater, but something worth bringing back to life. Again, my Dad helped me replace the quarters, fenders, bumpers and trim. We did the majority of the body work in our garage and then had a reputable local shoot it black with silver 70+ style stripes. The car looked great along with its new interior and fresh, mild 396. This is a true SS car, so the BBC was only fitting. I drove it for the next year or so and then again during the summers while attending college away from home. Upon graduation from college I proposed to my high-school-sweetheart, got married (yes, the car was in the wedding!) and moved to Detroit to be closer to both our our employers. I stored the car in a various garage's from '02 until a month ago, when I brought it home and decided to re-restore it.
The paint had held up fairly well, but some of my body work had not. The doors had began to blister and flake.
The frame had always been rather tweaked, due to its previous life as a drag car (9.90's I'm told), so a replacement was sourced from Tennessee.
Over the last month I have rebuilt the 396, and unbolted the body in preperation for its transfer to the new frame.
This will be far from the fastest progression build thread on here, but I will update pics as I go and as time allows. My pot-of-gold includes:
Fuel Injected 396, TKO 600, 3.90 Eaton 12 bolt, ATS spindles, Varishocks, SC&C upper arms, 16:1 steering box, Coys Wheels, C5 front brakes, LS1 F-body rear brakes, bla, bla, bla.
Hope to keep you all entertained:
-Scott
I have owned the car since the fall of 1996. It was a complete bondo wagon when I got it, plus no engine, trans or interior and those were its best assets. Bringing the car home from its previous owner really set the stage for our relationship....... the truck/trailer jacknifed and I put the whole rig in the ditch, coming to rest with the roof of the car against a tree.
I was 16 at the time, so my father helped me build a mild 350 for it, and along with an old Muncie and a junkyard interior I used and abused it as any teenager would. I can't believe the way I treated this car......
In the summer of 1997 I was hit from behind by a drunk driver while waiting for a stoplight to change. The impact pinched me between the drunk and the truck in front of me, shortening the car and scuffing my bondo.
The accident proved to be a turning point for myself and the Chevelle alike. No longer was it my beater, but something worth bringing back to life. Again, my Dad helped me replace the quarters, fenders, bumpers and trim. We did the majority of the body work in our garage and then had a reputable local shoot it black with silver 70+ style stripes. The car looked great along with its new interior and fresh, mild 396. This is a true SS car, so the BBC was only fitting. I drove it for the next year or so and then again during the summers while attending college away from home. Upon graduation from college I proposed to my high-school-sweetheart, got married (yes, the car was in the wedding!) and moved to Detroit to be closer to both our our employers. I stored the car in a various garage's from '02 until a month ago, when I brought it home and decided to re-restore it.
The paint had held up fairly well, but some of my body work had not. The doors had began to blister and flake.
The frame had always been rather tweaked, due to its previous life as a drag car (9.90's I'm told), so a replacement was sourced from Tennessee.
Over the last month I have rebuilt the 396, and unbolted the body in preperation for its transfer to the new frame.
This will be far from the fastest progression build thread on here, but I will update pics as I go and as time allows. My pot-of-gold includes:
Fuel Injected 396, TKO 600, 3.90 Eaton 12 bolt, ATS spindles, Varishocks, SC&C upper arms, 16:1 steering box, Coys Wheels, C5 front brakes, LS1 F-body rear brakes, bla, bla, bla.
Hope to keep you all entertained:
-Scott