My 1966-67 Chevelle project plan of attack. Thoughts, suggestions and/or advice?

[DestructoSS]

Greetings ya'll. I'm looking to do my first real project car, hopefully starting on the first phase this winter and I would appreciate any feedback or advice in regard to my thoughts, plans and proceedings.

I've been lurking and researching and have come to some basic conclusions and ideas.

Everyone says, plan what you want and what your budget will be.

First things first then i suppose:

I'm thinking a pro-touring-style LS-powered 1966 or 67 Chevelle with around 500rwhp. It will be a car i drive a lot on the street, but with some limited track and auto-x events.
The LS3, LS3-stroker or LS7 are the powerplant's i'm considering. I'd like to built the motor myself to gain the experience. I'm not unfamiliar with tools or wrenching, it's been a little while, but i enjoyed it when i was doing it. I am aware there are engines for cheaper with bigger hp results for less money, but this project i'd like to do my style. I am not interested in the force-induction route, as i'm an old-school naturally-aspirated kind of guy. I want to go the manual transmission route with either a T-56 or TR-6060 (still conducting research) a Moser 9-inch rear-end with the 35SPL Wavetrac or S-trac and 3.73 gears.

Budget wise, I'm not hard-line set, but since this will be a long-term project i'm doing myself, I'll just pay for stuff as I go. Slow and steady wins the race.

My plan is to start with buying a block of my engine choice and build it over time to make it how i want. Once I have that, start acquiring other essential parts i'll need, viz. transmission, wheels, interior components, etc. All the while keeping an eye out for the right car. Then once i have the car, being not a numbers matching but a ******* of a car. Something that if done with a LS powerplant won't be ruining a numbers-matching all original car. As long as it has a solid frame, I'll prepare the body (if repairs are needed) and start putting the puzzle together. I think it'll be a longer-route, but more satisfying in the end as it'll be just how I want it.

For those of you who have been where I am at and done what i'm looking to do, what are your thoughts on this approach?

Thanks in advance, and i appreciate all the information this board has!

[MuscleRodz]

sounds like a good plan. tons of info on this site to steer you in the right direction. where are you located? I will have 2 '66 chevelle projects available mid January and one is a true ss.

[FatfreeGTO]

I would find a car that has a good body and paint to start with before worrying about buying any engine. Just buy a nice driver car that doesn't have rust! That is the most important thing. This way you can upgrade the suspension, brakes, interior etc and all the while be able to enjoy the car and drive it.

It doesn't make sense to tie up thousands of dollars in a drivetrain and not have a car to put it in.

Buy a car you can drive now, enjoy now, and upgrade as the $$ permits...

My .02 cents

[Scott Parkhurst]

You're on the right track. Plan the build, then build to the plan.

I've got a Currie 9-inch housing/axles that'd work great for you. Let me know if you're interested.

Check out TommyComfort's car on here (Tom Farrington). It sounds similar to your plan and he's a great guy to get advice from.

If you were a wagon guy, I'd tell ya more...! LOL!

[DestructoSS]

sounds like a good plan. tons of info on this site to steer you in the right direction. where are you located? I will have 2 '66 chevelle projects available mid January and one is a true ss.

Thanks for the reply. I am located in Detroit, Michigan.


I would find a car that has a good body and paint to start with before worrying about buying any engine. Just buy a nice driver car that doesn't have rust! That is the most important thing. This way you can upgrade the suspension, brakes, interior etc and all the while be able to enjoy the car and drive it.

It doesn't make sense to tie up thousands of dollars in a drivetrain and not have a car to put it in.

Buy a car you can drive now, enjoy now, and upgrade as the $$ permits...

My .02 cents

I appreciate the suggestion. However, the car I would buy to drive around would cost more than the initial investment of building a motor piece by piece over time. While i may sit on a drivetrain till i find the car, I wouldn't enjoy the car until I get it where I want it anyways haha. Sad, but true. And I'm excited about building my own motor :)


You're on the right track. Plan the build, then build to the plan.

I've got a Currie 9-inch housing/axles that'd work great for you. Let me know if you're interested.

Check out TommyComfort's car on here (Tom Farrington). It sounds similar to your plan and he's a great guy to get advice from.

If you were a wagon guy, I'd tell ya more...! LOL!

Will do on checking out Tom's car. I appreciate the suggestion. I've always enjoyed wagons too. I suppose I could be swayed. I like the more room aspect. Have any more suggestions or info on a good pro-touring Chevelle wagon? :)

[66SuperSport]

I would find a car that has a good body and paint to start with before worrying about buying any engine. Just buy a nice driver car that doesn't have rust! That is the most important thing. This way you can upgrade the suspension, brakes, interior etc and all the while be able to enjoy the car and drive it.

It doesn't make sense to tie up thousands of dollars in a drivetrain and not have a car to put it in.

Buy a car you can drive now, enjoy now, and upgrade as the $$ permits...

My .02 cents

This is definitley the best way to go. While you're cruising around you may have other ideas of what you really want out of the car as well. Best thing you can do is to find something as close to what you want as possible and then make changes if necessary. 99% of the time it will be way less expensive to buy something than to build it yourself, plus you'll be able to enjoy the car while you're making any revisions to it.
Rust repairs and body work take a lot of time. Mechanical stuff can usually be handled much quicker. Find a nice clean car with decent paint and you'll be happy you did.

[coolwelder62]

sounds like a good plan. tons of info on this site to steer you in the right direction. where are you located? I will have 2 '66 chevelle projects available mid January and one is a true ss.I am looking for a 66 chevelle for my next project.Is it OK for me to call you.Scott M.

[Scott Parkhurst]

Honestly, the way to plan is to figure out what level you want to the car to be at once finished. There are some great aftermarket chassis available for these cars, so is that going to be your foundation? Or, will you modify the stock chassis? Or, will you just go with bolt-on suspension upgrades? All are justifiable choices that work well. I have a ball road racing my wagon and the entire suspension (front and rear) is all bolt-ons to the stock chassis. It's kept the budget in check and the car is still a blast to throw around at speed. No adverse results or issues after several years of this. Would I like an aftermarket chassis? Sure, but the build cost is out of my league and I'd feel obligated to add an appropriate rollcage at that point, too. That would change the car beyond what I really want it for- it's a cool street cruiser that can fit 5 adults and all their stuff. Right now, it can be driven anywhere (by anyone) on pump gas and get 20 mpg on the freeway. It has 4 doors so getting in/out is easy. My 4 yr-old daughter loves going for rides in it. That's what I wanted it to be. If I want to get much more serious, the parts certainly exist to go there, but this is where I want to be.

Before you jump in, figure out where you want to be. It's a lot easier, faster, and cheaper to build a car once rather than twice....but by all means, build the car and get it done. There are WAY too many people with half-done projects sitting idle and going nowhere. Many of them on this site.

So....be realistic about your goals and budget. Buy the cleanest, straightest, most rust-free starting point you can afford. Stick to your plan, and keep asking questions here. HAVE FUN...the plan, the build, and the final product should all be satisfying and rewarding in different ways. Done correctly, this project will give you joy from the start...which is good, since you'll need to be totally in love with it to get past the inevitable bumps in the road and hard times that will try to slow you down. Be patient, but persistent, and you'll make your own dreams come true.

That's the best advice I can give you, other than to only take advice from guys with cars that run. Preferably cars that run really hard. Lots of well meaning folks may offer advice, but if they aren't out there doing this stuff, it might not be the best advice to listen to.

[tommycomfort]

Well, I agree with everything Scott says except about that Tom Farrington guy, he's can be a jerk and his car(s) are broke half the time... :-) If we had it to do over again we would have been money and time ahead to buy something running and upgrade as we went. Instead we started our 66 project, realized it would be years then bought the wagon to have something to drive and have fun with. Chris is also spot on about buying a car that is nearly done, but then again, we would never of dreamed of spending the money that we do on our cars all at once. So, lots of ways to go, but in the end as long as you get what you want, use it for what you want and it's still pertinent when it's "done" you will have succeeded.
Tom

[FatfreeGTO]

I've got a Currie 9-inch housing/axles that'd work great for you. Let me know if you're interested.



I would be interested in hearing what you have. Looking to get something for my 66 A-body this year. PM me some details about it, thanks!!