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63 Biscayne with Schwartz Performance Chassis
I've posted a few times on here but, have finally done some work on my car although what I've just done will be undone. I'll explain below.
What I have is a pretty stock 1963 Biscayne. It has has a decenter interior, a 454 with a TH-350 transmission and it runs OK, once you get over the exhaust and oil leaks. When I first looked at the car, I could see that the floor pans were replaced but, instead of cutting out the old ones, they put some others on top of the old ones therefore; I'll have to change them again.
I purchased it in Arizona and drove it back to Kansas and the one question I didn't ask is where the car was titled in originally because it is an Illinois car so, I think once I blast it I'll find more rust than just the floor and trunk pans but, live and learn.
When I first purchased it, it had some really lame exhaust cut-outs on it and those were the first to go. Followed by installing some new trunk hinges that ended up being harder than they should have.
The plans for it are a Schwartz Performance frame, LS series engine, new wiring, new interior, different bucket seats, paint, Dakota Digital VHX gauges, air conditioning, power windows, new wiring, etc. Still trying to decide on color combinations but, I'm thinking a dark silver on top with a dark metallic blue, black or something else on the bottom. At the rate I'm going I have plenty of time to decide.
Because I'm dropping this off next month to Schwartz for the frame install, I figured it would be a good idea to at least get the peeling paint on the roof covered so that I didn't have to deal with more rust than I already do. The paint was already peeling so, I figured it would be easy to strip...Wrong answer. The only part that came off easily with the razor blade was the top four layers, not the other five that were below it.
Now, on to the pictures.
I'm always open to ideas on paint, wheels and interior schemes.Attachment 61205Attachment 61206Attachment 61204Attachment 61207Attachment 61208Attachment 61209Attachment 61210
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Front bumper finished rear started
I finally finished up the front bumper, much easier and I'm much happier with how it came out compared to the rear one.
Now, the rear...I have the center section complete and I'm happy with it but, not really wild about how the ends are lining up. Part of it is because the center section is so bent therefore; I ordered another one.
Always open to suggestions.
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Mini tubs for an Impala, Biscayne or Bel Air
So, after much researching on how to do these, I was only able to find one source of documentation on how to do these. The source was the Muscle Car show and like all things on TV, there wasn't a lot of details and it looked fairly easy.
Like most things, it wasn't easy and I'm glad I had some help to do these. I would say there is about 20 hours in doing these and if I had to do it again, I probably wouldn't. But, on a positive note I did manage to buy myself a new welding helmet and it's amazing how much better you can weld when you can see clearly.
Since I was back there, I went ahead and did a few other patches on some rust. Hopefully next weekend I can get started on the B pillar and quarter panel. Goal is to have this painted by next May.
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Biscayne (Impala) B Pillar and quarter panel repair
Finally got to the part that I was dreading. The B pillar had been hit at some point and whomever the piece of humanity who painted it before fixed everything with a gallon of bondo. The B pillar was a bit intimidating because, the replacement part came with the entire inner window structure and it isn't an exact match for a Biscayne.
After looking at it for a bit, we decided to go ahead and cut out the damaged portion and graft the new piece on the old one. I'm very happy with the quality of the replacement B pillar however, I can't say the same for the quarter panel patch.
The quarter panel patch is a POS. If anyone has to do one for an early Impala, Biscayne, etc., I would recommend going with an entire quarter (believe these are stamped better) and cut out the portions you need. The quarter came out OK, had to add in a piece of metal and some welding rod to fix the door gap and that is still a work in progress. I have a high spot on the back of the patch and a few low spots but, nothing that can't be fixed.
BTW, I'm getting very comfortable with stitch welding and plug welding :headbang:
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