9 Attachment(s)
Barts 69 Chevelle ProTouring Project
Hey all, Ive posted here but photobucket ruined the whole thing. I kind of wanted to clean up the thread I had anyways so this "fresh start" is how Im going to do it. Loooong read.
Moving on, I bought this car in July of 2012 sight unseen on ebay. I knew I shouldnt have done that but I did it anyways. I somewhat regret that. This photo is the day it came home. Check out that tach placement!
Attachment 160726
Ive copied pasted the specs from the ad and in () added what they actually meant - 396 60 over 9.6:, roller hydraulic valvetrain, Ported and Balanced and Blueprinted, Keith Black Pistons (hypereutectic), Edlebrock Performer RPM 8.5cfm (oversized untuned carb), Edlebrock Pro 2.0 intake (not port matched), Accel Performance Distributor, Accel Hi Temp Spiral Core Plug Wires, Headman ceramic coated headers (slighty beaten in), Flowmaster 50 series Dual 3" mufflers, MSD Igintion system, Holley Performance Fuel System (loud cheap external pump), Camaro Power Steering System (worst feedback ever), Hurst Shifter, 4" Cowl Fiberglass hood with locking pins
Doug Nash Ent. hybridized Super T10 close ratio (the "4" from a 4+2 vette trans), Centerforce Dual Friction Clutch (used and abused), 12 Bolt real axle, Clutch type posi w/3.31 gears, Custom Driveshaft (original steel driveshaft cut)
So, what I saw on the outside was a beautiful Chevelle. What I saw on the inside made my guts feel gross. Every SINGLE THING IVE TOUCHED it made me ask "WTF were those other guys thinking?
I need to get to work.
In the first couple of weeks I started on small cheap things. I noticed someone had spray painted the entire blue interior black. Over spray everywhere. Blue starting to show through in places. It needed to be fixed.
I pulled the carpet to get started and got this - a big damn hole in the floor that was patched with a huge hammered piece of sheet metal and self tapped in. I made an attempt to seal it up better and added more self tappers. Not ideal but I wanted to drive!
Attachment 160727
I cleaned up a bunch of stuff. Moved the tach. Painted the dash. Covered the original dash pad with a stitched faux leather cover. And leaving some of the boring steps out, ended up here.
Attachment 160728
I also replaced the carb and just cleaned up the engine bay a little.
Attachment 160729
That was enough for the season 1 for me. I just wanted to get out on the road and drive a bit. Since I dont have a heated garage I need to do my work in the spring when its warmish here in Michigan. So season 2 meant big mods for me. The core support was blown out from battery acid so that needed replaced, and I wanted some tube arms so I dug up 10k threads on china arms vs expensive arms and I cheaped out (sorry domestic vendors). I changed out the BJs for some Proforged units. I cut whatever springs were in there for the ride height I wanted and installed some CPP 3" drop springs in the rear. That was also a mistake, those springs ride like ass. I replaced them later with BMR 2" progressive rate drop springs.
Attachment 160730Attachment 160731
Attachment 160732Attachment 160733
I also decided to buy some seats from Cipher Racing. There were a vendor on here at one point. Initially I had thought these were decent seats but theyre too flexible and fell victim to sun fade real quick. Also, work not shown I replaced all of the worn body bushings with some poly units. New steering wheel. 3 point seat belts. And covered the A-pillars in same dash pad material. Here is a driveway shot post all those mods.
Attachment 160734
Season 3 next post