1966 Chevelle Pro-Touring Project - SiniSSter

[BuffaloMotorama]

I guess for my first post, I'd tell you about my project.
I picked up a 1966 Chevelle after wanting one for a while. It's an extremely clean car that has lived it's entire life in the Northeast.
It's a 1966 Chevelle Malibu with the original 283 and powerglide. It has all of it's original sheet metal, there is no rust, and there is little to no body filler.
So people ask, why take a perfectly fine car and tear it apart? Because it's not what I want in my 1966 Chevelle.

We are building this car in parallel to a show that I run, the Buffalo Motorama. It is the largest and longest running indoor custom car show in Western New York. Our plans are to document the build of the car through the entire process of paint and body and all the upgrades and customizing and then unveil it on opening day of the 2014 Buffalo Motorama on March 21, 2014.
Plans are to keep some design aspects of the Chevelle SS396 with performance upgrades in drivetrain, suspension, and interior and many custom details. All within a 6 month timeframe.

Updated rendering (Nov 4, 2013) from Studio Lundeen


Early rendering of the Chevelle


We wanted to drive the car for a while as it was only making a few changes. The Powerglide transmission slipped when we got it and the valve covers were leaking oil like crazy when we got it, so we pulled the drivetrain and freshened it up and swapped the Powerglide to a built Turbo 350 with a Hurst Quarter Stick replacing the column shift. We also pulled the factory bench seat and installed 2010 Camaro bucket seats with some fabbing of frame brackets to mount to the floor. For a 48 year old car, it honestly rode smooth and comfortably.

We'll be posting often on the SiniSSter Chevelle Facebook page also: www.facebook.com/buffalomotoramaprojectchevelle

Here are some picture of Chevelle before teardown

[BuffaloMotorama]

It's incredible the amount of work you can get done in 7 hours when determined. It also helps to have a great base vehicle that is so clean and rust free.

Some of the teardown pictures from this week:

[BuffaloMotorama]

We are even building a mini version of the Chevelle

[BuffaloMotorama]

We've been adding a lot of pics to our Facebook build page for SiniSSter Chevelle - https://www.facebook.com/BuffaloMotoramaProjectChevelle

Drove the car up to the Olcott Beach Car show on Labor Day weekend that we run. Had dinner with Dennis Gage and he checked out the car


Tore the Chevelle down in 11 hours then shipped to Great Lakes Media Blasting in Alden, NY


Disassembled it a bit more once it got to the blaster


Trunk is clean. Purists are mad that we're going to put in some ABC Performance Mini Tubs


Interior floor is clean


Out with the old, in with the new. UMI Performance and Viking Performance suspension as well as SSBC Brakes will replace the original components


Firewall will get filler panel, AC/heater will go under dash, and engine will be a Mike Janis Racing (2x NHRA Pro-Mod Wally recipient from Elma, NY) built 396


Doors stripped and pretty solid


Lower door lip is blasted and clean


Components are heading to the paint shop - Zeon's Collision in Lockport, NY. The body will finish media blasting and ship there next week.
Body will be removed from the frame, mini tubs installed, and frame will be media blasted and powder coated.

[cactuss4]

Nice!

[kwhizz]

Keep the pic's coming!!!.........Do you have the wheel and tire sizes picked out yet???


Ken

[BuffaloMotorama]

Keep the pic's coming!!!.........Do you have the wheel and tire sizes picked out yet???


Ken

We are going with the Forgeline DE3P, 18" front and 19" rear in gunmetal with brushed outer

[alowerlevel]

Looks like its gonna be sweet. What were those seats that were in it out of?

[BuffaloMotorama]

Looks like its gonna be sweet. What were those seats that were in it out of?

The front seats were out of a 2010 Camaro. We needed to make mounting brackets but other than that, fit perfectly. When we upholster them we are going to shorten the height of the head rests.

[BuffaloMotorama]

Today seemed like a good day to take the body off the frame. It will help us media blast the body and floor as well as clean up the frame and prepare it for ABC Performance mini tubs and to box the frame in.
Then we will powder coat the frame and install SSBC Performance Brakes on all 4 wheels, UMI Performance suspension, and Vi-King performance shocks and springs

[BuffaloMotorama]

Some more progress and parts are starting to arrive.

SiniSSter Chevelle removed from the frame and ready to be media blasted


Ring Brothers hood hinges. The build quality on these are amazing. In awe of everything that comes through their shop


Doors, fenders, and trunk are media blasted. No rot, just need the TLC of our body man. Parts are being delivered to him today






Tore apart frame to prepare for ABC Performance mini tub and frame boxing. Once completed, we will send for media blast and powder coat

[brownz]

moving along nice! keep the updates coming

[BuffaloMotorama]

moving along nice! keep the updates coming

We have less than 6 months to finish, so we have to keep a steady pace. This project is being done alongside of our regular jobs, late nights, and with some great friends and family.

[BuffaloMotorama]

A few more updates for 9/25/13
The body should be finished and arrive at the collision shop early next week. We're starting work on the frame and hope to have all the suspension and brakes installed in the next few weeks.

The frame is now at the collision shop, Zeon's Collision and Restoration in Lockport, NY


Our designer and renderer has some trick up his sleeves. Here's a teaser, but we're giving the 1966 emblems a 2013 refresh with custom CNC emblems


Painless wiring harness arrived and we opted for the Phantom Push Button start (with the red start button of course)




Vintage air system. So compact. Will give us a clean firewall and fit nicely under the dash


UMI Performance Suspension powder coated the suspension in a satin black. Made in the USA, which we love. Look at the finish and the exact welds. More like pieces of art







The 396 block has been disassembled and ready to clean and check the block.
Mike Janis and the crew at Jan-Cen Racing in Elma, NY will be building the engine


It also doesn't hurt that the engine builder is one of the top NHRA Pro-Mod drivers around

[BuffaloMotorama]

Picked up the custom built radiator from Wizard Cooling (www.wizardcooling.com)
I have a radiator they built in 2007 in my big block 69 Camaro and I have no overheating issues. Incredible build quality, and perfect welds.
And the bonus is they are designed and built in the USA, actually in my backyard in West Falls, NY
When I picked it up, owner Scott Attig gave me a tour of the shop, which was very impressive to see the behind the scenes of the build process







I will be adding a pair of 12" SPAL fans to finish off the combo

[BuffaloMotorama]

Frame is media blasted. Going to smooth out and clean up the factory welds. Then install ABCPerformance.net mini tubs and frame box. Progress pictures of frame boxing and mini-tub to follow.





UMI Performance parts came. Satin black powder coated a-arms, nice clean welds, soon to be installed.

[BuffaloMotorama]

Zeon's Collision started on the frame boxing and mini-tubs from ABCPerformance.net

[BuffaloMotorama]

Our creative friend at Studio Lundeen designed a modern emblem for the Chevelle. We will also have updated emblems for the quarter panel, tail panel, and grill.
Myles Tool in Pendelton, NY (www.mylestool.com did the CNC work. Here is the finished product

[kwhizz]

Beautiful...........!!!!!!!!

[CruizinKev]

wow nice emblems!!! maybe he can do a few more? but with LSX 376?