1969 Chevelle "Cone Smasher"

[WallaceMFG]

I got tired of not having a car to build, and I wanted a car I could take to autocrosses, so I decided to build a pro-touring machine. I got this 1969 Chevelle from a friend of mine who has had it since they were in high school in the 80's. It was a California car but spent most of its life was spent in Arizona, so it was pretty much rust free but everything else was ruined from 26 years of neglect.

Originally it was a 307 v8 with a 3-speed saginaw on the tree and a 10 bolt out back, but at some point it had a 350 and a 4-speed muncie stuffed into it instead. It had the 300 deluxe package, so the car didn't have many options but it did have factory A/C. Also, it was the rarer "post" body instead of a normal coupe.

Here's the shape it was in when I got it back to my house

[Bonehead]

Love it! Enjoy the build.

[WallaceMFG]

First thing was to get the car apart. Since we couldn't get bunch of people to some over and the car still had most of its parts on, we had to get a little creative with the floor jack and engine crane...





Nothing special on the chassis

[WallaceMFG]

I went to the Good Guys Spring National in Scottsdale last year, and a local company had show deals on powder coating. I spent some time smoothing out the frame so it wasn't as ugly, then I dragged it off to Glendale and had it blasted and powdercoated. It looks really good!






ridetech was having deals as well, so I ordered a Stage II coilover setup with sway bars front and rear. At the same time, I also hunted down a 12 bolt to put out back instead of the little 10 bolt, and got new steering tie rods

[WallaceMFG]

I took my time taking the car apart and making sure everything was labeled good because I didn't want the frustration of unlabeled bags like I had on the last car. Once the car was gutted I had a decision to make. There were a few spots of rust that needed fixed, but other than that the car looked straight. I decided to play it safe and had the car media blasted, and I'm really glad I did.








Before I sent the car to get blasted, I filled in a bunch of holes in the firewall. A/C, heater, blower motor, wiper motor, etc...




I took the car to Pro Strip in Mesa, AZ, and he got it done really fast. And I realized that it was a good choice to get it blasted.

[WallaceMFG]

Here's where the build started to go bad. After the car was blasted, I found all of the bad bodywork that was done in the 80's...




Something hit the right side of the car pretty good, and apparently the roof too because it has a large crease on it






And this spot was just packed full of Bondo and chicken wire, along with the front fenders




It also came with the Swiss cheese floor option, and a shift hole that looks like it was made with tin snips

[WallaceMFG]

With the rust accounted for and replacement panels ordered, I needed to get the car in primer so no surface rust would form. Then I worked on the fire wall to get it smooth. I don't really like the option to replace the fire wall with a flat sheet, I wanted to keep the bends and dips in it so I only filled in the holes that were in it.







I sprayed the firewall with DP90 like I did on the other car, I think it looks good under the hood and makes the engine stand out more











The first of my replacement panels showed up, the package tray and rear window valance

Before:



After:

[WallaceMFG]

The body is all in primer until the day comes to paint it

[WallaceMFG]

The Torino needed the interior redone since it was 20 years old unlike the rest of the car, so we mocked up the body and chassis so we could move it from the shop to the garage for a while. Stuffed it full of its own parts, and put it on hold

The wheels are off of a 96 Impala SS that I had on my s10 for a while. They may stay, but I'd like something a little wider out back










The small block gets to stay for now... ;)

[WallaceMFG]

After a long fight with the interior on the Torino, I think it came out pretty good for a first time interior! And with that done the Chevelle could return to the shop.









Cup Holders!

[WallaceMFG]

The Chevelle was returned to the shop, and after the rest of the car was media blasted, rust repair was done and primer went on









For the paint on this car I want to do GM Platinum Ice metallic white with some sort of red/gray/silver stripe on the side of the car kinda like the RCR Camaro





The first metallic white started to go on the car

[WallaceMFG]

To keep the car reasonable cool and quiet, I put Lizard Skin heat and sound control on the floor and firewall. I put this in the Torino when I did the interior, and it really does help.

[WallaceMFG]

The body mods continue. I found a local glass shop that can put a flush mount windshield and rear window in the car, so I'm gonna do that. To go along with the cleaned up lines, I decided that the drip rails needed to go. With some guidance from a friend, my dad and I began the removal.

He said the best way to get them off is do do it in small pieces so that the roof skin and the other roof pieces don't try to separate.







Now to repeat on the other side...






The rear panel was dented up, but the worst part was that the channel for the trunk seal was completely corroded through, so It had to be replaced.





We were pretty much done, then we managed to dent the brand new panel! Added that to the list of body work before paint

[WallaceMFG]

Love it! Enjoy the build.

Sorry I missed you!

And thanks I do enjoy building cars, but I can't wait til the first time I get to drive it!

[WallaceMFG]

I needed a break from metal work, So I spent some time on the rear end disc conversion. I got a set of 98-02 LS1 Camaro rear discs and a new set of rotors off ebay for pretty cheap. I took the calipers apart, powdercoated them at home, and threw new seals in them and they're good as new!

The backing plates bolt on with no mods, but for anyone who is wondering, YOU NEED A SPACER!!! There needs to be an 1/8th inch spacer between the housing and backing plate to center the bracket over the rotors. Depending on your housing the parking brake lever may need be ground a little to clear as well. I put the parking brakes together, but may run a hydraulic parking brake instead, still researching that.

I ordered stainless lines from Tobin at Kore3, so those should be here soon. I know its all over the forum, but Tobin is awesome to work with. He is extremely full of information and willing to answer any questions you might have.

[Barrrf]

This is so awesome. I wish I had you patience with the body work..........Im afraid of what I might find.

I know about the "tin snips" floor hole. Except mine was/is a tad bit worse.

Im going to keep following this. I love it!

[WallaceMFG]

This is so awesome. I wish I had you patience with the body work..........Im afraid of what I might find.

I know about the "tin snips" floor hole. Except mine was/is a tad bit worse.

Im going to keep following this. I love it!

Thanks!

The body work is a TON of work, but since my budget is low and time is high, that's what I'm gonna keep doing. I'm trying to make my car unique by doing subtle body mods. I'm actually building flush door handles right now so whenever they're done I'll get them in and post pics. And I got my cowl hood, which I'm planning on cutting functional scoops into the front of like another Chevelle I saw on here before

By the time I'm done, you'll be able to look down the side of the car and only see those nice curved Chevelle lines

[shortrack]

Looking good....nothing as cool as a black 69 Chevelle

[Barrrf]

I just bought a 2" cowl hood to do the same thing youre describing.

Also, flush glass!?!?! I WANT THIS. But the only source I found was $1k just for the front window.

[Stovebolter]

Looking great.