Keith's 65 Impala upgrade

[kwhizz]

A little background on Keith and his car.........In June I took the Impala Convert and went to a car show in Union Grove........when I parked I was met by some friends and we talked for a 1/2 hour......I noticed a guy standing behind my car waiting for us to finish talking.......when they left he came over and asked me if I was Ken......LOL........Ended up that Keith followed every build that is posted on this site.....We had just finished Gary's car and he knew everything about the build and knew everything about the Impala Convert also........Holy Cow.......We talked about the transformation of Gary's car and how he was in Awe of the new drivetrain over the old Big Block.......We talked about the Yenko site for about a 1/2 hour..........Fast forward about two weeks and I got to a little car show in Milwaukee and end up parking next to Keith.....He had a 65 Impala wagon at the Union Grove show but brought his 65 Impala hardtop to this show.......We got to talking and he told me he would love to duplicate the drivetrain in Gary's car in this car........Due to some Physical Limitations he was unable to complete this process himself........
To make a long story short.......Some of his friends removed the old drivetrain and parts not required and I gave him a list of parts to order and the car showed up today with the parts.........So.....Put the Pop corn on as it will be an Honor to help Keith out.......
Here is the car arriving today.....

[kwhizz]

In addition to the LS3 480 H.P. engine and 4L70E trans.......we will be adding A/C.......new aluminum radiator....Dakota Digital VHX Gauges.......Here's a shot of the new drivetrain...........




New Holley 302-1 Pan installed








Stay Tuned........

[LSXZ28]

Sweet car!

[kwhizz]

Today was fuel Tank day.............Got the Fuel level sender set to spec along with the fuel pump.....Got the fuel lines made......Vent lines in ........and got the wires hooked up then got the tank and fuel pressure regulator installed.......When the time comes I just need to run the fuel line up to the engine........Moving along

[IMPALAMAN1]

What tank is that?

[sheck44]

Thats a Tanks Inc.
Cheers
Steve

[kwhizz]

Still very Hot and Humid here.......Got the firewall plate for the A/C installed......Got to get some more insulation wrap to finish it off.........then I decided to get the dash out so I could take it into the house (A/C) and get the Dakota Digital gauges installed.......I'll leave the dash out till I finish all the internal A/C hook ups and get the Dakota Digital control modules wired and installed.......Working room......



Sheesh.........Look at all the Dust........






Don't worry Keith, I'll clean it...............LOL

[kwhizz]

Was in the Garage today for only about a 1/2 hour.........put a header on to see if the stock oil dipstick was going to work........Fits perfect... :bigthumbup:..........Then put the adaptor plates on that the "B" body cars need........should have the engine in Tuesday/ Wednesday....

[kwhizz]

Getting closer........But........I found more "Dirt" !!!........Sheesh.......Does it ever end...In these "B" body LS swap's......the rear trans cross member needs to get moved back 2 1/4".....so.....I cut the frame mounts out and will re-weld them in position as required upon install..........Got the engine mounts installed and also the engine and transmission harnesses........Next......Get the drivetrain in the Car......Here are some Pic's















The Radiator showed up also

[kwhizz]

Moved a couple steps forward today........Got the trans cross member frame mounts cut off the frame and the frame cleaned up and ready for welding them in their new position.....and Dave and Gary stopped over to help get the engine in the car.........Got it in and installed the trans cross member , then got everything in position and Brent was there to weld the frame mounts in their new position......started to separate out all the wires and got the Headers installed........Moving along..........

[Ben@SpeedTech]

Looks perfect in there! Nice ride, keep it going!

[Josh@Ridetech]

Looks like it was a clean car to start with! Good work.

[clueless69bird]

Which spark plug wires are you running with those headers?

[kwhizz]

The new Alternator showed up today.....so...I decided to get the accessory drive system installed today....Got the Alternator side finished.....started on the Compressor side and realized we didn't order the belt tensioner........Ordered one (Be here Monday).........so.....I decided to get the A/C condenser and Radiator installed.......Moving right along













- - - Updated - - -

Which spark plug wires are you running with those headers?

MSD with bendable boot ends..........

[kwhizz]

Had a little spare time today.........Got the Starter in........got the Fuel line installed up to the fuel filter on the firewall (one fitting short of finishing of course).......and believe it or not .....the Tensioner assy for the belt drive I ordered from Amazon was delivered today (Sunday).......So...I put it on and installed the compressor.....Just need to get the proper belt.......A little bit every day

[Motown 454]

You guys do nice clean work. It's moving along nicely.

[kwhizz]

I was going to take a Break for a day and get other stuff done today........Walked into the garage and as I looked at the firewall........(LOL.....can't leave stuff alone ya' Know).......I was unhappy with one of the screws that was holding the A/C firewall plate in position.......Darn !!!........Went in the house and that dam screw was haunting me.......went back out and removed the inner fender panel again and got it fixed correctly..........and I also got all the A/C lines fit and made ........get them crimped tomorrow......

[kwhizz]

Got the Front drive set-up finished today........Put the crimped A/C lines on and evacuated the system.....Held 30 lbs vacuum.......dug thru the box of Radiator hose pieces and was able to get a bottom hose pieced together......need to do the Auto store torture for the upper one.......the Driveshaft was finished, went and picked it up and installed it.......The old driveshaft couldn't be shortened because of the reduced diameters..........picked up heater hose parts and started on the air intake......
















Moving along............

[minendrews68]

What! I was just getting into this thread and it quit (for now). Great job so far...

[kwhizz]

O.k.........Update......Got the fuel line completed......new spark plug wires to clear the headers.....upper and lower Radiator hoses pieced together and installed.....and the air inlet system is completed and installed.......Steam line and heater hoses will be completed today........PCV system and Power Steering hose are about all that's left to do in the engine compartment other than wiring.....Here are some pic's