65 SS Impala Convertible Build

[kiwipip]

Hi I'm based in Auckland New Zealand and as the title says I have a 65 Impala that is the final stages an LS Conversion. I was lucky to have purchased a straight and rust free 65 Convertible, It was a genuine SS Big Block Vehicle with Aircon. My brief to Mike Barry from NXT Level Automotive was to the untrained eye the vehicle is to look stock, air ride suspension and wicked stance, the engine bay to be detailed and uncluttered.

I researched online and thru various forums imported all the goodies and delivered all the parts and the Vehicle to Mike, to say Im delighted with the result is an understatement.

The vehicle has had the following:

air ride suspension from Ride Tech
LS3 Engine Holley Sniper Intake and Cam and Injectors
Willwood Discs all around
Hydrotec Brakes with Wilwood Master
New LSD Diff
New Fuel Tank and intake fuelpump
Eddie Motorsports serpentine pulley system
Eddie Motorsports hinges
Dakota Digital dash

A Clean Vehicle to start with


I suppose what you would call the before pic


Parts arriving for conversion


Motor and exhaust installed and test fitted prior to pull down


Rather than bashing the transmission tunnel it was cut and a modified tunnel fabricated


Engine painted Bright Red . Running hidden coil packs so using SBC Valve Covers and adopters so new oil fill had to be made


Strip down getting ready to remove of chassis and clean up fire wall

Chassis Powder coated


Firewall Cleaned up


Motor meets chassis


Hard lines plumbed



Body Meets Chassis


Looking more like a finished product, Happy with the new stance



Air Intake fabricated


Because I was using SBC Valve covers with the pre drilled oil filler and breather holes fender emblems were milled to fit


Air Intake and radiator fill panel colour coded to match car. Coils hidden below The vehicle is in the final stages computer being installed under passenger seat so the engine remains clean and uncluttered




a bit of before and after

[Toccoa]

Wow! Great job on the build. It looks so clean.

[IMPALAMAN1]

What size headers did you use. Have a part number. Turned out amazing