68 Chevelle in Michigan

[strangler]

Hello. I am in the process of re-restoring my 68 Chevelle and thought I would start a build thread to document my progress and recieve CONSTRUCTIVE criticism.

I have owned the car since the fall of 1996. It was a complete bondo wagon when I got it, plus no engine, trans or interior and those were its best assets. Bringing the car home from its previous owner really set the stage for our relationship....... the truck/trailer jacknifed and I put the whole rig in the ditch, coming to rest with the roof of the car against a tree.

I was 16 at the time, so my father helped me build a mild 350 for it, and along with an old Muncie and a junkyard interior I used and abused it as any teenager would. I can't believe the way I treated this car......

In the summer of 1997 I was hit from behind by a drunk driver while waiting for a stoplight to change. The impact pinched me between the drunk and the truck in front of me, shortening the car and scuffing my bondo.

The accident proved to be a turning point for myself and the Chevelle alike. No longer was it my beater, but something worth bringing back to life. Again, my Dad helped me replace the quarters, fenders, bumpers and trim. We did the majority of the body work in our garage and then had a reputable local shoot it black with silver 70+ style stripes. The car looked great along with its new interior and fresh, mild 396. This is a true SS car, so the BBC was only fitting. I drove it for the next year or so and then again during the summers while attending college away from home. Upon graduation from college I proposed to my high-school-sweetheart, got married (yes, the car was in the wedding!) and moved to Detroit to be closer to both our our employers. I stored the car in a various garage's from '02 until a month ago, when I brought it home and decided to re-restore it.

The paint had held up fairly well, but some of my body work had not. The doors had began to blister and flake.

The frame had always been rather tweaked, due to its previous life as a drag car (9.90's I'm told), so a replacement was sourced from Tennessee.

Over the last month I have rebuilt the 396, and unbolted the body in preperation for its transfer to the new frame.

This will be far from the fastest progression build thread on here, but I will update pics as I go and as time allows. My pot-of-gold includes:
fuel injected 396, TKO 600, 3.90 Eaton 12 bolt, ATS spindles, Varishocks, SC&C upper arms, 16:1 steering box, Coys Wheels, C5 front brakes, LS1 F-body rear brakes, bla, bla, bla.

Hope to keep you all entertained:
-Scott

[formula98]

Looks like a great project! keep up with the posts.

[trapin]

Whereabouts in Michigan are you?

[hdesign]

Great project, my favorite year of Chevelle! I had an opportunity to buy a super clean, orig 34K mile 6 cyl Malibu a few months back for a song, didn't have the space. Kicking myself big time for that one. DOH!

[kainzien]

keep us up with the progress.. I've been wanting to pro-tour a chevelle..

[strangler]

Thanks for the encouragment guys. Tony, I am in Livonia... 7 mile/Inkster rd. area. I will be posting some more pics soon as I pulled the body off 2 nights ago and am ready to start assembling the new frame.
Been a little busy around the house lately.... My wife is due with our first any minute now, infact yesterday was the due date....

I better get back to work while I can!

[strangler]

Removed the body and most of the components that I will be reusing from the old frame. Scrubbed the new frame and sprayed it with some satin black before beginning assembly. Old frame was taking up too much space, so it became a portable model. Kind of sad chopping up the old frame.....

Stainless brake lines tonight and maybe the steering box, idler arm and center link. If I get those done I will probally set the engine and trans in place, if only to get them out of the way in my small garage and figure out what trans mount a TKO uses... Anyone know offhand? My boxed rear control arms just need washed up before reassembly, but since the frame looks so nice I will probally paint my 12 bolt before sliding it under there. More to come.

[strangler]

Installed the engine, flywheel, bellhousing and trans so I can verify bellhousing allignment and figure out what to do with the trans mount. Painted my exhaust with BBQ paint, I hope it holds up. Spending some time with the fuel and brake lines right now and picking at it when I can. Rear control arms are on and front lowers are ready for installation-maybe tonight, along with the rear axle.

[trapin]

Scott...interesting story. I can relate, somewhat. If I can throw an idea at you....I know you already have some suspension components but before you dive too far into that, give some serious thought to bagging this car. I had an oppurtunity to test drive air ride Technologies '66 Chevelle and I was blown away at the performance. Their system is really ideal for bigger cars like yours. I was swinging this thing into the turns and it held flat all the way through. If I could do it all over again, I would have went air ride for sure.

Looks like a fun project. And you're making good progress on it too. Keep us updated.

[strangler]

And just like that the project comes to a screeching hault.

(I forgot to put the oil pump driveshaft in)

me

[strangler]

So, I've been thinking. I had a complete, running, driving, decent looking car 5 years ago. The modifications I want to make (AFX spindles, SC&C arms, C5 front brakes, 17" wheels, etc) are really expensive for my current budget. Seems to me that I could put together my entire car with the upgrades I have already purchased (solid frame, TKO trans, rebuilt rear, LS1 rear disc's, rebuilt engine, Holley Pro-jection, Classic Auto Air) and move forward, bringing a car back to life with the ability to add what I see fit in the future. I will do the body work as I can, all while enjoying the car instead of looking at it in the garage. Guess i'd rather drive whats 75% badass and upgrade as cash allows, than stare at what will be 99% badass.... someday.

Maybe I'm just thinking outloud, and I have no idea what you guys make for a living, but it seems that I can't hang. I realized tonight that my 15" wheels will clear my LS1 rears and of corse my stock fronts, so tomorrow I'm buying new balljoints/rotors/wheel bearings and moving forward with what I have,. There is too much fun to be had driving these cars and I have been out of the game too long!

(p.s., PINKS! is bad, too many people having fun with beaters...... gets my blood pumping!).
-Scott