Introducing my '69 Chevelle

[gmorris]

Wow, it's been a very long time so I figured it was time for an update.

After I finished the car in 2009 and enjoying it all summer I decided to make a few changes in the spring of 2010. This included a big Setrab oil cooler with thermostat and Holley HP efi system. The EFI install dragged into the summer of 2010 due to early run parts issues and some mods needed to make the crank trigger work properly. Once I got it all sorted out and tuned the car ran better than ever but due to the usual work etc I didn't get much time to drive it that summer.

Turn to fall 2010 when we decide to pack up and move to Fernie BC in order to be able to enjoy our non working hours a lot more. We buy a house that needs a ton of work and we start a complete gut and reno in Jan 2011. That drags on to Sept 2011 when we finally finish it. This whole time the car sat in my enclosed trailer and I got one drive in that fall before putting it away for the winter.

Now it's Jan 1 2012 wen I'm in a very bad biking accident resulting in me breaking my back in several places and 4 months in the hospital. After a lot of complications I get out mid April but I'm not a T4 level paraplegic with no feeling/movement below my chest. I spent the rest of 2012 renoing the house again and trying to figure my life out. I strongly considered selling the chevelle to help pay for things but decided to hold onto it. I was back at work full time by July 1st but haven't yet figured out how to work on cars and stuff so the velle collects dust for another year.

Now it's 2013 and we've decided to move back to Calgary this summer and I'm starting planning to make the chevelle driveable for me again. The heavy twin disc clutch and manual are obviously out now that I use hand controls so I'm planning a swap to a paddle shifted 4l65 and likely an LS3 for simplicity. Being back in Calgary will help as we are buying a house with a 3 car garage and I have lots of friends there to help with the heavy work. I will need to try and figure out how to sell the Lewis 540 and tko600 but that will be tough in the local market for sure. The engine is mint with 1700 miles on it. At least I have something to do now trying to figure out engine mount/header/accessory combinations that will work.



Anyway, that's the update and I hope to be able to start posting pics again this summer.

[Jon69RagTop]

Geez Gary. Sorry to hear about the accident and difficult recovery. Kudos to you for getting back on the project and making it work for your current condition. Best of luck too you and your wife,

[Mommy Wagon]

Hello Gary, It really is great to see another Calgarian here. I am very sorry to hear of your recent misfortunes - Calgary really is a great place to be right now, glad you're back.

I don't know how I overlooked your thread before, when it get's a little nicer out I'd love to see your car in the sun. Might be years before I get my 2 cars completed, seems like there never is enough time.

Beautiful Ride.