66 Chevelle PT build (ours)

[tommycomfort]

Obviously project names aren't my strong suit, but we (wife, kids and I) have been working on this since 2002 and thought it was time to start a project build here. I've had a post going on chevelles.com for a few years, but since the current focus is strongly pro-touring here it is.
So, the story goes like this... In the mid 80's while my wife and I were dating I had a 66 Malibu and then a 67 Chevelle SS that had become a small block car. Good times of wrenching, cruising and informal racing were remembered by both of us. I sold the 67 in 1987 but swore I wasn't done with muscle cars. Fast forward 15 years and I was out in Sacramento, CA doing some National Guard stuff and the wife came out for Memorial day weekend and we decided that if we were going to get back into the hobby there was not better place to buy a project Chevelle. We searched all the local classifieds and found this one in Yuba City, CA. Even though I loved going fast in a straight line back in the 80’s, I always loved a car that handled well. So, when we bought this one I was far removed from the hobby, but knew I wanted some creature comforts and a car that handled as good or better than most. In the past 7+ years we have taken many directions with the project from show car to mild cruiser, but now that we’re down to the wire it is going to be a used as a auto-x / track car that can be driven to events. With more money in paint and body than any regular guy should have to spend I will most likely follow a gravel truck right off the bat to get the chips out of the way... The current battle cry is for completion by May 1st 2010.

Here’s what we have:

66 two door hardtop that was completely solid and didn’t need any new panels
454 that is nothing to exciting (will be a LS based engine eventually!)
Tremec T-56
12 bolt, eaton posi, moser axles 4.56:1 gears for now
Hotchkis swaybars
DSE front and rear coilovers
SPC upper A-arms
Global West lower A-arms
ATS/AFX spindles
Baer brakes C-5 based up front and C-4 rear
Currie lower control arms
Edelbrock upper adjustable control arms
Vintage Air front runner serpentine setup
Vintage Air Gen IV unit
Procar Scat bucket seats
Lots of sound deadening
Smoke tinted windows

There are a lot of things that I have changed during the build and a lot more I would have done differently, but at this point it just has to get done before “improving” anything else.