New 1971 Chevelle project, Is it an SS?

[ProjectSB350]

Hello everyone, This is my first post on Pro Touring, I have a question about my 71' Chevelle that I need input on, I think it might be an SS, It has Hood pins (Stock) Disc brakes (stock) and the vin tags are removed (But I have them) I'm thinking he took the 454 and replaces the vins with a basic 307 Chevelle so I wouldn't say "Is that engine included?". He never tried selling it as an SS either, So he didn't add the parts to make it a fake Chevelle so he'd make more. Here is the story.

I bought a 1971 Chevelle,

It has almost all the pieces and parts to it, Just not attached,

The guy said he has a 454 off a car recently that he was fixing up, The engine in the car is a 307 (with the engine hoist hook still attached) I'm assuming he took the 454 out and put in the crappy 307,

It has the hood pins (the the steel stamped under them, meaning he couldn't just drill holes and add them)

It has disc brakes (Stock I believe, They look to be the same age and have the same amount of rust)

I'm adding pictures so everyone can see, Let me know if you think it's an SS. Either way I don't care if it is or not, I just would like to know. Thanks a lot everyone,



If you have a direct question or comment you can e-mail me at [email protected], No spam please, Will have to block if it is.

- ProjectSB350

[astroracer]

Check out the Chevelle site... What is the VIN number?
http://www.chevellestuff.com/1971/vin.htm
You really need to do some research on this pile. I HOPE you got a very good deal on it.
As for the hood pins? Looks added to me. The "stamped" area is always there as it is the hood bumper seat. Is a hood included? SS Grille? Do the fenders have holes for the SS emblems? At first glance I say it is a base Chevelle with Disc brakes and A/C.

[vintageracer]

In 71 the VIN does not have an engine code so the VIN is no use in determining an SS. The car has a MALIBU dash. Disc brakes were an option available on any Chevelle/Malibu.

What you have is an old ROUGH small block 71 Chevelle with no VIN tags attatched.

Cut it up and make a PT car. Just make sure the VIN you have matches a title you have which matches the hidden VIN's under the heater box and also stamped on the frame. If the VIN tag you does not match the title (you do have a title??) and/or do not match the hidden VIN's on the car I would not want that car in my garage and I don't care if it was FREE!

[ProjectSB350]

Yes I have the Vin tags and the Title (Matching the vins), So do you think that the 307 engine is correct? or possibly a 350? Either way someone took that engine out at one point, maybe to switch or to fix. So what about the hood pins? I'm assuming that could be an option also (which is somewhat uncommon anyways) And it's possibly he switched the dash, though it looks fairly similar to the rest of the car. Also can the gauge on the steering pillar be stock? or is that aftermarket? (it's old"ER" either way )

[ProjectSB350]

Actually when you take a closer look it's in decent condition, It also comes with something like 90% of the stock parts that are in pretty good condition, They guy I bought it from had switches all the quarter panels (Though he gave me the originals). It will take plenty of work, But I have a 350 engine that I'm going to drop in it that has all the parts an runs, So the engine and trans are no problem. I'm guessing it will be drivable by next summer, (without any of the body work done) and probably a year or 2 before it's painted and totally done, Thinking of calling it Project "Father Time". Because it will take so much damn time to fix it

[astroracer]

The tach is aftermarket... I doubt very much the dash would have been switched. There is no reason on earth to do that. You have a base model malibu with some factory options, that is all. And I hope you have a huge bank account to get this dude on the road...

[ProjectSB350]

And the Vin plate numbers are

(FLAT PLATE) ST71 13637 K

(BENT PLATE) 136371K 1

Which as decoded would be

(MALUBU 8 CYL) (2 DOOR COUPE) (K - KANSAS CITY MISSOURI [4** = CHEVELLE])

Though the vins aren't on the car, So I can't tell if there correct or not,

[JChilders]

I am going to stick with that it is a malibu.

[ProjectSB350]

Alright, I'll take your word for it, Although I still would like to know what people think it is, Do you think all those parts are stock or replaced? I'm glad I didn't buy it because I thought It was an SS, I assumed it was a basic 71 Chevelle that with work will look very good. Any ideas on how I should build it? I would like a 454 with a blower for the engine, Of coarse I don't have that kind of money, So I'm dropping in a 350, Hopefully I can find a blower that will fit it anyways, Any Ideas on what to do with it? Keep it stock, Or Modify it, Because it's fairly common I don't have to worry about deforming a rare car. Ideas people?

[astroracer]

Vin # says Malibu 8 Cyl.

[chuckd71]

http://www.chevellestuff.com/1971/vin.htm
http://www.chevellestuff.com/1971/71ss.htm

For some reason I don't think that is the original dash. Never seen one that color.
You mentioned money, but if you are worried about cash you bought the wrong car. After you dump $30k more into that one it might be worth $15k. Then again, that's something I think many of us have come to accept in this hobby. With enough time you can do anything. Best of luck to you. There is nothing I see that indicate that it is an SS (I'm no expert though).

[Greasy63]

wow looks like a real Mans project!

GL with your build

[ProjectSB350]

Money is an object, But I'm repairing everything I can, I don't want to make money off it, I will be fixing it up for myself and to pass down to my kids, Hopefully its not to much of a bust of a project, Hopefully I'll never need to sell it. I'm hoping to turning it into a Street/Strip car (Though I probably won't race it) I would like to get 396 or 454 for it eventually, I need to turn it into a Manual Trans (I believe it was an Auto Trans stock) If all else fails, I will just take the body off and turn it into a Mudder while I fix up the chassis of the car.

[Zanie]

What you have there is a small block Malibu!!!Zero doubt. hood pins? that's not a good indicator: The stock malibu core support has those flat spots in it for the hood pins, so hood pin install is a 10 minute job. You just need to drill the hole in the center of the flat area.

I assure you nobody pulled out an SS dash and installed a malibu dash. It's no small task. You'd need to change the under dash wiring harness, too. (I know, I removed my malibu dash & installed an SS dash)
If it's a big block car it would have a two piece intermediate steering shaft.
http://www.chevelles.com/forums/show...steering+shaft
Do yourself a HUGE favor and skip the big block, and go right to the LS engine.
This is coming from a guy who has a big block in a 56 chevy, 71 chevelle, 89 crew cab dually, plus 2 in my boat and two more in the garage (yes 7)! and none are smaller than a 454 ci.
With the LS you get: Easy power, better gas milage, lighter weight. If I was starting from scratch on a Chevelle, it would be getting an LS, no question.
Good luck!!

[esenior]

I know on the 70's you can look for the boxed rear F41 suspension. Pretty sure only the SS's had it. I agree that this is probably a non-SS, but that shouldn't matter if you are building it for YOU. I pro-tour'ed my original X11 Camaro, but would have preferred to go this route on a non-SS. I think the less collectible models are better candidates for customizing.

As for Zanie's comment above...I know almost everyone here prefers the LS over BBC, so I guess I'm one of the minority. I get such a big grin hearing the rumble of the ZZ502 in my wife's 70 Chevelle or the 396 in my 66 El Camino and looking forward to hearing my 540 scream to life this weekend. My recommendation....go with what YOU love. For me..."there's no replacement for discplacement"

--Eric

[JChilders]

Build the car the way you want it. Only you are going to know what is going to be fun. I have a 72 chevelle that is not the prettiest, but its mine. Good luck with your build.

[1971CHEVELLE]

Build the car the way you want it. Only you are going to know what is going to be fun. I have a 72 chevelle that is not the prettiest, but its mine. Good luck with your build.

X2
I have a 71 chevelle

[ProjectSB350]

Thanks a lot guys, Hopefully I can get a decent (Price smart) 454, Though if I can find a LS then I might look into that more, But I agree, The rumble of the big block is mind blowing, But for economy and speed, I would love an LS, Though I'm sure either engines will pull this 3200lb car around no problem. Do any of you know anything to get a good (somewhat cheap) 454 (or 396 if I have to) big block? even just the block it's self is alright, Thanks a lot everyone.

[monteboy84]

Go to car-part.com and find a Vortec 6.0 from a 2000 Chevy 2500 pickup, that's an iron block, aluminum head LS motor for much cheaper than an aluminum 5.7 from a Camaro or Corvette. You should be able to snag one for $1200 or so. It will be a used motor obviously, but you can get major power out of it for what just a decent top end on a 454 would run you. Much easier to work on in the car than a big block too.

-matt