1970 Chevelle Pro Touring Build

[David LaBuda]

The Chevelle has slowly transformed from a basic restoration into an all out pro touring build so I figured I would share my progress here. If you want to see my original build thread on Team Chevelle to get a more in depth look you can click this link:

http://www.chevelles.com/forums/showthread.php?t=346452

I bought the Chevelle in January of 2010 when I was 15 and I originally planned on patching up the rusty areas and throwing in a rebuild 350/TH350. As I started tearing into the car, I quickly realized that I had stumbled into a tougher project than I originally thought. I ended up replacing both quarter panels, the doors, fenders, trunk lid, rocker panel, rebuilding the trunk floor, patching the driver's floor pan. I also discovered the frame had been split, twisted, and rusted through in multiple areas. However, I wasn't about be discouraged so I dove right in. I rebuilt a 1970's era 350, found a set of original disk brakes, and picked up a set of Eibach lowering springs. Those were going to be the extent of my upgrades but after doing a lot of research and looking at other builds, I decided I wanted to follow more of a pro touring theme. I picked up a 2001 LQ4, a T56, and 4th gen Camaro disk brakes. I practically threw the car together over the next two years so that I would be able to drive it before I graduated high school. I ended up driving the car to the last day of my Senior year so I guess that counts . I'll discuss my future plans for the Chevelle after I post some progress pictures.

As a young kid with no experience, I barely inspected the car before I dropped my hard earned $1800 on it. Lesson learned!






The floor had been previously "repaired" with tin and rivets.



There was well over an inch of bondo on areas of both quarter panels.


As you can see, the frame was toast.




Goodbye, locked up 305


Started assembling my newly machined 350

[David LaBuda]

Gotta love living on a farm!


Found an straight, rust free frame on the Team Chevelle classifieds



The rear upper control arms were rusty and twisted so I bought a pair of UMI arms. I think this is what originally gave me the pro touring bug




After getting the frame assembled I dove right into body work. (Keep in mind that I had absolutely 0 experience before this. I just figured it out as I went.)

[David LaBuda]

More sheet metal work

[David LaBuda]

I bought a complete brake LS1 Camaro brake setup and rebuild the calipers


Chevelle vs Camaro rotors










I had to clearance the control arm mount for the parking brake lever.

[David LaBuda]

After I decided to go with the LQ4, I picked up a Caprice gas tank. It fit with just a little clearancing of the frame. I rebuilt the trunk braces so they would be taller than they originally were. This allowed me to tuck the taller Caprice tank into the frame rails.



The LQ4 was from ebay and it had 210000 miles on it. Once again, I'm not quite sure what I was thinking but I went for it. When I tore into the engine, I could still see the cross hatching on the cylinders so I took it to the machine shop to be cleaned up and installed new bearings, rings and gaskets.

[KnightMare]

God luck with the chevelle. I know one of mine is that bad too, going to be a long project

[David LaBuda]

It was great seeing the car come together for the first time in two years.







Harness is out of a 4th Gen Camaro


I copied the canted radiator design from the 4th Gen Camaros



Parking brake is out of a Subaru Legacy (I work at a used Subaru dealership, so I have lots of access to Subaru parts)

[David LaBuda]

I picked up a set of GTO seats and decided to use the rears as well.

[David LaBuda]

I found a 12 bolt rear end with a 2.73 posi on craiglslist for a steal. I installed it as is but I'll be upgrading it in the near future.


I enjoyed the car over the summer and then for the 4 weeks before I went off to college I sanded the body panels and sprayed some epoxy primer. It'll be wearing the primer for a while.




I had a chance to get some better pictures during Thanksgiving break.

[David LaBuda]

The driveshaft would rub the tunnel whenever I had a passenger in the car so over Christmas break I cut it out and rebuilt it





I also rebuilt the rear of the floorpan for more legroom

[David LaBuda]

I also started building a custom dash and console that I designed

[David LaBuda]

[David LaBuda]

And this is how the Chevelle looked when I drove it to the last day of High School. It was loud, ugly, and smelly and my friends loved it! That is still one of my favorite experiences in my life!

[Barrrf]

This looks like its going together pretty well. How did you mount those rear seats?

[SShep71]

Hey man the project looks awesome. Great progress in 2 years. If you ever need parts for you car and you are having trouble finding stuff there are several restoration shops in the area. I used to live in the Wilkes-barre area and I worked at FTIG so I am somewhat familiar. Good luck with the rest of the build!

[SparkyRnD]

darn cool looking project!

[ProTourGSX]

You are an inspiration to ALL GM A-body owners, who can learn much from your skills & project! GREAT JOB!!! NICE CAR!!!

[David LaBuda]

This looks like its going together pretty well. How did you mount those rear seats?

The back rests have hooks on the back so I will just make points for them to slide into with a bolt through the brace in the bottom of the back rest. For the bottoms, I'll have to come up with something since I cut off the GTO mounts. Ill just have to weld brackets onto the frame of the seat.

[David LaBuda]

I guess I should take a minute to introduce myself. I am a freshman mechanical engineering major at Texas Christian University. I am in Air Force ROTC so if all goes as planned I'll be commissioning as a Second Lieutenant after graduation. I have done every bit of work except for machining the engine myself and I have taught myself everything I know. My father is not involved with working on cars but I have gotten advice from my grandfather who used to restore VWs. I have loved every minute of working on the Chevelle and I certainly plan on building more cars in the future.

This summer I will be working on the suspension and interior of the car. I plan on blowing it back apart and boxing the frame and possibly reworking the rear suspension. I will also be shaving the firewall and drip rails and cleaning up the engine bay. I would like to get most of the interior done but I plan on taking the Chevelle to school with me next year so I may end up running out of time. I am going to have a lot of suspension related questions as I make my plans so I will be asking them here or in the suspension section. I'll try and document my work better in the future so that other A body owners can get ideas/solutions for their own builds.

[SecondGenFan]

Nice job! Project is coming along nicely.