First shots of the restoration effort.
Body stripped and on a rotisserie.
Body stripped and on a rotisserie.
70 Chevelle Restoration
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363 Replies |
Last: 3 yr ago by stbabs
Some of the rust repair challenges:
Back window. Typical of all muscle cars of that era:
Behind side windows where trim pins were. Was originally a vinyl top car. New metal tacked in.
Back window. Typical of all muscle cars of that era:
Behind side windows where trim pins were. Was originally a vinyl top car. New metal tacked in.
This is the current condition? Or is it finished in your garage and you'll dole the pics out over a little while.
Current condition. Lots of time, work and $$$ before she's finished.
Nice setup, and I like the Enron sign in the background!
Awesome! I love build threads.
Are you staying with the stock paint color?
Are you staying with the stock paint color?
Probably a darker blue, like Fathom Blue, which was a stock SS color for 1970.
Like this one:
Like this one:
Page one so I can follow! I'm in Nac quite a bit for work and will let you know next time I'm in town. I wanna see this thing!
Floor it until you see God
Sure thing!
I'm in Garrison, 20 miles north.
I'm in Garrison, 20 miles north.
Looks like a great project. Have fun!
The 68-72 A Body's from GM were some of the best looking cars ever made. I've long dreamed of a 442, Chevelle SS, Grand Sport or GTO Judge as a weekend toy but honestly will probably never do it. Just simply gorgeous cars. I had a 442 convertible in HS that was WAY too much car for a kid that age but man it was fun!
Kudos to OP for this project and I can't want to see it unfold!
Kudos to OP for this project and I can't want to see it unfold!
New metal going in to fix rust out on side of rear window, drivers side. Several small pieces rather than one; best way to maintain original contour.
Will use aftermarket repair panel on the bottom of the window.
just a word of warning but you have drastically underestimated the amount of time, work and money this is going to take.stbabs said:
Current condition. Lots of time, work and $$$ before she's finished.
OP has cousins bro.
I live in East Texas. Everyone within 50 miles is a cousin!!
Metal replacement complete on sides of back window.
Awaiting patch panel to repair rust at the bottom of the window.
Checked out a couple of "rebuildable 454s" today.
Both pretty much basket cases:
Been sitting in an old chicken house for about 10 years.
If you think that looks like rat tds in the carb; you'd be right.
I did say I live in EAST Texas, right??
Both pretty much basket cases:
Been sitting in an old chicken house for about 10 years.
If you think that looks like rat tds in the carb; you'd be right.
I did say I live in EAST Texas, right??
Two cans of brake cleaner and that would be good to go
FIFYDuncan Idaho said:
Two cases of brake cleaner and that would be good to go
Frame blasted and painted.
Sorry, lighting was bad. Better shot when I roll it out.
No cracks. Always a possibility on a 48 yo frame.
Sorry, lighting was bad. Better shot when I roll it out.
No cracks. Always a possibility on a 48 yo frame.
Rebuildable. Lol.
Metal replacement complete and the body is headed to the sandblaster.
Won't blast the roof; concerns about warping the sheet metal on that big a span. Not much corrosion there anyway.
A few visible pin holes in the drivers side trunk and front floorboard under the drivers feet.
stbabs said:
A few visible pin holes in the drivers side trunk and front floorboard under the drivers feet.
Why not go ahead and replace metal there while you're at it?
All of the holes are about to get exposed!
Floor it until you see God
Blasting finished. No real surprises.
A few pin holes in the drivers side floor. All can be fixed with welding.
Trunk pan is worst part. New metal going in on drivers side. Other side is fine.
Blast guy said its one of the better A Body cars he's done.
Epoxy primer goes on tomorrow. Then body filler and blocking.
A few pin holes in the drivers side floor. All can be fixed with welding.
Trunk pan is worst part. New metal going in on drivers side. Other side is fine.
Blast guy said its one of the better A Body cars he's done.
Epoxy primer goes on tomorrow. Then body filler and blocking.
Sequence of rust repair, at least my approach, has been: 1. Replace metal in obvious corroded areas
2. Sandblast. Removes slag from previous metal replacement and exposes pin holes and hidden rusty areas
3. Return blasted body to shop; inspect for holes, fix by welding or metal replacement.
2. Sandblast. Removes slag from previous metal replacement and exposes pin holes and hidden rusty areas
3. Return blasted body to shop; inspect for holes, fix by welding or metal replacement.
No real surprises. We picked around quite a bit before the blaster got it.
Only new spots we saw after blasting that we hadn't seen before were up under the lip of the trunk. All fixable.
Only new spots we saw after blasting that we hadn't seen before were up under the lip of the trunk. All fixable.
Doing it right!
Metal replacement complete in trunk and floor pans. First coat of paint on undercarriage
Skim coated entire roof then blocked it smooth.
Skim coated entire roof then blocked it smooth.
Great progress!
I also hope it's well funded!!
I'm paying a restoration guy to do the metal replacement and fabrication work. I'm helping when i can.
At some point I'll take it back to my shop and complete the assembly and interior work. Labor and parts are costing 1200 to 2000 a week. OUCH!!
This will be a $60K project, if I'm lucky and find some bargains along the way.
Fact is, I could buy a nicely restored chevelle for what I'll have in this one. Oh well, this one is a family heirloom with lots of memories.
I'm paying a restoration guy to do the metal replacement and fabrication work. I'm helping when i can.
At some point I'll take it back to my shop and complete the assembly and interior work. Labor and parts are costing 1200 to 2000 a week. OUCH!!
This will be a $60K project, if I'm lucky and find some bargains along the way.
Fact is, I could buy a nicely restored chevelle for what I'll have in this one. Oh well, this one is a family heirloom with lots of memories.
I have always wanted to get involved a project like this. Do you have time to tell the story behind the car?
Sure.
Bought the Chevelle at Bailey Chev in Wells TX on about 26 August while on leave after Marine Corps OCS. Paid $3200.
It was a Malibu, 350 Small Block with 350 auto trans.
White vinyl top and 14" wheels.
Married the sweetest girl in the universe on Sat the 29th.
Packed everything we owned, which wasn't much, and off to Quantico VA on Monday the 31st.
The Chevelle wasn't garaged until summer 71.
It carried the fam to maybe 5 duty stations over the years but became a second car in 73. My work car.
Gave it a cheap paint job in about 79. Pulled off the vinyl top and painted the roof in 81.
Parked it in Dad's barn in 83.
Oldest son got his DL in 86 so we pulled it out, drove it to AL where it got an engine rebuild, new interior, paint, mag wheels. The guy who built the engine did engine work for the Allisons (as in NASCAR). Mild cam and some flow work on the valves. Son was a serious BMOC!
Car left AL for one year in CA then to A&M with my son.
5 years in Aggie parking lots with oldest son, then handed off to son #2 and 3 more years in Aggie parking lots.
I took it after # 2 graduated with intention to restore but never found the time.
#2 son took it again with same good intentions which never happened. It sat partially disassembled in his garage in Houston for several years.
Finally, with me fully retired and with some time on my hands, I trailered it to my place and started the process.
The car has the typical A body rust issues.
A few door dings and one crease in left front fender. All fixable.
Still debating whether to go back original Malibu or clone to SS. Probably will clone it but part of me wants it to look like the car my wife and I drove away from our wedding in over 48 years ago.
Bought the Chevelle at Bailey Chev in Wells TX on about 26 August while on leave after Marine Corps OCS. Paid $3200.
It was a Malibu, 350 Small Block with 350 auto trans.
White vinyl top and 14" wheels.
Married the sweetest girl in the universe on Sat the 29th.
Packed everything we owned, which wasn't much, and off to Quantico VA on Monday the 31st.
The Chevelle wasn't garaged until summer 71.
It carried the fam to maybe 5 duty stations over the years but became a second car in 73. My work car.
Gave it a cheap paint job in about 79. Pulled off the vinyl top and painted the roof in 81.
Parked it in Dad's barn in 83.
Oldest son got his DL in 86 so we pulled it out, drove it to AL where it got an engine rebuild, new interior, paint, mag wheels. The guy who built the engine did engine work for the Allisons (as in NASCAR). Mild cam and some flow work on the valves. Son was a serious BMOC!
Car left AL for one year in CA then to A&M with my son.
5 years in Aggie parking lots with oldest son, then handed off to son #2 and 3 more years in Aggie parking lots.
I took it after # 2 graduated with intention to restore but never found the time.
#2 son took it again with same good intentions which never happened. It sat partially disassembled in his garage in Houston for several years.
Finally, with me fully retired and with some time on my hands, I trailered it to my place and started the process.
The car has the typical A body rust issues.
A few door dings and one crease in left front fender. All fixable.
Still debating whether to go back original Malibu or clone to SS. Probably will clone it but part of me wants it to look like the car my wife and I drove away from our wedding in over 48 years ago.
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