Steve's 68 Impala

[CI-1968]

Hey guys I thought now that I have a project I would post up to share. This is my second attempt at a Impala and I want to make it a lot better then the first attempt. Its been sitting in my backyard since late last year because I lost my job (retrenched) and didnt have anywhere to build it. Since then me and my old man made a car port and I now have a job, well im on trial so thats a start lets hope I can keep this one. The owner before me started a little bit of work on it but not much at all really. So fare I have stripped the hole back end apart because I knew there was definantly rust. I sanded the roof, right hand rear qauter and boot lid down to bare metal and aplied etch primer to them. On the right rear qauter there is tiny pin holes of rust and on the left hand rear qauter there is pretty major holes where the old owner has half stripped and treated with something strange looking (still have not taken it down to bare metal yet). In the boot channel there is a bit of rust to at the bottom. Also in that roof channel/gutter right at the end of it just ontop of where the window sits there is a bit of rust on the left hand side. So fare I have purchased lower rear qauter for both sides. With the boot channel I am going to get some sheet metal and have a go at making up some my self, if that fails I will cut the section out and send it to some one to make one up for me and the same will apply for the roof gutter. Inside the boot as you probably would of guessed from my Pro-15 thread, I rubbed it back and took where there was surface rust and pitting down to bare metal then Pro-15'd it all. While I was there I did the inner guard, wheel arches under the parcel tray and the parts of the boot channel that are not rusty. When I put a new section the replace the rusty section of the boot channel I will Pro-15 under it like the rest. Thats pretty much where my funds and the weather allow to go for now. I wanted to C-Guard the boot today but Sydney weather is not looking to promising and my neighbours are celebrating there son's third birthday with a BBQ, I dont want to spoil that with fumes and noise from the compressor etc. My cousin did help me out yesterday and he had his camera so I managed to get pictures, not the best but its a start.

Here is a quick shot of the back end.
http://img25.imageshack.us/img25/4711/p2280691.th.jpg (http://img25.imageshack.us/my.php?image=p2280691.jpg)

This is those rust pin holes in the right rear qauter.
http://img8.imageshack.us/img8/6552/p2280693.th.jpg (http://img8.imageshack.us/my.php?image=p2280693.jpg)

Here is the major rust in the left rear qauter.
http://img8.imageshack.us/img8/6008/p2280695.th.jpg (http://img8.imageshack.us/my.php?image=p2280695.jpg)

My new lower rear qauters to fix all of the above.
http://img161.imageshack.us/img161/5355/p2280690.th.jpg (http://img161.imageshack.us/my.php?image=p2280690.jpg)

A quick back end shot.
http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/8563/p2280696.th.jpg (http://img23.imageshack.us/my.php?image=p2280696.jpg)

The boot channel rust.
http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/7923/p2280694.th.jpg (http://img23.imageshack.us/my.php?image=p2280694.jpg)

My boot saterday morning before Pro-15.
http://img204.imageshack.us/img204/6103/chevbootbefore.th.jpg (http://img204.imageshack.us/my.php?image=chevbootbefore.jpg)

My boot Saterday evening after the Pro-15 with a bit of help from my cousin:D
http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/868/chevbootafter.th.jpg (http://img23.imageshack.us/my.php?image=chevbootafter.jpg)

As for my plans with the car, I am still not sure. A low rider look or a nice original look is what im pretty keen on at the moment but its hard to say I will just see how it plays out. I know its going to be slow project as I am still learning how to do everything properly as opposed to bogging things up and I am also not money bags. So yeah this is my start a slow project and feel free to comment.

Steve.

[64_Stock_BelAir]

Great to see another big car on here :)

Good luck with it mate. I am a big fan of the original restoration, or if you make mods, make them un-doable for the next guy ;)

The rear channels in the boot are a bad problem with these bigger chevs and the best advice i received when doing my car was to apply a product (i think its called lanosil or something, but it is a lanolin based product) which is like a grease under the boot rubber to keep the water out and from gathering. Has worked brilliantly, but don't put as much in as i did, or on hot days you will be cleaning this stuff out of your boot carpet :(

If your looking for parts I recommend Automotive Technologies in Vic (Arnold has been really good to me up here in Qld), or Chev Parts which are closer to you.

In the states I deal with Classic Industries first or Lutty's which are both really good people to deal with. I would stay away from Ecklers because they have really messed me around and been really rude and stubborn to deal with. They have been some real jerks actually..

Anyway, if you can't find anything sometime send me a PM because I have a few catalogs on file.

Once again, good luck, and I hope you don't chuck it in before its finished ;)

Cheers

[cluxford]

What are the plans, sweet street car ??

Looks like a bit of work, but sounds like you have got the plan well sorted.

Rgds
Chris

[CI-1968]

Thanks for the feedback.

64 Stock Belair-As for the boot channel I know they are a pain in the ass, A lot of my family have Impala's so I will be Pro-15'ing everything I can see (behind doors and guards etc.). With parts Chev Parts are normaly very good when I dealt with them with my old Impala. Never dealt with the states but I want to with this one though as I want one to be a keeper. I will be sure to try some of the people you recommend when the time comes. As for throwing in the towl that wont be a problem, I just dont want this one to be a bog job like my last one, so I think not cutting corners will be the tough part but I dont think I will becuase im going to take my time with this one. I learnt from my last one. I will be sure to pm for those catalogues when the time comes.

Cluxford- A sweet streeter is the plan. As for what look im still undecided. If I went the hole lowrider look I would just wack some 100 spokes and bag it with a nice colour. Option number two is the original look standard colour (ice green/silverish colour) with a white roof, rally wheels with the thick white walls and factory red interior. If I go with the original look I still have the factory red interior from my last one which also had red interior so I have mint interior to go in. Option three is a bit original but a bit pro street. I was thinking 7-8inch wide rally wheels up front with wider rally wheels up back with the pro street height and a nice colour.

These are the thick white walls look like I am sure you have all seen them, Like them that much I put them on my ke55 and will be putting them on my Gemini when I have money.
http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/3097/gemnrolla.th.jpg (http://img23.imageshack.us/my.php?image=gemnrolla.jpg)

As for colour schemes I can go on and on. When the time comes closer I will have to make a decision.

Steve.

[64_Stock_BelAir]

Where do you get your white walls from and how much to they cost you? I want to get some thin stripe what walls in 14 x 215 but haven't really looked into it yet? Anyone got any idea how much I will be looking at for those?

Thanks

[CI-1968]

A place called Jax Tyre and Auto in Habertfeild here in Sydney. The white walls on my ke55 are not actualy in the tyre. It is a peice of rubber that sits in between the tyre and the rim. There 13s and I got em for $150.00 for the set. You can get tyres in 15's and maybe even 14s with the white wall actauly already on them. You have to double check on that. That would be the thick and the pinstripe white wall to off memory. What you can do is get some one to paint them on. They cut out stripe from your sidewall and paint it on. Not that good though, the oil from the radial can discolour and peel them off from what I hear. Price wise not sure maybe $50-$60 each tyre?

Steve

[64_Stock_BelAir]

Thanks for that mate. I will be doing some more research into white walls for my Bel Air, so if anyone has any suggestions I would appreciate the heads up.

Thanks

[EAT-30T]

Good stuff.. glad to see you finally post your impala up! :)

[AUSCAMARO]

Thanks for that mate. I will be doing some more research into white walls for my Bel Air, so if anyone has any suggestions I would appreciate the heads up.

Thanks

Not too much of a help, but the white walls add ons are avaliable and go between the rim and trye. Antique tyres do them... they also do the real tyres. http://www.antiquetyres.com.au/

The white wall machining is a cheap option and permanent but as staed can discolour and get a bit tatty over time. Doesn't like tyre shine either.

Mitch

[CI-1968]

Well not much of an update but its something. I was not able to weld up my rear qauters on as both me and my dad had work and sunday was a crappy day. I got a early birthday present, an matika two speed buffer. Stocked so I am going to have a go at doing my stainless work my self. This includes my grill, sill panel mould and windscreen moulds, thats all I can think of at the moment. I had a try doing some old Gemini moulds I had lying around they turned out alright but I burnt one of them a bit, still need a bit of practise before I start with the Impala's stainless. Any one got any tips to doing this? Any help would be appreciated.

Steve.

[TUFF68]

Steve, do a search on the Team Camaro forum. There is heaps of info on there about polishing stainless.

[CI-1968]

Wow, its been that long since iv touched this car been flat out with work and tafe....anyway heres n update I finaly had a saterday off work, while im waiting for some boot channel moulds to be made up I have decided to start my engine bay/front end. My brother is stripping my bonnet and front guards so I have taken on the task of doing my engine bay (inner guards, fire wall etc..) Heres a pic of my progress today
http://img10.imageshack.us/img10/5536/chev1.th.jpg (http://img10.imageshack.us/i/chev1.jpg/)
Also during the week I polished up some stainless moulds, came up mint very happy. Sorry for the lack of pics. I am going to try get out there n attack more of the bay tommoro...not much of an update but its something...let me know what you guys think. I am also thinking about attacking the suspension and steering while the front end is apart, thinking of going air bags I can get a good price on a pair, not to much ****ing around to put in either, all I have to do is weld a bracket to re-locate the front shock other wise everything pretty much pops into the factory positions..any one had any experience with this before?

Steve...

[qik66]

Thanks for that mate. I will be doing some more research into white walls for my Bel Air, so if anyone has any suggestions I would appreciate the heads up.

Thanks

Go and see Russell at Currajong Tyre and Auto in Townsville I know he has got them for other people in the past

[USA-69Z]

Thanks for that mate. I will be doing some more research into white walls for my Bel Air, so if anyone has any suggestions I would appreciate the heads up.

Thanks

I painted these rears on my old effy. There is youtube vids on doing it yerself. a Cupla ways. Or buy the real thing.
I used 'plastidip' rubber paint for electricians coating tools etc.
http://i221.photobucket.com/albums/dd202/dragstripper/002-3.jpg
Gav

[camaro_1967rs]

they also do the real tyres. http://www.antiquetyres.com.au/

The white wall machining is a cheap option and permanent but as staed can discolour and get a bit tatty over time. Doesn't like tyre shine either.

Mitch

My business was Bucket of Bubbles and I did painted white walls from 4mm to 50mm in all colors including some special mixes. Around the traps in melbourne they are going for 150 mark. I got out of this after many years of development due to the inconsistancy in paint, tyres and expectations of customers.

Tyres now days have a high content of polyester in them, some have polyester mixed with plastic on the one side and polyester mixed with rubber on the other side, very cheap tyres but popular. This is detailed on the side walls.. These tyres the paint will stick on one side but not really well on the other. the tyres also melt when removing the small buffed area. On normal rubber tyres they are fine, old school 60-70 series 14-17 inch as the oil goes to the outside of the tyre, with anything larger the oil has no where to go so the walls are saturated, add silicon to the equation and the paint will either disolour to brown or black.

The flappers are no roadworthy in VICTORIA, and also as they cause vibration at high speed and put the wheel out of balance.

My suggestion is antique tyres for factory white walls and dont do painted walls unless you accepted that you will be dissapointed

[CI-1968]

Wow, all this talk about white walls, I am not going to bother reading through it all, but when I had pin stripes painted on my old vl calais, they keept fading and I cracked the ****s, with the porta walls I put on the ke55 I have had no complaints and I know a lot of people who feel the same too, anyway I did a bit of work on the Impala today I stripped the radiator support and all the electrical crap from the bay. I took the radiator support back to bare metal and primed it too. I even have a picture today too...
http://img15.imageshack.us/img15/5306/96161454278336967032636.th.jpg (http://img15.imageshack.us/i/96161454278336967032636.jpg/)
All that is left now to do for the bay is to pull out the steering and suspension and all the other mechanical components and start stripping back to bare and painting, easier said then done but yeah slowly slowly ill do it, in the mean time I want to start getting new suspension and steering components sourted as I mentioned in a earlier post, any one know anything about cool ride air bag suspensions? I can get a good kit for a good price and it all pops into standard positions apart from the front shocks, you have to relocate them with a bracket from the bottom control arm to the chasis rail. I will probably buy my self a painless wiring kit to and rewire the car while im doing this too. Anyway I will try and get some pics of some of my stainless work polished up tonight, i gotto pull em out of the shed and out of the news paper i rapped them in, but for now thats all, any feed back appreciated, Steve...

[CI-1968]

Well over the weekend I did more stripping of my engine bay it is all stripped bare suspension, and thats where I will take that for now untill I have the cash to do the suspension and steering at once, hoping by the end of the year, so this weekend I will either get cracking on my boot channel rust or rear qauter rust or start rust proofing my floor pans with pro 15, see how the weather is and if me and dad have time, as im not too confident on welding, anyway as promised heres pics of my polished stainless that I have done soo fare, There includes all screen moulds, two little die cast moulds that sit on the outside of the grill, moulds that seperate the roof and the boot and the mould that sits on the gutter up above the windows on the roof
http://img401.imageshack.us/img401/3091/stain.th.jpg (http://img401.imageshack.us/i/stain.jpg/)
http://img97.imageshack.us/img97/5264/stain2.th.jpg (http://img97.imageshack.us/i/stain2.jpg/)
http://img401.imageshack.us/img401/5760/stain3.th.jpg (http://img401.imageshack.us/i/stain3.jpg/)
http://img97.imageshack.us/img97/8210/stain5.th.jpg (http://img97.imageshack.us/i/stain5.jpg/)
http://img10.imageshack.us/img10/9151/stain6.th.jpg (http://img10.imageshack.us/i/stain6.jpg/)
http://img41.imageshack.us/img41/8216/stain7.th.jpg (http://img41.imageshack.us/i/stain7.jpg/)
Let me know what you guys think..

[CI-1968]

Well, my compouny I was doing my apprenticeship with went bust, leaving me out of a job again, So I have had a bit of time to work on the chev again, although not much money. I have been getting my boot lid, radiator support and inner guards straight, been high filling them and blocking them back. Also started tidying up a set of factory red interior I had from my old Impala. Door trims came up pretty good. Also saving for my suspension components, not too fare off now.
http://img156.imageshack.us/img156/7797/chev2.th.png (http://img156.imageshack.us/i/chev2.png/)
http://img249.imageshack.us/img249/5194/chev1.th.png (http://img249.imageshack.us/i/chev1.png/)
http://img513.imageshack.us/img513/3971/chev4.th.png (http://img513.imageshack.us/i/chev4.png/)
http://img204.imageshack.us/img204/3052/chev3.th.png (http://img204.imageshack.us/i/chev3.png/)

[USA-69Z]

Hey Steve , all looks to be moving along nicely . Theres always plenty you can acheive when the funds are low. be worth it in the end.

Gav

[CI-1968]

Cheers man, well soo fare I have been trying to get everything spot on and taking my time, but how can I do a lot with no money?

[USA-69Z]

theres always plenty to detail and clean , repair.... i go thru times when ive got no money for the car so i polish, paint, clean or repair those small things i usually overlook. What kind of aprenticeship were you doing?

[CI-1968]

Carpentry and Joinery, nearly a second year. Well I am going too look at my options with my grill, one part is snapped and its alloy, so I am going to see what I can do hopefully some time this week.

[69SS]

Like Gav said just try and find the small things that require time and patience and hopefully no cash.. Rare on a rebuild but they are there. At least you have a little more time to spend on the old girl.

Cheers, Lyndsay

[CI-1968]

Wow its been ages since of touched this thing. Over the last couple of weeks I have just about got the boot lid and panel that sits infront of the bonnet straight. So next on the body is the bonnet and front guards since there off and already bare metaled and etched. I have also been saving and getting a bit of work lately, so I bought my brothers 327 sbc. Worked alloy heads lumpy cam barry grant double pumper and all the good gear. Just want to put fresh bearings in it before I put it in. Also before I put it in I want to paint my chasis and fire wall. Maybe even do my suspension. Running gear wise I want to get my power glide reco'd and the diff too. Hopefully all goes to plan but I know it will take some time due to not having enough work. Bare with me with pictures when one of the boys comes past with a camera I will post right away.