1970 Chevelle

[chevL]

When I was very young I had a passion for v8 and I always thought that when I was older I would get a classical muscle car (it ended up being a Suzuki swift that my mother bought for me to go to uni).
But as soon as I started earning some cash I went to buy my first muscle car it was a black 1965 Mustang with a lot of hp at that time, but due to my lack of funds and sponsors (parents) I ended up being best mates with the owner of the car (until this day we are still friends and he now drives a black Chevelle). I like full chassis cars, anyway I kept on saving money until I could find a nice Camaro. Time past and my friend with the Mustang ended up selling it and he bought a 1972 Chevelle which was a beautiful car. Nice handling beautiful body what more could you ask for (maybe just for double headlights) and after doing some research on the net I saw a 1970 Chevelle that blew me away ( I loved the double headlights).
At last I knew what car I wanted, my friend also told me at the time that ages ago in the town where we lived (Temuco) there used to be a golden 1970 Chevelle. So because I was keen with the car I went to every Garage in my town for a whole month until I found a mechanic that had done some work to it and though him I tracked the car down. When I saw it, it wasn’t what I expected it had been dumped outside the town at this guys farm. Anyway I still saw potential in it and I still remember my brother say to me “ are you paying for that car I wouldn’t take it even if they gave it to me” ( he ended up being a big fan of the car).
The owner had diabetes and lost both of his legs due to this disease and for obvious reasons could not drive it anymore. And his son trashed the car when I found it half of the car had windows on it, heaps of body damage, the engine had been re done according to the owner but it was a mess too. And on top of that there was a homeless person living in it (basically he lost his home)………………………..

This is just an introduction of the story of my Chevelle I’ll keep on posting how the car ended up in Australia.

(hope you like the story raw454)

[chevL]

Should this tread maybe go under Build Ups?

[anychevy]

Should this tread maybe go under Build Ups?
Here is o.k. but keep us posted on progress in "build ups" it's good to see another chevelle on the forum, here's mine for some inspiration :D
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/3348929

[blackoutsteve]

Cool story ChevL. It always makes a car a lot more interesting and appreciative when you know it's past and often rough history.
Keep on posting.

Lots of pelado de techo de cola huh? :p

(That's ceiling peeling on the tail according to Google translate. :D)

[RAW454]

(hope you like the story raw454)Haha -I pestered you enough for it, eh! Keep it coming mate!! :D :cool:

[WILD68]

Nice one ChevL, good to hear the history, this car has certainly been around.

[67SS502]

it is diffently not a "mardy con" car!!!!!

keep posting your build up as i love chevelles

[chevL]

Anychevy: I looked at your car and almost had a heart attack. Luckily I was sitting down :). I've only seen one true SS before in person and that was in Rowville a few weeks ago (I just saw it pass). Anyway when ever you have old parts for sale please let me know. Love your car!
Blackoutsteve: I guess my car will never be a show car due to lack of funds and wife, etc. But because it something that you have spent thousands of hours on it and in my case I've done it all myself it has another value. Literally I could move to the other side of the planet and she comes with me. Thank God for my wife that support me with it. Mate spend some time with me and you will be talking spanish with your homies. jajajajaja
Raw454: Yes you did ask for it but it's a pleasure I could talk all day about chevy's and all the cars I've worked on. I will post here all the photos I have eventually. Hold on to your master cylinder I might go to house and grab it I'm just trying to see if I should buy a new one on ebay or get one here in Australia I've got no rush. I would like one of those fancy chrome ones but the shipping kill you. Can anyone tell me how they get there parts cheap from america?
Wild68: Those rim are insane. I'm old school you know the big tyres with the white wording but when I see a car like that it make me think 20 in the back and 18 in the front.
67ss350: Got that right its not a car for Maricones (fags, gays). pure muscle car.

I propose we all get together one day in a park or something and have a barbecue. It can be in my house but it's so small that it's pathetic i would prefer an open area where my daughter can run.

[WILD68]

Yeah the rims were a bit too crazy so i sold em, i have Weld Draglites now.

[AUSCAMARO]

Good one ChevL... Looks like you've got your work cut out for you there!!

[chevL]

I’m putting up a photo of my friends car which is a 1972 Chevelle. If you are looking at the photo you’re probably thinking that is a 1970 Chevelle.
What happened is that after I bought my car I bought bumpers and other item of another 1970 Chevelle which was the last one before they got melted and sent to China. And my friend loved the double headlights so we found a 1970 El Camino which was bought for peanuts and used its front end to fit on the 1972 Chevelle we also customized its bonnet (raised a few inches), got rid of the door handles, bigger rims lowered it, customized its dashboard, etc.

[chevL]

I’m putting up some photos of some of the work that was done to my car the first time I painted it. This was after I got the bit and pieces from donor cars. Remember this was done on a low budget! It was just a basic paint job with no modification even maintained the old 307 Engine which was stock standard.

[chevL]

And I started driving the car which was a mistake. Because once you start to drive it you start leaving things to later.  And it past a few year until I decided to put a new engine and couldn’t find a big block the only thing I found was a 366 that was on a truck. My next option was a 350 I didn’t want to fix the existing 307. So I found a 1986 Suburban twin cab and 4wd that was very cheap and according to the owner it had a big engine in it but it was only a 350. So I bought it and strip down the engine and rebuilt it for my Chevelle. It was standard because I was told that I couldn’t import my car if it wasn’t standard (that was a big lie and I fell for it).
When I installed the new engine it was late at night and needed to get the car out of there that same night. And I didn’t have any engine mounts that where acceptable nor time to buy new ones so I decided to put the Suburban engine mounts with the 307 frame mounts which was a disaster I wrecked my tail shaft ( I always learn the hard way). I’ll explain later on what happened………

[anychevy]

I’m putting up a photo of my friends car which is a 1972 Chevelle. If you are looking at the photo you’re probably thinking that is a 1970 Chevelle. .
Yeah, I've seen a few 71s and 72s cloned into 70s ;) It's real Easy to do with a doner front clip and rear bar. Exactly the same body and pretty close interior wise.
Only giveaway is the Elky front bar that something's not right, otherwise looks pretty good.
I see you went with "resale red" good choice :D keep us posted.

[69SS]

Sweet ChevL, keep it coming, we need more full size chebies on here !! :)

[anychevy]

Sweet ChevL, keep it coming, we need more full size chebies on here !! :)
MID SIZE DUDE :D

[cluxford]

ChevL,

Awesome project and I envy those who have the time and skill to do it themselves.

I also sympathise. I have a 4 yr old daughter who I love spending time with and a wife that drives a Prius (and yes I forgive her, she is offsetting the 10.8L Camaro engine and the 5.7L HSV daily).

How old is your daughter ?

A get together for all our Melbourne-its is probably long overdue

[chevL]

In 2007 when I decided to come to Australia with my wife I decided to bring with me my Chevelle everyone at the time thought I was crazy. But I had never finished this car and I really wanted to enjoy it. Thank God my wife backed me up all the way. So I had a few rust points due to be living next to the sea side so I decided to cut out all the rust points. Obviously my work wasn’t as good as blackoutsteve. But it was satisfactory at the time. Most of the rust was at the bottom of the doors rear window and at the front of the bonnet. I also painted the black stripes because last time it was just a sticker that I had put on it.
I also decided to put B – body spindles from a full size caprice that I found to improve camber and handling. I also went for the 1LE rotor from 90” Camaros due that they are 12” rotors and fit perfectly on the B- body spindles and maintain the 5 x 4.75 wheel pattern. I also changed the whole front end ball joints, etc. I bought a lot of spare parts at the time not everything was fitted due to time and unfortunately they where stolen somewhere between Chile and Australia.

[chevL]

ChevL,

Awesome project and I envy those who have the time and skill to do it themselves.

I also sympathise. I have a 4 yr old daughter who I love spending time with and a wife that drives a Prius (and yes I forgive her, she is offsetting the 10.8L Camaro engine and the 5.7L HSV daily).

How old is your daughter ?

A get together for all our Melbourne-its is probably long overdue

My daughter Matilda is 2 years old and I've got another one on the way for May. A get together here in Melbourne would be great!

[elky1968]

Great story Chevl. Keep it coming. I'm a big Chevelle fan and also love the twin headlight front although I prefer the 71 - 72 rear. I have seen a few cars on US Ebay with 70 fronts on 71 or 72 cars.

[chevL]

Have not done much on my Chevelle lately became a Dad once again last month.
I justed repaired the inner wheels which where all broken. I like repairing plastic with aluminium mesh it ends up being very strong. The only issue is that it takes for ever to repair. I should of just bought them new, but I have a very tight budget if there is any budget. I am starting to re wire my engine bay at the moment I'll put some photos soon.
Forgot to mention a found a bit of rust behind the rear seat so I bought some POR-15 which blackout steve recomended. Blackout Steve has been vey helpful with his tips. Thanks Steve!



C:\Documents and Settings\ziema1\Desktop\temp\repaired.jpg

C:\Documents and Settings\ziema1\Desktop\temp\stuffed.jpg

[blackoutsteve]

No probs. Glad to help or mislead! :p
Congrats on becoming a new dad too..

Another product for repairing plastic is Plastex.. Must be ABS plastic which is mostly what is used on cars.. I use it a lot. Very neat, very fast and very strong.
http://www.plastex.us/PLASTEX/index.html

[chevL]

No probs. Glad to help or mislead! :p
Congrats on becoming a new dad too..

Another product for repairing plastic is Plastex.. Must be ABS plastic which is mostly what is used on cars.. I use it a lot. Very neat, very fast and very strong.
http://www.plastex.us/PLASTEX/index.html

It really depends on the type of plastic or the type of resin it has. I test it with a welding iron and smell the odour that comes from it. Then I look for plastic donor which has the same odour. I've repaired all types of plastic things and they work out to be stronger than how they where originally due to the aluminium mesh that I melt into the damaged part.

[anychevy]

I justed repaired the inner wheels which where all broken. I like repairing plastic with aluminium mesh it ends up being very strong. I am starting to re wire my engine bay at the moment I'll put some photos soon.

Nice work on the inner fenders :cool: Did you know some had steel, some had plastic and it's not uncommon for one side to be steel and the other side plastic :confused: GM
Some of the engine bay wiring is redundant (unless you're going totally correct)
If you're removing the TCS wiring, switches, relay etc, I'll buy it all off you or swap you some bits for it :D If any of it's still there ?

[chevL]

Nice work on the inner fenders :cool: Did you know some had steel, some had plastic and it's not uncommon for one side to be steel and the other side plastic :confused: GM
Some of the engine bay wiring is redundant (unless you're going totally correct)
If you're removing the TCS wiring, switches, relay etc, I'll buy it all off you or swap you some bits for it :D If any of it's still there ?

I think due to battery acid leak there was a plastic and steel inner fender. I will save any bits if there is any. More than re wirring I'm making it more neat. I have decided to put a big relay to my headlights to make them hopefully brighter.

[anychevy]

I will save any bits if there is any. I have decided to put a big relay to my headlights to make them hopefully brighter.
Any wiring with connectors still attached, your going to throw ? I can use :D If you need relays or anything else electrical, send me a PM

[chevL]

I haven't done much to the car recently due that I finally bought a home.
But a few months ago I:
Re-wired the front end of the car put a new brake cylinder, booster and did my own brake lines.
I finished and installed the two inner fenders that I had, can not remember from what car they where.
Chris sent me a mint condition dash which I almost cried over due that you can not get the dash lens for a sweep style dash anymore for some reason. And evil ebay did sell me one for about $80 dollars about a year ago that was brand new in the box but it turned out to be for an impala I guess or a 68 Chevelle not sure.
I have also restored my gas tank in and out with POR15 and put a new stainless steel fuel sender.
I also painted the chassis partially (gas tank area) up to now.
Got a new wiper motor but still in the box.
And bought a set of rims. I like old school but decided to put a touch of modern age and went for 18 inch. I put 9.5 rims in the back and 8 inch rims in the front and lowered the car about three inches in the back.
As for the home there is a lot to do. I’m currently doing a retaining wall but I guess that has nothing to do with muscle cars. But one thing I did which my wife is ok until now is I eliminated a formal living area and made my garage bigger so that I can work on my car. Once I finish the retaining wall I will be able to work till late and have space to store all my bits and pieces.
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[L88racer]

The car is coming along well, the wheels look good,family/homes/kids and cars its always a hard balance to spend time with them all! not to mention work.

[RAW454]

Very cool Anthony. I like the 'familiar-looking' air cleaner ;) suit your neat engine bay.

Trick rims too - Gotta roll it outta the garage for us but! What are they? Weld Pheonix?

Nice to see an update & keep 'em coming :)

[tezza101]

Very nice.... looks like it could swallow that Merc whole :p

[AUSCAMARO]

Who needs a formal dining.... no one ever uses them anyway :)

[68cmaro]

Looking good Anthony, glad I could help with the dash.

I have a good set of chrome grille mouldings if you would like them, let me know and I will send them over

Cheers CHRIS

[chevL]

Very cool Anthony. I like the 'familiar-looking' air cleaner ;) suit your neat engine bay.

Trick rims too - Gotta roll it outta the garage for us but! What are they? Weld Pheonix?

Nice to see an update & keep 'em coming :)

They are BOSS 338 rims. Yes the air cleaner looks very nice compared to the one I had on it.

[blackoutsteve]

Looking good! :D
Yeah, I like those rims too.

Hey, well done on the home. Hope it's working out well and you still have some car-cash left to play with. ;)
Still Dandy?

[chevL]

Looking good Anthony, glad I could help with the dash.

I have a good set of chrome grille mouldings if you would like them, let me know and I will send them over

Cheers CHRIS

That would be great Chris much appreciated. Just give me a few days because I haven't got a letterbox with the number of my house so I am not getting my mail at the moment.

Thanks Chris

---------- Post added at 10:13 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:07 AM ----------

Looking good! :D
Yeah, I like those rims too.

Hey, well done on the home. Hope it's working out well and you still have some car-cash left to play with. ;)
Still Dandy?

Left Dandy. I'm in Cranbourne North now not that far away. Once I'm a bit organized I would love to invite you guys for a barbie.

[chevL]

I haven't updated anything in ages. Been pretty busy at work and my girls take most of the time that is left.
To keep it short I’ve got my driver’s door with a bit of play so I but new pins for the hinges. After that, I bought a tool to remove the door spring (if anyone needs it shout out). So there I was about to this work when I thought I might change the body mounts because that will influence the line up of the doors with the front fenders. So I bought a energy suspension kit for the whole car. In order to remove the body mount I had to do some cutting in the trunk so I could access them because they were in very bad condition (stuffed). So I went out and bought a cheap gasless mig welder so I could repair the area that I had cut into, having said that I thought I know there is a bit of rust in the driver’s side floor pan I should do that now that I have a mig welder. So I went and got a piece of sheet metal and replaced the rusted area with new sheet metal. With all this work I also had to take the diff out and I may as well get the bearing and seals replaced. And the story goes on.
So what I have learned in this process is that it is very difficult to change door pins.

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[L88racer]

Its good to see your car is still progressing!

[chevL]

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The hardware of the body mounts where gone, had to make new ones.

[chevL]

Been getting a few thing now that the dollar is very good. Still haven't replaced the door hinges.
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Has anyone installed a v-gate 2 shifter??????

Need to ask a few questions.............

[L88racer]

I have never used a verticle gate shifter, i think they were for drag racing purposes (ie straight shift not a H pattern) but i'm not sure.

[guffer]

Are those axles for your 12 bolt if so where did you get them from ?
Also how did things end up with replacing wheel bearings (diff doctor)

[chevL]

Are those axles for your 12 bolt if so where did you get them from ?
Also how did things end up with replacing wheel bearings (diff doctor)

Diff Doctor has been very helpful. He has a very good setup at home where he works. (thanks to Deano's advise)
I got the axle from ebay "Just differential".
And I wish I had a 12 bolt. But my standard small block will be fine with the 10 bolt I will imagine and the axle I bought should be stronger than the standard ones.

[RAW454]

Diff Doctor has been very helpful.Great to hear Anthony. Can't WAIT to see your ride out & about...:cool:

[chevL]

Well had the issue of vapour coming from the left exhaust for 5 seconds longer than the right side as I wrote about a week ago. I could not sleep with the fact of not knowing what it was. So I ended up getting a new set of intake gaskets and a torque wrench. I also bought a thermostat 185F which is 85 celcius my car has never had one.
Anyway when I pulled the intake out I found out that my heads are 462624 with a combustion chamber of probably 76cc, which according to some web sites they are not very good. Now my 350 engine is out of a 1987 suburban which clearly indicates that it is a low compression engine (180 hp).
Is there any way I can know what type of piston I have without taking the heads out? I would like to know in order to look for a pair of heads to suit my engine. I’m guessing that I would need something with a lower combustion chamber in order to pump up the compression without the valves hitting the pistons.
I have bought a few books which have really helped me out in order to understand which parts are crucial in order to make the most of the 350. One of the books comes with a cool dvd on how to dissemble and assemble step by step.
Today I bought a big block book, because that is what I want to build step by step, I do not want to buy a finished engine without knowing what is inside and missing all of the fun of putting it together. And if I get it wrong I’ll just start over again. I would like to have a big block but sometimes I think a more modern ls engine would be better with all the electronics.
Anyway the reason I’m writing is that my car has no more water in the exhaust but it was running very rough and adding a thermostat was the only thing different. It was also running hotter at about 90 Celsius. I shall look at the timing again and try and pin point what was happening.
Should I remove the thermostat?, or maybe get a fan with more fins I believe mine has three or four which is the suburban’s fan.

[69coupe]

I have never used a verticle gate shifter, i think they were for drag racing purposes (ie straight shift not a H pattern) but i'm not sure.

I used a Mr Gasket verticle gate shifter in B/ms Superstock. Ideal for powershifting but would be a dog on the street. Basically the unit is "****ed" in first and shifts down the gates in a back/ forward motion until it hits bottom.
A separate lever is used for reverse and hard to get at

[chevL]

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Here are some photos of when I fixed the water leak. It ended up being the intake (I was worried that it could of been a crack cylinder or something in those lines)
I have also got a picture of my new rear bumper thanks to the help of Guffer. It took me half a day to align the hole, modify the brackets and so on but I am so happy that I've got it installed. Took my windscreen out also to see if there is any rust.
I have also put a picture of the interior. My wish is to finish by Christmas and be able to hang out with some of you guys.

[jaywildone57]

Awesome work Anthony, looking forward to the unveiling.

[guffer]

Well done mate, i know how much that car means to you
will be great to see you cruzing in it soon :)

[L88racer]

Keep going Anthony not far now.

[Sniperoz]

Looking good :)

[AUSCAMARO]

I saw a Chevelle in Eucla that had the same colour scheme as this...

Keep it up Anth....

[OldsmobilesDownUnder.com]

Nice ... and local ! Great stuff