1965 Chevrolet Impala SS Restoration 6.0 LS, 6-Speed, Ridetech, & More Fun!

[smithy71RS]

OMG, very nice work, will be a stunner when finished!

[V8 Speed]

Meanwhile, a notch was cut in the lower front crossmember for the alternator and air conditioning compressor clearance.

















---------- Post added at 01:18 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:21 PM ----------

The A/C compressor mounts low on an LS engine, and it is not adjustable as it mounts solidly to the block. We needed space for ours.









The inside structure was reinforced while the cutout was opened.

[Nev68]

Not sure if I missed something but haven't you removed the engine mount location on the cross member to get the AC compressor to fit?

[Russ]

Originally Posted by Nev68

Not sure if I missed something but haven't you removed the engine mount location on the cross member to get the AC compressor to fit?

Edit: my mistake. I was looking at the alternator side.

Good eyes, Nev.

[V8 Speed]

Next, we had to make a bracket to keep the A/C compressor and belt happy.





We’ve changed the compressor to a Sanden unit and made the belt tension adjustable.









Now it all fist tightly to the block and still in the down-low position.





---------- Post added at 12:15 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:14 PM ----------

Alternator fit on the other side.



We moved the passenger side motor plate back a scoshe to make room for the compressor as well.







This will be reinforced to handle the load.

[V8 Speed]

Next, attention was turned to the look of the 6.0 V8 engine. The goal was to have it “resemble” a Gen 1 small block, without going over the top trying to camouflage the late-model engine.



The mock-up block was used with the Edelbrock intake and EFI fuel rails. We wanted to move the ignition coils off the valve covers, but wanted to so something a bit different to help the illusion.

The result is this “fake” distributor, made from GM truck ignition coils mounted in a circular arrangement to resemble a distributor cap. The truck coils are the smallest bodied versions of LS coils, and the bracket will hold them in the back of the intake manifold behind the throttle body to resemble a distributor.





A rounded “hat” adds to the look.



This way, traditional spark plug wires will route to the spark plugs much like a old Chevy small block.

[V8 Speed]

Next, the attention focused on the side mirrors. These are GM “G” body side mirrors, and a small steel adapter shim plate makes them mount cleanly on the doors, rather than tip inward.

[V8 Speed]

Many have asked, the mirror base is wedge-shaped to pitch the mirror properly.



The Impala originally had large, flat-topped rib starting on the header panel and running up the hood. We are building a custom hood for this car, and the customer didn’t want that flattened rib, so we reshaped the header to come to a peak to match the new hood design.





After some cutting and reshaping, the header now has the pointy peak.

[V8 Speed]

Allright, it was time to address some of the Impala’s wobbly chassis issues. This car had a bit of rust that needed repairing, and we took some time to install some .120” wall tubing to brace up the chassis.


First up was the custom transmission cross member.





The pin-bolt design is strong and also allows for a quick removal if needed.



MagnaFlow exhaust will have to make it’s way around the bottom of the car.



These cars are tricky with the multi-link rear suspension, and we wanted to run full-length exhaust all the way to the back, so everything needed to be built with all the pieces in mind.



---------- Post added at 07:31 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:29 PM ----------



Clearance issue on the panhard (track) bar and the preload caps on the 12-bolt rear end cover…





Solution: Extend the panhard mount, but make sure the geometry is correct and that it is strong enough.



There you go!

[V8 Speed]

Finishing up the transmission crossmember



These holes are good for ½ second faster times in the quarter mile.



Some additional bracing was added from the transmission cross member to the frame.



Big mounting feet for bolt-in installation.



---------- Post added at 12:35 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:30 PM ----------

Driveshaft loop



These parts will become a removable “kicker” from the transmission crossmember to the frame.






Notching the tube with an HTP tubing notch tool.







The transmission crossmember fully welded



And the whole rig fitted up in the car with the exhaust.



Planning the rear tube exit over the axle.

[V8 Speed]

This is a fuel-injected car, so we used a reproduction stock fuel tank from Tanks, Inc., and installed one of their in-tank fuel modules for the pump.



The module allows for an in-tank EFI pump to be mounted in nearly any kind of tank, as the depth is adjustable to the tank.



Here, the pump module and level sender are sealed to the tank and bolted tight. One fitting is pressure, the middle is for the fuel vent, and the other is a return.



Meanwhile, the Vintage Air hoses, condenser, and other items are installed as wiring begins.



Much of the plumbing and wiring will be hidden, but the goal was more to make the underhood area clean and not to hide absolutely everything.



Vintage Air Gen IV evaporator unit being installed under the dash.



An American Autowire Classic Update harness replaces all the old wiring.