Start to finish. 2.5 year Resto-mod of 1963 Impala Wagon

Post by **Razi** » Mon Mar 16, 2009 3:49 am

This thread rocks!

Post by **OriginalWheelman** » Mon Mar 16, 2009 3:57 am

Love it. I'd do a set of AR 5 spokes like the right rear, tint the windows black and shoot it gloss black or candy red. I like the AR outlaws but they are played out. And dual cherry bombs can't hurt... 'cept your ears maybe.

Post by **DrifterXRPS13** » Mon Mar 16, 2009 3:58 am

Cool, keep us updated.

Post by **nsrZ32** » Mon Mar 16, 2009 4:46 am

Glad to see you joined up! Keep us updated

Post by **Gold Digger** » Tue Mar 17, 2009 3:31 pm

Anything on the transmission to update, Pop?

Hint, hint.

Post by **AZhitman** » Tue Mar 17, 2009 3:38 pm

Sweet!

We demand burnout pics when the time comes!!!

Post by **Logan76** » Tue Mar 17, 2009 3:42 pm

This thread is awesome, I will be sure to check it often.

Post by **G.O.B.** » Tue Mar 17, 2009 4:17 pm

Gold Digger wrote:Anything on the transmission to update, Pop?

Hint, hint.

Why, yes, son. I do have some updates.

I've got park now. Turns out that when the swap was done, the linkage wasn't adjusted right. Well, it's right now, and she doesn't need wheel choks to keep fro mrolling out the garage.

And Monday March 23rd, the S.S. G.F.B. is going back in to Glenn’s Radiator and Service for about 400 inches or 33.3ft of steel fuel line. That’s feed and return line to replace the steel braided lines used during the original swap of the LT1. Maybe that will stop the leak.

If I get the coil springs ordered and delievered on time, I’ll have them done also, stock in front and stock plus 1 inch in back.

No more pictures at this time, but as they come along, I'll get them to you.

Post by **Logan76** » Tue Mar 17, 2009 4:37 pm

Why not keep the SS braided feed? Im sure theres a way to stop the leak.

Post by **G.O.B.** » Wed Mar 18, 2009 11:22 am

Logan76 wrote:Why not keep the SS braided feed? Im sure theres a way to stop the leak.

They did not install it right and it will cost too much to replace to do it right. Plus hard line will work fine right tight along the frame. I plan to do the same for the brake lines at the same time.

New lines and new wiring before all is said and done. The plan is a brand new 1963 Chevrolet Impala wagon when done.

Post by **bmike818** » Wed Mar 18, 2009 11:55 am

keep the updates coming

Post by **Gold Digger** » Thu Mar 19, 2009 1:28 am

Pop, when you take the GFB into Glenn's, ask if he can take pictures of the process as he does it, or if someone else can.

Would be interesting to see something like that.

Post by **MinisterofDOOM** » Thu Mar 19, 2009 1:31 am

Yeah, build progress pics would rock!

Post by **Gold Digger** » Thu Mar 19, 2009 1:39 am

You on AIM, MOD?

Post by **MinisterofDOOM** » Thu Mar 19, 2009 1:41 am

Not at the moment. Still at work. I'll be home in about an hour if you're still awake then.

Post by **Gold Digger** » Thu Mar 19, 2009 1:45 am

Yeah, I'll be awake, just not sure if I'll be on here then. Got CSI on tonight on my JDM cable TV...woot

Post by **MinisterofDOOM** » Thu Mar 19, 2009 1:52 am

Hahahaha, I'm so sick of CSI thanks to Spike playing nothing else for years.

Post by **BallzDeep1.9L** » Thu Mar 19, 2009 2:29 am

HOLY CRAP! hey dad whats up, its Tristan, your favorite other son.. sweet find, hey just thought of a few things after looking this over

first if you keep the LT1, while this may sound odd, dont go driving that thing through any large puddles.. the LT1's are equiped with GM's ill fated Optispark setup, the distributor sticks right out of the front of the engine (which im sure you've already noticed, unless its diff then the camaro LT1) hit a puddle of water just right and the water will get up there and short the whole thing out. and that is bad news bears

LT1 generation 4L60E's are not known for there durability, even behind a completely stock LT1 with any kind of abuse they don't GENERALLY hold up well, you could get it rebuilt with a better shift kit and torque converter etc.. or i BELEIVE you can also use the 4L80E (not sure if any mods are required though) they are essentially an electronically controlled TH400 with overdrive, and im fairly certain the 4L60E and the 4L80E can be controlled by the same electronics, though i could be wrong, im sure someone will correct me on that if i am

or you could just ditch all the electrnoics, throw a big block in it with a TH400 behind it and then do your best to convince your wife that all this new crap came with the car and was simply shipped to you at a later date.

either way, sweet ride, keep us posted

Post by **G.O.B.** » Tue Mar 31, 2009 5:09 pm

Tristan...Neal told me what you originally said about the car...you have been taken out of the will...

Just kidding.

Anyway, I have an update for you all.

As you know, I had planned to get hard lines run from the engine back to the fuel tank for the wagon to replace the braided rubber lines.

Well, I dropped the car off at the shop a week ago before I went out of town for a union meeting in Iowa. Got back Friday, but not before the shop had closed, and then couldn't pick it up till Monday...or so I thought.

The car will be in the shop until Friday the 3rd now. They are doing the work in between other jobs.

The fuel lines are all fubar’ed as they (the shop that did the swap originally) cut the ends off the factory side of the LT1 for some reason, or so I am told. They are doing the lines in the factory sizes this time also.

As for the brakes, the lines are one size to small but the pressure will be fine, just not the same amount of fluid. I thought about changing to the right size line, but too much money in valves, fitting and such to do all that.

So, hopefully when this gets back on the weekend, it'll be done correctly and I won't have to tear heads off of people.

Post by **G.O.B.** » Sat Apr 04, 2009 4:48 am

So, I have an update for you today, and boy is it a doozey.

This is what was found to be wrong with the car while it was getting it's hardlines for the fuel done.

The front hubs are 5X4.75” bolt pattern which is stock, but the back, I was just told, is 5X5". So now I have to do some thinking as to what I should do because I was a set of Cheverolet Ralley wheels on here.

Also the right rear axle seal was changed and guess what? The hub is fubard, which is the reason the seal was shot.

So do I buy new hubs all around the same size, or just one and drill the fronts to 5X5"?

I am thinking about a trip out to AZ, and go find the shop at did this kind of work and take their photos and locale to the internet so no one else gets this poor work done to them.

I is so pissed off at stupid people!!!

Will get pics when I can. Just got called into work today and tomorrow. Yeah!

NOT

Post by **Mr1der** » Sat Apr 04, 2009 5:54 am

if you're gonna do it, you gotta do it right otherwise it'll always bug ya.

I say 4 new hubs.

Post by **Oatmealman** » Sat Apr 04, 2009 9:15 am

G.O.B. wrote: but the back, I was just told, is 5X5".

NOT

There's either some mis information here or your rear axle has some extremely extremely close similarities to a ford 9 inch but it's not.

The ford 9 inch came in 5x4.5 or 5x5.5

but anyways nice car.It needs a 455 with a blower though that lt1 isn't gonna have a whole lotta bang behind such a massive car.

Post by **BallzDeep1.9L** » Mon Apr 06, 2009 10:37 am

G.O.B. wrote:Tristan...Neal told me what you originally said about the car...you have been taken out of the will...

Just kidding.

lol it was a miss type in AIM i didnt say aything about the car, it was about the engine what i was trying to say was that MOST LT1's by now are junk because most of them are higher milleage engines that someone has beaten the crap out of, obviously you found yourself a good one so rock on

and i would personally get all new matching hubs, it'll be easier with wheels etc..

Post by **HashiriyaS14** » Mon Apr 06, 2009 10:41 am

This is the best thread ever.

Neal DNA + old Impala = guaranteed win

Post by **AZhitman** » Thu Apr 30, 2009 2:47 pm

Oatmealman wrote:that lt1 isn't gonna have a whole lotta bang behind such a massive car.

Dude, I drove it.

It hauls balls.

Post by **r34 gtr** » Thu Apr 30, 2009 4:52 pm

I see you are in Galesburg. My brother goes to Knox college. Next time I come through to drive him up to school in the fall, Im going to have to stop by and check this thing out!

Looking good, keep us updated!

Post by EW » Sat May 02, 2009 6:28 am

Gold Digger wrote:Please elaborate on what the HAMB is.

And no, he doesn't post there. This is the only message board he posts on.

http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/Awesome site but they don't want to hear about anything newer than 1964. The wagons are referred to as longroofs so if you search for that, you'll see tons.

Post by **G.O.B.** » Mon May 04, 2009 4:08 am

First off...

AZhitman wrote:
Dude, I drove it.

It hauls balls.

Greg, thanks for the back-up. Youngins these days...

As for updates, don't have much, but here you go.

Seem to have an issue with either a power draw from the battery or a bad alternator on the LT. Haven't had time to get it looked at yet, but will as soon as time/money/wifey permits.

In other new, I am hoping that an old friend of mine from back in my crazy days, who coicidentally happens to be a body guy, will have a chance to swing by and take a look at the car at Big E's place when it's up on the lift.

The guy I am using for my body work has had the same Corvette that I blew the engine of my 1968 Firebird vert racing back in the 70's. He's old like me now, too, but hopefully will be able to bring the S.S. Go For Broke back to it's glory days.

r34 gtr wrote:I see you are in Galesburg. My brother goes to Knox college. Next time I come through to drive him up to school in the fall, Im going to have to stop by and check this thing out!

Looking good, keep us updated!

Don't know what all will be done next time you are in town, but Neal's mom and I, and our other child (our lab, Brandy) are going to be out of town for a couple weeks on vacation. (First one the wife and I have taken on our own since we have been married...without the humanoid kids...lol). But if you are going to be headed this way, be sure to give us plenty of notice so we can hide all the dead bodies and such...I kid, I kid. Then you can treat us to dinner at Ronnies Supper Club.

Anyway, followers of the NICO. I am outtie and will update you as time goes on.

To all, thanks for keeping the thread alive for me. Neal and I appreciate it.

Post by **Oatmealman** » Mon May 04, 2009 4:56 am

AZhitman wrote:
Dude, I drove it.

It hauls balls.

I hate to do this greg but i've driven full bolt on lt1 and it still was nothing quick.I have a hard time believing that a lt1 is moving that car even remotely fast.

Post by **G.O.B.** » Mon May 04, 2009 5:34 am

Oatmealman wrote:
I hate to do this greg but i've driven full bolt on lt1 and it still was nothing quick.I have a hard time believing that a lt1 is moving that car even remotely fast.

Let me explain something. My wagon actually weighs less than my son's GT-R, and from what he tells me, it's the heaviest of the 1990-2002 GT-Rs. His car has 280hp and a twin turbo I6. My LT1 is rated at around 260hp, is rear wheel drive so it has less drivetrain power loss than his GT-R.

I drove his GT-R and, yes it's fast. My wagon isn't near that fast, but the LT1 does a good job of getting out of the way in a hurry.

I have driven many cars in my day, and while not all of them have been muscle cars like my 68 Vert bird, or my brother's old 66 Stingray vert, or even an old friends 84 Vette Targa, I know the difference between fast and slow.

The wagon is not slow.

Take it how you will, but unless you have been in MY car, shut your mouth and just deal with it.

Maybe I got lucky and got one that was internally in good shape. Maybe the full bolt-on LT1 you drove wasn't in good shape...who knows...I don't, so I am not going to say that "I know such and such an engine isn't fast."

Where did the "respect your elders" of my age end up going to with todays generation?

Start to finish. 2.5 year Resto-mod of 1963 Impala Wagon

Re: Thanks Greg for all your help. (G.O.B.)

Re: (nsrZ32)

Re: (Gold Digger)

Re: (Logan76)

Re:

Re: Re: (bmike818)

Re: Re: (Gold Digger)

Re: Re: (MinisterofDOOM)

Re: Re: (Gold Digger)

Re: Re: (MinisterofDOOM)

Re: Re: (Gold Digger)

Re: Re: (MinisterofDOOM)

Re: Re: (BallzDeep1.9L)

Re: Re: (G.O.B.)

Re: Re: (G.O.B.)

Re: Re: (G.O.B.)

Re: Re: (Oatmealman)

Re: (Gold Digger)

Re: Re: (AZhitman)

Re: Re: (AZhitman)

Re: Re: (Oatmealman)

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