72 Chevelle restoration

[SarcasticDwarf]

It looks like I will be getting a 71 Chevelle that is in pretty rough shape. It runs (rough) but the interior is shot. Any suggestions on places to turn to? Guides, forums, etc? I will be doing most of the work (except for major engine and transmission projects) myself.

Edit: it is a 1972 Chevelle with a 402 set up for drag racing (cam'd, exhaust, etc).

The pics below seem to have disappeared. Here is what it looked like shortly after picking it up.






Edit2: The latest updates are at the bottom.

 

[Ronstang]

Year One has Chevelle parts so that is at least one source. A little browsing and you should be able to find some more. When it comes to interior parts it really depends upon what is bad as to whether you can get new or are forced to shop around for a good used part. The best thing to do is simply order a couple of catalogs and start reading. It doesn't hurt to have an inventory of the parts you know you will need. You can make a list while you are waiting for the catalogs to arrive if you have access to the car.

 

[herm0016]

year one is the go-to for most things. I would buy a good air compressor and a sand blast cabinet. we blasted every thing you could remove from the body and engine and repainted with correct paints. Eastwood has very nice paint and coatings. Make friends with local car clubs to find someone with an engine machine shop in their basement. We also found a lot of parts at AutoRama in Charlotte NC near the first week of april. ( huge car show and swap meet)

My dad put 12 years and stopped adding at over 30K for his 71' SS BB car.

My dad has one of the most original 71's in the country. Down the the date code on the glass, correct sheen paints and correct bolt head stampings for each and every bolt and part.

 

[hanoverphist]

are you going for restore or just rebuilding? there are many different aftermarket places you could tap into for that car. which engine is in it? would be great to find an old true SS454. my friends shop has an all original SS454 chevelle in his shop for a diagnostic right now. those things are very impressive, and thats being modest. his shop has restored two others as well, one a clone the other an actual restore. the clone got a crate 350 and all electronic upgrade inside, including digital speedo and tach. looked good when complete. but back to my point... if youre going for restore or rebuild, the answer will be vastly different on resources available.

 

[7window]

Its a good car.
Size motor
car model
pics?
This is a good project but depending on what you want to do you MIGHT run up some bills.
There are a lot of resources such as malibu site, chevy site even camaro or corvette.

 

[manimal]

year one is the go-to for most things. I would buy a good air compressor and a sand blast cabinet. we blasted every thing you could remove from the body and engine and repainted with correct paints. Eastwood has very nice paint and coatings. Make friends with local car clubs to find someone with an engine machine shop in their basement. We also found a lot of parts at AutoRama in Charlotte NC near the first week of april. ( huge car show and swap meet)

My dad put 12 years and stopped adding at over 30K for his 71' SS BB car.

My dad has one of the most original 71's in the country. Down the the date code on the glass, correct sheen paints and correct bolt head stampings for each and every bolt and part.

show us some picts of the virgin 71SS!

 

[herm0016]

i will see if i can find some. it was mostly film as this was 10 years ago.

 

[SarcasticDwarf]

Its a good car.
Size motor
car model
pics?
This is a good project but depending on what you want to do you MIGHT run up some bills.
There are a lot of resources such as malibu site, chevy site even camaro or corvette.

I know the motor was swapped out at one point for a 4xx. Other than that I know very little about its current condition. I know that it runs but burns oil and most of the interior is rotted/rusted out. I was told that everything inside would need to be replaced but the actual mechanical function is sound. I don't have any pics.

For reference, this was the first non-beater car that my dad ever owned (paid cash in 71). It was passed around the family over the years and has been more or less garaged for the past 20 years with an uncle.

 

[7window]

I know the motor was swapped out at one point for a 4xx. Other than that I know very little about its current condition. I know that it runs but burns oil and most of the interior is rotted/rusted out. I was told that everything inside would need to be replaced but the actual mechanical function is sound. I don't have any pics.

For reference, this was the first non-beater car that my dad ever owned (paid cash in 71). It was passed around the family over the years and has been more or less garaged for the past 20 years with an uncle.

Just saw this the other day

1970 Camaro SS L48 motor and trans for 1500. Gives you a motivation to get started.

 

[herm0016]

what was original in the car? it was probably a 350 sb but may have been a 402 bb. you can check the vin or look for the build sheet, usually under the back seat, under the carpet, or on top of the gas tank. We found ours on top of the gas tank.

 

[JCH13]

are you going for restore or just rebuilding?[..] ... if youre going for restore or rebuild, the answer will be vastly different on resources available.

This. Define what you want to do with the project so that you can make consistent, focused decisions when you're working on it. I like making a list of qualities I want to see in the car when it is completed so that I can prioritize my work on it.

 

[SarcasticDwarf]

what was original in the car? it was probably a 350 sb but may have been a 402 bb. you can check the vin or look for the build sheet, usually under the back seat, under the carpet, or on top of the gas tank. We found ours on top of the gas tank.

Not sure, again, I don't have access to the car.

 

[SarcasticDwarf]

This. Define what you want to do with the project so that you can make consistent, focused decisions when you're working on it. I like making a list of qualities I want to see in the car when it is completed so that I can prioritize my work on it.

My priorities are:

1) Get it in very good running condition (engine, drive train, etc).
2) Fix interior enough to make it comfortable including things like the non-functioning fuel gauge
3) Clean up exterior

As you can see, I am not concerned about taking it back to original, making it a perfect show car, etc.

 

[twinrider1]

Here's a pic of another person's '71 to look at since the OP hasn't been carrying his weight.

 

[JCH13]

My priorities are:

1) Get it in very good running condition (engine, drive train, etc).
2) Fix interior enough to make it comfortable including things like the non-functioning fuel gauge
3) Clean up exterior

As you can see, I am not concerned about taking it back to original, making it a perfect show car, etc.

That's a good start, but it is a little general. Your entire list can be summarized as: "make it not suck". Maybe pick a title for the project, like "budget Sunday driver", "neck-snapping drag racer", "project car to learn how to do everything ever", something that captures what you want to do with it.

This will guide decisions like getting it painted. Do you get a professional frame-off paint job? Buy a gun/compressor/mask and paint yourself? Get a wholesale job from a body shop? Take it to a local VoTech center for HS kids to paint?

 

[SarcasticDwarf]

what was original in the car? it was probably a 350 sb but may have been a 402 bb. you can check the vin or look for the build sheet, usually under the back seat, under the carpet, or on top of the gas tank. We found ours on top of the gas tank.

I found out it originally had a sb but a 402bb was later added.

Here's the info I received about the car

To make it safe and reliable:
rebuild passenger side brake caliper
replace shocks
replace anything in the suspension and some miscellaneous that is rubber
front end alignment
balance wheels
new battery
diagnose and fix instrument panel lighting
replace window felts and rubbers around doors
fan for defrost and blowing air is not working

To make it more presentable:
body work and paint from rust around the rear wheel wells, rear window and just general deterioration of the paint over the years; the hood is almost completely back to primer
replace interior overhead
re-cover rear and front seats
new carpet
cover or replace dash
replace sun visors
needs a new stereo system and gauges
rear side windows need repaired mechanisms that make them go up and down; right now they are in the up position, but if they get rolled down, they ain't comin' back up too easily

Optional fixes:
gas gauge works, but on about a 25% scale (1/4 full means its full)
12 bolt posi rear-end;
rebuild the engine; it consumes oil
inside of trunk is pretty rusty

Done in the last four years
steering wheel
plugs, plug wires, points, condensor, coil, starter motor (very high end after market one), water pump, rear-view mirror and tires
brakes are good , however, they are four wheel drum brakes

 

[SarcasticDwarf]

That's a good start, but it is a little general. Your entire list can be summarized as: "make it not suck". Maybe pick a title for the project, like "budget Sunday driver", "neck-snapping drag racer", "project car to learn how to do everything ever", something that captures what you want to do with it.

This will guide decisions like getting it painted. Do you get a professional frame-off paint job? Buy a gun/compressor/mask and paint yourself? Get a wholesale job from a body shop? Take it to a local VoTech center for HS kids to paint?

How about "project to make the car that I have drooled over since I was eight years old into presentable shape over the next decade without spending a fortune and doing most of the work myself" I like to refer to it as PTMTCTIHDOSIWEYOIPSOTNDWSAFADMOTWM.

I want to do most of the work myself on my own time. It will never be my primary vehicle. You can get a better idea of what needs to be done from the post above.

I have requested pics...will hopefully get them this weekend.

 

[jlee]

How about "project to make the car that I have drooled over since I was eight years old into presentable shape over the next decade without spending a fortune and doing most of the work myself" I like to refer to it as PTMTCTIHDOSIWEYOIPSOTNDWSAFADMOTWM.

I want to do most of the work myself on my own time. It will never be my primary vehicle. You can get a better idea of what needs to be done from the post above.

I have requested pics...will hopefully get them this weekend.

ROFL. Fantastic. :awe:

 

[JCH13]

How about "project to make the car that I have drooled over since I was eight years old into presentable shape over the next decade without spending a fortune and doing most of the work myself" I like to refer to it as PTMTCTIHDOSIWEYOIPSOTNDWSAFADMOTWM.

I want to do most of the work myself on my own time. It will never be my primary vehicle. You can get a better idea of what needs to be done from the post above.

I have requested pics...will hopefully get them this weekend.

:awe:

 

[FuzzyDunlop]

PTMTCTIHDOSIWEYOIPSOTNDWSAFADMOTWM.

lol!

 

[manimal]

PTMTCTIHDOSIWEYOIPSOTNDWSAFADMOTWM.

lol!

that gentlemen is the work of a true wordsmith!

 

[FuzzyDunlop]

pics request.

 

[3chordcharlie]

PTMTCTIHDOSIWEYOIPSOTNDWSAFADMOTWM.

lol!

Thread title-change request.

 

[disappoint]

sounds like pound me in the ass car restoration prison

PMITACRP

 

[SarcasticDwarf]

that gentlemen is the work of a true wordsmith!

Merely a librarian

Still waiting to get pics in.