1969 Chevelle "SS496"
 

We're thrashing away on a SEMA bound 1969 Chevelle ragtop called the SS496. It's a clone 396 car, originally a small-block, bench seat cruiser. We're reconstructing the car with a stroker 454 to create a 496 big block. Underhood, the car is going to look like a stock 396 - orange block, v-belts, etc., but it should make quite a bit more power! Add to that a hidden nitrous system, and it should go low 11s all day.

We've installed a complete Global West suspension system and Baer Brakes to make it stop.

Once again, Ben Hermance created the outstanding visual. It's an original GM Butternut Yellow with a white gut.

http://www.v8tv.net/SS496HeaderPic.jpg

You can follow the build and all the video features and blogs here. We just finished the quarter panel install, now we're slingin' mud. Engine build comes soon.

No matter how soon you start, time seems to slip by quickly on these things!

- KO

Another vert for SEMA. I'm seeing a trend here. :D

Looks cool, Kevin. I like the color/wheel combo.

Keep us posted. The SEMA thrash updates you made last year were great. :thumbsup:

I LOVE 68/69 convertibles!! Thanks for building one.

Chevelle Updates
 

Some update features...

http://v8tvshow.com/content/blogcategory/15/71/

And some recent blogs:

http://v8tvshow.com/content/blogcategory/56/90/

Less than 60 days to SEMA... :willy:

Convertibles are just cool, and make great show pieces. Watched the build features. Awesome job as usual.

Daily Video Updates
 

The SEMA countdown is in full swing... here's the daily video blog update page on the SS496 Chevelle... we're posting clips just about every night from now until SEMA, and then from the show as well. If we're still standing!

http://v8tvshow.com/index.php?option...d=56&Itemid=90

- Kevin Oeste

Here's today's update - prepping inside the fenders...

http://v8tvshow.com/content/view/375/90/

Kelle is looking thrilled with her scotchbrite task Kev ! Ok, maybe not ....

Thought you'd get to her with that romantic see the moon comment - but your timing might have been off just a bit there bud. Guess it's difficult for a girl to appreciate the romance of the situation when she's knee deep in sanding dust while scotchbrite destroys her manicure. A++ for the effort !

Tic Tock.... Good Luck !

Jim

Yeah, she's real happy about that. Scotchbriting (new verb) is not fun for anyone... moonlight and candles or not!

Today's update / rant...

The chassis is nearly complete save for fuel and brake lines... and a rant on the super cheap paint stories popular in enthusiast magazines...

http://www.v8tvshow.com/forum/index.php?topic=46.0

- KO

Here's the latest:

http://www.v8tvshow.com/forum/index.php?topic=46.0

Sealin' the seams... gettin' ready for some COLOR!

That's always a turning point, but then you have to be Extra careful around the car. Not so easy when you're tired...

http://www.v8tvshow.com/forum/index.....msg109#msg109

More tomorrow!

- KO

It's finally changing color! Today's update - spraying the jambs!

http://www.v8tvshow.com/forum/index.....msg122#msg122

Gettin' closer!

- KO

A nice change of pace for a convertible.

the links dont work for me but I am gald someone else is feeling the deadline to LOL

Hey Travis... some of the links get shortened on this board. You guys really know the SEMA routine! How's the Camaro coming? Still at The Recovery Room?

Here's the latest:

Last night: Firewall and dash turned black with PPG DP90. We're going to try to mate the body back to the frame tonight!

http://www.v8tvshow.com/forum/index.....msg138#msg138

yes still at the recovery room......im glad to its been a nice break for us. Shop is getting cleaned and projects moved around and getting in line ha ha. Car looks great keep it up...:thumbsup:

Fixing Aluminum Trim
 

Thanks Travis!

Here's another update - fixing / polishing anodized aluminum trim...

http://www.v8tvshow.com/forum/index.....msg139#msg139

Off the jig!
 

The body's off the jig, and the Schutz is flying! I think we're all getting a little weird off the fumes..

http://www.v8tvshow.com/forum/index.....msg142#msg142

- KO

Here's another update - the body's back on the frame, and we're off to the body panel alignment races!

http://www.v8tvshow.com/forum/index.....msg143#msg143

- KO

Kevin,

Is this a customers car that you are building? If so, how many cars a year do you do? Next your going to tell me that country wife of yours helps out.... :unibrow:

Between the V8TV and restomods I'm going to have mark you up another notch. :thumbsup:

R.P.

Hey Roger -

It is owned by a private party, and we only do 1 complete car a year. We do small parts and installs on various other cars, as well as cover other builds, but only one big one in-house.

And yes, Kelle does ALOT of the work on the cars!

Sunday's update (a little late) -

Front sheetmetal install and aligning the panels. Here's a tip - when assembling a car on a jig or fixture, be prepared to realign the sheetmetal on the car because the original frame flexes more than the jig.

http://www.v8tvshow.com/forum/index.....msg144#msg144

Monday's update:

Remounting the hood and the pre-cut Dynamat... and there's a giveaway contest and a SEMA "gathering" invitiation buried in this update. As a 'thank you' those who watch these clips, we're giving away some cool swag and inviting everyone who'll be in Las Vegas to come hang out with us on Thursday, 11/1/2007. Details in the video!

http://www.v8tvshow.com/forum/index.....msg145#msg145

Today's update - more panel alignment.. Kelle lays Dynamat, the top frame goes in (way to easily... expect more on this!) - and the final wetsanding starts! More to come...

http://www.v8tvshow.com/forum/index.....msg159#msg159

- KO

Tonight's update - 23 days to go, and Kelle is having rough time wetsanding...

http://www.v8tvshow.com/forum/index.....msg175#msg175

looks good guys Im looking forward to seeing this car at sema.

Hey Pontiac - so are we! Now we just have to finish it!

Latest update - windshield is in, more trim work, and spraying the white bottom 1/3d of the body!

http://www.v8tvshow.com/forum/index....=46.msg190#new

SS or Mailibu or Mix
 

Just curious what badging your putting on the car - did you get special SS 496 emblems made up (int/ext). Since your putting the malibu trim to achieve the two tone wasn't sure if you were going to put a Malibu int door emblem, ones with just the SS, a custom one, or none at all. I have a buddy that will have a "496" as well and do not know of any one that makes a SS 496front/rear emblems along with the interior door - and dash plaque - figured you guys may be doing something custom ...

We've got a custom trick for the fender badges, and we'll probably have nose / tail badges made after SEMA when there's more time. We'll post the fender badges when we get 'em. I also know a source to make some 496 badges - if I can find it, Ill post that one, too.

- KO

Somebody on Team Chevelle was asking about 496 badges.

Mike

could that guy make the GTO badges? they are the ones on my fenders?
instead of saying GTO on top and 6.5 liter bottom
I need 7.5 liter on the bottom part of it.

The final masking before the trip to the paint booth...
http://www.v8tvshow.com/forum/index.....msg237#msg237

The SS496 is finally painted!
 

After many months of sanding, taping, sanding, masking, priming... the SS496 is finally in color! John shot the car over the weekend, and thanks to a local shop for letting us into thier killer Blow Therm downdraft booth, we have a car that came out of the booth with nearly zero dust particles and a new-style "factory" orange peel level. Of course, we're going to cut and buff this one to flatness, (is that a word?), but it looks good already. What a relief. Here's the clip from spray-day...

http://www.v8tvshow.com/forum/index.....msg239#msg239

I'm not sure... he's kinda doing me a favor using company tools, if you know what I mean. I'll ask, though!

The car is back from the paint booth, and now the wetsanding process begins again. The finish was really nice right out of the booth - probably fine for a production car or repaired car after a wreck. Clean paint, slight "orange peel" texture, pretty nice. We're started wetsanding the car with 1500 grit and will cut it again with 2000 before running the buffer over the car. The more you sand it, the easier the buff, and more reflective the finish. It also makes for a lack of fingerprints. Take that, CSI!

http://www.v8tvshow.com/forum/index.....msg266#msg266

SS496 Motor Build part 1 - some assembly, flowbench testing, a look at the heads, and then we had the wrong head bolts...

http://v8tvshow.com/content/view/415/43/

Friday's update - measuring the right pushrod length, milling the intake to fit... the details take time. It's coming together nicely, however.

http://www.v8tvshow.com/forum/index.....msg294#msg294

The moment we've all been waiting for... (one of them, anyway...) the SS496 engine is ALIVE! The dyno sessions at Fast Times went well. We ended up with a smooth idling (750 RPM) street 496 Stroker making 550 HP at 5500 RPM and 572 ft. lbs. @ 4400. The torque is above 500 from 4000 to 5700 in the pulls. Here's the video from the dyno session:

http://www.v8tvshow.com/forum/index....=46.msg304#new

congrats Kevin, that's awesome.

Jody

Thanks Jody! Should be a fun car to drive... when we finish it! :_paranoid

Meanwhile, back at the shop...

Kelle's going full throttle on reassembling the Chevelle. There are lots of little pieces to go together... tonight, we popped in the fuel tank, the convertible top mechanism, rear bumper, hydroboost unit on firewall... there's still a long way to go. We should be dropping the motor in tomorrow, and wiring on Thursday!

http://www.v8tvshow.com/forum/index....=46.msg320#new