63 Biscayne
 

I've posted a few times on here but, have finally done some work on my car although what I've just done will be undone. I'll explain below.

What I have is a pretty stock 1963 Biscayne. It has has a decenter interior, a 454 with a TH-350 transmission and it runs OK, once you get over the exhaust and oil leaks. When I first looked at the car, I could see that the floor pans were replaced but, instead of cutting out the old ones, they put some others on top of the old ones therefore; I'll have to change them again.

I purchased it in Arizona and drove it back to Kansas and the one question I didn't ask is where the car was titled in originally because it is an Illinois car so, I think once I blast it I'll find more rust than just the floor and trunk pans but, live and learn.

When I first purchased it, it had some really lame exhaust cut-outs on it and those were the first to go. Followed by installing some new trunk hinges that ended up being harder than they should have.

The plans for it are a Schwartz Performance frame, LS series engine, new wiring, new interior, different bucket seats, paint, Dakota Digital VHX gauges, air conditioning, power windows, new wiring, etc. Still trying to decide on color combinations but, I'm thinking a dark silver on top with a dark metallic blue, black or something else on the bottom. At the rate I'm going I have plenty of time to decide.

Because I'm dropping this off next month to Schwartz for the frame install, I figured it would be a good idea to at least get the peeling paint on the roof covered so that I didn't have to deal with more rust than I already do. The paint was already peeling so, I figured it would be easy to strip...Wrong answer. The only part that came off easily with the razor blade was the top four layers, not the other five that were below it.

Now, on to the pictures.

I'm always open to ideas on paint, wheels and interior schemes.

Here is the close up of the before on the roof.

that sounds cool. if you decide to shave the side trim i would be interested in purchasing it.:unibrow:

Cool ride, the plans sound great :thumbsup: The only thing that I would change is stay with the big block. Maybe an aluminum block but the LS is going to get lost in that big engine compartment. I know they make good power and I do love the LS platform but in "my opinion" an all aluminum big block would look so bad azz in there. Keep us posted on the progress!

All aluminum big block= BIG $$$$....:faint: :faint:

Yes, that is big $$$.

My thoughts with the LS are good performance, drivability and gas mileage. I have a feeling this is going to be my daily driver when I finish it.

i need a lh door for a 63 sedan if either have a parts car .

Sorry, no parts car. I have a hard enough time moving with the amount of stuff that I have.

I've finally completed my move to PA and on the way, I dropped of the Biscayne with Schwartz Performance to have the frame built. Got a chance to get a tour of their shop while I was there and it is a very impressive operation.

:thumbsup:

Glad you liked what you saw! We're excited to start on it!

I can't wait to see how it comes out and performs.

Rendering
 

I finally received the rendering. Now, the hard part of being patient to finish the build.

The Rendering is awesome.:thumbsup: :thumbsup:

I'm looking forward to this build as I just picked up a 67 Bel Air. What steelies and tires are on it now?

Oooooh weeee, that rendering is sooo sweet. I love it!!:hail: :hail:

I like those cars, but we
don't see too many full-size classics get the PT treatment.

What made you chose to build a big car like the '63?

@ Rick; Just standard 15" wheels and dog dish hub caps now. I've got to figure out an interim solution once I get my frame finished.

@ Skip; I have always licked B Bodies, have owned three of them in the past and figured I would make something different. Nice to have performance and something unique.

Schwartz has started work :)

More updates. The frame is just about done...

With an LS or Aluminum BBC This Schwartz Performance 1963 Chevy Perimeter Chassis should handle like our Tempest, 1.08G skidpad with BFG KDW's.
When are you coming to get it?

Finally have it!
 

After a long road trip from PA to IL, I now have it! I am very impressed with the work that Schwartz Performance did, I can't wait to drive it. Unfortunately, that is going to be about three years from now...

Because I'm moving in a few months, I can't proceed with all of the big things, stripping, media blasting etc., so I'm doing what I can.

This weekend is the start of narrowing the bumpers.

Front bumper finished rear started
 

I finally finished up the front bumper, much easier and I'm much happier with how it came out compared to the rear one.

Now, the rear...I have the center section complete and I'm happy with it but, not really wild about how the ends are lining up. Part of it is because the center section is so bent therefore; I ordered another one.

Always open to suggestions.

Tear down nearly complete
 

I've finally had some time to finish tearing it down. Almost complete minus some extra junk in the trunk...

I found the first of what I'm sure is going to be a lot of bondo around the B pillar and I'm open to suggestions on how to fix it.

Because of the cold weather, I can't drop it off at the media blaster yet so, figured I would use the time to start filling in the myriad of holes in the firewall.

Going to be a sweet car. I've got a big ol' car I'll be working on soon too.

I've always had a thing for B body cars. This will make the 4th one I've owned (84 Impala, 95 Impala SS and 94 Caprice).

I've had some time to work on filling holes in the dash, only thing left here is filling in the speaker grill.

I've done a bit more to it. Filled some more on the dash and pretty much fixed the trunk lock hole. Found a bit more rust along the trunk weatherstrip channel but, nothing that can't be fixed by brazing.

thats gonna be one cool ride,great job so far

Finally got some time off of work to drop it off to get it stripped and pick up my front end pieces that have already been blasted. Not too much rust and only one big dent that I didn't expect. Looks like I need to order some fender bottom patches. Surprisingly, there were some pinholes near the top of the fender (along the inside edge) but, a little brazing and those are taken care of.

Updates
 

Have had some extended time of work, something that I haven't had in about eight or nine years. I took advantage of it and spent quite a bit of time on the car.

Prior to this, I primered the fenders and did some repairs to them. I was able to get a lot of the dents out without any filler but, not the case for all of them.

Also, was able to get it blasted using the dustless blasting method. Each of the methods have their advantages and except for one area on the trunk lid, ended up with zero warpage however, I did have to deal with a bunch of flash rust. As it sits now, it is just about all epoxy primed using SPI epoxy with a bit of reducer. Intent was just to get something on it to keep it from flash rusting.

I also made a mock up of a 6L90E transmission so, that I have something to go off of when I build my floors and transmission tunnel. I used welding rod and brazed it together to get an outline.

Next order of business is building the floors and making the mini-tubs.

Pictures follow:

Here are the pictures during and after the blasting.

I'm sorry I've missed this thread. I love seeing these big cars built up nicely. I really like the direction you're headed with this one. Good luck!

Primed and floors out
 

So, spent another day on the car. Finished up the priming, just enough to keep it from rusting, I will have to hit it again. I am really impressed with the SPI epoxy, it sprays on great and is so much easier to sand than some of the other epoxies I've used.

Braced up all of the car and cut the floors out. Also, removed all of the bracing on the package tray in preparation for the mini-tubs. Hope to get the mini tubs done next Saturday. In the interim, brought a door home to get it finished this week.

Goal is to have the car completely painted by the time I move next summer.

Managed to get a little bit accomplished this week. Patched and welded most of the rust in the drivers side rocker panel, make a replacement for the front floor support and fix the lower cowl.

Nothing really exciting. Hopefully next weekend I can get the mini-tubs done and then on to the floor.

Mini tubs for an Impala, Biscayne or Bel Air
 

So, after much researching on how to do these, I was only able to find one source of documentation on how to do these. The source was the Muscle Car show and like all things on TV, there wasn't a lot of details and it looked fairly easy.

Like most things, it wasn't easy and I'm glad I had some help to do these. I would say there is about 20 hours in doing these and if I had to do it again, I probably wouldn't. But, on a positive note I did manage to buy myself a new welding helmet and it's amazing how much better you can weld when you can see clearly.

Since I was back there, I went ahead and did a few other patches on some rust. Hopefully next weekend I can get started on the B pillar and quarter panel. Goal is to have this painted by next May.

Glad you minitubbed it :)

Biscayne (Impala) B Pillar and quarter panel repair
 

Finally got to the part that I was dreading. The B pillar had been hit at some point and whomever the piece of humanity who painted it before fixed everything with a gallon of bondo. The B pillar was a bit intimidating because, the replacement part came with the entire inner window structure and it isn't an exact match for a Biscayne.

After looking at it for a bit, we decided to go ahead and cut out the damaged portion and graft the new piece on the old one. I'm very happy with the quality of the replacement B pillar however, I can't say the same for the quarter panel patch.

The quarter panel patch is a POS. If anyone has to do one for an early Impala, Biscayne, etc., I would recommend going with an entire quarter (believe these are stamped better) and cut out the portions you need. The quarter came out OK, had to add in a piece of metal and some welding rod to fix the door gap and that is still a work in progress. I have a high spot on the back of the patch and a few low spots but, nothing that can't be fixed.

BTW, I'm getting very comfortable with stitch welding and plug welding :thumbsup:

Floors
 

Well, I've made some progress with the floor with a lot of help. A bit of a learning curve with doing bead rolling and oil canning but, nothing that we won't figure out. So far, the floor boards are done with the first part of the transmission tunnel. Not a lot of sexy stuff here so far...I figure I'm about six months or so away from that.

Mock-up Engine
 

I didn't get much accomplished this weekend. I've been out of commission for a few days after having my wisdom teeth removed...Finally. If I can give some advice to the younger viewers. Do it now and do wait until you're in your 40s.

I've been looking around for a mock-up block so that I can have better measurements when I build my firewall and new inner fenders. A new plastic mock-up engine is about $300 so, I figured I would check out the local junk yard to see if they had anything scrap that I could get.

Well, $200 later I have an 5.3 LM7 out of a 2002ish Avalanche and from what I can tell, the only thing wrong with it is the intake and oil pan are cracked from having a tree fall in it. As you can see, the cross hatching is still there on the cylinders and when I pulled the valve covers off, there was zero sludge inside.

I may go ahead and use this at least to get me going and save up for some more for what I want or, mod the hell out of this.

Floor, firewall and trunk finished (Impala, Biscayne)
 

Been kind of slow on the updates. The reason is that I've been busy with a lot of help.

As a result, the floors, trunk and firewall are all finished. Now on to the hard stuff...Fixing dents, finishing the rust repair, sanding, sanding and more sanding. I am extremely pleased with how everything came out and without some help, I'm afraid of what it would have looked like.

On to the pictures.

And I forgot. A little more welding and a crap load of grinding.

Windshield wiper motor, etc.
 

Nothing too exciting to update on.

-took the car off the frame and on the rotisserie. To help hold it up, decided I needed to make some cribbing blocks
-managed to fit the late model GM windshield wiper motor
-finished removing all of the rest of the rust and undercoating under the rear half
-re-fitted the center body to frame supports
-capped off all of the floor supports
-made a driver's side rocker patch and welded it in
-welded and capped off the rear trunk supports
-welded in the trunk firewall
-fit and started welding the driver's side quarter patch...Would have finished if I did run out of gas and wire.

As you can see from my list that I conveniently wrote on the side of the car, I have a crapload more to do...Before I have to come up with the next list.