68 Chevelle SS: Project Lost Hope
 

Soon I will be starting the full build thread of my 68 Chevelle SS: Project Lost Hope by Rides by Design, give me your input of the rendering and your thoughts and suggestions, at the moment its about 1/4 complete

When I originally purchased teh the Chevelle I truly had no idea what direction to go because at the time I was working on my convertible, so it sat in my garage for about a year in a half and was using it as storage for my other project. I finally finished my other project last October and drove it for about the last few weeks before the winter started here in Chicago. I got rid of the Convertble and sat forth on the Chevelle on November and first thing was to get it blasted as I thought there was no major issues going on but sure enough. It needed full quarters, fenders, floors front and trunk, tail pane, upper cowl and side cowl panels, deck filler panel, and so oh and front header panel. I got all together but first thing was to get the floors done with my buddy and his father we started but with their busy schedule and the bad winter here in Chicago we sat the floor but truly never finished it. Then as the winter was going along and me planning things I found a guy whose price to start on the build was reasonable so I thought I gave it to the guy in March within days I saw how much full of **** he was and within days I took it right back. I was bumbed and stressed but with all the sheet metal I had purchased there was no turning back. I found within a a day or two Rides By Design in Richmond, Illinois. I called up Richard Trip owner and builder of Rides by Design and prity much the deal was struck for him to take it off my hands and within a few days he picked it up. I went by the shop and felt comfy and confident that he could get the job done. Everyone should check out his facebook page with great work http://www.facebook.com/ridesbydesignrichard. He has helped me a great deal and is on point with build. The goal is to get it done by next May and going all out not holding back. I will be posting pics to get everyone caught up and go from there, THIS IS NOT THE FINAL RENDERING

Updated
 

Here are a few pictures of when i first received the car looked solid from far away but then i got to stripping it and had it soda blasted in the back yard of my house. I had never strippe down a car before but someone had to do it. Once the car was blasted I knew I had nothing but scrap metal but me being the type that thinks outside the box decided to take on such a project even though at the time I was doing a 74 Caprice Convertible that is now gone. Once it was done I focus on the Chevelle. Me and a buddy of mine installed the floor but never fully finished it as he was working to many hours and so was I. I decided to take it to a local guy that had posted his work on craigslist and there I thought I would be safe but thank god it took me only 2 days to figure this guy was full of you know what once he told me how he would bondo the rear tray and leave the screws on. A few days later and $500 down the drain but looking back well worth the experience and I have read horror stories so I figured $500 was nothing. I then contacted the guy I originally wanted to go with but since it was a long drive I passed (check his work out and my progress on my build http://www.facebook.com/ridesbydesign) but as soon as I called him we had practically agreed on the project over the phone. He came by a few days later was straight honest with me and a few hours later as you can see the last pick it was on a trailer to his shop Rides by Design Speed & Custom to start his magic. Since then the car has been totally transformed and I will be posting more pics later on today

Red and black always look great together. I think its gonna be awesome.

Getting everyone caught up wth my build
 

at the moment I have suspention pretty much done, while I have currently going body which is almost done, interior and engine going on. But mean while I will keep you guys updated and continue to post until I get you all up to date with my build, please give me your input, I am sure why everyone will ask why not start with a clean body, my response to that is that not every shop would really take on such a huge project due to the intense sheet metal and cranfsmanship needed which I found in my builder. Also why not bring something from the dead back alive and I would not do it any other way

:lateral: Welcome,Look forward to seeing more of the build.I am really starting to become a big A body fan.It's great that we are getting more & more of these awesome car's here on the site.:thumbsup: :thumbsup:

I appreciate you coming by stay tune because I am way ahead on the build and yea I don't see many Chevelles here mainly Camaros and Mustangs which is one of my next to do list after this one lol and i have yet to finish but these guys here motivate me and have given me great ideas

more updates gotta get you all up to date
 

well here are more pics of the build trying to get everyone up to date, new quarters, trunk floor, tail panel, deck filler and upper window channel. Here you will see pics of the entire rear end coming together as well as drip rails being done and some work to the side firewall panels

Looks like the car is coming along. Keep up the good work!!

the updates keep coming
 

well here are some more updates on the rest of the drip rails, smoothed firewall

continues
 

well here as you will all see please give me your inputs are pics of it getting its first coat of primer, while all this was going on interior, chassis was completed and engine is getting worked on as well, got a lot going on at the same time, please give me your input, thank you

Project update
 

It has been months but I have some cool updates of the Chevelle, at this point the frame was ready and had been sent out to be mated back with the Chevelle for the first time in months after some work was done to it, Wilwood rotors and calipers all around, UMI performance front/rear Tubular control arms, front/rear sway bar, rebuild rear end set up for the QA1 Coil over front/rear,

Everything is looking really good. Do you have any more pictures of how you took the front cowl apart from the firewall? I'm re-doing my firewall on my chevelle and it looks like you had it at a point where you could have gotten a flat sheet and replaced the entire firewall if you had wanted too.

looking good,you sure are moving fast

Coming along nicely!!!

its already in the painting stage but I havent updated since last year

Thanks, its way way far along, its actually in the painting stage almost done, I will be adding more updates until I am caught up thanks a lot, good to see a fellow Chevelle guy

Even though you said that's not the final rendering, it's sweet. Gonna be a nice looking A-body. Keep the pics coming.

Updates
 

Well here I had finally taken the Chassis back to the body shop and at the same time I was getting the chassis ready, the underside was getting a nice threatment

468 BBC Dyno tested at 586HP
 

While all the craziness of the car being worked on and chassis. I also was building a 468 BBC which was dyno tested at 586HP. I was hoping for a little over 600HP but do to the fact that I wanted to use pump gas and we were close to having to use race fuel which I did not want. We had to go with a smaller intake but at the end I was happy. I am not a fast driving guy so all this HP will probably never really be put to the test but it never hurts to have a little extra. Give me you imputs on it and my theme was to go all black since the entire engine bay will be red with a few satin black part such as master cylinder and so forth.

Looks awesome man. A BBC is a sight for sore eyes these days. I like your theme and attention to detail.

thanks a lot just trying my best with what I have. The Chevelle is actually already painted and next week heading to wiring and nearing completion.My summer will start once its finished

468 BBC Street Performer 586HP
 

Well my project is nearing its end but I really have not been updating my thread, here is my 468 BBC already dyno tested at 586 a few more tweaks and it would have jumped up to over 600 HP, but since I didnt want nothing wild kept it simple. Eagle forged crank, Com cams custom hydraulic roller camshaft, JE/Srp forged pistons/rings, quick fuel carb, Edolbrock performer heads, Billet Specialties goodies such as valve covers, breathers, thermostat, MSD, March Pulley Serpentine, to go with it some custom Lemons Headers and hi-performance street transmission powder coated in red. Let me know what you guys think. Let me know what you guys think

Nice BB, yeah with all the LS motors on here it's nice to see a BB going in a Chevelle!

Thanks Rick, I was leaning towards it but with so many people following the trend and just ordering them off the shelf not knowing what really is in them as far as components. With mine I know exactly what went in this bad boy from every ARP bolt to the gaskets. But next build I may be joining the LS family but over all happy and what you think of the over all BB

Its looking great. That frame came out nice. Its going to be a fun ride with that big block in there!

Thanks a lot, I honestly cant wait to see your beast on the road and keep your head up bud I know the feeling. Keep your pics coming and what you think so far of my build even though I have not fully updated mine is actually in its final stages getting wired up,

Since you asked for opinions- I think that black BB engine looks awesome! I'd dump the auto and go with a manual trans.

you sure have came a long way in a short time,the bodywork, frame and motor all look like you have done very nice work,cant wait to see the car painted,keep pics coming

Thanks a lot and That's what my Fiance has been telling me since she can drive stick shift real good and probably a better driver then me. But I live in the Chicago the stop and go stop and go is a pain. Plus this is going to be a cruiser my buddy convinced me to go with the power and I just went a long with it. It will probably never see the track or be ran to its fullest potential

Months worth of updates
 

well over the past 8 months a lot has happened with my project, here are a few updates as currently its being assembled but here are some work that was done some mods, front bumper was narrowed to give it that front end that clean look, a custom grill was made but as you guys will see later it was converted into a one piece grill, entire front bumper was smoothen, Oh did I mention my bad ass AutoRad core support which will be all red with the all red radiator now I know why high end shops use them craftmenship it just bitching, oh side lights were smoothen out as well delted pretty much, more to come please give me your feedback, any of the vendors I USED IF YOU WANT TO SPONSOR ME TO TAKE THIS BABY TO SEMA MESSAGE ME LOL

more updates
 

at this point the front end had come together as I planned now it ws time to get some paint inside the car which I choose black even though I Dynamated the entire inside later you guys will see, I also at this point had received my FORGELINE 18X8 (245X18) UP FRONT AND 18X10 (285X18) OUT BACK LOVE THEM, INTERIOR IS PRETTY MUCH SET

More Pics And Ready For Dupont Red Hot Meltdown
 

at this point the car was its in last stages of primer and ready for some Dupont Red Hot Meltdown and man was this an expensive color but loved the outcome best money spent, it took some headaches but boy was it worth it

DuPont Red Hot Meltdown
 

well after finally getting around some things I am putting up pics of the car being painted with DuPont Red Hot Meltdown, car had been painted a few months but is getting currently assembled, give me your input guys, as you can see even the AutoRad radiator coar support got a coat of red hot meltdown

paint looks real slick,thats making some progress

DuPont Red Hot Meltdown Part 2
 

well here are some more pics of the Chevelle painted

Thanks a lot this was actually a few months ago, almost there on final assembly feels great to say that and awesome ideas from everyone here as well

Paint looks good. Very nice progress shots. What's next on the list?

hey thanks a lot and actually its in its final stages of assembly should be completed in a few weeks, i have complete interior done, just waiting on my assembly guy but here are some other shots,

Painted all ready to head to wiring
 

Well guys these are pics of the Chevelle prior to heading to wired up, satin black bumper have been installed, AutoRad radiator core support painted same color as car, look at the Ringbrothers black anodized door handles took almost 2 months but well worth pics don't do them justice

Paint looks stunning. What size front rotors are those?