Alright everyone after lurking here for a few years I figured I would jump on and share my build
I have owned this car for about 21 years now and initially bought it to pro-street it since that was "in" and I had a friend that had one a few years earlier. After tech school and moved back to Eugene, Or.I bought the chevelle I drove it as is and moved to Nor-Cal. about a year later, I started to get into bracket racing it at our local track (samoa dragstrip)and had a blast with it.
Like most of us life has a way of changing priorities so the car was put on hold, while buying a house and building other projects and starting a family. I had been building my El Camino and sent it off to paint a few years ago and discovered what "paint jail" was all about. I found a paint shop in Eugene that a friend of mine uses, and after talking to the owner I decided the trip would be worth it.
After looking over the car and getting a plan it all went out the window.......:willy: I will try to keep this thing updated as I get time.....
here is the car shortly after I bought it. Taken Sept.1992 one of the guys at a local chassis shop called it the "calico"......:rolleyes: :rofl:
http://i594.photobucket.com/albums/t...12074532AM.jpg
one of the many stages it was in http://i594.photobucket.com/albums/t...12125011PM.jpg
and another...http://i594.photobucket.com/albums/t...12124646PM.jpg
this was at a burnout contest in 94....http://i594.photobucket.com/albums/t...12124842PM.jpg

After buying a house the car just kinda sat. I tore it down and was going to paint it and get back to some racing but the budget just wouldnt allow it. I started to do other projects that were going to be a little more economical. yeah right........This was my first paint job and frame off build in driveway late 90's early 2000's I entered some shows and won, then the car show thing hooked me.
http://i594.photobucket.com/albums/t...torama2000.jpg

The El camino project taught me a lot of things, 1.hard as I try I cant do it all. 2. its harder now to get friends together to do some of the projects when you have a family. 3. I am learning my limits, and capability. If I want something done in a reasonable time frame it may be faster, better if I send it out. I spent many nights for months in the garage after putting my little one to bed and was worn out by the time I got the car done
http://i594.photobucket.com/albums/t...l/trophey1.jpg

I put the chevelle in storage for a few years to make room for working on my house and the out of control el camino project. I decided that it was time last year to just get this thing done and over with.
It really looked bad.
http://i594.photobucket.com/albums/t...amhull/054.jpg
My wife agreed to get this thing done as well. So we loaded it up and took it back up to Eugene to Precision Classics and Collision. After going over it with the owner he and I discussed plans and ideas that I had.
http://i594.photobucket.com/albums/t...hull/032-1.jpg
I wanted to box the frame and put some killer suspension under it. I was for sure set on some form of LS engine and a 6 speed.

We agreed to get the frame out from under it and soda blast the car since it was torn down anyways and see what kind of mess we had gotten ourselves into.
http://i594.photobucket.com/albums/t...evellebody.jpg
http://i594.photobucket.com/albums/t...ellebottom.jpg
I knew going into this thing that there was going to be a bit of metal needing replacement. A quarter and rear filler were all the body needed and the fenders were beat up from prior repairs....
http://i594.photobucket.com/albums/t...llerrafter.jpg

After getting into the bodywork, the frame was looked over and measured etc. It wasn't too bad but will need some work. The idea came to mind that if I am boxing the frame and adding all of the suspension, what is the pro's and con's of just setting it aside and putting an after market chassis under it. I started looking into them and reading what others have done and gone through modding the original chassis. Keeping in mind that the work to do one is labor intensive and the other is more of a bolt in (though not totally). What to do.
We decided the way to go was with an after market chassis, so we called Roadster Shop and had one sent out to us. Man that thing is a work of art! This car is going to go way beyond what I ever thought it would be, I had only dreamed about this.
http://i594.photobucket.com/albums/t...llechassis.jpg
http://i594.photobucket.com/albums/t...lechassis3.jpg

Hell yea now you're cooking with gas.....:thumbsup:

What are you doing for a drivetrain? Another big block or something else?:_paranoid

The body looks like a pretty good starting point.:thumbsup:

Say bro, I see you ain't messing around since you're going with an RS chassis. Niiiiiiice!! :yes: Keep us posted and thanks for bringing another Chevelle to the board. :thumbsup: I'm suscribed.

The body was pretty good, it was somewhat preserved by being in storage and torn down for 15 years :faint:

thanks! I am done with messing around I want the car done. I have spent sooo many years on other projects and I get burned out and start back on them etc. I am glad there is enough aftermarket support out there now for these cars. I have been collecting stuff for years that I can now use and/or get rid of.

Very nice on the chassis. I can see this car turning out amazing.

damn, lotsa 70's popping up now. That frame is wicked. :hail:

I hope the car turns out as well as the frame!
Haha I have had this car for sooo long people used to say "whats a chevelle" is that like a camaro? grrrr.
I think most of the camaro's got picked up by guys like Stielow (j/k mark)
Mine is a true 70 as well.....:D

oh man, I get so tired of people asking about my car and "is it done?" I've only had mine about 10 years and its been non-op for about 6 now as I rebuild it. hopefully next summer it will run.



....I always say that.

RS Chassis.:thumbsup: :thumbsup: Can't wait too see under the car.

I used to get the same thing. I would be telling people that I am working on this or that and they would just roll their eyes and move on. I finished up my el camino last summer and everyone went :wow:

Same here on the "...is it done" questions. My buddies will always ask, "Maaan, you're still working on that car?" They don't have a clue of what it takes to do a car right and give it, its proper due diligence.

Not to mention school, work, moving 2.5hrs from where your car is kept for 2 years etc.....

Funny thing is one of my good buddies just texted me this morning "I don't think your car will be done until 2023...." oh well. It'll happen when it happens.

back to the car at hand, any more pics?

some updates...

http://i594.photobucket.com/albums/t...lerighttop.jpg
http://i594.photobucket.com/albums/t...ogress/061.jpg
http://i594.photobucket.com/albums/t.../056-Copy2.jpg

will get more soon:yes:

Very Nice !

X2,:thumbsup: :thumbsup:

thanks! question, can any body help me with why some of the pictures are not showing up any more in the first posts.....?

Did you delete any of them from your photobucket account or rename them?

none deleted, or renamed. I just loaded some of them in a few days before and some have been there a while. Its a little frustrating.:willy: I don't want to have to edit and copy them back in. but I will if I have to. GRRRR.

Here's some more updates for you.... with having the Roadster Shop chassis comes having narrower frame rails. We get to stretch the inner wheel wells a little!:yes:
The down side is finding wheels, wholly !@#* the manufacturers are proud of them things!!!!:wow:
The idea was to keep the back seat in the car so that we can have our little one go on some drives with us so the rear seat is starting to be modified as well.
We cut the tunnel out and reworked it to avoid clearance issues as well.
http://i594.photobucket.com/albums/t...ogress/046.jpg
http://i594.photobucket.com/albums/t...ogress/064.jpg
http://i594.photobucket.com/albums/t...s/059-Copy.jpg

Just throwing it out there, if anybody needs a stock frame that is a roller with discs and a 12 bolt 4.10 posi there I would like to see it go to a good home. It is in Eugene, Or. Do not want to part it out.

not alot to update. there has been some discrepancies and the car has been held up in certain areas for a couple of months due to outside vendors. :faint:
It looks like the issue is solved and now the fitting of the body to the chassis can continue. I am pleased with this shop so far, the owner has kept notes and photos and keeps ME updated with progress or issues. I like that. :hail:
http://i594.photobucket.com/albums/t...ress/042-1.jpg
http://i594.photobucket.com/albums/t...ps801d2234.jpg

Glad things are getting straightened out. It's always the little thing that cause the most problems it seems.

Alright guys I figured I would pop up and post an update. It has been a couple of months. Things have been a bit crazy to say the least in the family world. I think things have settled down and can get back to some normal business.
Precision Classics is still going to town on the car. Bodywork is getting close, panels are aligned and they are ready to pull the body back off the frame and hopefully some color will start to go on real soon. I am getting anxious to see this car and get back behind the wheel again!
http://i594.photobucket.com/albums/t...psb1a39dc8.jpg
http://i594.photobucket.com/albums/t...ps699a1df1.jpg

I'm sure you may have posted this or even a rendering (thanks photobucket) what color are you planning on painting the car?

For sure with the "Photobucket" issue! Dont know why it dropped them but has done it on another site as well.:headscratch: :computer:
No real rendering done. looked at a lot of pics on the internet for good and bad ideas and to see if the colors look better on a car or not. Going to do something different with stripes since the car is "far" from factory, but still keep it somewhat clean. Nothing wild/off the wall. I am thinking more towards a sage type color. I see some newer cars with nice shades. I have had reds, black, yellow etc.

I like the Sage idea but then again I'm painting mine Ford army green also known as Jade Black. Somebody sent this rendering to me It reminded me of your car. :mock:

How about some updates?

http://i594.photobucket.com/albums/t...psb66df064.jpg

:grouphug:
Yeah I like that big girl! She works. LOL.
Not a lot to update on just the metal working stuff and small things to get it all fitted together correctly. Getting the interior fitted and mocked up as well. It seems like when ever it is ready to come back apart there is something else that needs attention. Thats good, but I am ready to see some color on this thing.For what ever reason the sage colors came to me and I liked them. I guess since I have had so many other colors this one was different.
Here is a couple of photos that will probably end up "disappearing" like some of the others..... Ugh.

http://i594.photobucket.com/albums/t...pseab3f90b.jpg
http://i594.photobucket.com/albums/t...psc41835d4.jpg
http://i594.photobucket.com/albums/t...ps589d9484.jpg
http://i594.photobucket.com/albums/t...ps427284ba.jpg

So I have been slacking in the updates lately, so I figured I would put a couple more photos up. But now have to head out of town for a couple of weeks, so I am sure the updates are going to fall behind again. Forgive me.....:drowninga:

Under hood close outs:
http://i594.photobucket.com/albums/t...pse15ee816.jpg

Back together, the wheels are just rollers, not the ones for the car. I am also thinking of getting rid of the door locks, I think it will clean it up and its not like it is ever really going to be sitting to far away from me.... opinions?

http://i594.photobucket.com/albums/t...ps4a20ef00.jpg


http://i594.photobucket.com/albums/t...ps79cc50ff.jpg

We are almost to the point of teardown again and smooth things out and get ready for some paint.....:G-Dub:

since I cant seem to get the old photos up I thought I would repost a couple.

here it is about 21 years ago when I got it
http://i594.photobucket.com/albums/t...12074532AM.jpg

when I started racing it locally
http://i594.photobucket.com/albums/t...12125011PM.jpg

At a local burnout contest.
http://i594.photobucket.com/albums/t...12124842PM.jpg

http://i594.photobucket.com/albums/t...12124646PM.jpg

This is what it looked like after sitting for years torn down. I bought a house and other things got put in front of it.
http://i594.photobucket.com/albums/t...evelle/032.jpg

Stance pics look great Chris. Gaps, body work too!

Those old pics are :thumbsup:

You asked ....... :snapout: Keep the door locks.:thumbsup:

Couldn't agree more.

:cheers:

I'd keep the door locks as well. You can always remove the outside cylinder and go with remote locks but I'd keep some sort of way to physically lock the car up.

Thanks for the input guys. The more I look at it I will probably keep them. I got rid of the locks on the El Camino since on those cars they are below a sharp body line and it cleaned it up nicely. I have a manual cable to unlock the car if need be.

Chris, I may get the :snapout: or the :lostmarbles: or the :buttkick: for this one, but I'm a bit different as you can see. Probably the :shakehead: and even the :badidea:. LOL!! But, I got rid of my door locks. My point exactly was the same as yours, the car will never be out of my sight. I say get rid of the locks. :underchair: Not out of a necessity, but because you asked and you contemplated it and I like the look of it personally. I'm not too much of a total shaved door handle guy, but like the subtle change of just the shaved locks. That may not make alot of sense to some, but it's just me. Here's a pic of my door without the locks and Kindigit door handles. Also, if your pics keep disappearing, it's probably because you edited or changed something with the pics you linked from you account to Lat-g. Once you edit or change something within your account, it won't tranfer over to where you shared the link and posted the pic. Therefore, it deletes the pic. Your account usually prompts and tells you your shared links will be deleted or lost. Thanks for the pics, engine bay close-out panels look nice. :thumbsup:

http://i1122.photobucket.com/albums/...e/DSCF0480.jpg
http://i1122.photobucket.com/albums/...lle/handle.jpg