Project "G-Velle", Pro-touring with patina
 

I've come to like this site over some others. The crowd seems smaller, more focused and of course, way easier going :D

Some of you may have already seen my project, a 65 Chevelle Mailbu on Team Chevelle (link in my sig). I think my project scope fits a little better here than there. There is a lot of purist/numbers matching guys there, which is fine. Any way, not gonna start from the beginning, but from where I am now. Had all kinds of paint ideas until I heard numbers like $18-20k+, so that's where the "patina" part comes in. Those that have seen it in person say leave it, so for now anyways, it's staying the way it is.

Like many stories elsewhere, the direction has not changed, but has been tweaked here and there. Trying to stay the course that I originally set out with, so far so good.
Some project goals:
-Have a reliable, daily driver that can be driven anywhere and knock down 20+mpg
-Have a nostalgic look with more modern performance
-Be able to be flogged on an autocross course and smaller roadcourses

Some highlights so far:
-picked up a 64k mile 65 Malibu, grandpa gold (Sierra Tan) with a white top, 194 inline and a powerglide. Craigslist find that was in NJ.
-Notch rear framerails and box main rails of frame for wider tires and more torsional stiffness.
-Minitub rear, +2" per side
-Source a LS1 and T56, bought a buddy's WS6 T/A and parted it out for that
-All new front and rear suspension, ABC Performance front lowers and rear uppers and lowers
-Ridetech Triple Adjustables around
-Rick's tank, Holley billet fuel pump
-DTS 9" ford, Truetrac, 31 spline, 3.70, -3" width
-Dynotech 3.5" aluminum prop shaft
-245/40-18 Fronts on 8.5" Forgeline RB3C's
-295/35-18 Rears on 10.5" Forgeline RB3c's

There are lots of other details of course, those are the bigger ones. So I hope someone finds something they like. I'm pretty excited about it. I have an approaching goal to have it going by: Motorstate Challenge here in MI...countdown today says 42 days :hairpullout:

I'll start where it is today, then add some pics along the build. If you want to see the whole story, head over to TC.
Pics, took this the other night:
http://i1207.photobucket.com/albums/...ps16923291.jpg

Here is what it looked like before I blew it back apart to nut and bolt everything:
http://i1207.photobucket.com/albums/...7414571653.jpg
Some of the motor/trans (basic LS1 rebuild, small cam, intake, Holley HP)
http://i1207.photobucket.com/albums/...1216940217.jpg
Some more of it on the chassis:
http://i1207.photobucket.com/albums/...7355031647.jpg
Sitting a bit high, but I'll take care of that :whenitsdone:
http://i1207.photobucket.com/albums/...7355024048.jpg

I'll post up some pics of parts that I made next.
Let me know what you guys think!

I'm a fan of the "grandpa gold" and white. I like how it looks and the wheels tie it together. 42 days.....:lmao:

j/k. Good luck, keep up with the pictures.

Little stingy on the details.... you crunched for time or something???? No time to post it all up?

:popcorn2:

Looks like a really nice platform to start with and I'm not seeing much patina. I personally love the patina look.... pure wabi-sabi

Yeah I've seen the. The patina is pretty limited. It's a sharp looking car and the wheels look awesome on it. Lot's of cool details over on TC to check out and I'm looking forward to seeing this one done next month. :thumbsup:

You've come to the right place. Welcome.

Great looking project. :thumbsup:

I know, I know :drowninga:

hey now, I don't see a certain 'bird up on a frame table yet :poke:
Oh, it looks better in pictures. Still, a very solid 48 year old girl. Still has a lot of the original paint and some that's not. Interior is all there and original minus the bench seat. Using the T/A bucket seats. Some day I'll recover them to go with the saddle interior.

Thank you for the welcome :grouphug: Great to be here officially

Yea,I've seen this chevelle some where before.It's Ok if like that really cool Blue headed,patina-ed sort-a-thing.:lol: I really like that look.

Custom parts
 

Some of the custom machined parts I made:
Splined sway bar arms:
http://i1207.photobucket.com/albums/...ps74d34d68.jpg
Billet dust caps to fit under the Forgeline center caps.
http://i1207.photobucket.com/albums/...psb309478c.jpg
Splined front sway bar mounts with Delrin bushings
http://i1207.photobucket.com/albums/...3351297985.jpg
http://i1207.photobucket.com/albums/...3351309208.jpg
Bar ends for the harness bar (:whistling:)
http://i1207.photobucket.com/albums/...ps5486269b.jpg
http://i1207.photobucket.com/albums/...ps87c5e20d.jpg
http://i1207.photobucket.com/albums/...ps13f22226.jpg
Billet coil mounts to attach them to the firewall
http://i1207.photobucket.com/albums/...ps7eca0812.jpg
Billet clutch master cylinder mount
http://i1207.photobucket.com/albums/...7685675995.jpg
Custom front accessory drive brackets, more on this later
http://i1207.photobucket.com/albums/...2054962846.jpg
http://i1207.photobucket.com/albums/...psfaa92d62.jpg
Brake distribution block for front/rear split. Bent all brake and fuel lines in stainless too:
http://i1207.photobucket.com/albums/...-42-14_906.jpg
http://i1207.photobucket.com/albums/...1128870632.jpg
There's more, but I lost a bunch of pics...grr. I'll post up more as I get it back together.

Thanks for all the comments :thumbsup:

^ that is NIIIICE!

Your roll bar ends look like n*****s. :lol:

That's what she said ^ lol. That may or may not have been intentional... Thanks Ron.

Big fan of Dead Pool. Is it done yet :bitchslap:

Thanks Aaron!

(not done yet :bump:)

Quite a nice project you have there, Aaron.

Nice Aaron, glad you finally posted it on here! Sweet ride for sure! I'll be up in you area Saturday picking up my new project.

Thanks guys.
Yah, I think his place is about 45 mins or so from here. Looks like a nice solid car, good luck on the trip!

What I started with
 

Thought I'd post a few pics of what I started with. Found it on CL, it was a second owner 64k mile car. The second owner only had it for less than 6 months. He was in his late 60's and was what I'd call a tinkerer. Had a little shop in his garage where he could spritz up a few areas and try to make a few bucks on a sale. Unfortunately, he threw a little "fudge" as he called it, over some rust and sprayed over it. Both front fenders need lower patches as did both lower quarter panels and the trunk pan was full of pinholes. The floor pans are very solid though.
http://i1207.photobucket.com/albums/...-02-31_348.jpg
http://i1207.photobucket.com/albums/...-17-38_246.jpg
http://i1207.photobucket.com/albums/...-18-13_212.jpg

This is pretty cool.I spends hours on craigs list,ebay.I cant seem to find something like this.Great find.Cool project.

I usually don't spend any time on either of them. One day I decided to look for a cleaner body to start with than the one I had. This was one of the first that popped up. Drove 930 miles with a tow dolly to get it. The night before I got to NJ, a guy stopped by with cash in hand. The owner refused to sell it because I was in route from MI. Glad he kept his word to me. Still some good people out there.

Looks like you made a bunch of parts that solved quite a few problems for a lot of folks.

About time you put it on here Aaron. Looking real good bro. I love the RBC3's too. Suits the car just fine. :Tomcat:

:hello:I followed you over on Team Chevelle and I'll follow you here also :lol:
Awesome build! Hopefully some day I can do the same things to mine and maybe I could hit you up with making some parts for my 65':unibrow:
Can't wait to see more.

Thanks Marcus. I love the wheels too, couldn't be happier.

Good to see you over here too Todd.

Made some forward progress finally, chassis is going back together. Hope to have it buttoned up today then on to the body side that needs some attention.
http://i1207.photobucket.com/albums/...psf3d3f159.jpg

Did you reinforcing the the panel where this mounts? I could imagine this eventually tearing the sheet metal. Im looking into doing something similar for a harness bar in mine.

http://i1207.photobucket.com/albums/...ps87c5e20d.jpg

Chris, I looked for a picture without the interior panel on but must not have taken one. Here is one that shows the 1/4" thick plate that has the tapped holes to mount the bar to. I drilled clearance holes in the sheetmetal for the bolts to pass thru the 1/4" plate for full thread engagement. It is perimeter welded to the inner structure. Where I positioned it, Is where multiple layers are welded together right inline where the door striker is. The bar is rock solid, didn't think it would be as rigid as it is myself.
http://i1207.photobucket.com/albums/...ps3ae4bc86.jpg


The mounts I used are from B&B Classics
Hope that helps.

That'll work. Thanks for the description.

Are you using the ABC Performance mini tub kit? They advertise using 315 wide tires and I see your running a 295. What's the deal on that?
Thanks

Todd, here's the deal: The only part of the ABC kit are the tubs themselves. I notched the frame rails on my chassis before the frame kit was available. When I did mine I went 1.5" per side instead of the 2" that Tony's kit calls for. Therefore the difference 295 to 315. I'm pretty sure I could fit 305's as it is, but went with the tires (used) for now as I got a great deal on them.
So the inner wheel tubs actually are over the frame rails about 1/2". So if someday I ever to another chassis, I could go narrower on the rails and get to the 315.

Thanks for the explanation, now I get it. Your frame is still bad azz. I will probably be doing the ABC kit since I don't think I will be able to fund a Roadster Shop chassis:G-Dub:

Update: I know it didn't happen without pictures, but you'll have to trust me on this one: got the floor pan cleaned up and coated with some rust prep and rattle can low gloss black. Looks pretty good, but all but impossible to photograph when its 2-1/2' off the floor...I still can't feel my arms from that job Anyway, it's checked off the list

So, on to throwing it back together. Need one more quart of diff fluid then put the chassis back under the bod to get it back to a roller. Can't wait to push it outside so I can clean the shop!



Hopefully pics in a few days.

Awesome build.Will you be at Indy GG's.

Yes, I'm planning on Indy Scott. Is the 66 with the bbq on the back gonna be there? :drool:
The other event would be the Ohio Musclecar Challenge. Went last year with my 4th gen and had a blast. It's at a different place this year as they lost the parking lot they had it. Wish I could get to RTMC in Nashville, but that is during crunch time for Motorstate.

Well, not the story I wanted to end the weekend with. But in an effort of "keeping it real" I have put pride to the side and decided to show what happens when you change one thing...and don't recheck everything!

Saturday morning I was excited to roll the chassis outside to take a few glamour shots before putting it in its final resting place and getting abused and blasted with road debris.

Here is how it looks in the morning sun all put together:
http://i1207.photobucket.com/albums/...ps0498aa32.jpg

http://i1207.photobucket.com/albums/...ps69d379dc.jpg

Then, no idea how I didn't see this before, tried to turn the wheels to the left and the inner tierod hits the oil pan I spent so much time mocking this all up too. The only thing I change was moving the motor forward 5/8" to create more clearance between the ps cylinder head and the firewall. When I did all my clearance checks it was in the rearward position. Never crossed my mind to confirm clearance again

Anyway after some head scratching, procrastination, and deliberation. Maybe a beer in there somewhere..it looked like this Saturday just after lunch:
http://i1207.photobucket.com/albums/...ps9a9b23cc.jpg

Then to the Bridgeport:
http://i1207.photobucket.com/albums/...ps3f1ff4b3.jpg

Then whittled out a closeout piece to be welded in. Doesn't look like much, but gained just over 5/8" clearance:
http://i1207.photobucket.com/albums/...ps06d3586e.jpg

So that's where it's at. Didn't need that setback, but I'm sure there'll be more no doubt.

I'm glad you found that before you put the body back on. Car is coming together nicely none the less.

The 66 might be there.But I dont think I will get The bar-b-q finished by then.

Finally a little forward progress. Got the oil pan back on and motor/trans back in. Got home to no electricity last night (again), so I proceeded to drop the body back on the frame using the braille method... Just about ready call it a night and the power came back on so I got it all squared up and fastened down. Here is the latest pic.
http://i1207.photobucket.com/albums/...psd9caa34a.jpg

Our power go's out almost everytime it rain's.Chevelle is lookin good.:thumbsup: :thumbsup:

That's a great night in the shop Aaron!! Bin lucky here with all the rain only lost power for a few minutes.

Hehe, it goes out here when the wind blows over 15. Gotta love modern technology.
Thanks guys.

Pretty big update for Project G-Velle. "Thee" Chevelle guru from Mooresville Indiana is in the house cracking the whip

Mr. Tom Farrington graciously made the five hour trip to MI to help me do some thrashing on the car and man have we nocked the list down. Unfortunately, most of the things we got done weren't even on the list so you didn't get the satisfaction of marking them off the list Oh well, stuff needed to get done.

We are getting scary close to lighting it up. Of course there are some hurdles before we get there, but if the wind blows right tomorrow, we'll try to fire it. I had a personal goal of having it running by the Fourth of July, so right on schedule. He's heading home tomorrow and I'm sure he'd love to see it run as much as I do before he goes.

I can't even begin to thank Tom for his time and experience (and tools and supplies) he brings with him. He says he's paying me back for helping him on his 66 a few months back...I think I owe him now. Super friend.

Here is where we left it when we came in tonight, enjoy. You bet I'll have something up when it comes to life . Wish us luck guys.
http://i1207.photobucket.com/albums/...ps18d122d2.jpg
http://i1207.photobucket.com/albums/...psb608ac2d.jpg
http://i1207.photobucket.com/albums/...ps07ee26f3.jpg
http://i1207.photobucket.com/albums/...ps0d8c6e68.jpg

Looking great Aaron
Motorstate ?
Hope to see ya there :thumbsup: