|
'67 Chevy II Project
I've said that this will be a race capable street street car --or the other way around...not sure.
The plan is pretty standard. DSE Catalog for Chevy II LS powertrain TBD T56 Magnum and other drivetrain goodies from Bowler C6Z06 brakes to start with Pretty stripped down minimal interior Full Cage Blah, blah, blah I bought the car for really cheap, knowing fully that it was a beat up, rusty old drag car from the midwest and would need just about every panel...but it was cheap and I like to do fab work, so here we go. Here is what I started with. https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.n...52232543_o.jpg |
Here it is when I brought it home and started to tear into it --- it was even more rusty than I thought.........are they ever less rusty?
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-f...74148919_n.jpg https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-V...72977222_n.jpg Let the tear down begin https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-w...52317837_n.jpg |
Forklift is a must have for working by yourself!! ;)
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-f...24604650_n.jpg Skip over a bunch of pictures of me simply documenting how rusty it is and here it is on the nice frame table that Billy from B&B Classics hooked me up with. https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-s...43384009_n.jpg |
Bracing up the body
Here are few of the bracing I started with on the body. Not the prettiest tubing, but I had it laying around.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-6...72200307_n.jpg |
Rear framerail locators (these will be needed later) and help support the body.
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-E...03481735_n.jpg Supporting it as the rockers so that I can start removing the floors. https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-p...72907355_n.jpg |
Floors after I got to them with the plasma cutter.
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-c...35202549_n.jpg Fitting up some 2X5" 1/8" wall tubing that will be tied into the inner rockers (new inner and outer rockers). This is an idea that I blatantly stole from DSE. They did this on Cheryl Herrick's car. https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-q...15723016_n.jpg |
Just more fitting.........
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-b...89302050_n.jpg More Bracing. https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-p...46741608_n.jpg |
I won't bore you with pictures of all of the replacement panels - you'll get to see them eventually (I hope) once I get them on the car.
Door all fitted and gaps aligned etc.... then the rockers were removed. https://scontent-b-ord.xx.fbcdn.net/...87433122_n.jpg Quarters rough cut out. https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-d...93497410_n.jpg Another brace and some locator bushings for the front of the framerails (sorry about my finger in the picture). I don't know why, but some Facebook pictures will not link correctly........... arghhhh https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.n...aca98437ed60bb |
starting to remove some of the cowl --- - -- need to get back to focusing on one part of the car at the time.....so I will soon me back to focusing on the rockers and rear...
Also, notice the locator dowel for the lower fender bolt. I'll be remaking that part and wanted to make sure be able to locate it properly! https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-b...85493748_n.jpg New inner rockers that Dad had bent up for me. https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-g...10608744_n.jpg |
Lining up the rocker panel - the inner rockers that we made were plug welded to the new Dynacorn rockers, then drilled again (between welds) so that I could plug weld the pinch weld to the 2X5 tubing. BTW..I bought some Roper Whitney punches for punching holes to plug weld - -way nicer than drilling them.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/--...49525463_n.jpg Clamping and fitting with some sheet metal screws, C-clamps, ratchet strap, whatever it takes! Dad found and old frame spec book for these cars so we've been checking everything as we go. This car was dead on so far, which is surprising since it was so rusty and beat up. https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-y...26942027_n.jpg |
Welding the rocker in.
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-L...61586659_n.jpg |
Capped off the front of the rocker and started a mockup for the front lower fender mount.
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-H...00564416_n.jpg |
Added some additional locators for the framerails.
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-i...06127640_n.jpg https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-D...14396104_n.jpg And -- gone is the back of the car!!! ;) https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-Z...91011945_n.jpg |
Test fitting the rails.
https://scontent-b-ord.xx.fbcdn.net/...12791801_n.jpg I also test fit the trunk pan. All of this stuff will be fitted a bunch of times with screws and clecos before any welding is done. Also - to note: the doors were filled to the old quarters prior to final removing them at the factory spot welds and won't be removed until the new quarters are fitted. |
Woo Hoo! DSE Parts!
It's not much of a secret that I'm a big fan of DSE's stuff, so I was happy to finally be able to put my money where my mouth is and buy some parts from them.
Basically everything with the exception of headers and a fuel tank - I'll get that later. https://scontent-a-ord.xx.fbcdn.net/...25832774_n.jpg https://scontent-a-ord.xx.fbcdn.net/...32800160_n.jpg SKF bearing upgrade. https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.n...29535352_n.jpg I won't bore you with too many pictures of their parts, but it suffices to say they are like pieces are art -- -nice stuff! |
OK - - a couple more pics of my favorite part!
I find myself just staring at this housing from to time - - Love it! https://scontent-a-ord.xx.fbcdn.net/...08810048_n.jpg https://scontent-a-ord.xx.fbcdn.net/...98373688_n.jpg The welds are just plain pretty! https://scontent-a-ord.xx.fbcdn.net/...61611439_n.jpg |
Back to drilling spot welds.
https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.n...09071224_n.jpg https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.n...78310612_n.jpg This pretty well catches up to where I am today. Next steps are to fit up the quarters and tail panel. I'll probably post pictures in slugs like this - -I get busy with work (my real job) and trying to keep this project going....and I have a family, and other hobbies. If you want to see any specific pictures, ask - I probably have them. I just tried to grab the highlights so far. |
Wow!
Hell of a first post. Nice start, nice parts, nice shop, nice Suburban. Posts like that, it will only take about 4 to :gitrdun: |
Thanks! I've been posting pics on Facebook and a few people have been bugging me to start a thread. I'm pretty pleased with the progress considering I hauled it to my house on March 27th of this year and for the most part, I'm a one man show working on it after the kids go to bed. Dad has been a huge help - he's been doing body work for - - -well, let's just say a long time! He's my consultant!
|
Quote:
|
I don't know Brandon --- I can't put my finger on it --- but something is MISSING.... I'm sure you'll find it. LOL
Some of the rocker welds aren't within tolerance... one or two of them is more that 10/1000th's longer than the others. Just sayin' I love 66/67 Novas so glad to see you building this one! |
Wow, man I am really jealous of the shop! Looks like you know what you're doing can't wait to see more progress. Keep up the hard work and don't be skipping on pictures that's the best part. :lol:
If you're doing the quadralink you might as well remove those transport tie downs from the frame rails. That job will be much easier on the bench. |
Quote:
I thought you would get a kick out of this. You have to love good ole 1960's era manufacturing consistency. When I was removing the quarter panels around the latch area I found 0 (yes zero) spot welds at or above the latch on the passenger's side. On the driver's side, I found 12. My 5 year old was out there with me when I was drilling them out and she asked, "why didn't they do both sides the same?"..... All I could say was - good question honey! |
Quote:
|
Cool project Brandon! :thumbsup:
|
Modern wolf in sheeps clothing
Wow, that is a labor of love. Those Nova's (66/67) are true classics but their handling was so bad that when I was 10 and riding around with my grandmother I asked her what was wrong with the car? She asked me What do you mean? I said, the front's twitchy and the car leans when you turn the corners. She laughed and said that it was normal. But now you're going to have a classic with all the modern trimmings. And the scope of what you're doing is impressive. But that frame table looks like the right tool for the job.
Best wishes on reaching your goal. Rod |
looking good brandon!!
roof going too? |
Quote:
https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.n...77351760_n.jpg |
Making great progress Brandon! You know I'm a sucker for those cars! :thumbsup:
If you or your dad need anything be sure to let us know. Good catching up in Columbus, Talk with you soon. |
Thanks Paul - -it's always great to catch up with you and your Dad. I like picking your brain on stuff!
|
:lostmarbles:
:lol: Can't wait to see you driving it!! |
Can't wait to see more. Let us know how the transition to the a pillar is please. I'm gonna be doing a re body on a 66 next year and I wanna see how that sheet metal fits.
|
Brandon,
You, sir, are a brave man! Glad to see you saving this Nova and making a cool ride out of it! Please work faster and keep the pics coming!!!!! --Eric |
The progress looks great! I bet it will perform great with all of the DSE stuff.
|
Awesome project, and a great read. I'll be watching for more updates. Subscribed !
|
Quote:
|
Awsome project and what a clean shop you have!
|
Quote:
|
What housing ends are on your rear end?
|
They are a set that I was lucky enough to get from Mark Stielow.
Here is a link to the thread where he discusses them. https://lateral-g.net/forums/show...les#post423039 |
| All times are GMT -7. The time now is 08:42 AM. |
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2026, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Copyright Lateral-g.net