Keith's 65 Impala Upgrade
 

A little background on Keith and his car.........In June I took the Impala Convert and went to a car show in Union Grove........when I parked I was met by some friends and we talked for a 1/2 hour......I noticed a guy standing behind my car waiting for us to finish talking.......when they left he came over and asked me if I was Ken......LOL........Ended up that Keith followed every build that is posted on this site.....We had just finished Gary's car and he knew everything about the build and knew everything about the Impala Convert also........Holy Cow.......We talked about the transformation of Gary's car and how he was in Awe of the new drivetrain over the old Big Block.......We talked about the Yenko site for about a 1/2 hour..........Fast forward about two weeks and I got to a little car show in Milwaukee and end up parking next to Keith.....He had a 65 Impala wagon at the Union Grove show but brought his 65 Impala hardtop to this show.......We got to talking and he told me he would love to duplicate the drivetrain in Gary's car in this car........Due to some Physical Limitations he was unable to complete this process himself........
To make a long story short.......Some of his friends removed the old drivetrain and parts not required and I gave him a list of parts to order and the car showed up today with the parts.........So.....Put the Pop corn on as it will be an Honor to help Keith out.......

Here is the car arriving today.....

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In addition to the LS3 480 H.P. engine and 4L70E trans.......we will be adding A/C.......new aluminum radiator....Dakota Digital VHX Gauges.......Here's a shot of the new drivetrain...........

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New Holley 302-1 Pan installed

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Stay Tuned........

Ken, thanks for being a car guy and helping out others, love the story and the pics of course. Man you otta have this LS swap down to what .... 21 hrs!

Subscribed ....

Michael

Thats great of you Ken to help a fellow car guy out! Can't wait to see the build.

Wow! What a beautiful blank canvas you have to start with there.

Good on you for helping a fellow car guy out.

Good for you Kenny!

Car looks very clean, hopefully no surprises. :thumbsup:

Ken that is so kool of u, love this hobby and its people!! 👍🍻

Cudos to Mr. Tibor
 

Very nice Ken, good luck and have fun.

Beautiful car, and its going to be a sweet runner when you guys are done. Nice deal Ken, every time I see a post from you your alway helping some one ( like me) out in some way. Kudos.

Hey you think its too late in my build for me to move out there ? lol
Keep the pictures and updates coming.

The gears started turning today......Decided to get the old heater assy out and start to get the new A/C unit installed......Had to pull the inner fender panel out and heaven forbid........I found Dust on the inner panel,.........Sheesh !!!........Had to stop and clean it before reassembly.......Got the old unit out and added a new switch to the controller along with new cables........Then I got the new unit bolted into place and decided it was time to come in from the heat and take a Nap !!!!

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I was gonna be more generous and say it would be done by Saturday.

Today was fuel Tank day.............Got the Fuel level sender set to spec along with the fuel pump.....Got the fuel lines made......Vent lines in ........and got the wires hooked up then got the tank and fuel pressure regulator installed.......When the time comes I just need to run the fuel line up to the engine........Moving along

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Nice!
 

Ken, question ... do you need to run a relay for the fuel pump or is it included with the GM fuse box? And did you run hard line or just braided line to the front, which brand do you use on all your LS swaps?

Thanks for all the knowledge, lookin great as usual,

Michael

The relay is already in the GM kit...One Wire Hook-up..............If the car has a good 3/8" steel line I will use it.......If not I use the -6 line as shown.......

Ken

Ken, thanks ... I just asked cuz I have a 3/8 fuel line but it just has a nipple on it for a slip on rubber hose w clamp. Guess I'll have to cut this off and prep it for a -6 line, yeah?

One wire hook up I likey ... thanks for the reply!

Michael

tank
 

Looking Good, who's Tank is that, Tank Inc's ? Thanks

Yes !!!!

Hard-line to AN fittings:

http://m.youtube.com/watch?v=46hFmkTGGV8

Andrew

Is it running yet..... :underchair:


T,

Nice! Hahaha.

Still very Hot and Humid here.......Got the firewall plate for the A/C installed......Got to get some more insulation wrap to finish it off.........then I decided to get the dash out so I could take it into the house (A/C) and get the Dakota Digital gauges installed.......I'll leave the dash out till I finish all the internal A/C hook ups and get the Dakota Digital control modules wired and installed.......Working room......

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Sheesh.........Look at all the Dust........

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Don't worry Keith, I'll clean it...............LOL

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man, what a great starting point for a project!

I was thinking the same thing ... I'd take a little DUST over RUST any day :confused59:

Was in the Garage today for only about a 1/2 hour.........put a header on to see if the stock oil dipstick was going to work........Fits perfect... :bigthumbup:..........Then put the adaptor plates on that the "B" body cars need........should have the engine in Tuesday/ Wednesday....

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Getting closer........But........I found more "Dirt" !!!........Sheesh.......Does it ever end...In these "B" body LS swap's......the rear trans cross member needs to get moved back 2 1/4".....so.....I cut the frame mounts out and will re-weld them in position as required upon install..........Got the engine mounts installed and also the engine and transmission harnesses........Next......Get the drivetrain in the Car......Here are some Pic's

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The Radiator showed up also

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Keep the updates rolling Ken
 

I always enjoy checking in n the progress.

Following. Can't wait to see more progress!

Moved a couple steps forward today........Got the trans cross member frame mounts cut off the frame and the frame cleaned up and ready for welding them in their new position.....and Dave and Gary stopped over to help get the engine in the car.........Got it in and installed the trans cross member , then got everything in position and Brent was there to weld the frame mounts in their new position......started to separate out all the wires and got the Headers installed........Moving along..........

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That Mac's lift plate works slick, I love mine. Did you guys bend up that frame mount part for the trans crossmember, nice job! Nice progress guys.

No......Those were the ones I cut off the frame........Just Glass Beaded them and re-welded.........

You are SUPER HUMAN!!! OMG!! Look at you go!

What a wonderful thing you're doing BTW!

See ya for GG Hall of Fame Tour buddy!

:woot:

The new Alternator showed up today.....so...I decided to get the accessory drive system installed today....Got the Alternator side finished.....started on the Compressor side and realized we didn't order the belt tensioner........Ordered one (Be here Monday).........so.....I decided to get the A/C condenser and Radiator installed.......Moving right along

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Had a little spare time today.........Got the Starter in........got the Fuel line installed up to the fuel filter on the firewall (one fitting short of finishing of course).......and believe it or not .....the Tensioner assy for the belt drive I ordered from Amazon was delivered today (Sunday).......So...I put it on and installed the compressor.....Just need to get the proper belt.......A little bit every day

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They cleaned up nice. You guys are doing some great work on this, nice and neat.

I was going to take a Break for a day and get other stuff done today........Walked into the garage and as I looked at the firewall........(LOL.....can't leave stuff alone ya' Know).......I was unhappy with one of the screws that was holding the A/C firewall plate in position.......Darn !!!........Went in the house and that dam screw was haunting me.......went back out and removed the inner fender panel again and got it fixed correctly..........and I also got all the A/C lines fit and made ........get them crimped tomorrow......

Ken ... good on you for fixing something that bugs you, it's the details that most people don't see! Car is coming along nicely, well done sir :popcorn2:

Absolutely beautiful car! Subscribed to see the progress because its looking REAL good so far! :thumbsup:

Damn it! I could have sent you my crimper set up!! Right now though - I have no clue where it is! Since selling the shop -- and Rudy took home most every tool I owned. I kept enough for one nice tool box for Gwen here at the house. Had I thought about it I should have asked on here who needed what?

Awesome job buddy!

Got the Front drive set-up finished today........Put the crimped A/C lines on and evacuated the system.....Held 30 lbs vacuum.......dug thru the box of Radiator hose pieces and was able to get a bottom hose pieced together......need to do the Auto store torture for the upper one.......the Driveshaft was finished, went and picked it up and installed it.......The old driveshaft couldn't be shortened because of the reduced diameters..........picked up heater hose parts and started on the air intake......

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Moving along............