Can you truly make a ‘69 Chevelle drive smooth/tight/new??? - Lateral-g Forums

Che70velle · #1 10-21-2021, 07:21 PM

You can get the car to drive and handle very good. Really the answer to your question boils down to your budget. It’s not a cheap endeavor by any means.

**214Chevy** · #2 10-22-2021, 12:53 PM

What everyone else said...yes you can. But, easily plan on and expect a 6-figure build budget.

ScotI · #3 10-22-2021, 02:45 PM

This guys take.....

Depending on how resourceful one is, I'd bet you'd be hard pressed to build a 'nice' (good starting point) early Chevelle w/an updated drivetrain, chassis, brakes, wheels & tires for less than what the current car is valued at. The current car can also be insured to drive anywhere, anytime, & it's ok for them to be outside overnight. 'Classics' will possibly be limited or costly to insure depending on how/when it's used so that's more to consider.

My stuff isn't special but they also aren't cookie-cutter stock either ('78 Malibu lowered/stock vibe; 89 Chevy lowered/bagged OE/stock looking patina-paint CC dually; '64 Chevy patina swb pick-up w/a fairly modified C/O equipped chassis). Not nearly as nice as many of the rides on here but they're still 'nice'. I'm scared to drive them anywhere that I can't keep eyes on them when doing overnight car events.

67-ls1 · #4 10-22-2021, 10:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 214Chevy

What everyone else said...yes you can. But, easily plan on and expect a 6-figure build budget.

6 figures? I can see it if you want a show car/trailer queen but not for something you drive everyday or if you pay someone to build it for you.
I’m in my car around $40k but it’s a 10 footer that I drive everywhere. Grocery shopping, hardware store, I mean everywhere.

**214Chevy** · #5 10-23-2021, 06:14 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 67-ls1

6 figures? I can see it if you want a show car/trailer queen but not for something you drive everyday or if you pay someone to build it for you.
I’m in my car around $40k but it’s a 10 footer that I drive everywhere. Grocery shopping, hardware store, I mean everywhere.

Ok, maybe I should've said "upwards" of $100k. Of course there are variables in the equation to bring the price down...doing his own work, etc. But, we all know if you want a car that drives super nice, you can't cut corners and have to have some nice aftermarket parts from reputable manufactures which isn't cheap. Stock parts from 50 years ago just aren't going to cut it. Nothing wrong with stock, but the OP stated he wanted a car that drives like "new." That's what I'm basing it off of. It's all subjective though. But, my impression was he wants a car very similar to his late model Camaro and to me that's a nearly 6-figure build including the price of buying a nice donor and not a basket case for $5k that's a rust bucket to start with. Those type of cars already net $10k-$15k in parts and labor with metal replacement from the jump if you have a poor/raggedy car to start with.