Full Size Pro-touring???

[bucks69]

Originally Posted by TwinSting

My '65 409 Impala is semi pro-touring. It is a numbers matching car so I didnt want to cut it up or change anything I couldnt easily put back. I built it about 6 years or so ago. Built 409, Richmond 5 speed, slotted/drilled four wheel discs, air ride technologies system, Hotchkis suspension.

I wished I had seen this before I sold mine 3 years ago for pocket change.
Dammit man, That is an awesome ride....

[Radlark]

Originally Posted by TwinSting

My '65 409 Impala is semi pro-touring. It is a numbers matching car so I didnt want to cut it up or change anything I couldnt easily put back. I built it about 6 years or so ago. Built 409, Richmond 5 speed, slotted/drilled four wheel discs, air ride technologies system, Hotchkis suspension.

On your air ride are you using bags? If so how do you like the ride/handling? What hotchkis pieces are you using? And if you had to do over again would you use air ride again? Would you stay with the bags or switch to the shock waves? Thanks for your reply

[COYBILT]

Originally Posted by Tony@AirRideTech

62's have been done, In fact Doug Schults built a bitchin 62 Impala Hardtop with a fuel injected 409 about 4-5 yrs ago. 50's or 60's caddy???... Although they are complete sex... especially the 61 Cad...those damn caddy's have enough sheet metal chrome to make a Peterbuilt jealous.

I know this isn't protouring, but the car was on air and with some serious mods this car could have been. This was my brothers car when he was 18-19 and I was 13-14 at the time. When I have the envision of building a pro touring caddy it's that body style. The car was ahead of its time interms of bagged caddys at the time. (2000-2001 circa) The car was bagged, body dropped 8 inches in the trunk area,4 inches in the trans tunnel,and 2 inches in the floor. It sat on 20 inch mondera davanti's,and had two 1950 buick super grills made in two one. (13 teeth in total)

We pulled up in front of your booth in 2001 at the august west coast nationals and laid the car out and Ill never forget everyones faces. It made the company dually look like it was lifted. The air ride stuff is for a way different purpose though. Air ride is handling and going low, not laying your rockers on the ground and going dragging. The car had terrible handling and rode terrible, but I miss the car because It brought my brother and I together.

[Cread01]

I am building a 1962 chrysler imperial convertible. I almost hate to call it pro touring but it is more pro touring inspired. It is pretty rare one of 514 made so I dont want to do anything too drastic. I am looking into making up a big brake setup I would like c5 brakes but may go with some from a newer dodge daytona pickup since it is the same lug pattern. I am going to do some basic suspension mods to tighten things up. also looking into wheels and tires. I guess it would be kinda more of a retro mod if you had to call it anything. either way it's just something you dont see very many of.

[jeff s]

Originally Posted by phonedude_mln

Jeff,

How are you handling after market brakes on the stock spindles? Or
are you using a different spindle? I saw from your web site that you're
keeping the frame/suspension mostly stock (with the Nascar heritage
duly noted), but companies like Baer & Wilwood don't support galaxies.
Are you using Mustang/Granada spindles? TIA.

I'm eagerly awaiting the completion of this car!

I'm using stock spindles, we make our own one off stuff, when others don't.

[TwinSting]

Radlark- It is on bags from airride. As I said I built it about 6 or more years ago. It has the big red valves w/4 switches and large tank and compressor up on spare tire shelf in truck. It actually improved the handling over stock!! The Hotchkis stuff is upper and lower rear trailing arms and front swaybar. If I was doing it now I would probably do the shockwave if they have them for it. They are a good product.

Thanks to the rest for the nice comments.

[Radlark]

Originally Posted by TwinSting

Radlark- It is on bags from airride. As I said I built it about 6 or more years ago. It has the big red valves w/4 switches and large tank and compressor up on spare tire shelf in truck. It actually improved the handling over stock!! The Hotchkis stuff is upper and lower rear trailing arms and front swaybar. If I was doing it now I would probably do the shockwave if they have them for it. They are a good product.

Thanks to the rest for the nice comments.

Thanks for your reply I am looking to to do the shockwaves that ART have designed I am just awaiting the release of the kit.

[ironworks]

Originally Posted by pontiac65

has anyone done a 50's or 60s caddy? Or a pro touring 62 bubble top 409 chevy

We did all the fab work on a 52 caddy a few years ago with all global west stuff with coilovers and a four link. It had a ramjet 502.

We are working on a chopped 49 caddy fastback with a 2007 blown northstar with XLR suspension. It is pretty bad ass. I'm working with Fikse on some super cool wheels for it right now.

Neil Lea in Centre Alabama is doing bubble top for James Eudy, it will have an all aluminum 409 with a Procharger on it. It has a morrison chassis and it might be in Columbus this summer.

We are working on 4 67 chevelle currently or they are on the board for future work currently. So Full size Pro-touring is alive and well.

Rodger

[phonedude_mln]

Originally Posted by jeff s

I'm using stock spindles, we make our own one off stuff, when others don't.

I don't know if you could do it economically (there's just not that many galaxies),
but I have to think there would be a market for an adapter for something
common, like PBR calipers, to stock galaxie spindles.

The stock (65-67) Kelsey-Hayes 4 piston calipers are really good,
but few galaxies have the disc brake option (who wants disc brakes on
a 2 ton car?!). The common swap has traditionally been from 77-79 T-birds,
but those can't be easy to find anymore either.

While I'm ruminating... nobody makes a *easy* drop spindle for
early mustangs/fairlanes/falcons/etc. Fat Man makes a drop spindle
based on the granada, but you have to source parts from the junk yard, etc.
Not "easy".

[novanutcase]

Rodger!

Why don't you ever post pics of your truck?!? That thing is BAD@SS!!!






Cab mockup before he powdercoated the frame!



John