started back on my new old project... long

[Wissing72]

Alright everyone after lurking here for a few years I figured I would jump on and share my build
I have owned this car for about 21 years now and initially bought it to pro-street it since that was "in" and I had a friend that had one a few years earlier. After tech school and moved back to Eugene, Or.I bought the chevelle I drove it as is and moved to Nor-Cal. about a year later, I started to get into bracket racing it at our local track (samoa dragstrip)and had a blast with it.
Like most of us life has a way of changing priorities so the car was put on hold, while buying a house and building other projects and starting a family. I had been building my El Camino and sent it off to paint a few years ago and discovered what "paint jail" was all about. I found a paint shop in Eugene that a friend of mine uses, and after talking to the owner I decided the trip would be worth it.
After looking over the car and getting a plan it all went out the window....... I will try to keep this thing updated as I get time.....
here is the car shortly after I bought it. Taken Sept.1992 one of the guys at a local chassis shop called it the "calico"......

one of the many stages it was in
and another...
this was at a burnout contest in 94....

[Wissing72]

After buying a house the car just kinda sat. I tore it down and was going to paint it and get back to some racing but the budget just wouldnt allow it. I started to do other projects that were going to be a little more economical. yeah right........This was my first paint job and frame off build in driveway late 90's early 2000's I entered some shows and won, then the car show thing hooked me.


The El camino project taught me a lot of things, 1.hard as I try I cant do it all. 2. its harder now to get friends together to do some of the projects when you have a family. 3. I am learning my limits, and capability. If I want something done in a reasonable time frame it may be faster, better if I send it out. I spent many nights for months in the garage after putting my little one to bed and was worn out by the time I got the car done

[Wissing72]

I put the chevelle in storage for a few years to make room for working on my house and the out of control el camino project. I decided that it was time last year to just get this thing done and over with.
It really looked bad.

My wife agreed to get this thing done as well. So we loaded it up and took it back up to Eugene to Precision Classics and Collision. After going over it with the owner he and I discussed plans and ideas that I had.

I wanted to box the frame and put some killer suspension under it. I was for sure set on some form of LS engine and a 6 speed.

[Wissing72]

We agreed to get the frame out from under it and soda blast the car since it was torn down anyways and see what kind of mess we had gotten ourselves into.


I knew going into this thing that there was going to be a bit of metal needing replacement. A quarter and rear filler were all the body needed and the fenders were beat up from prior repairs....

[Wissing72]

After getting into the bodywork, the frame was looked over and measured etc. It wasn't too bad but will need some work. The idea came to mind that if I am boxing the frame and adding all of the suspension, what is the pro's and con's of just setting it aside and putting an after market chassis under it. I started looking into them and reading what others have done and gone through modding the original chassis. Keeping in mind that the work to do one is labor intensive and the other is more of a bolt in (though not totally). What to do.
We decided the way to go was with an after market chassis, so we called Roadster Shop and had one sent out to us. Man that thing is a work of art! This car is going to go way beyond what I ever thought it would be, I had only dreamed about this.

[FETorino]

Originally Posted by gmtech921

After getting into the bodywork, the frame was looked over and measured etc. It wasn't too bad but will need some work. The idea came to mind that if I am boxing the frame and adding all of the suspension, what is the pro's and con's of just setting it aside and putting an after market chassis under it. I started looking into them and reading what others have done and gone through modding the original chassis. Keeping in mind that the work to do one is labor intensive and the other is more of a bolt in (though not totally). What to do.
We decided the way to go was with an after market chassis, so we called Roadster Shop and had one sent out to us. Man that thing is a work of art! This car is going to go way beyond what I ever thought it would be, I had only dreamed about this.

Hell yea now you're cooking with gas.....

What are you doing for a drivetrain? Another big block or something else?

The body looks like a pretty good starting point.

[214Chevy]

Say bro, I see you ain't messing around since you're going with an RS chassis. Niiiiiiice!! Keep us posted and thanks for bringing another Chevelle to the board. I'm suscribed.

[Wissing72]

Originally Posted by FETorino

Hell yea now you're cooking with gas.....

Thanks!!

What are you doing for a drivetrain? Another big block or something else?

I have a couple of big blocks that I considered, and the small block that came out of it but I decided to go with an LS and a 6 speed

The body looks like a pretty good starting point.

The body was pretty good, it was somewhat preserved by being in storage and torn down for 15 years

[Wissing72]

Originally Posted by 214Chevelle

Say bro, I see you ain't messing around since you're going with an RS chassis. Niiiiiiice!! Keep us posted and thanks for bringing another Chevelle to the board. I'm suscribed.

thanks! I am done with messing around I want the car done. I have spent sooo many years on other projects and I get burned out and start back on them etc. I am glad there is enough aftermarket support out there now for these cars. I have been collecting stuff for years that I can now use and/or get rid of.

[Royalworks]

Very nice on the chassis. I can see this car turning out amazing.