Bigbore's Chevelle - a resurrection

[Bigbore500r]

Made some more progress on the car over the past month. Stripped the interior, emptied the trunk. Floor pans are still solid, save for a spot under the rear seat that's gonna need a patch panel. Trunk for the most part is solid, but theres a few spots to handle. The rear window area and package tray are gonna need some rust repair, typical of these A bodies. Overall, better than expected.

My plan has shifted - gonna get the car drivable and mechanically dialed in , buff it out the best I can, and drive it for a bit before taking it apart for paint and full interior. Will put some new carpet in it and get the seats re-done for now.

Interior removal day...

Cleaning, scraping and more cleaning....

Washed it twice, lots of elbow grease and scrubbing......
Got the mother's power ball out and polished the aluminum wheels. New tires for the front skinnies.....165/80R15 baby!

Talk about polishing a turd......started buffing the 20 year old oxidized red paint out to see if we can get some shine out of it for the time being. Spend 2 hours on 1/2 the trunk lid trying a few things, just the tip of the iceberg....

 

[Bigbore500r]

Motor is coming along, got reproduction pulleys and brackets for the accessories. Waiting for the Stewart water pump and thermostat so I can button it up 100%. Still need to pre-soak the roller lifters, re-install and then seal the intake down, and set lifter preload. Will do that before we are ready to drop it in and fire, gonna be a little bit before the fun part happens.

Not crazy about the chrome alternator but it's a high-output powermaster unit and I already have it laying around, so.....on it goes!

Going for that "mostly factory with a little spice" look....

My sons favorite part . . . application of the sticker! lol

 

[69hondo]

Motor is coming along, got reproduction pulleys and brackets for the accessories. Waiting for the Stewart water pump and thermostat so I can button it up 100%. Still need to pre-soak the roller lifters, re-install and then seal the intake down, and set lifter preload. Will do that before we are ready to drop it in and fire, gonna be a little bit before the fun part happens.

Not crazy about the chrome alternator but it's a high-output powermaster unit and I already have it laying around, so.....on it goes!

Going for that "mostly factory with a little spice" look....

View attachment 1246861

My sons favorite part . . . application of the sticker! lol

Airgap is not "mostly factory"

 

[Bigbore500r]

Airgap is not "mostly factory"

But its orange, what are you talking about? And look at those short little valve covers....nothing to see here move along

 

[Cole Trickle]

I dig the fact that your son seems legit pumped on the cars and helping out!!

 

[HBCraig]

Made some more progress on the car over the past month. Stripped the interior, emptied the trunk. Floor pans are still solid, save for a spot under the rear seat that's gonna need a patch panel. Trunk for the most part is solid, but theres a few spots to handle. The rear window area and package tray are gonna need some rust repair, typical of these A bodies. Overall, better than expected.

My plan has shifted - gonna get the car drivable and mechanically dialed in , buff it out the best I can, and drive it for a bit before taking it apart for paint and full interior. Will put some new carpet in it and get the seats re-done for now.

Interior removal day...

Cleaning, scraping and more cleaning....

Washed it twice, lots of elbow grease and scrubbing......
Got the mother's power ball out and polished the aluminum wheels. New tires for the front skinnies.....165/80R15 baby!

Talk about polishing a turd......started buffing the 20 year old oxidized red paint out to see if we can get some shine out of it for the time being. Spend 2 hours on 1/2 the trunk lid trying a few things, just the tip of the iceberg....

Are the rims Weld Dragstars?

 

[YoPengo]

Badass... I miss my 71SS.

 

[Willie B]

…Very cool indeed…keep on goin…

 

[HubbaHubbaLife]

Made some more progress on the car over the past month. Stripped the interior, emptied the trunk. Floor pans are still solid, save for a spot under the rear seat that's gonna need a patch panel. Trunk for the most part is solid, but theres a few spots to handle. The rear window area and package tray are gonna need some rust repair, typical of these A bodies. Overall, better than expected.

My plan has shifted - gonna get the car drivable and mechanically dialed in , buff it out the best I can, and drive it for a bit before taking it apart for paint and full interior. Will put some new carpet in it and get the seats re-done for now.

Interior removal day...

Cleaning, scraping and more cleaning....

Washed it twice, lots of elbow grease and scrubbing......
Got the mother's power ball out and polished the aluminum wheels. New tires for the front skinnies.....165/80R15 baby!

Talk about polishing a turd......started buffing the 20 year old oxidized red paint out to see if we can get some shine out of it for the time being. Spend 2 hours on 1/2 the trunk lid trying a few things, just the tip of the iceberg....

Love to know your specific process on bringing back that 20 yr old oxidized paint.... I'll need step by step please so I can instruct my guy. He needs help. Thanks!

 

[Bigbore500r]

Are the rims Weld Dragstars?

They are the Cragar version, almost identical. Aluminum

 

[Sharp Shooter]

Airgap is not "mostly factory"

Right, this is factory! No serpentine, vintage air or hydroboost. Looks great big bore!

 

[Bigbore500r]

Love to know your specific process on bringing back that 20 yr old oxidized paint.... I'll need step by step please so I can instruct my guy. He needs help. Thanks!

Heres what I did -

I used the Harbor Freight "long throw" DA polisher -

7.5 Amp, 6 in. Long-Throw Random Orbit DA Polisher

Amazing deals on this 20Mm Random Orbit 6In Da Polisher/Sander at Harbor Freight. Quality tools & low prices.

www.harborfreight.com

And got the Bauer polishing pads from Harbor freight (link to pads)

Harbor Freight Tools – Quality Tools at Discount Prices Since 1977

Harbor Freight buys their top quality tools from the same factories that supply our competitors. We cut out the middleman and pass the savings to you!

www.harborfreight.com

If the paint is very oxidized, rough and needs serious correction (like mine) - you can start off with the Coarse pad, and work your way toward the fine pad with a buffing / rubbing compound. Wipe off the hazed compound in between pad changes and re-apply more compound. I looked for uniform sheen / improvement before changing to the next pad - if it looks splotchy, I hit it again with the same pad until it looked uniform and I didn't see any further improvement. Keep in mind the coarse pad is pretty aggressive, watch the edges of fenders and body lines. It's not as crazy as a wool pad or color sanding, but it's pretty coarse. That's what makes it work though, and saves time and sweat.

For compound to use with the first 3 pads (Coarse, Medium, Fine) - I used Maguire's "ultimate" compound.
There's more aggressive compounds out there, and probably some better stuff, but this is what i had:

Meguiar's® Ultimate Compound, G17216, 15.2 oz., Liquid | Meguiar's

www.meguiars.com

After working it down to the Fine polishing pad with the Ultimate compound, and no further improvement, I swapped to the "Ultra Fine" pad and hit it with Meguires polishing / glaze compound:

https://www.autozone.com/wash-cleaners-and-exterior-care-products/polish/p/meguiar-s-ultimate-polish-16oz/164697_0_0?spps.s=3316&cmpid=LIA:US:EN:AD:NL:1000000:GEN:19502231967&&CATARGETID=120054150001286690&CADevice=c&gclid=Cj0KCQjwtO-kBhDIARIsAL6LordPBonky0OemEsKsbWhs_MnplxUwPGBOmGnTSoYXqAYaekTILJIZRMaAitPEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

Once all of that was done - I applied turtle wax ceramic wax. The Maguire's polish is not a sealer, and recommends a sealer wax be applied after.
This turtle wax says it is both a polish / sealer wax hybrid - you possibly could just use this with the ultra-fine pad and skip the megafires polish step above, but I have not tried it without the Meguires polish yet. Might we worth a try to skip a step and see if you get the same results.
I applied this with the ultra-fine pad, higher RPM, and then buffed it off once hazed.

https://www.amazon.com/Turtle-Wax-53412-Solutions-Ceramic/dp/B07XYPS3PV/ref=asc_df_B07XYPS3PV/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=385383050365&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=9851281688771600135&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9031150&hvtargid=pla-846457927657&psc=1&tag=&ref=&adgrpid=84218104048&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvadid=385383050365&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=9851281688771600135&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9031150&hvtargid=pla-846457927657

Now to do the whole car......lol

 

[Terminal Velocity]

Right, this is factory! No serpentine, vintage air or hydroboost. Looks great big bore!


View attachment 1246916

If that's yours, and it's a current picture. That ain't no 396

 

[Bigbore500r]

Right, this is factory! No serpentine, vintage air or hydroboost. Looks great big bore!


View attachment 1246916

You got power brakes? Lucky!

 

[LargeOrangeFont]

Right, this is factory! No serpentine, vintage air or hydroboost. Looks great big bore!


View attachment 1246916

Look at all that soul under the hood

 

[69hondo]

You got power brakes? Lucky!

Shit, mine still has drum up front. I bought a disc brake conversion kit with 2" spindles like ten years ago and still haven't installed.

 

[HubbaHubbaLife]

Heres what I did -

I used the Harbor Freight "long throw" DA polisher -

7.5 Amp, 6 in. Long-Throw Random Orbit DA Polisher

Amazing deals on this 20Mm Random Orbit 6In Da Polisher/Sander at Harbor Freight. Quality tools & low prices.

www.harborfreight.com

And got the Bauer polishing pads from Harbor freight (link to pads)

Harbor Freight Tools – Quality Tools at Discount Prices Since 1977

Harbor Freight buys their top quality tools from the same factories that supply our competitors. We cut out the middleman and pass the savings to you!

www.harborfreight.com

If the paint is very oxidized, rough and needs serious correction (like mine) - you can start off with the Coarse pad, and work your way toward the fine pad with a buffing / rubbing compound. Wipe off the hazed compound in between pad changes and re-apply more compound. I looked for uniform sheen / improvement before changing to the next pad - if it looks splotchy, I hit it again with the same pad until it looked uniform and I didn't see any further improvement. Keep in mind the coarse pad is pretty aggressive, watch the edges of fenders and body lines. It's not as crazy as a wool pad or color sanding, but it's pretty coarse. That's what makes it work though, and saves time and sweat.

For compound to use with the first 3 pads (Coarse, Medium, Fine) - I used Maguire's "ultimate" compound.
There's more aggressive compounds out there, and probably some better stuff, but this is what i had:

Meguiar's® Ultimate Compound, G17216, 15.2 oz., Liquid | Meguiar's

www.meguiars.com

After working it down to the Fine polishing pad with the Ultimate compound, and no further improvement, I swapped to the "Ultra Fine" pad and hit it with Meguires polishing / glaze compound:

https://www.autozone.com/wash-cleaners-and-exterior-care-products/polish/p/meguiar-s-ultimate-polish-16oz/164697_0_0?spps.s=3316&cmpid=LIA:US:EN:AD:NL:1000000:GEN:19502231967&&CATARGETID=120054150001286690&CADevice=c&gclid=Cj0KCQjwtO-kBhDIARIsAL6LordPBonky0OemEsKsbWhs_MnplxUwPGBOmGnTSoYXqAYaekTILJIZRMaAitPEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

Once all of that was done - I applied turtle wax ceramic wax. The Maguire's polish is not a sealer, and recommends a sealer wax be applied after.
This turtle wax says it is both a polish / sealer wax hybrid - you possibly could just use this with the ultra-fine pad and skip the megafires polish step above, but I have not tried it without the Meguires polish yet. Might we worth a try to skip a step and see if you get the same results.
I applied this with the ultra-fine pad, higher RPM, and then buffed it off once hazed.

https://www.amazon.com/Turtle-Wax-53412-Solutions-Ceramic/dp/B07XYPS3PV/ref=asc_df_B07XYPS3PV/?tag=hyprod-20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=385383050365&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=9851281688771600135&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9031150&hvtargid=pla-846457927657&psc=1&tag=&ref=&adgrpid=84218104048&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvadid=385383050365&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=9851281688771600135&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9031150&hvtargid=pla-846457927657

Now to do the whole car......lol

Beautiful thanks.... I'll get my detail guy these instructions. He gave up way too early just doing his usual fancy car detail progression.... this is a 2004 BMW that sat outside way to much but thanks to you we gonna see if that old foggy paint can shine! Can't wait to see his face when I tell him its time to get swetting.

 

[Sharp Shooter]

If that's yours, and it's a current picture. That ain't no 396

But does it look like a 396?

 

[Bigbore500r]

Shit, mine still has drum up front. I bought a disc brake conversion kit with 2" spindles like ten years ago and still haven't installed.

Tunnel ram before disc conversion......your a man after my own heart!

 

[Sharp Shooter]

You got power brakes? Lucky!

Factory 4 piston caliper DB, PS, AC and tilt. I read somewhere that only 20% of '68's were optioned with disc brakes. Not sure if that true though...

 

[69hondo]

Tunnel ram before disc conversion......your a man after my own heart!

LMAO. Its good for two hard stops after full throttle accelerations than you better stop screwing around or go home.

 

[Tank]

Bad ass Jerry!! Goad to see you’re getting it done!!

 

[mjc]

If you are taking the interior out. I just did this to mine yesterday. Lizard skin sound deadening.

 

[LargeOrangeFont]

If you are taking the interior out. I just did this to mine yesterday. Lizard skin sound deadening. View attachment 1246956

That stuff works pretty well.

 

[Bigbore500r]

If you are taking the interior out. I just did this to mine yesterday. Lizard skin sound deadening. View attachment 1246956

Spray on?

I need to pull up all the factory stuff anyways, im interested

 

[LargeOrangeFont]

Spray on?

I need to pull up all the factory stuff anyways, im interested

Yes.

 

[HBCraig]

I wish I had my 70 back. Loved that ride

 

[mjc]

Spray on?

I need to pull up all the factory stuff anyways, im interested

Yes and tomorrow I will be putting the ceramic heat coating on top of that.

LizardSkin

Automotive Heat and Sound Damping

lizardskin.com

 

[lakemadness]

I tell myself that I can't put him in a car that will get him in trouble. But - that's exactly what my dad did!
And trouble , I definitely got into.....
But I think it kept me busy, and it kept me out of messing with drugs, and it kept me from drinking and messing with alcohol till I was 18-ish.....so maybe it was a good thing?

100%. My parents put me in a car a 16-year-old had no business being in. '99 SS. But I took it as a responsibility, I kept the car and myself safe. I modded it a bit. Still have it too.

 

[Bigbore500r]

More goodies arrived....

Proper length sleeved lug nuts and some replacements for my missing center caps....

Out with the old, in with the kustom!

OLD (yes....they're cragar, not Weld......)

NEW

Also - congratulations to my nephew on his graduation!
That's him on the left....

 

[OCMerrill]

Great shot of those Air Bags.

 

[74 spectra20 v-drive]

Looks Great!!!! inspiring those of us who have these projects sitting and waiting for us...

 

[Willie B]

Looks Great!!!! inspiring those of us who have these projects sitting and waiting for us...

…Will this ever hit the street again…hmmm…Dunno???

 

[74 spectra20 v-drive]

…Will this ever hit the street again…hmmm…Dunno???

I at least got mine back from my Dads Shop and its at my house now... these threads do get me goin plus I saw a bad ass 65 convert Chevelle yesterday and I got some energy goin... keep up the great work on this Chevelle brother!

 

[Big B Hova]

Gotta ditch the 15s and throw a set of dubs on that bitch....

 

[Bigbore500r]

Gotta ditch the 15s and throw a set of dubs on that bitch.... View attachment 1247874

 

[Bigbore500r]

…Will this ever hit the street again…hmmm…Dunno???

Is that a Riviera or Caddy?

 

[Bigbore500r]

Got the Hurst comp-plus shifter in the mail yesterday. Need to order the Hurst track-pack steel bushing kit and tighten up the rod connections.
Somebody did some funky shit and welded a handle to the top of the shifter, which is a total bummer. Didn't realize that when I purchased.
Luckily theres a guy who sells the different arm pieces to drop into the shifter and replace it with what I need for the chevelle.

Feels good though, sat on a bucket and slammed thru the gears....can't wait!

 

[SoCalDave]

Feels good though, sat on a bucket and slammed thru the gears....can't wait!

I can so picture this...

 

[mjc]

Gotta ditch the 15s and throw a set of dubs on that bitch.... View attachment 1247874

nope but I have a nice set of 17in Cragars for sale.

 

[Willie B]

Is that a Riviera or Caddy?

…Neither…It is a ‘73 Buick Centurion Convert…They only made them for three years..,’71-‘73…

 

[bonesfab]

Cool progress on the Chevelle. Just picked up a pretty decent 1969 Chevelle on the 4th. No motor or trans. was a 4-speed car and has the 12-bolt.

 

[senorpdog]

I love mine its an SS clone just need to put the badges on it.

 

[Get415]

…Will this ever hit the street again…hmmm…Dunno???

Those Nardi wheels used to fetch some big money. Probably still do.

 

[Willie B]

Those Nardi wheels used to fetch some big money. Probably still do.

..: I checked with the distributor for Nardi probably 20 years ago… and even 20 years ago they were getting big bucks for them… he said there is a lot of phony Nardi’s out there… and guys were always trying to buy adapters from him… I thought I needed an adapter for the Buick… As the wheel had originally been on a Mercedes I had… he asked me a whole bunch of questions to make sure that my steering wheel was the real deal… I passed the test… But it turns out I didn’t need an adapter…
.., I had no idea that rip off Nardi’s was big business…till I talked to him???.,,

 

[J&k beer can]

Got the Hurst comp-plus shifter in the mail yesterday. Need to order the Hurst track-pack steel bushing kit and tighten up the rod connections.
Somebody did some funky shit and welded a handle to the top of the shifter, which is a total bummer. Didn't realize that when I purchased.
Luckily theres a guy who sells the different arm pieces to drop into the shifter and replace it with what I need for the chevelle.

Feels good though, sat on a bucket and slammed thru the gears....can't wait!

looking good.

go to 5speeds.com and get the

Hurst Hardened Steel Bushing and Clip Kit #LK-1​

makes a big difference on shifter linkage..
he sells all the other parts too..

 

[Bigbore500r]

I love mine its an SS clone just need to put the badges on it.

Brother from another mother! Looks great!

 

[Bigbore500r]

looking good.

go to 5speeds.com and get the

Hurst Hardened Steel Bushing and Clip Kit #LK-1​

makes a big difference on shifter linkage..
he sells all the other parts too..

These are what I have coming - Hurst "Pit Pack" with steel bushings and new clips

 

[69hondo]

Got the Hurst comp-plus shifter in the mail yesterday. Need to order the Hurst track-pack steel bushing kit and tighten up the rod connections.
Somebody did some funky shit and welded a handle to the top of the shifter, which is a total bummer. Didn't realize that when I purchased.
Luckily theres a guy who sells the different arm pieces to drop into the shifter and replace it with what I need for the chevelle.

Feels good though, sat on a bucket and slammed thru the gears....can't wait!

Maybe this thread will give me the drive to get mine back out on the road. Not likely but maybe.

 

[Bigbore500r]

Maybe this thread will give me the drive to get mine back out on the road. Not likely but maybe.

Get it going!

Just open your wallet let the $$$ fly