The '64 Chevelle SS tribute build thread
 

I have pictures all over the place in here, so I decided it was about time to put them all in one place to make the following of the build a little easier to keep track of.

This car is being built in tribute to my car I had in high school. We were pretty notorious back in the day. The idea is to build a time machine that takes me back to 1991 whenever I get in it.

So here we go. This is what was drug home just over a year ago.

http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p...hevelle001.jpg

http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p...hevelle004.jpg

http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p...hevelle006.jpg

http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p...hevelle007.jpg

http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p...hevelle005.jpg

The metal work started and slowly but surely, the holes were filled in.

http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p...project001.jpg

http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p...project003.jpg

http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p...project004.jpg

http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p...0build/003.jpg

http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p...build/0022.jpg

http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p...build/0013.jpg

The tail panel was especially bad. Some genius used expanding foam and bondo back there. It took a minute to straighten it out.

http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p...lebuild001.jpg

http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p...lebuild002.jpg

http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p...lebuild003.jpg

http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p...velle006-1.jpg

I had a spot in the gasket track that was missing, so I had to rebuild that as well.

http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p...velle007-1.jpg

On to the mud work. I'm still not done, but it's not easy grinding off four paint jobs. (one of which, is Imron)

http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p...rogress001.jpg

http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p...rogress001.jpg

http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p...rogress002.jpg

Here's the cool part. My oldest daughter wandered out and was watching me work. When I got down to shooting some primer, I asked if she wanted to do it. To my surprise, she said yes. She's a natural! It only took her a few minutes to get the hang of it. With a little more practice, she could be laying down some nice paint.

http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p...rogress003.jpg

http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p...rogress004.jpg

Now that most of the rust repair is done, I moved on to some detail work. My original car was very unique. Back then, I had more time than money. Spray paint was 2.99 a can for the good stuff and elbow grease was free. The car will be white and under the hood will be accented with red.

Here's what the engine will look like.

http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p...hevelle001.jpg

http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p...hevelle002.jpg

I got the car inside finally and the front end stripped off. I've been waiting to get rid of another project, so I had an indoor spot to park the Chevelle. Now we can get busy with it. The build should go pretty quick from here.

http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p...leframe001.jpg

After checking to see what needed replacing and what was still good, I cleaned and painted the good parts and put them back together. ('told you the detailing would be nuts. I drove the original car every day.) You can see what it'll look like now. For using two common colors, the end result is pretty loud. Spray paint has given way to urethane shot from a gun, but the idea is still the same. I can't wait to drive the ole' girl!

http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p...leframe004.jpg

http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p...leframe005.jpg

good job man!

Thanks! I hope to get the firewall ready to shoot soon so I can get the engine and trans back in. Then I'll pick away at the front clip. Jamming and detailing so I can put the car back on the ground. If I sell my '67 Impala, I should have the money to get this one mostly done. At least moving under it's own power.

Look'n good! Love the 64's my all time favorite!

Looking great, nice metal work on the car.

More progress. The firewall is white! I normally have more progress pictures, but this is going to be a fast build, so there's only going to be a few freeze frames of the action along the way.

http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p...irewall001.jpg

http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p...irewall002.jpg