'69 Chevelle Restoration Page

This page is here following the restoration and customization of my '69 Malibu. I bought the car for under $3,000, but then for an extra $600 got new rearquarter panels welded on both sides, so that popped it up to I believe $3,300. The car obviously needs some work, that is not in question, but it was seriously one of the best Chevelle projects I saw. Least amount of body work and the dash is in excellent conidtion. So I'll give you the specs;

Engine: Small Block 307
Horsepower: 350 @ 4600 rpm
Torque: 380 ft/lbs @ 3600 rpm
Bore & Stroke: 3.875 x 3.25
Compression Ratio: 9.00
Tranny: TH 350
Carburetor: Holly 4 barrel 750cfm
Rear End: 12 bolt
Extras:
HEI Distributor
Headers
Edelbrock 14' Pro Flo Air Filter
Dual Exhaust w/ Flowmasters

Everything else is aparently stock. What do I have to do in the way of work you say? Well I have to grind the welding marks off, fill a few holes, sand it all down, reapolster the rear seats, put buckets in the front, new rear springs, new wheels and tires, new emblems, and tons of chrome. I also plan to put a 454/500+ HP, floor shift, new tranny, new rear end, three stage nitrous, CD player, and two 15's. The rest is undecided. I have a lot of work ahead of me, but I have all the time in the world :)

01/29/00

Haven't had much time to work on my car unfortunatly, however, I've gotten off to a start. I have begun the grinding, and have also cleaned up the car quite a bit. As for the pictures I need to update the under the hood shot.

Side Shot 01/29/00
Side Shot 01/29/00
Rear Shot 01/29/00
Under Hood Shot 01/29/00
Interior Shot 01/29/00
Interior Shot 01/29/00

I realize the pics aren't very good, but I was kinda in a hury. Either way, the plan is to basically work from the outside in. Finsih all the body work off, and the start on the interior and under the hood. Everything is in excellent condition mechanically, it runs great, however, the body needs some work. I hope to get a front shot, aswell as an updated under the hood shot :)

03/01/00

Well, I was reading my trusty Hot Rod mag, when I found out something interesting. The rust on the headers may just be from metal particles resting on the aluminum headers. So I may be able to just take that off with #000 steel wool, so maybe I won't need new headers :) That would be good. Saving money without sacrificing quality is my main consern. The headers are good, but I thought they were rusting out. It turns out it may just be metal particles that have settled on the headers from the brakes or something like that.... We shall see when I steel wool them. I also may have a cash flow soon which will allow for the real stuff to begin. I'm looking for a grinder, so when I find that it will be good :)

03/06/00

Well, fortunately I can steel wool most of that off, and any of the minor rust that is on the frame rails. I am gonna have to take off the whole front end of the car most likely to get at everything. Which is not gonna be fun. Well, actually I think it will be great fun :) It would be easier if I had an engine hoist and could just rip the engine out, then put it back when I'm done. Oh well. Either way, it'll get done in time. Yeah, I spent about 45 minutes steel wooling away, and I got three of the eight tubes on the headers pretty much done. It's gonna take some time. I like it though, clears the head. I need to spend more time on my car :)

04/14/00

I know I am all over the place with this car. However, I just got this awsome new grinder and I had to try it out. So I have begun the grinding of the rear 1/4's. I think I am about 1/4 done. What a coincidence :P Man, this grinder rocks, it is so fucking fun. I hadn't thought body work could be so fun, but it is. Sparks flying like.... three feet off this thing. It's awsome. In aproximently an hour I have done what would have taken a week or more with my previous tool :P So it was worth the money. It was. I think I should have the grinding done in about a week. I don't want to do it too much or I could warp those 1/4's and that would suck. Don't want to spend about $600 on new 1/4 only to have them warp so I have to do a it all again and pay more to have them welded on again. That would be no good. So I will update the side pics and the underhood as soon as the grinding is over and done :)

04/20/00

Grinding is harsh man. I don't think I'm gonna be grinding away when I am really tired. I decided that isn't very clever. Needless to say. I think I will need a 'lil bit of fiberglass to smooth things out. No real problem though. Just a bit of fiberglass. All though it did kind of bum me out. It can be fixed easily :P However, it did cause me to take a break. I think it's bed time.... shit :P I am fuckin' tired man. The rule that it ALWAYS takes longer then you would expect is a good one. It does man. As long as I have this thing rolling by summer I'll be fine with it. Shit.... not much time to get the grinding done. I think I will have to go at it more often. It is fun though. It's a bit hard on the neck because of the way I have to postion myself. Oh well.