1960 IMPALA CONVERTIBLE BIG PROJECT

I like that it's getting an LS instead of just cleaning and painting a used small block like a lot of low riders get. It'll have way too much power now though!
 
Excellent game plan and progress.
These things always take way longer than we plan, especially when you are striving to get every detail right. However that is what makes it special.
 
I like that it's getting an LS instead of just cleaning and painting a used small block like a lot of low riders get. It'll have way too much power now though!
Yep this is actually my first time attempting a swap. I've done crate 350s but never this. Will see. I've got a Dakota digital dash for it, it should all be plug and play...keyword, should
 
Put some work in the past few days. Dug out the engine and transmission from under plastic sheet and blankets. Really debated on separating or not. In the end I decided not to. I rigged me up a contraption in true backyard hack fashion and hung it from the ceiling and on a saw horse..i opted not to remove the fuel rails and injectors. Mainly because i dont know how and will for sure damage them. And the budget is already blown on the car, so i masked...then..used some oven cleaner, some mineral spirits, soap and water then wax and grease remover. It wasn't that bad. Used a red pad to clean it. Then 8oz of epoxy. 24hrs later, 2 coats of lesonal base, and 2 coats of universal clear. Little over kill using the good stuff on this, but my friend loaned me the clear, he just doesn't know it yet. Tomorrow I'll get it back on ground and then on the chassis then the fun stuff starts..
 

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I also got the skirts dressed up. Everything is mocked and holes drilled. These are already body worked and ready for scuff and paint. They are 12x60 fox craft cruiser skirts, the skirts, trim and scuff gaurds are NOS. The ports and stars are reproduction. These skirts are getting really hard to find, a friend of mine in KY let me buy them. He is also responsible for turning me on to spi products a couple years ago!!
 

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Next up probably in a few weeks have mobile sand blaster come out and do the floors, trunk floor, dash and firewall. No outside panels. Just the structural stuff. Car will start looking good after that
 
Beware of those cheap Chinesium sheet metal intakes. They sound like a tin can transmitting all the valve train noise.

Don
Good to know!! At minimum I want to get some blank covers and paint to match. I dont like that it says corvette. Was also thinking a low ram ls3 intake....kinda steep though.
 
Price out a Frankenstein or Shawn’s Custom Alloys intake if you want to experience sticker shock. :)

Frankenstein is a local outfit.

Don
 
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Chippin away. Got the ididit column and repop mini steering wheel painted. I really like the wheel. It's 58-60 but I've seen them used in alot of stuff. Combined with a power seat, should give plenty of leg room.
 

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Chippin away. Got the ididit column and repop mini steering wheel painted. I really like the wheel. It's 58-60 but I've seen them used in alot of stuff. Combined with a power seat, should give plenty of leg room.
What makes it a mini? Does the original horn stuff fit it?
 
More plugging away...I found myself with 6 unplanned days off with nothing to do...we took off to go visit my daughter who is in the navy nuke program in South Carolina but got a little deterred because of the hurricane/tropical storm out that way. It worked out because my wife ended up with covid yesterday...guess it's still a thing. So I'm home finding myself stuff to do. Rescheduled the trip for Thanksgiving weekend. So I dug out some interior moldings and dash bezels. Epoxy them down, and 2 coats based followed up with 2 coats of euro 4, 1, 1.5 in 78 degrees weather. I like it much better than 98 degree. The pieces aren't perfect but once installs they will be fine for me! More to come.
 

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Nice job with the props for some of those small parts, I hate painting them hanging from a hook, even with another hook on the bottom.
 
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