I will never cease to be amazed how auto body shops and mechanics can do this type of work day in an day out. It truly must be a passion for what they do. Or maybe just my personality - I want to be finished, but need things to be perfect, so it's hard to start a project where the finish line is so far off. I guess it is no wonder so many car projects get started and never finish. I have a clear vision of what the Chevelle will be, stock on the outside, nice modern interior and reliable, safe engine, steering and brakes. How does one stay motivated day ofter day when there is only reverse progress towards this goal? I do need to get friends more involved, because it is more fun when you have someone to work with so it is more socialization than work (see the RX7 below).
Case in point, yesterday I took apart the drivers door and got down to the weatherstrip molding. From working door to empty shell and a box of parts. I know it needs to happen, but I keep thinking, how about a rat rod? But that's not me. I hope there is a good assembly diagram to put all of the parts back together. Is it odd of all the bits so far the doors are what have me most worried to reassemble?
I thought it would be fun to make a quick trip down memory lane of my past major projects for those that might not be familiar. My first project was a '53 Chevy 3100 truck. I really wanted a project, and had looked at a '68 Buick Wildcat 2-door, '68 Camaro sitting in my parents in law's back yard (they wouldn't sell it to me, too much work needed!), and then this:
The bad picture is all I have, and the bed is already off. It was winter and I was so excited to get started. I had no money, (okay a little) but plenty of enthusiasm. I remember driving it how with no heater, and a 216 cubic inch motor with a 4-speed that topped out at 40 mph. I took it to body shop classes at Kirkwood to learn how to do body work, and hired someone to do the motor. I learned so much on this project, and probably more what not to do. I should have done this the other way around, engine myself and body to a shop, what we are doing with the Chevelle. The shop welded on a '79 Camaro front subframe, which in 1990 was the way the swaps were being done. Terrible idea. A 350 ci Chevy small block was installed. I went off to college, and the project ended because of time and money. Jay and John Kurth picked it up for a while, and eventually it was sold to someone who was going to finish the project.
Here is the one picture I have of John showing Jay and I how to install the rear window. Sorry John for roping you into this project. You were a great teacher and I am fortunate for everything you taught me.
This is how the truck looked when I had to stop. Obviously not finished. I did do all of the body work that you see, not bad for a first try, but also not great either. I love the lines on these old Chevy trucks. Note the blue Geo Storm paint, you will see it below.
The next project was born of necessity. Jill and I had big greyhounds and no money, so we needed a big vehicle to take them to the park. We found a '79 Suburban 3/4 ton 2WD USDA-spec for $600 and got started. It was a basket case and should have been in the junkyard. It had been beaten hard and never drove right, even after we replaced everything in the suspension and steering. I could never figure this out, and to my credit, neither could any mechanic that looked at it. Again terrible pictures, but you can see a before and a 90% done picture. I think the only parts I salvaged were the hood, rear side doors, and roof. I had the wood bed parts left from the '53, so I used those to build the bed floor. I bet this was the only suburban with a wood bed floor. I rebuild the 350 motor and did all of the body work myself. It turned out okay for something I did in my garage. I even painted it in the garage, and Jay helped me polish it out. We found replacement 16.5" wheels (yes, 16.5") and I powder coated them myself. They turned out great.
Just to prove it ran, here we are in the Badlands with the new motor and body work done. I painted the hood and doors before we drove it to Oregon, using the left over paint that was meant for the '53. On our way back from this vacation, one of the wheel bearings seized on the interstate. Thankfully Jay was driving and his lightning reactions prevented us from having a serious accident.
Oregon projects were limited to engine work. I had learned by now I was better at bolting things together, and didn't have the patience or skill to do body work well. Andrew bought a '93 Rx7 and an LS1 motor, and said we can put the two together. Well, we did over lunch times with Little Caesars pizza and beer. It fit and we got it running. This car was an absolute monster with the LS1. I think Andrew drove it this way for a few years, and then decided to put in a bigger motor.
My baby at the time was a '92 Eagle Talon Tsi AWD. I had been slowly upgrading the the suspension and motor, and it broke a timing belt on the way to the drag strip in Oregon. At the time it was running 13.1 in the quarter mile. I rebuilt the motor as a 2.3L stroker with all the goodies and race ported head. We brought it to St. Louis, where I pretty much lost interest in working on cars and focused on work. There it sat for the next six years.
This spring I started working on getting the Talon tuned, and drove it a couple times to work. The transmission of all things was in limp mode (stuck in third gear), but the engine was running really good. I'm biased, but I think this is one of the nicest 1992 Talon's you will find in 2011. I sold it for way less than what it was worth for the chance to have the Chevelle. (Max, I hope you enjoy this car!). Jill says only one project at a time, and I have to admit she is right.
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