Thread: traded chopped impala for mint all original 52 chev

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well i traded my impala on this chev, everyone thinks ive traded a silk purse for a sows ear but it aint their car and im very very happy, i couldntv got a better tidier rust free one to start a hotrod with. im thinkin of goin in a completely different direction with this build and go cruising instead of chasing power like in the impala, this cars about being lazy, going slow and looking cool doin it. so im after some ideas from you guys (since im just a spring chicken at 24 and all ) of what they done to these things back in the day so i can build more of a traditional leadsled, so far im thinking of keeping the spats, steelies and all the trim and just chopping 5-6" outa the roof and slamming it so its basically stock but on the ground and with a lower roof, paint wise im thinkin that factory 2 tone with that light grey lower and that dark grey roof they came out in. im also after ideas on what was traditional and whatd be cool to do engine wise, im thinkin maybe a 350 with triple 2s but have started thinkin keepin the 216 six and workin that a bit and cutting the exhaust off would be awesome. any suggestion or ideas guys? cheers
i tried putting some pics up but it wont work

i like my chevy. i started to think about chopping it 20 years ago. i happy i did not. the 6 would be neat to build but you may want to find a newer one to build the 350 will fit in nice you have to watch the ex on the drivers side the bell crank link get in the way .the first thing is to get the armstrong steering out of it

ahh yep. yea everyone looks at me as though i need to see a psychiatrist with this one when i mention chopping it but even if i sold it and got a wreck to hotrod and save someone else would hotrod it anyway aye. i have an hz holden front end to put on the chassis which will give me better suspension, get rid of the kingpins, give me discs and power steering so yea thats on the cards. i might end up leaving the body stock like yours, i cant even remember seeing a stock one of these driving round here let alone a hotrodded one. what running gear are you running in yours?

well mine has some body mods .for power is has a blown 548 bbc has some show but made to go it will do that just fine .it go s down the road like its got eyes in its head

if you keep the 6, swap in the rear from a '49-'52 powerglide car.. there 3.73 gears instead of 4.11's.. you'll go just a bit faster.. my car ( '51 Fleetline 4dr 235/PG ) will cruise about 55 MPH comfterbly, but it'll go 60-65 if you want it to.. there not really rocket ships, but there smooth running.. at least mine is, and it hasn't been inspected in NY since '73

Originally Posted by Matt167

if you keep the 6, swap in the rear from a '49-'52 powerglide car.. there 3.73 gears instead of 4.11's.. you'll go just a bit faster.. my car ( '51 Fleetline 4dr 235/PG ) will cruise about 55 MPH comfterbly, but it'll go 60-65 if you want it to.. there not really rocket ships, but there smooth running.. at least mine is, and it hasn't been inspected in NY since '73

the old chevys did run very smooth .i knew a guy doing a 50 fast back left it running . forgot about it. was still running with the hood up walk by hop in and tried starting it.that engine was so smooth that you could put a glass of water on the valve cover not spill a drop .it was one sweet runing six

matt were are you getting you chevy part at ? looking for check straps for the doors and some other small stuff

Originally Posted by chopped66impala

well i traded my impala on this chev, everyone thinks ive traded a silk purse for a sows ear but it aint their car and im very very happy, i couldntv got a better tidier rust free one to start a hotrod with. im thinkin of goin in a completely different direction with this build and go cruising instead of chasing power like in the impala, this cars about being lazy, going slow and looking cool doin it. so im after some ideas from you guys (since im just a spring chicken at 24 and all ) of what they done to these things back in the day so i can build more of a traditional leadsled, so far im thinking of keeping the spats, steelies and all the trim and just chopping 5-6" outa the roof and slamming it so its basically stock but on the ground and with a lower roof, paint wise im thinkin that factory 2 tone with that light grey lower and that dark grey roof they came out in. im also after ideas on what was traditional and whatd be cool to do engine wise, im thinkin maybe a 350 with triple 2s but have started thinkin keepin the 216 six and workin that a bit and cutting the exhaust off would be awesome. any suggestion or ideas guys? cheers
i tried putting some pics up but it wont work

Love to see some pics of the 52. Also really like the Holdens down there!
Are you thinking something like this for a chop?

Originally Posted by pat mccarthy

matt were are you getting you chevy part at ? looking for check straps for the doors and some other small stuff

between www.chevsofthe40s.com and www.nationalchevyassoc.com much of everything is available... Chevsofthe40's has a lot better selection of mechanical stuff, where as National Chevy has a better selection for interior products..

I also snag a few things off Ebay.. just got a nice bottom grill bar for $90.. it's the only peice on my grill except the park housings that is too rusty to use.

Originally Posted by pat mccarthy

the old chevys did run very smooth .i knew a guy doing a 50 fast back left it running . forgot about it. was still running with the hood up walk by hop in and tried starting it.that engine was so smooth that you could put a glass of water on the valve cover not spill a drop .it was one sweet runing six

same with mine.. even being run on a carb that needs rebuilt ( runs a bit rich and accelerator pump is shot ), and an engine that has never been rebuilt ( just oil changes, checked valves ect... ).. it runs like a top.. starts usually in 3 cranks if it's started fairly often like once a week.

Thanks matt