TC member #2540
My name is Mike Williamson and I live in Western New York with my wife Shelly and my son Michael. I am a Team Chevelle member and an Aces member also. I am the proud owner of a 1969 SS which I have had so long, it too is part of my family.
Here are a few pics of my 69 SS that I have owned since 1985. I came across this car as I was parts chasing for another Chevelle that I owned at the time. It was sitting in the front yard for sale and I immediately noticed it had an SS hood and SS emblems, so I had to stop. Upon further investigation I realized that it still had the original factory Lemans blue paint with all the factory panels, vinyl top, all the trim and most of the interior except the seats. Sorry to say I discovered also that the original motor and 4-speed were long gone as was the build sheet. The body was super solid almost entirely free from rust, but the paint definitely needed a redo. I contacted the owner and after doing a little dickering I was driving the car home for $1400.00. I drove it in this condition, with a smallblock and auto trans for a year when I decided to do a frame off. After the first frame off, I showed and drove the car until 2003 when I decided to change the cam and heads and ended up putting a valve through a piston. Ouch!!
Needless to say I was discouraged and thought about selling the car,but I came to my senses and realized that I would never find another car in this good of shape without shelling out major bucks. I decided to do the second frame off of the car since it really needed to all be freshened up after 18 years anyway.
My second endeavor began with the frame being blasted and treated to an industrial zinc primer coating used on compressors out in the gulf of Mexico on oil rigs. It was then coated with Dupont Imron gloss black. The frame also received all new stainless steel lines, stainless steel hardware, powdercoated and chromed suspension pieces along with all new bushings,ball joints,brakes, etc.
The drivetrain consists of a CE LS-6 454 purchased from Scoggin Dickey Chevrolet in 1986 for my first resto. Can't beat the longevity of a Chevy motor. Aside from the good heavy duty GM bottom end it also has Speed pro pistons, World Products heads, a Crane Powermax roller cam, Harland Sharp roller rockers, Cloyes tru roller timing chain, Mallory Ignition, Dynomax Headers flowing through a 2 1/2" Flowmaster exhaust. The block was painted to match the body color and also has much chrome and stainless hardware.The induction comes from an early Edelbrock crossram which I found on E-bay for a $150.00 and then polished myself in my garage. It's topped with two Edelbrock 500 CFM carbs and home fabricated linkage. It's a little cold blooded but after it's warmed up and you mash the loud pedal, it really cooks. It's backed by a TH400 with B&M 3000 stall and internals. Then comes a 4.10 GM 12 bolt with Moser axles, all riding on Weld Wheels,31/2 x 15 in front and 8 x 15 in the rear. McQuillen Racing in Leroy N.Y. balanced and blueprinted the motor as to not have anymore mishaps with clearances! I've yet to take it to the track to see what it will do in the quarter.
The body I ended up tackling myself also, as I couldn't afford to dish out $5000.00 or more for a paint job. A friend of mine who owns a body shop guided me through my first bodywork process. It was stripped to it's bare shell, not one nut, bolt or screw being left unturned. I didn't think I was ever going to finish sanding this thing. It still retains all GM sheetmetal and floors except for the driverside door and a Harwood fiberglass hood.
It is covered with PPG GM Cherry Red bc/cc which was sprayed by my friend Kenny at Pine Grove Collision in Richburg N.Y.. Not bad for a $1500.00 paint job is it? All the trim, moldings emblems lights etc. are stock original except the bumpers were replaced and the grille and grille moldings.
The interior is mostly stock original also. The bucket seats came out of a 69 GTO and the rear seat came out of a 69 malibu and were recovered in 1986. The dash and doorpanels are stock original. It has tilt, power steering and power disc brakes. I did replace the carpet and added the B&M Megashifter and Autometer guages. It also has Softseal weatherstripping throughout.
Since it's completion (are they ever done?), in the fall of 2005 I've won numerous best muscle car,best of class and best engine awards locally with the most gratifying being the Northern Ohio Chevelle Club award at the Can-Am,Aces, Northern Chevelle Show 2006 in Grand Island N.Y. . I was immensely surprised and very pleased as you may imagine!! I didn't expect that with all the beautiful Chevelles at the show. I hope you all enjoy looking at my car as much as I enjoy showing it. After all, it is a part of my family !......Oh and by the way, ...I drive it regularly on nice sunny days!!!
Thanks, Mike
All features copyright by the owner & Team Chevelle
