TC member #1219
My car was previously owned by a friend of mine who is into Chevelles. I always complemented his car. He had been storing the car since 1990 and it was in very good shape for a Northeast Chevelle when I bought the car in 1997. I then stored the car for years as I saved and collected parts. It took me 4 years to get the car back on the road.
Suspension/steering work included new 1” front / ˝” rear lowering springs from Global West along with lower rear tubular control arms and 1.0” rear anti-sway bar. Front suspension completely rebuilt with PST super poly front end kit including a PST 1.25” front anti-sway bar. New KYB gas shocks all around. Steering upgraded with an AGR variable ratio steering box and AGR pump from Summit.
The Engine is a .030 over 396 professionally rebuilt by Carlquest engines using TRW forged pistons, 9.5 CR for street gas, 3 angle valve job on 290 heads. Torker II, Hooker ceramic coated headers, MSD 6al ignition and wires, ARP hardware, new CompCams CB-280H-10 roller cam 750 double-pumper Holley, steel forged crank. dyno tested at 410Hp/ 435 lb-ft all flowing through a Flowmaster American thunder system. Engine accessories include a PowerMaster 100 amp alternator and Summit ministarter.
Power goes through a Centerline dual-friction clutch, with rebuilt 2-groove ST-10 out of a 76 Trans-Am shifted with a new hurst shifter. Power continues through a rebuilt and rebalanced, by FleetPride, drive shaft to the 3.55 posi factory rearend rebuilt with new genuine Chevy posi clutch kit..
Interior includes full factory gages reconditioned by American Classic Restorations and rebuilt tilt steering column interior. The dash bezel was cracked so I replaced it with a refurbished unit from American plastic chrome. After I refinished the convertible top frame it was covered by Dave’s Auto Upholstery. Seats were in poor shape so after I striped them to the frames and refinished the frames I had Dave’s recovered them. Paul’s Chrome replated all of the original chrome for the convertible hold down pieces
Every wire has been replaced with new stock style wiring from factory fit. A new Custom Auto Sound hidden radio with CD changer and alpine amplifier hooked up to eight speakers (2-in dash, 2-in factory kick panel locations 2 in rear seat support and 2 under seats). I had to replace the factory radio which was missing. Looks like the car came with an AM/FM but they were so expensive I used an AM to fill the dash.
The body was in good shape but had some of the typical rust problems and some slight front end damage too one fender. A previous owner had removed all of the trim from the front including the bumper and threw it all away, so I had to find replacements. Sheet metal work included two NOS front fenders, Goodmark quarter skins and fuel tank, a few minor floor pan holes repaired. Paint was computer matched to paint in areas under fenders and deck lid. Then a BC/CC was applied by Bob Criscolla, who also did all of the body work. Paint was had rubbed out for a flawless finish. All exterior trim pieces where either redone or replaced with new. Frame and suspension components were all sand blasted by American dry stripping before I repainted them.
The factory two piece disk and booster/valving and rear drums brakes were removed and replaced with new stainless lines from inline and a complete MPbrake kit in the front with the rear drums redone.
To retain the original factory look but enhance performance, the 14” factory SS rims were replaced with new Wheel Vintiques 15 rims and BF Goodrich rubber.
The help from the Team Chevelle members was priceless. I owe the site and all of it’s members greatly, because I could not have done nearly as good of a job without everyone’s help. Being a member of Chevelles.com saved be countless hours and dollars. I was also helped with advice and parts collecting from Russell and the crew at the West Chevrolet parts counters, they seemed to have endless patience in helping locate parts and answering questions.
A photo background of Mike's Chevelle is available here.
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