TC member #1017
I have been a member of Team Chevelle for a few years now and have enjoyed, among other things, the monthly featured car. Maybe someone would enjoy seeing what I have come up with...
My first car was a 68 SS396, purchased while still in college in 1976. After graduation, with a new job, new wife, new home, the Chevelle was regrettably sold. I purchased another 68SS in 1981 but it was too far gone to save. I muddled through the years driving nondescript vehicles of all make and model, until I finally decided to look for another 68SS in 2000. I found this Ermine White SS locally and the first thing I did was to become a paying member of Team Chevelle.
I purchased the car with the front clip in pieces, no engine, no transmission, and no interior to speak of. Originally a 325 HP, 3-speed Saginaw, with bench seats, I decided to restore the car as best I could, but at the same time make a few factory correct upgrades. I found a correct ED coded 68 block from another Atlanta built car that was only a few hundred units behind mine on the line. In time, I located all the other goodies for under the hood to make it appear to be factory fresh, including Muncie 4-speed, power steering, carb, distributor, air cleaner, etc. I bored the standard block .0030 over and installed stock parts. The heads were upgraded with new guides and received new valves, springs, rotators, and a three-angle grind. The only thing under the hood that is not factory correct, are the headers and a Pertronix unit under the distributor cap.
With the interior, I made a few more changes. She now sports bucket seats, console, and full factory instrumentation, none of which came with the car originally. She also sports the only thing that I had left of my original SS back in 1976, the factory AM radio. All the usual stuff has been done... new weatherstripping all around, new carpet, headliner, dash pad, etc. New vinyl top too. Rims are 15 inch by 7 in the front and 8 in the rear, Chevrolet Rally's.It has taken me 5 long years to get to the point where I can drive the car. In the near future I will add disk brakes and change the rear end gears to something a little more steetable than the 4.10 in there now, rechrome the bumpers, and add the 68 SS stripes. Working on this car has been a true labor of love and I take particular pride in knowing that with the exception of the machine work done to the block and heads, and the installation of the new top.
I did every bit of work on this car myself. Of course I had a great deal of technical assistance from many fellow members of Team Chevelle.
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Patrick, aka Merlin
All features copyright by the owner & Team Chevelle
