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I bought my car in 1984 for the huge price of $475. It had $500 cash written across the windshield. It was an all original car that even had the "Protect-O-Plate" in the glove box. This is the car that transformed me into a certified car crafting nut. I've been hooked ever since.
I started tinkering with this car and I performed several modifications to all parts of it, mostly just hopping up the drive train. It started out as a 283 two-barrel with a powerglide and a 10 bolt rearend. I rebuilt the 283 to stock specs but had a reputable shop perform the machine work. After a couple of months the stock motor became not enough. I installed a bigger cam, a set of headers, and a four barrel induction set up. I had the car repainted in 1985 with 1977 Mercury star burst gold with black deck stripes front and rear. While my chevelle was being painted the body man suggested that I might try turning my car into a super sport. I got all the parts and I cloned my all original Malibu into a Super Sport. This whole ordeal was my first attempt at a "restification" of a muscle car.
In 1986 I spun the harmonic balancer off the front of the 283's crank and decided it was time to get serious. I bought my first small block 400. I got a great deal on it too, $500, a running and complete motor that was from the carb to the oil pan, balancer to the torque converter. This motor kicked butt and gave my car enough guts to run really strong. I also swapped to the Turbo 350 tranny and 12 bolt posi during this phase.
In 1987 I got involved in bracket racing. I had gotten a few tickets street racing and I needed a change. Bracket racing is cool and I won lots of trophies in the "Street 1" class at Idalou Motor Sports. I placed in the top three six times out of ten attempts that summer. But racing really takes it's toll on a car, and this was my daily driver and only car I owned. I ran mid 13's in the Texas heat.
I went to Desert Shield/Storm in 1990. When I returned, the chevelle had been vandalized (some idiots appreciation for serving my country). Needless to say I was a little upset about the whole ordeal. The stereo was torn from the dash and the wheels and tires had been heisted. The bums didn't even use blocks under the car and the car sat in the Louisiana mud for four months. The good news was that they only got three wheels off the car cause one lug nut was stripped out. The interior was also completely covered in mold and mildew (totally nasty). I then decided it was time to get really obsessed and totally restore my beast.
I started by removing every part from the car. I pulled everything except for the rear quarter windows and the trunk wire harness. I did not pull the body off the frame due to room limitations. When all the parts were removed and laying all around I remember thinking that there was no way I was going to get the car back together. I sandblasted away all the rust and replaced the holes with fresh metal. I installed new trunk pans, a right rear lower quarter panel, patch panel. Both the front and rear glass areas were filled with new metal as were the lower areas of the front fenders. All the disassembled pieces got a fresh coat of paint and then it all got assembled. The finishing body work was completed and then came six coats of PPG Delstar 1970 Corvette "War Bonnet Gold" paint. Next came blue pearl on all the body accent lines and a fine misting a very fine gold glitter dust. It was then topped off with four coats of PPG DAU 75 Poly clearcoat. A new interior kit was next. The grueling task of color sanding and buffing was completed, and finally all the trim was installed after a meticulous cleaning. Prior to the interior being reinstalled I decided to build a custom stereo system for my car. I hunted around for bargains on all the parts I needed. The dash has two horn tweeters mounted in the dash defroster vents, the forward kick panels have 3 1/2" mid ranges, the rear deck houses 5 1/4 mid ranges and in the trunk went a custom box that houses a pair of ten 10" woofers. It got all wired up and then it was time to complete the interior.
I ordered an interior kit from OPG and got busy. I stripped the old covers off and installed the new ones. I also installed all the other components and a new weather stripping kit on my own.
PHEW!, it was finally finished!!!! The restoration took two and a half years.
In 1993 I put a new engine in the car and had the tranny rebuilt. I removed the engine in 1995 and installed more goodies to go faster. Now I just cruise the heck out of it and sometimes attend car shows. I have bagged fifteen trophies so far. I still have little projects I want to do (disc brakes, new heads, and new exhaust) but for the most part I am finished for now. I'm looking forward to a little drag strip action to see how fast the combo is now.
HERE ARE SOME VEHICLE SPECIFICATIONS:
ENGINE: Chevy Small block 400.(Desktop Dyno says 419 HP & 460 ft-lbs TQ)
-Forged pistons w/moly rings, stud kit on the mains, and balanced assembly.
-Rebuilt 882 cast heads.
-Moroso oiling kit: pump stud, windage tray, pan baffle, modified oil pan.
-Melling M55HV oil pump and drive.
-Comp Cams 280H Magnum cam and lifters (duration 230 @ .050, lift .480).
-Comp Cams Magnum roller rocker arms.
-Pete Jackson gear drive.
-Edlebrock Performer RPM manifold with Mr. Gasket heat shield.
-Holley 3310S zinc plated vacuum secondary show carb.
-Holley chrome mechanical fuel pump with Moroso fuel pump push rod.
-Moroso air cleaner with 14 X 4" K&N filter element, K&N Stubstack, and Russell fuel filter.
-Walker DynoMax ceramic coated headers with custom dual exhaust and Sonic Turbo Mufflers.
-Accell breakerless ignition with Super coil and 8.8 plug wires.
-Moroso valve covers.
-Braided stainless lines and hoses.
TRANSMISSION: Turbo Hydromatic 350
-Custom built with B&M racing kit.
-Extra clutch packs.
-Hardened sprag unit.
-Modified governor and valve body.
-Street/Strip shift kit.
-TCI Saturday Night Special Converter (2100 RPM stall speed)
-B&M Mega Shifter.
REAREND: 12 bolt Posi with 3:31 gears
WHEELS AND TIRES:
-Front, 15 X 7 rally's with P205-65R-15 Generals.
-Rear, 15 X 8 1/2 rally's with G50-15 Pro Tracs.
STEREO: Custom owner installation
-Jensen auto reverse cassette deck.
-Two Alpha Sonic Amps: Subwoofer Mono @ 100 watts, High end stereo @ 60 watts.
-Six hidden speakers in the interior.
-Custom Subwoofer box mounted in trunk with two 10" Rockford Fosgates.
INTERIOR:
-Original buckets and rear bench.
-Restored with OPG kit, black in color.
-Grant chrome challenger steering wheel.
-Auto Meter gauges.
-Fire extinguisher.
-RJS Custom Racing seat belts (front and rear).
SUSPENSION:
-Gabriel Stryder adjustable shocks @ all corners.
-F-41 front swaybar, lowered stance.
Thanks for sharing your Chevelle with us Chris!!
We really need your support!!!
Al McKenzie, Box 68, Porthill Idaho, 83853
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