I purchased a '72 because of the VIN 1D80W.... verifying it as a true SS 454. Although it is a CA built unit, It is fairly dinged up, with small rust holes in the typical fender and quarter locations. I have a second pair of fenders in the same condition. Another problem is that although the enegine has been hopped up, it is out of a '79 so it's not #'s matching. I much prefer the style of a '70 and could replace the front end with those components but they seem almost as scares and not true the original. I'm new to this and not sure where to go with the project. Suggestions please.

I feel that the numbers matching thing is way over rated unless your into the 100 point show thing. Your already out there since you don't have the original motor so why not not build it the way you want.
A nice Chevy on the road is worth two Ford's in the garage!

www.Jeffry72.50megs.com (http://www.Jeffry72.50megs.com)

tcrbjone1,
You build it the way YOU want it!!
I took my '67 EC which was a original 6 cyl.,3 speed column shift car and put a 468 BB, T400, 4.11 12 bolt in it; hung a SS hood and SS 427 badging on it, (which we all know there is no such thing as a '67 SS Elky), and I'm enjoying the hell out of it. Get thumbs up everywhere I go. The wife and I do cruises every weekend and even made a few trips to the track.
It's all about what YOU want. http://www.chevelles.com/forum/smile.gif

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Bill Burke
TC#613
ACES#3920
'67 El Camino-Finished? Never!
'80 Camaro RS
'77 Camaro LT
'89 Buttstain LX
67 El Rat-original (http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/elkyonjacks.jpg)
67 El Rat-Cruisin' (http://www.chevelles.com/showroom/billscaminopassside.jpg)

Make a list of the things you need/want for your car. Buy the assembly and body manuals.
Look for these items, go to swap meets, check out the parts for sale adds on this site, and ebay if you care to.
Original parts for 70's are fairly available.
You can't just go to the store and buy them, but they are out there. The quality is not always related to the price. I prefer the old fashion method of trading parts, but not much of that going on these days.
Good luck.

Got plenty of $$$s? Have you ever worked for almost $ .00 nothing per hour?

Ours was going to be a simple restoration. What does that mean?

Don't know, and actually "Simple Restoration" are 2 words that are not titled correctly in the dictionary.

Although we went full bore, if you do almost all of the work yourself, you can keep it within some type of "Budget".

Make sure you get "All Of The Rust". We have, but it gets complicated and can "Try The Soul!"

Beadblasted everything, powdercoated the frame and all it's parts, body wash, body work, etching primer, exoxy primer, sanding, priming, sanding, priming, more body mork, on and on and ?

Even though the body is ready to be painted, we decided to cut out the metal dash top and get all of the rust between it and the body where the windshield sits, Por-15, on and on and ?

Bought the GMPP HO 330/350 Crate Motor, 4L60 Trans, Performance Parts galore, then decided to go with a Comp Cams "True Roller" Setup. Almost done with "Redoing" it (Don't ask what this involves).

Ye Gads!!!!! People must think our members are "Crazy"!!!!! Not really, just "Enjoying Ourselves".

Good luck, keep all of us informed.

Hope this helps.

Team Members Forever

Richard and Judy White, MAXX2



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