Hello, let me just breifly describe myself.
My name is Robby, i live in Anaheim California, and I am 17 years old. Recently i just purchased a chevrolet chevelle it's a 1972. It runs tranny shifts fine starts up, but it needs work. I just want to describe how i want my car to be/sound. I want the chevelle to have a good sound when i rev it, so i heard about "flowmasters" i expereinced them with a 71 duster and it was a 318 v8 it sounded beautiful, so i am eager to see/hear how flowmasters run on my chevelle. I also want to have msd ignition on it. The car is going to be an everyday driver, but i want it to be a great high performance car as well. I am not sure on exactly how the few mods i would like work, i just know on a car i heard it sounded great and was great pick up, i know flowmasters are part of the muffler system and it helps for performance for gas as well, and i know msd ignition deals with the gas flow but that's all i know about it. I was curious if anyone here is sort of in the same boat as me. i make 7.40 an hr so i am not rich.. haha. I want to know how to make this car run as best as it can for now untill i can afford to put a lot more money into it, (as i plan on getting another job in late July.)
I plan to take the car to a mechanic of my family for him to get it in presentable condition (engine wise) but i still want the high performance parts so it can run fast, and loud.
If anyone has any idea on how i can get started or any ideas it would be greatly appreciated, the chevy has a lot of potential and i plan to bring every ounce of it out!
Sorry my thread was sort of long.
Thanks for your future replies/suggestions, hopt to talk to all you chevelle/car lovers soon!
Robby
Also, i have AIM my aim is Multiflame186
Thanks agian.

Do a little at a time. Exhaust is a good place to start. What engine are you working with now?

Exhaust is an excellent place to start. The MSD... do it if that is what you really want, but you could probably spend your money better at this stage. You will notice a bigger difference by doing other mods first. Fill us in on what you have though. What engine, cam, intake, carb, etc. We can fill you in on how you can get the best for your money.

Thanks for such the fast replies, i'm really excited on getting started thanks guys!!
Okay, all i know about the engine is a 350 pretty sure it's all stock, not sure what the chevelles came stock with so not sure on anything else. I will concentrate on what you guys suggest i should do first, i just want to make it presentable to my grandparents too since they supported the funds.
Thanks agian guys !
:)
hope to talk soon

Oh and i just made a photobucket page with pictures of the chevelle.
http://s63.photobucket.com/albums/h141/Chevy722/
I will take picture of the engine tommrow, it's dark out right now

Congrats on the car man...(I remember how excited I was when I first brought my 71 home...couldnt stop looking under the hood;) .

Im 21 myself...and consider myself a newbie next to these guys on Team chevelle...(you'll find a TON of knowledge on this board!) But I think depending on what youve got now (How stock that 350 really is) that you could start with an intake/headers and maybe a 4 barrel carb (if its got the stock 2 barrel still). That should give you more bang for the buck at this stage. Flows are great..and if your after sound..go with the 40 series. If your pipes arent rusted...just buy the mufflers themselves and have them welded on, that'll save ya cash for now(thats what I did...worked fine...Im not rich either if ya get my drift..lol) as for cam specs n' such...I'll leave that for the more experienced guys since thats where my knowledge takes a nose dive..haha;) by the way..Welcome to team chevelle!

Welcome and good luck with your ride.

Thanks for all the warm welcomes!!
Ok so far, i got the car towed to a local mechanic my father has known/worked with for a long time so i know and so does my dad that we won't get jerked around with. He is going to flush the radiator (he specializes in them) and will also replace the pipe that goes to the gas tank (right after i bought the car my father and i saw it was bent and it doesn't accept gas as it goes in and halfway through the pipe is bent and it leaks through the holes :) so you all knew my father and i were thrilled to find this out hahahha.,
Anyway once he does those few things, he will do a "mini" tune up to get it in running decent order, after that i plan to take it to a shop near my house (cannons muffler) for those of you who live in the OC area it's located in La Habra. He will install 40 series dual flowmasters hopefully it's in my pricerange he quoted me of 300-400 for a total and i know that's fair, but not sure if he knew i wanted dual. That is the plan after that, i don't know where to start, i want to get a 4 barrel on it too, i just want it to be in good running order so i can replace the inside like the seats/carpet/upholsterey. Any sugegstions/comments are greatly appreciated!
Thanks hope to talk to you car lovers soon.
Robby

welcome 722. You are on the right track the best improvements you can make ane to the exhaust and induction. they will be nessicary for all future modifications. headers and a free flowing exhaust are the first thing to be done on any performance application. good luck and just keep working on it. To have a nice ride even if it's not completed is worth all of the money and time spent.

Ronnie

Greetings again all, thanks for the replies and suggestions.
I just wanted to give you all an update on my car.
I found out some car regestration troubles, (mainly it not being on NON ops when the person i bought it off of said it was so now its over 380 to regester it) that's just the small part of the big problems, but anyway i found out the car is worth a pretty penny once it's in good shape so that's good news, and i also found out a lot of the parts are worth a lot alone too, but the main thing i am stoaked about is, my whole cooling system is getting attention. the radiator is getting to see if it is salvageable (found out my cooling system was about to meet it's end right before i took it in) thermusstat water pump and my gas tank the pipe leading to the tank is being replaced (the pipe was pinched so no gas could make it to the tank, and the gas floater is being looked at too missreadings) So once i get the car back which should be at latest this wenesday i am hoping i am very excited to get it back and to start slowly customizing it. The car should run so much better with those little things done, shortly after i get it back, i plan to do oil change, tranny change, spark plugs, oil filter (of course goes with oil change!) and maybe brake change i think it might need that. After that i can safely drive the car knowing it should get me pretty much anywhere safely. I'm just excited to get the car back so i can actually drive it to work and be independent lol... I'm sure most men here understand the freedom that is felt when you first get your license and your first car.. haha. it's an awesome feeling.
Anyway that is the update for now, i'm hoping for the best, wish me luck talk to you all soon!!
Robby

grab a wrench, a flashlight, and a chilton's... good luck man you definately found the right place to ask questions

Concrats on the car fella! You bet your a$$ we all remember our first car and what it felt like to floss around town on our own the first time. Since you say you arent rich youll be real glad you purchased a chevy instead of a ford. With the 350 you got one of the tuffest, time proven, and highest bang for your buck
engines in existance. i echo the other guys here, but ill just say been nice if you could have added at least some small tube headers while you had the exhaust done. Right now it will only add another $100 but if you wait till later ( and you will need it later ) then you have to pay the muffler shop to mate them up to your pipes again. Now is the time to do that, then turn your attention when you build back up money, to the carb. Just a note here your going to be tempted to go out and grab some junk used holley, be very careful when doing this because you get yourself into a lot of intermittent tuning problems that you have no way of knowing. Example would be worn throttle blade shafts and such. I had to learn this the hard way you are better off grabbing a new 650DP or something when you save up the money.


M2c- I run Camaro's but i love the 68-72 chevelles too, good luck with your project it will never be as fun to you as it is now!!!!!

I was 17 when i bought my first car, a 1970 Chevelle. First thing i did was a complete tune up,new belts,hoses,replaced timing chain and gears,new water pump, cleaned and repainted the engine & engine bay for apperance aswell. Then i took my Chevelle to a local exhaust shop, Custom Pipes & Mufflers, and had a new dual exhaust system installed. Then i just cruised around, saving money for a complete engine build later on. I was real pleased with the car, enjoyed driving around high school with it, and had lots of fun in it!
I think your going in the right direction with it,tune up,& exhaust. Wouldnt be a bad idea to look in to headers either. Later down the road, a good intake and carb would be a good addition. Good luck with your ride! Good to see a young teenage motorhead buying a Chevy instead of Rice!

Welcome to the young chevelle owners club! LOL, jk. They actually do make good daily drivers (unless you have to pay for your own gas like me), but it's well worth it. The only thing i would suggest is to check the motor and get the number of the front pad. EVERYONE who is anyone selling a chevelle with a small block will sayit's a 350 when, in reality, it's a 307. Just check to make sure! The parts are the same...to an extent. For example, some high-flow parts are really neccesary, and can hinder, the "performance" of a 307. Good Luck!

Also, learn about your car. For example, does it have drums all around? 12-bolt rear end? smog? pg/350/400? etc...

hey i was in your shoes before. Im 18 and i got my 68 chevelle when i was 14, learned alot on the way which im sure u will too. heres my list of suggestions...

1. carb & intake (since its a small block chevy, edelbrock performer intakes are a dime a dozen used on ebay, and a simple holley 4brl, just 600cfm will work fine, no need to go crazy, if you shop around you can get these for a combined total around 100)

2. Get some headers (some summitracing headers would only run you like 100$)

3. get those 40 series flowmasters,

4. id say after that focus on appearance instead of mechanical, that thing is begging for some wider rear wheels/tires, 15x8's are always tasteful, or since your budgets low go get a maaco paint job.

5. after that save up your $$ for a couple months, get a cam, maybe heads if you really save up.

i know exactly where your coming from here, my dad came home with a junk 68 chevelle and i had no idea how anything worked, and i just sat in the thing in the garage for hours thinking off what i could take apart and put back together. have fun with her man, be safe

Robby,

Make your motor like a stock 1969 300hp/350 one and try to keep it quiet so as NOT to draw attention to yourself!! (At least I assume you have a 350??)...

I say, '69 motor b/c they are up around 10 to 1 CR so that you can install a 268 to 272 cam that will talk to you as well as perform GREAT!!

A stock ignition is fine if in good shape so please consider spending that money on a set of headers and a good quiet exhaust system..

And no more than a 600 up to a 750 cfm Holley vacuum secondary carb on a Holley 300-36 true high-rise intake will do you fine!!

pdq67

Just wanted to give you all an update.
Got my car back from the shop, runs great. paid the guy 508 for the engine work and he didn't charge me full price since he knows my parents.
The repairs are as follows:
-Repaird my gas tank
-fuel filter
-fuel filter carb
-hoses
-back flush
-fan clutch
-water pump
-thermastate & gasket
-Radiator flush
Charged me 120 total for labor.
They did a lot of work, the car runs like a champ... i can't wait untill i do my tune up to make it even better..
Runs, purrrrrrrrrs
Getting it insured and regestered this monday, then the following week or week after i am taking it to a muffler shop, i know the guy he quoted me of 360 for dual flow masters with the 40 series. Im going to ask how much he wants for headers too, but i know it's going to be out of my budget but i will ask anyway.
Right now im trying to concentrate on the body, like brake lights dont work nor do the blinkers, i think it's a fuse so i will replace those as soon as i get the car regestered this monday. That's it for now, i just wanted to also say that my mechanic said he is almost 100% on the engine being a 350. PRetty stoaked, next big step is the flows i just can't wait to get it done. I'll take a picture of the engine too when i regester it (right now it's at my fathers girlfriends house)
That's it for now, i will let you all know how it is going on the big steps!
Thanks for all the support guys :)
Robby