Hey,

I'm Ben I'm a proud member of Long Island Chevelles (member#51) and I am restoring my 1972 Chevelle. This won't be a fancy frame off resto but will rather be a budget two stall garage resto.......I will need to basically do a ***** load of work to just make it roadworthy. As I go along I will find more problems and "suprises" (please let the next be a build sheet!!). I want to share my long journey that I am about to embark.....well....re-embark, moving kinda stalled my last attempt at doing the resto.....but I have a bigger garage now! Just gotta clean it out so I can put my car in there........LOL..........ok.....I want to share my journey with all of you Chevelle fannatics so I can make use of my camera, entertain you, and hopefully get some much needed advice for my resto........Did I mention I'm only 14? Well....let the fun begin!

I'll post a few pics of the car in the stages of my "good doings" to it.

First.....when I first got it.

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c326/chevellekid/My%201972%20Chevelle%20Heavy%20Chevy/100_0469.jpg
Day 4 of owning it....I washed it...and polished the chrome stuff...but no pics of that for some reason.
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c326/chevellekid/My%201972%20Chevelle%20Heavy%20Chevy/100_0467.jpg
Did I mention I coulden't get a good camera angle?
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c326/chevellekid/My%201972%20Chevelle%20Heavy%20Chevy/100_0468.jpg
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c326/chevellekid/My%201972%20Chevelle%20Heavy%20Chevy/100_0474.jpg


Stage two: Post move

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c326/chevellekid/My%201972%20Chevelle%20Heavy%20Chevy/Chevellepics001.jpg
SNOW!!!

Stage 3....nice weather means work can be done......
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c326/chevellekid/My%201972%20Chevelle%20Heavy%20Chevy/HeavyChevyPics001.jpg
Did I mention I don't really like Vinyl??
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c326/chevellekid/My%201972%20Chevelle%20Heavy%20Chevy/HeavyChevyPics018.jpg
Some ******* decided to go on a kicking rampage on my car.........


Ok.....so that's where I stand.....I need ro orgainze my Photobucket but i'm too lazy......just look at the pics and go OOOO AAHHH.....

http://s30.photobucket.com/albums/c326/chevellekid/My%201972%20Chevelle%20Heavy%20Chevy/?start=0

Tommrow I finish stripping the interior!!

Ben Kenobi!

Keep the updates coming as you make progress. Though it's often a long journey and can be expensive, rebuilding a car is one of the most rewarding things you will likely ever do for yourself.

where did u find the car? looks like she needs work. if u have a welder and metal u can do it all yourself! good luck!!!

Hey,


Ben Kenobi!

Very nice OBEWAHN:thumbsup:May the Force be with you.

I was waiting for someone to catch that....LOL

I've bee n working on stripping the interior all day today......just came in to take a quick break. I'll grab some pics of the damage.

where did u find the car? looks like she needs work. if u have a welder and metal u can do it all yourself! good luck!!!

One of my dad's co-workers had the car......it was her husbands and she wound up with it after they devorced. It was offered to us for $500 and it was running at the time so we decided if nothing else there will still be a nice motor to put into something else! But I kinda became attached to the car and decided to keep it....Its always been a NY car so it is VEEEEERY rusty.....but I think it will be worth it when I'm done with it. The body is going to be painted and striped like a Heavy Chevy, along with the interior (aside from a roll cage and racing harnesses), the only mods i plan on doing are to the motor, driveline and put some new Cragars on it.

Ben Kenobi!

Ok Progress!!!

Here is what the interior looked like.....
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c326/chevellekid/My%201972%20Chevelle%20Heavy%20Chevy/c6698a0a.jpg

Here's it NOW!!!
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c326/chevellekid/My%201972%20Chevelle%20Heavy%20Chevy/Newer%20Pics/HeavyChevyPics020.jpg

More pics are being uploaded!!

Ben Kenobi!!!

I admire your enthusiasm!

I like your signature Andy...........it's the basic rule I followed while stripping it!! LMAO

Ben Kenobi!

Looks like it might have been Flame Orange Metallic originally, gonna paint it that color again?

*waves hand like Jedi*

"...You WILL send me your door panels...." :D

How long did it take you to strip the interior? Are you keeping track of everything and where it goes? Not to nag, I'm just at the same spot you are, and I'm amazed at all the little screws and pieces to keep track of. If I didn't have my ziploc bags, and digital camera, theres no way this thing will get back together...

I think the pics will explain all........the black stain area is POR 15 type stuff...........it's rust conversion......I removed the 10lbs (aggh) of bondo completley from the drivers side quarter and most of the passenger side quarter..........I think there is still about 2 1/2lbs of bondo lfet on the pass quarter..........the car is like 3 inches thiner....lmao.......................as I am stripping off the bondo I am also discovering the places where patch panels were added and bondo was lathered on to make it look smooth..............yeah my car is a bondo bucket............

It is a bit odd though because the whole drivers quarter was replaced at one time or another and i think the car was hit when fairly new.........it looks like one of those cheapo bodyshop repairs.........i dunno......still finding out....

Here are some pics!!

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c326/chevellekid/My%201972%20Chevelle%20Heavy%20Chevy/strippin%20the%20quarters/HeavyChevyPics037.jpg

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c326/chevellekid/My%201972%20Chevelle%20Heavy%20Chevy/strippin%20the%20quarters/HeavyChevyPics038.jpg

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c326/chevellekid/My%201972%20Chevelle%20Heavy%20Chevy/strippin%20the%20quarters/HeavyChevyPics044.jpg

More pics can be seen here!!
http://s30.photobucket.com/albums/c326/chevellekid/My%201972%20Chevelle%20Heavy%20Chevy/strippin%20the%20quarters/?sc=1&multi=15&addtype=local&media=image

Ben Kenobi!!

I've always liked the Heavy Chevy. It looks like your car was Placer Gold judging by the jambs. On that note, hear's a picture from the '72 brochure of a Placer Gold '72 (it's from the 2-3 page spread and has a seam down the center).

I've always liked the Heavy Chevy. It looks like your car was Placer Gold judging by the jambs. On that note, hear's a picture from the '72 brochure of a Placer Gold '72 (it's from the 2-3 page spread and has a seam down the center).looks like mohave gold code 63 .placer gold is a lighter golder color.I have 2 72's here one of each color.

looks like mohave gold code 63 .placer gold is a lighter golder color.I have 2 72's here one of each color.
:thumbsup:

my god 500 bucks for the chevelle, i wouldnt even think, i would just buy it. the parts alone on that are worth alot lol keep up the good work!!!! i'm in the middle of doing my fenders. mines a buffalo car (made in oshawa), so alot of rust also!!!!

whats cool is that the 300 deluxe and heavy chevy have the same interoir, so u can make a clone easy (if it wasnt a true heavy chevy). but its funny because mine looks exactly like yours (minus the vinyl top).

have u found any build sheets? or option lists etc etc in the car?????


cheers!
Bill

no build sheets yet.....the mice ate the interior one....$#@$#.......but i still have to drain the gas tank so im hoping to find that one.......

And for the ever so popular color debate...the color is................................................ ..........MOHAVE GOLD!!!!

And yes I am going to re-paint it that color.

Ben Kenobi!

how are you adding pics? i would like to show u what mine looks like???

did u get a qoute for the price of stripping and painting? i;m at that stage now!

Placer Gold i believe is known as 53 code, Buick and Oldsmobile had the exact color, but called it something else.

What's a rust free 72 Heavy Chevy, gold car, with original drive train, worth nowadays? Ball park? Gonna need a full resto, just trying to figure out what to offer the guy, let me know, thanks!

http://www.BartonekDragRacing.com/webfilez/heavy1.jpg

http://www.BartonekDragRacing.com/webfilez/heavy2.jpg

http://www.BartonekDragRacing.com/webfilez/heavy3.jpg

http://www.BartonekDragRacing.com/webfilez/heavy4.jpg

texastornado,
If the floors and trunk r good, its work it to buy. u cant find an almost rust free body anywhere these days (without someone already doing it). does the car run? if it runs offer him 1,500 for it or something in the ball park. its work restoring!!!! for the car being work ni the state, work more than 1,500 for sure!!!

any idea on where to find original door panels, seat vinyl or floor vinyl? My car is done but would love to put original interior back into it. ALOT of people including these resto shops have no idea what the original interior is called. Any help would be appriciated.

Car was snatched up using the "buy it now option" on eBay for 2K, before the seller could get back with me on my offer of 1500........oh well, snooze you lose!

Good luck Ben. I have a 14 year old that I'm trying to convince he needs to start NOW on a car so it will be that much farther along by the time he gets his licence, so you're wise beyond your years! Could you get a vinyl top on a Heavy Chevy?

Could you get a vinyl top on a Heavy Chevy?

Somewhere :( I have a factory photo of a new '72 Heavy Chevy with a vinyl top. The car was white with a black top, stripes & interior, plus whitewalls & Rally Wheels without trim rings.


Hey Texastornado, what's your take on the presence of a functional Cowl Induction hood on a Heavy Chevy? Most say it wasn't available. Chevy did offer the Cowl Induction with either big block on a '72 SS, so why not on a 402 Heavy Chevy? It is very possible that it was upgraded anywhere along the way during the last 34 years.

Sorry for not being here for a while...........life and bad weather has been getting in the way of me working on my Chevelle. I stripped and primered both quarters, hope to have pics tommrow or later today!

Thanks for hanging in with me!!


Ben Kenobi!

P.S. The door panels are the same as the 300 model of chevelle.........so the should be available.....i think.

you wont find original 300 deluxe panels, heavy chevys also are hard to find original. u will only find repops...

Ben keep the pics coming!!!!

Keep up the good work...At least you got your car together and with interior...I got neither.

Ok...more progress made!!!!!

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c326/chevellekid/My%201972%20Chevelle%20Heavy%20Chevy/strippin%20the%20quarters/HeavyChevyPics051.jpg

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c326/chevellekid/My%201972%20Chevelle%20Heavy%20Chevy/strippin%20the%20quarters/HeavyChevyPics053.jpg

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c326/chevellekid/My%201972%20Chevelle%20Heavy%20Chevy/strippin%20the%20quarters/HeavyChevyPics054.jpg

You can see how much of a ***** job they did with the quarter repairs.........oh well...new quarters on both sides!!!!

Ben Kenobi!!

Awesome, I have seen way rustier cars.

Keep up the good work.... hopefully you can bring it to the CanAm show with your fellow club memebers some day!

D**N, why can't I find a car for 500 bucks....never in the right place at the right time.

haha, i dont think anyone will ever find deals liek that again!

got a layer or primer on the chevelle.....just to make it one color..........

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c326/chevellekid/My%201972%20Chevelle%20Heavy%20Chevy/HeavyChevyPics061.jpg

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c326/chevellekid/My%201972%20Chevelle%20Heavy%20Chevy/HeavyChevyPics062.jpg

Chevellekid

make sure u seal the front window. lokks alittle exposed!!!!!

I didnt care if the windshield got paint on it or not....it was too cracked so it was goin away anyways....lol

Ben

gas tank willbe dropped tommrow in order to find the buildsheet! tank loks to have never been dropped but im concerned on what the 30+ yrs of road grime might have done to it.....hopefully it will be readable!
Ben

keep the pics coming!

*siiiiggggh* no build sheet.....is there any way of getting to know just what came on this car?

Ben

if u have the VIN, i can send it to my friend who works for GM. in vintage section. if its built in canada u can get allll the info, if in the states, u cant get anything. its worth a shot. i didnt it and got 40 pages of stuff :)

Congratulations Andy on your find. I own a documented 71 H.C. and just wanted to extend my hand in friendship and advice. If you need pics or help on your resto then I would be more then willing to offer it. I am in the process of getting my car ready for a semi-pro photo shoot when the weather and light up here in Toronto co-operate.

Should have them posted within the next two-three weeks.

Congrats and good luck!

keep pics coming!!!!

if u have the VIN, i can send it to my friend who works for GM. in vintage section. if its built in canada u can get allll the info, if in the states, u cant get anything. its worth a shot. i didnt it and got 40 pages of stuff :)
i have a 72 chevelle from cananda. can you help me?jamie


i have been watching you. all you do is work on your car. you have come a long ways. do not burn yourself out on this car. jamie

Private message me and we can talk ok? my car is canadian and got all the info needed!

Good luck with the car im in commack restoring a 1972 SS if you need any help let me know.

Sorry for the abscense......life has been happening...lol I started to fab up some trunk floors.......im too poor to buy the repros......im gonna use that money on quarters and interior floors. I'm just gonna rino line the trunk...its going to be a driver so the rubber mat or whatever went in there would only get dirty and stuff.

Hope to have pics and more progress soon!!!!

Ben

Click below to see my '72 Heavy Chevy. I even have the build sheet.
And I even trhew away the gold door panels when I was restoring the interior! Stupid me.
It looks like a SS - but I want to bring it back to the original orange color with the stripe.

Geez, I keep forgetting that this post is here...lol

My b-day was on sunday and my parents decided to let me do a Summit shopping spree!! I got some trunk floors, gastank straps, hoodpins, and some other stuff that I will mention when I find something to spend it on...lol!!

I'll post pics as soon as I get the parts!!

Ben Kenobi!!!

Geez, I keep forgetting that this post is here...lol

My b-day was on sunday and my parents decided to let me do a Summit shopping spree!! I got some trunk floors, gastank straps, hoodpins, and some other stuff that I will mention when I find something to spend it on...lol!!

I'll post pics as soon as I get the parts!!

Ben Kenobi!!!

Happy belated birthday Ben. Your car is coming along nicely. You have some great parents that give you a Summit shopping spree. Keep the pics coming as time allows.
Frank

I'm back!!!! Miss me??


The car has been sitting around doing nothing for a while....untill 2 weeks ago! My dad and I took the rusty floors out and put in the Goodmark ones!!!!

Some pictures would be appreciated I guess??

Ok you talked me into it...lol


http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c326/chevellekid/My%201972%20Chevelle%20Heavy%20Chevy/Trunk%20Floor%20Replacement/IMGP2326.jpg
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c326/chevellekid/My%201972%20Chevelle%20Heavy%20Chevy/Trunk%20Floor%20Replacement/IMGP2328.jpg
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c326/chevellekid/My%201972%20Chevelle%20Heavy%20Chevy/Trunk%20Floor%20Replacement/IMGP2329.jpg
Those patches were made to cover up the holes left by the savage who cut the floor to replace the shocks......*grrrrr*
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c326/chevellekid/My%201972%20Chevelle%20Heavy%20Chevy/Trunk%20Floor%20Replacement/IMGP2335.jpg
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c326/chevellekid/My%201972%20Chevelle%20Heavy%20Chevy/Trunk%20Floor%20Replacement/IMGP2336.jpg

No picture of the center section for some reason....hmmm....

I'll take one tommrow.

For now...that's it!

Ben

Great progress!!

No picture worty progress since these pictures, just getting minor details ironed out while we gather up money for the big stuff, like interior floors and quarter panels. We bought a set of heads at a swapmeet a while back, 64cc chambers and pinned studs. Also got a Comp Cams 292 Magnum from a friend, so once the heads have the valve seats cut they'll go in!

This week has been exciting, the car has been getting all of the details to make it run worked on and now all we have to do is redo the engine bay wiring and then the car will be fired for the first time in 2 years!!!

God I miss the sound of a V8 singing to the tune my right foot tells it to.

I finally turned 16 and have another car, for daily transportation....as long as it doesn't explode....

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c326/chevellekid/My%201971%20Ford%20Pinto/IMGP2397.jpg
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c326/chevellekid/My%201971%20Ford%20Pinto/IMGP2396.jpg
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c326/chevellekid/My%201971%20Ford%20Pinto/IMGP2395.jpg

Yeah....I bought a Pinto...lol

It's a '71 Pinto with a 1.6l inline 4...pure power....*heavy sarcasm*

That's all for now!

I will have a video of it running as soon as it fires!!!


Thanks!

Ben

man that pinto is sweet, and begging for a 283 :D

man that pinto is sweet, and begging for a 283 :D
I'm thinkin a 302 would have a little more punch...lol

I'm thinkin a 302 would have a little more punch...lol

Just wedge a big block in it and have FUN!

Tried to fire up the Chevelle today....no luck...got it to turn over but the wiring harness fried AGAIN.

So we're gonna rip it all out and re-wire the whole thing.....so much for being fired by Sunday.


:(:(:(:(

Chevelle Kid

Tried to fire up the Chevelle today....no luck...got it to turn over but the wiring harness fried AGAIN.

So we're gonna rip it all out and re-wire the whole thing.....so much for being fired by Sunday.


:(:(:(:(

Chevelle Kid


Hehe It fired up....

The problem was a simple ground problem, although the distributor does need to have some work done to it as it is worn out. That's saved for during the week and maybe the weekend. I need to find out weather or not the fuel line or the fuel pump went bad, as we are getting no fuel to the carb...we were filling the bowls up with gas to fire it up for 15 or so seconds. I'm going to disconnect the fuel line going into the fuel pump and stick it in a gas can and see if I can draw up gas from there and if not the pump is dead.

I will have a video of it running in a week or so, once I sort out some minor bugs and can get it to run for more than 15 seconds.


Ben

I really admire your hard work and dedication! The day will come when it will all pay off. Keep the updates coming! :thumbsup:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5a6at_9sZ2k


Says it all....hehe

your window has a crack in it.

Really? I never noticed...lol

I like your signature Andy...........it's the basic rule I followed while stripping it!!

Speaking of stripping. Save yourself a lot of greif and have your body guy strip the paint off of it, get rid of any bondo, and start with clean metal and primer. Trust me, quicker, cleaner and better.

Speaking of stripping. Save yourself a lot of greif and have your body guy strip the paint off of it, get rid of any bondo, and start with clean metal and primer. Trust me, quicker, cleaner and better.

I would be my body guy....:D I'm going to schoo, for autobody so I'm gonna do it all myself. And I allready stripped all of the bondo off last year. Took some time but came out good. If I can do it I'm not gonna paysomeone else to do it.

Hopefully by this time next year it will be in a paint booth at my school!!!


Ben

Well it's been a while since I have posted on this topic so here goes.

I had brought it to my school to do bodywork on and most came out good. The hood, trunk, doors, and the rood are ready for paint. The passenger side 1/4 was worked on and considering we had no repro 1/4s to work with it has about 4lbs of Bondo on it. It kept people busy while I did the interior floors so I'm not worried. Both 1/4s are going to be replaced over the summer and hopefully it'll come out good.

That's the good news on the body. Other good news is that I got the brakes sorted out, the motor runs strong and sounds sweet with Cherry Bomb glass packs coming off of the headers. I need to bend up the rest of the tubing so it comes to the rear wheel but for now it quiets the car down and makes the neighbors happy. They really did hate open headers...lol I also have been sorting out the dashboard wiring and have the Tachometer working, along with the speedo. Hopefully within the next few days or weeks I'll have all of them working.

Oh, the car does have some power...lol

YouTube - Chevelle Burnout
(sorry about the crap quality)
The school surprisingly didn't say anything about that either...lol

I'll post some pictures when more progress comes along!!

Ben

I'm baaaaack!!! I just got a job working for Engines by Elsasser in Miller Place, NY and have money!!!!

Car runs as strong as ever and does it very well. I rebuilt the rear axle and re-did the ignition and it runs and drives like a bat out of hell.

http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c326/chevellekid/My%201972%20Chevelle%20Heavy%20Chevy/BroncoIIPics065.jpg

It's gonna get torn down as soon as I can get the garage cleaned out for a restoration this winter. Wish me luck guys!!

Ben

looks good, i no what it feels like to be on a budget but when u stand back and look at it after u say its all worth it!