Hey, my name is Brad Jackson, I'm 17 years old and live in Southwest VA. I own a 1972 Chevelle SS which i've had since I was 8 years old. The car is Torch Red w/ Black Interior. Its not perfect, but considering it was a father and son project it is priceless to me. It has a 350 small block w/ a Quad 4 BBL. The car was a factory automatic w/ a colum shifter (HATE IT). I want to put a set of racing seats, console, and a hurst or B&M Ratchet shifter in it but my dad says it will ruin the car's value. Well anywho hello to everyone and could someone please tell me how to tell if a '72 is a true SS.

Thanks,
Brad Jackson

Welcome aboard, sorry I cant help on the true SS. But someone on here will be able to help. They may ask you for some info from your VIN # so have it handy. Bill

Welcome Brad, this is the BEST chevelle site.
By the way, I agree with your dad.
Ron

Welcome Brad, SS info here http://www.chevelles.com/shop/ss_ident.html

Dad's can be like that. I can still hear my Dad back in the early 70s when I put headers on my 64 Chevelle SS, the bolts were near impossible to get on, to the point we had to grind a wrench so that we could tighten the bolts. All throughout the ordeal he cussed those headers up one side and down the other, He said " If Chevy wanted headers on this car they would have put them on at the factory!" Still a moment I cherish about things I did with my Dad who has since passed.

Young Mr. Jackson I too agree with the dad, that's why we are all here today looking for the parts the previous owners of our cars threw out some 30 + years ago. Welcome to the club. JN

Welcome :beers:

My '69 Malibu was a father/son project, and I will say that Dads are smarter than they appear :D All of the stuff that dad wouldn't let me do to my car is the stuff that I wouldn't want on it anymore if I had done it. That was only 5 years ago, but my tastes have changed, and I'm glad Dad didn't let me do stuff like shave the door handles, french the antenna, stick a scoop on my hood, paint the bumpers, and spend my money on some overpriced billet wheels that just scream "90s". :D

yep,this site is theTOP DOG!!!!!! wecome--bob h 67RAT

Welcome.Mines bench with auto on the column.Have grown to really love mine.

Will it ruin the car's value? Maybe...and maybe not....but I think more will appreciate a factory column shifted car as opposed to some jimmy-wrigged aftermarket shifter that sticks out like a sore thumb...same thing for the seats.....what's even worse is when those who convert from column to floor shifts leave the shifter nub on the column....but it's all in what you want to do....good luck.

how about a compromise. Convert it over to factory style buckets and console. that wont hurt the value unless its some number matching rare car

I agree with Tom. First thing to look for to tell if you're car is an SS is the dash. Is it a sweep dash or does it have round gauges? I know dashes can be yanked, etc., but if the car is original, that's a give away. Other then that would be the VIN and the build sheet. Welcome to the TC! :thumbsup:

The dash is origional w/ round gauges and the 1st 4 digits are 1D37. So i'm guessing its a true SS. I'm not getting rid of the column shifter because of the hell my dad is raising, so i'm going to put a set of Torque Thrust 2s on it and change the rear-end gears from .273s or somewhere in that range to .355s. Thanks for the info on everything. This site kicks major ass.

Welcome.

I disagree with your dad for couple of reasons -

1. You state its a father sone project, you've had it since you were 8 and to you its "priceless" - doesnt sound like your going to sell it soon and are just in this to turn a dime.

2. Anything that is removed from the car so that something can be added does not have to be thrown away or sold, thus, it can be put back to stock form with some work.

3. If your not cutting, hacking, etc. then every mod is a bolt on so how is this going to hurt the value of the vehicle (see #2)

If your talking value then your talking resale and if resale is not an issue, why talk value? Plan to take out a college loan and use the car for collateral?

But its a father son project and so your father should have some say in the direction of the car. Too bad, though....it really deserves a big block. :D

Just because it has a round dash doesn't mean its an SS. You could order a malibu with a gauge dash. Also, I doubt an SS would come with a 2.73 gear but obviously many things can be changed out over the years.

Find that buildsheet!!

If you like the car as much as you say, it doesn't really matter that is a true SS or not. It's still a chevelle.

Don't feel bad, my dad wouldnt let me put headers on my 68. He said I would go through collector gaskets and manifold gaskets every year or so....
He was right...but he did show me a neat trick on using exhaust donuts at the collectors though;)

But, anywho, welcome to the site and keep us posted on the Chevelle resto!

i disagree with your dad, my car is also a father son project but i've only had it since i was 15. Everything i've wanted to do he has supported 100% sure he was against some stuff at first due to the cost, but it was more an issue of not wanting me to make a mistake or not plan things out.

I have a b&m quicksilver in the car now, i cant imagine having a staple or column shift, just no fun. I like being able to put it in 1st and go through the gears so easily without worrying about putting it into nuetral or reverse accidentally (the rachet action only lets you move up or down one gear at a time once in drive, so only n, d, 2, 1 are accessible).

i would do it if i were you, im swapping in a 4-speed next. Just make sure if you do you dont buy a used shifter, mine acts up all the time, i hate that aspect of it, the previous owner deffinately got it used and it gets hung up and ive had it go from third gear into 1st on the highway because it just skipped over 2nd, that was not cool, thank god with my 2.73's and at my speed the tranny was able to handle it but still if hte shifter was new and working properly that wouldn't happpen.

Will it ruin the car's value? Maybe...and maybe not....but I think more will appreciate a factory column shifted car as opposed to some jimmy-wrigged aftermarket shifter that sticks out like a sore thumb...same thing for the seats.....what's even worse is when those who convert from column to floor shifts leave the shifter nub on the column....but it's all in what you want to do....good luck.


I resemble the above statement;except for the jimmy rigged part that is.

I have yet to have ANYONE say anything negative about my set up. Plus, I did it myself and I take full satisfaction in knowing I DID IT. I don't appreciate the column shift, it stuck out and was much uglier than the little nub sticking out of my column. I've had numerous people tell me that the seats look great in the car, even a 61 year old mother; my buddies mom, who I only met a few weeks ago for a brief moment.

So, do what you want to your car young man...it's yours. I fight everyday to help give you the freedom to do it, so If it's ok with your dad...I give you permission too. ;) ;) :)

The car is a true ss. Finally found out. 12 bolt rear end, pod guages, 1D37, and the build sheet. Talked to the origional ower the other day, him and dad are good friends. He found the sheet and gave it to me if i would let him drive the car down the road and back. So i did and he loves the new version compared to how it was when he had it.

I agree with Wallace, it's your car, do as you please. Since your making it sound as if the car will never be sold, then why not build the car to your own liking. Your the one that's gonna spending the money and driving the car, right? Or, in respect to you dad, you can fix the car up nicely, then when you hit 18 or move out, then you can add the little things that you want to do. Anyway, the most important thing is that you and your dad have fun in building this project. If you want to keep it bone stock and looking like it just left the factory, then that's great! You can always buy another Chevelle and build that one to you liking :thumbsup: :D Good luck man and have fun :)