i bought a 72 silver 2dr chevelle that i was told was an SS.when it was delivered it had a sweep style dash,10bolt,flat hood with a turbo 400 and a 350 motor.so i started to dismantle the car and have it in hundreds of pieces to part out.
after i had it apart the floors,rockers,trunk floor,rear innerstructure that holds rear bumper,lower cowl sections,quarters,inner and outer wheel houses,fenders and doors are all very rusty.but i found the build sheet in the rear seat and it says that it is an SS with M21,396,12bolt 3:31 posi rear sway bar,cowl hood,tilt,tach and is a silver car with black bucket seat interior.the frame is also bent and rusty.
should i part the car or try to fix it?i will have to round up all the SS stuff that is gone also.

71 ss rusty or rusted thru?

rusted thru,all i would be starting with is the top of the cowl and a roof.

Yikes! I woudnt bother..

wow ......I know folks are talented but time and money are factors. Yet I hate to hear SS cars left to die

I always think when it's going to cost more to repair it than what you can buy one done for your better off parting it and putting the money towards something that's in better shape. Just my opinion...
I'd also say if it's a car you have had for a while and it has sentimental value... I'd probably restore it.

IF it is a SS and depending on the job you do on the body work you will get your money back when you sell it depending on how much you paid for the car. keep in my all these chevelle part store sell every single part you can ever need to build these cars back to knew everything but the frame currently, But with all these replacement parts you should be able to drop $2000.00 into sheet metal and get to work. A good true restored SS car will bring in around 25,000-35,000 easily.

according to the last post one guy is starting with a piece of a cowl and some engine parts. i think that you are almost there.

Sounds like there is not much left to part out.
Got any pics?

Can't polish a turd.
but if you have all the time money and resources to do it. then do it.
otherwise sell parts and have it crushed.

No don't sell parts sell the car post the pics on ebay with the build sheet stating its a SS you will get alot of emails about it but evently i buyer. I hate to see another SS die and become a soda can or something.

They aren't making any more of them.

If you can't fix it, perhaps someone else would buy it whole and fix it up.

John,
To me, body work is the most costly part of a restoration, by far. Probably because I can't do it and have to pay to get it done. Interior, drivetrain and chassis are not a problem for me. All my projects are chosen along those guidelines.
IMO, if it's really rusted that bad, part it out and cut your losses.

If you want to play or learn .... have fun
if your thinking your going to make money ......FORGET it !!!
even when you get done IF you ever do .....
it will still be nothing but a bunch of miss matched parts ....
nothing more then a CLONE with a build sheet that says it USED to be .....
IMO let it go ... buy something else solid to start with

No don't sell parts sell the car post the pics on ebay with the build sheet stating its a SS you will get alot of emails about it but evently i buyer. I hate to see another SS die and become a soda can or something.

Definately the right idea IMO, if you're not up to the challenge of restoring this SS then sell it to someone who is, pocket the cash and buy the project you're comfortable with. Don't part it out-sell it with the build sheet!

Maybe nobody read the original post correctly ... but the car is already parted!! There's not an original part left on the car. This is typical of many SS car's that found the junk yard.

The ONLY thing making the car an SS is the build sheet paper, and personally that seems awefull boring.

Personally, I'd do like suggested and throw the cowl, VIN, and build sheet on Ebay. There seem to be tons of stupid people on there.

Definately the right idea IMO, if you're not up to the challenge of restoring this SS then sell it to someone who is, pocket the cash and buy the project you're comfortable with. Don't part it out-sell it with the build sheet!

Sad to see an SS die, but I wouldn't bother restoring if it's in that bad of shape and all the original SS parts are gone. There's better cars out there to be had.

I think he has plenty of parts to do this car.. He has a ton of Chevelles might be worth it for him he has the parts

thanks for the input guys.i also hate to see another SS destroyed.i just not sure i already have to many projects and i know if i started on this one i would not want to sell it.but i think almost every chevelle deserves a chance to be brought back to life so that is why it is hard to make this decision.

I wouldn't crush I think the build sheet adds value to somone that will build it like a body man somewhere.

whats your version of rusted out? where did the car come from? got any pictures? I'd sell it as a roller with the buildsheet.

You did not kill it.
It was dead .......until someone with more money than brains wants to restore it.
Like a typical chevelle luver.

any car is restorable if you want to bad enough.

ok heres another way to go. i am not hating on the guys who wish thay had an ss. but according to everyone i talk to. ok not everyone. but they think that the only way to document as ss is the build sheet with matching numbers to car. so that right there my friend is worth a truck load of clones. never the less it can be fixed. even if you just put any old ratmotor in it with any transmission the is along the lines of the build sheet you got a great find. i have no build sheet for my car. but i am not worried about that. my car will stand on it's owne two feet. mine is documented since new. 3 owners all family same. area within 10 miles it's whole life. but remember you just have to set short term goals that lead to the same place at some point of time. good luck. i wish you the best.

Put it back together as best possible, then run it on ebay. It will sell.

-Todd

Me personally, unless it was a 65 Z16 or something, I wouldn't bother.

Brian

You still haven't answered the question about the degree of rust. If all those body panels are rusted through, you will have a chore replacing them. If it is surface rust, media blasting or acid bath will clean it right up for you. Then all have to do is replace the rusted through panels.

everything has rust holes,rockers are rusted away.the floor supports where the seat belts mount to are gone.if you kick the body hard enough the roof will fall to the ground

it all depends on what you want.if you are building it to sell you will not get all your money back. my wife wanted a 67 conv. what we bought was rusted. we now have a rust free conv, all though i bought 1200.00 worth of sheet metal. the car will go to my grand son. so it was built drive and enjoy and to keep. not to make a profit

everything has rust holes,rockers are rusted away.the floor supports where the seat belts mount to are gone.if you kick the body hard enough the roof will fall to the ground


Take the VIN, Cowl Tag, Buildsheet & title, and add them to your personal collection, and crush the car. It is not worth it. Do not sell the VIN/BS as that is illegal. Or send the tags/sheet to me for my collection :D (seriously) Got a few Packards, and a bunch of mid 60s stuff, I am trying to add atleast 5 things to the collection everytime I hit the junkyard.


-Todd

Only when you don't have enought money to fix it.:D