Hey,

Ive been a member for just over a year now, just lurking around sponging off the protouring section. I can say, that if you had plans set out for a build, just look over in this section, and whoops, there goes your plans....and budget if you let it. Not that its a bad thing, I could day dream on here for hours. Finally I got a chance to take some quick pictures over the weekend of mating my semi-assembled chassis to its body. Its been a slow year putting the chassis together. Don't laugh at my steering components....still deciding on a box, etc. The car started life as a white on white 307 powered mundane malibu. My goal for the build thus far, which is more resto-mod than pro-touring I guess you could say, is to have a confident driver my wife could handle while she hauls the kids around...and have a little fun while were at it. Future plans include either black, or dark blue paint, black leather interior, ss style hood, an carbureted, cammed LQ4, with an undecided automatic. We will see how that all sticks in the future. With that said, here's a quick break down of what's what!

CPP tubular control arms all the way around- dont grill me to hard, price was right
CPP new school 2" drop spindles
Big block springs-soon to make way for coil overs for the LQ4!!!
12" slotted/cross drilled rotors/big bore 2nd gen camaro style calipers
oem big block front sway bar-hope to change to a splined unit!
11" rear slotted/cross drilled rotors, caddy style calipers
12 bolt, dutchmen axles, richmond 3.90, detroit true trac
cpp 2" drop springs
addco rear sway bar
gm corvette rally's in the rear 275/60/15
gm monte carlo rally's in the front 235/60/15
ebay police caps

Comments and thoughts welcome, I look forward to keeping this build thread somewhat current.

Aaron

More pictures

Awesome to see another guy deep in a build on a 70'. I also agree surfing the forum is great info to save money on what to buy or do on your car but then it does get alittle crazy when you really get to see what other do and then it makes you open your idea's up to new directions. I think you have a pretty good game plan and over all view of what you will be really happy with so you family can all enjoy and be safe.

On another note how many kids do you have? I really like how all the bikes and toy cars are lined up in the driveway. Pretty funny to watch kids play:D. I have 3 myself and it looks as you might have at least 2.

Please keep us all up to speed on build pics and info, always nice to see others idea's on these cars:thumbsup:.

I have 3 kids, a 3 year old son, and 1 year old twin girls. I hope to have the car built in a few years, so once they are a little older, we can take the car out for ice cream...or whatever. The car has to be reliable, as we go on an annual car show jaunt into BC (roughly 400kms from my house) so its pretty curvy, and lots of elevation change. As long as it can accomplish that, I will be a happy camper.

A few updates, ran into some frame clearance issues. My cheapy welded in rear control arm supports are in the wrong spot. I thought they would be ok, but they hit the floor of the car, and push the body to far forward to bold the body to the frame.:confused: Not sure what to do about that yet. I considered cutting them off, and building a set to actually mount off the control arm mounting locations, but its already powdercoated. There looks to be enough room in the floor to clearance it without effecting the back seat.

The highlight of the week! I was really hoping to come across a 6.0L, but the word is out, trying to find one in decent shape up here is like trying to win the lottery. I did however end up with a 05 silverado half ton crew! Its got a 5.3, with 137k on the clock, poor thing looks like it took a hell of a hit. As far as I can tell, the motor/tranny/t-case/etc looks ok though. I know making some power is going to be a little more trying now, as I don't have the displacement, but it should make for a nice driver. I am just going to sacrifice the 5.3, the rest of the drivetrain is just spare parts for my tahoe. I know there are a few LS swap guys around, so hopefully someone with their little 327 can chime in with there recipe.

Here's my plans;

GMPP single plane carb intake (makes a little less power than the dual, but I just can't stand to look at it. The single just looks so damn sweet on these engines)

Some sort of 750dp carb, a buddy of mine is selling his demon (I here mixed reveiws on these though), or can't got wrong with a holley

GMPP LS6 hot cam, or maybe along the lines of a comp thumper, ( guess im looking for more bark than bite....lol) I am also going to run hydroboost, so as long as there is enough vacuum to carb it, I am open to any cam recommendation.

Champ LS3000 oil pan. Nice looking piece, and decent price considering. I would love to just find an f-body pan, but no luck locally. I might have to ebay it.

MSD 6LS- simple, Im not sure if I am mixing these up with edlebrock, but i heard the pills are a little more aggressive than desired, maybe someone can enlighten me!

I might even tear the top end down and clean up the heads a little bit...undecided there, and some lack of experiance.

As far as mounting, iI want to try and mount it as far back as conviently possible, I will have to look into, maybe Edlebrock, i really don't know yet.

I know they make headers for an A-body LS swap now, but most I have seen have huge primarys. I hear these engines are potent, but will my 327 have enough gusto to justify big long tubes? Could it hurt? I guess im not looking to make every inch of horsepower out of this thing, but certainly warm it up a little. I have also heard SBF windsor headers have similar exhaust flange routing as an LS, I might try to re-flange them (might be a fun make work project...and save some dough)

Finally, run a 700R4 behind it, mainly for its overdrive. I know you have to run an adapter, but am unclear if you still run the LS flexplate, or conventional sbc flexplate. Maybe mild convertor depending on the cam.

Anyways enough rambling, here are some pictures of the donor just for fun! By the way, thats my brother in law starring in the pictures....

oops, this time pics

Why not some more pictures. These are back when the car was in storage at my folks place. :)

If it was me, i would retain the efi. For the cost of all the components you need for carb, you could have the harness modified cheaper. you have all the parts you need on the truck, trans, fuel pump, etc.

With your goal of reliability and drivabity, efi is the way to fly

Looks like a good project. Good luck with it. I had to wait till my kids got old enough to fend for themselves before I could tackle my project. Now the wife just keeps pushing me to finish it. After 4 years it's ready for the road next week. Take your time and do it right the first time. Try not to say the words "I Wish I would Have"...)

I was would stay injected, but to justify purhasing the 05, I have to pretty much use remaining drive train parts for my 04 tahoe...At 265k its not getting any younger, but at least the chevelle got something! Also, sticking to the plan of camming the little 327, I managed to find an early 90's astro with the hydroboost out of the local wrecker yesturday. It took me 2 hours to pull the damn thing off....but I got it. The bad....the van was in such a position (sandwiched between a couple cars...up and down...and side to side, insert your favorite cuss word about a million times) so i didn't get the lines or much else, just the unit, and master. By the looks of things the lines might not have worked anyways. I might just research and see what the alternatives are...

On the other hand, a couple of years to completion might be a little optimistic....but I don't have any other hobbies! I have to balance between this thing, and my other project. A Mustang..... Its not even a good year....94....but a pair of svo turbos makes it a whole bunch better (just speculating because its not done either) I just need to teach my kids to spin wrenches, and things would really take off!

Thanks for the words!:cool: