Stan Kryla's 1972 SS454 is probably the most known 72 SS454 Convertible in the Chevelle world at this time. It has been seen just about everywhere there is a Chevelle gathering or Corona this side of the Mississippi. It has received many many awards and recently it Grand National AACA. But the riddle is has anyone ever seen it with the Top down ????????????? It is always at show stance in the up position well I changed all that yesterday. Stan stopped by with it and well in 40 to 50 degree temps it was put down for the first time in a long time and what happened next only pictures can describe.
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http://i806.photobucket.com/albums/yy348/jimbrady61/Chevelle%20123/DSC03367.jpg
Stan's car has been here many times before like its second home, spot work, trunk spatter, engine compartment detailing and so on !!!!!!!!

http://i806.photobucket.com/albums/yy348/jimbrady61/DSC03369.jpg


http://i806.photobucket.com/albums/yy348/jimbrady61/DSC03375.jpg

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http://i806.photobucket.com/albums/yy348/jimbrady61/DSC03382.jpg
A Day at the Beach with No Sun !!!! Left over sand from its restoration !!!!

http://i806.photobucket.com/albums/yy348/jimbrady61/DSC03383.jpg
Removing the rear bow staples carefully not to hurt the tack strip Very Important !!!!!!
Look at the sand on the floor still coming out of it !!!!

http://i806.photobucket.com/albums/yy348/jimbrady61/DSC03388.jpg
Stan's car is really under all of this just dont want sanding dust to go anywhere !!!

http://i806.photobucket.com/albums/yy348/jimbrady61/DSC03390.jpg
Sanded and taped ready for primer

You need to get out more. My wife and I rode in the back on the cruise at the Ohio Regional in 2009. Top was down all the way. Made it hard to read the map at 90 out on the interstate.... :o

Thanks for all of your Great work over the years Jim! :beers:

For those of you that don't know, Jim is a great resource for parts and information when restoring your Chevelle! :thumbsup:

I'm sure I'll owe you a Corona (or two) after this one! Keep us posted! :D

You need to get out more. My wife and I rode in the back on the cruise at the Ohio Regional in 2009. Top was down all the way. Made it hard to read the map at 90 out on the interstate.... :o

For the record Dave, the speedo was STUCK at 90mph before the speedo gear gave out. I can still see you in the "rear view mirror" trying to shield Vicky from the winds with the map!

For the record Dave, the speedo was STUCK at 90mph before the speedo gear gave out. I can still see you in the "rear view mirror" trying to shield Vicky from the winds with the map!

We fixed that Too !!!!!!!!!! Now it it making sense You never told me that Stan !!!!!!!

You are right, it doesn't go down very often. I think I have only seen it down once.
Stan you have never been happy with that top, now maybe you can sleep at night. :thumbsup:

Stan's car is a prime example of a show car that gets driven... :yes: Man, that was about the most fun I've had in a LONG time. THe WooHoo girls were a blast... :D

I've seen the car a few times, in my rear view mirror...:D

Do a good job Jim:thumbsup:

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d115/mmeldrum1/cb09/cb09154.jpg

Nothing But !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:) Its in Good hands here and Stan will like the finished product !!!!!

http://i484.photobucket.com/albums/rr208/Ebayed69/maryland055.jpg

Stan has no problem dropping someone else's top, And stealing the Girls!

Ed- better teach her how to shut the door all the way. Don't want to lose her! :D :thumbsup:

Ed- better teach her how to shut the door all the way. Don't want to lose her! :D :thumbsup:

Dave, thats Andrea who jumped out to take the pic. Kim is yelling @ her to get back in the car

Painted Stan's top frame yesterday, Unearthed all of the plated hardware someone had spray bombed. Details make the Difference !!!!!

http://i806.photobucket.com/albums/yy348/jimbrady61/DSC03408.jpg

These were hiding under black paint !!

http://i806.photobucket.com/albums/yy348/jimbrady61/DSC03405.jpg

http://i806.photobucket.com/albums/yy348/jimbrady61/Chevelle%20123/DSC03399.jpg


Ready to go to the Top Shop 5 days ahead of schedule :)

http://i806.photobucket.com/albums/yy348/jimbrady61/DSC03410.jpg

N * I * C * E ! :thumbsup:

Stan "Details make the difference" Your missing something !!!!!!!! You would'nt win at the picure game !!! Look Closely SOMETHING is different !!!!!!!!!

Could it be NOS correct parking lights Jim? Yes I did miss that! Thanks! :hurray:

Verrrry nice work Jim! Glad to see you got Stan's parking light lenses straightened out for him! LOL!

I've seen the car a few times, in my rear view mirror...:D

Do a good job Jim:thumbsup:

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d115/mmeldrum1/cb09/cb09154.jpg


Hey Mark, this is a great pic. Can you please email it to me?

Sure can - I have some other ones Josh took but I think he had the wrong setting on the camera because about 10 photos in a row look funky like this. This project looks great!!! I guess I will have to step up my game before Chevelle-a-bration.
http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d115/mmeldrum1/cb09/cb09177.jpg?t=1291395878 (javascript:void(0);)

I want to see the BOUNTY HUNTER when it's done Mark! Should be stunning! :thumbsup:

wow cool

In looking at these pics I can’t help but think – “Hell, we’ve had some REALLY GREAT (Chevelle) times!” :yes:

Stan-

Is this the car you sold me the 12-bolt rear end out of?

I recognize the location of this photo above....anyone else?

Just when I thought we were done Stan threw me a Curveball :|!! He asked me to look at some rust up under the rear panel and just touch it up with something !!! Well I just cant do that !!! Yep Cover it back up and well have a Look !!!!
http://i806.photobucket.com/albums/yy348/jimbrady61/DSC03440.jpg

The rear panel between the top and trunk is bare metal underneath and they all rust over time . From the factory they had a little overspray, however it can be seen from the trunk if you look up. Very few restorers address this area when they are doing converts. Not the easiest fix but the perfect time with no top on it .
This how it looked !!!
http://i806.photobucket.com/albums/yy348/jimbrady61/Chevelle%20123/DSC03412.jpg
This the view from the trunk lookin up above the rods !!
http://i806.photobucket.com/albums/yy348/jimbrady61/Chevelle%20123/DSC03416.jpg
http://i806.photobucket.com/albums/yy348/jimbrady61/Chevelle%20123/DSC03414.jpg
We sanded those areas and primed them
http://i806.photobucket.com/albums/yy348/jimbrady61/Chevelle%20123/DSC03431.jpg
http://i806.photobucket.com/albums/yy348/jimbrady61/Chevelle%20123/DSC03432.jpg
Then we finished those areas in a bare metal color
http://i806.photobucket.com/albums/yy348/jimbrady61/Chevelle%20123/DSC03436.jpg
http://i806.photobucket.com/albums/yy348/jimbrady61/Chevelle%20123/DSC03435.jpg

Now You might ask were I world do we get Golden Brown Paint Now on a Friday at noon ??? I dug into my 25 year lacquer stash and pulled out some original stuff. Time for the Proffessor to mix something up !!!! My guys just laugh when I start pouring colors and Viola !!!!!! Golden Brown !!!!
http://i806.photobucket.com/albums/yy348/jimbrady61/Chevelle%20123/DSC03429.jpg
Mix a little green and Wham on the first shot Perfect !!!
http://i806.photobucket.com/albums/yy348/jimbrady61/Chevelle%20123/DSC03426.jpg
Take a Look !!!

Heres the color !!!
http://i806.photobucket.com/albums/yy348/jimbrady61/Chevelle%20123/DSC03428.jpg
Time to paint !!!
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http://i806.photobucket.com/albums/yy348/jimbrady61/DSC03446.jpg
Heres what it looked like !!! Top side
http://i806.photobucket.com/albums/yy348/jimbrady61/DSC03466.jpg
Trunk side
http://i806.photobucket.com/albums/yy348/jimbrady61/DSC03458.jpg
The color was so dead on I even wet back at did the rods and touched up the hinges
http://i806.photobucket.com/albums/yy348/jimbrady61/Chevelle%20123/DSC03471.jpg
A little Chevelle Convertible triva when they were painted new the rear marker bezels wer sat on the rear seat panel and painted here the outline !!!
http://i806.photobucket.com/albums/yy348/jimbrady61/Chevelle%20123/DSC03472.jpg

The color was actually so Good I touched up the chip that has been making Stan crazy and its Dead On !!!!!
Stan I removed your trunk weatherstrip paint marks !!!!
Now I think we are ready for the Top Shop !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:)

Heres one for Stan See if you can see whats different in this picture 2 things !! See if You can find them !!!
http://i806.photobucket.com/albums/yy348/jimbrady61/Chevelle%20123/DSC03482.jpg

You put my stripes on the rubber seal back. Yeah that looks better. I see what you meant.

Painted lock! Great! :thumbsup:

Car looks great Stan!
Nice work Jim. :thumbsup:

Nelson

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In looking at these pics I can’t help but think – “Hell, we’ve had some REALLY GREAT (Chevelle) times!”

I second that !! Great work Jim

Jim glad to see your getting that rag straightend out for Stan. It's a wonder it ever won any awards. :p
Great work. Keep the pic's coming. :thumbsup:

Great job Jim the top bows look great after the paint.Hey Stan are we going for the #1 W vert in the country?The car look great.It's like I tell my father in-law It's all in the details.It's what seperates the men from the boyz.

Heres one for Stan See if you can see whats different in this picture 2 things !! See if You can find them !!!
http://i806.photobucket.com/albums/yy348/jimbrady61/Chevelle%20123/DSC03482.jpg

Is it correct to have the trunk lock assembly painted? or is that a personal choice?

Painted at factory !!!!! So many cars have this detail wrong !!!

Hey Stan are we going for the #1 W vert in the country?The car look great.It's like I tell my father in-law It's all in the details.It's what seperates the men from the boyz.

The truth of it is Mike is that I did not have the money to do a full restoration when I first bought the car. In fact I was going to make it into a nice driver until I found out how rare a car it is.

After that, it was all downhill.......each year I pick a part of the car that is not perfect and I work on it. last year it was the frame and undercarriage, the year before I gutted the entire interior and started fresh. Sometimes if I am busy, I will have Jim do some work if he has the time. I have also had Al Galdi do some work as well. When I am slow with work or strapped for cash, I do the work myself.

My goal is to get this car as perfect and correct as I can get it. For me it is a great way to meet great people, I enjoy working on the car, and in my eyes, it outperforms my 401(k) as an investment.

One day (hopefully) I will get an offer I can't refuse, take the money and start again......

In the meantime, I have my 72 442 that I just dropped a 496 olds and an M22Z into. This car is being built to drive....:D

That certainly is a nice looking car. Someday I will have mine back on the street its not an SS but it is numbers matching and was my first car. http://s554.photobucket.com/albums/jj404/F350R/72%20Chevelle/ I have not ever seen another convert the same color. Was the top originally black or was it white?

I enjoy working on the car, and in my eyes, it outperforms my 401(k) as an investment.


Good looking car but you must have a terrible financial adviser. Pretty awesome that you have all the stuff to work on it and paint it yourself.

That certainly is a nice looking car. Someday I will have mine back on the street its not an SS but it is numbers matching and was my first car. http://s554.photobucket.com/albums/jj404/F350R/72%20Chevelle/ I have not ever seen another convert the same color. Was the top originally black or was it white?


The original top was black on this car.

Well waitng for the top shop to take Stans car I decided to go arrond and fix whatever I saw that bothered me. Stan had asked me to touch up a couple of chips which I did and well have a L@@K !!!

The bolts holding the fenders had been painted body color and that wont fly here So !!!
http://i806.photobucket.com/albums/yy348/jimbrady61/DSC03604.jpg
http://i806.photobucket.com/albums/yy348/jimbrady61/Chevelle%20123/DSC03639.jpg
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The inner door area had big chips where the front had been moved only one way to fix it
http://i806.photobucket.com/albums/yy348/jimbrady61/DSC03608.jpg
http://i806.photobucket.com/albums/yy348/jimbrady61/DSC03669.jpg
The right door jamb had a chip to the tan fill primer, even after degreasing it 4 times all of stans wax and sprays still had it fisheyeing (Frustrating) It would not brush touch So I fixed it !!
http://i806.photobucket.com/albums/yy348/jimbrady61/DSC03595-1.jpg
Yes it was still fisheyeing primer I Won !!!!!!
http://i806.photobucket.com/albums/yy348/jimbrady61/DSC03605.jpg
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Finished jamb Chip your out of here !!! :)
http://i806.photobucket.com/albums/yy348/jimbrady61/DSC03642.jpg
Gotta love the Color !!!!!

Then we addressed the grille moulding it kept popping off the pass side. here's why !!
http://i806.photobucket.com/albums/yy348/jimbrady61/DSC03625.jpg
http://i806.photobucket.com/albums/yy348/jimbrady61/DSC03627.jpg
It had been tweaked and dinged pretty good So I installed an NOS one off the Parts Shelf !!
http://i806.photobucket.com/albums/yy348/jimbrady61/DSC03631.jpg

Stan Your in Good shape now Buddy !!!!!!!!!!!!!! Off to the top shop Thursday !!!

Thanks again for all your hard work Jim! I guess it's off to the top shop on Thursday. I'll post some final pics on Saturday when I pick it up.

Then she'll be ready for the show season....might even start a little early this year :secret:

Dear Stan
I hate you and your little elf Jim Brady.:D

Looking good guys....

I guess that would make me Stanta if Jim is the elf........

Sorry, I had to l:)l:)l:)l:)l:)l:)

No I'm on the isle of Misfits
http://i806.photobucket.com/albums/yy348/jimbrady61/Chevelle%20123/RudolphCast.jpg

I really think some days I should have become a Denist !!!!!

Stan and Jim, Great Stuff.

Dan

Wow top notch, makes me feel like im putting together a rat rod lol...

It shure felt like the North pole here this morning 20 degrees Way Too Cold !!!!
Loading Stan's car for its New Top !!!
http://i806.photobucket.com/albums/yy348/jimbrady61/Chevelle%20123/DSC03693.jpg

Finally Stan's Car and trailer the way it should be Towed with Chevrolet power !!!!
http://i806.photobucket.com/albums/yy348/jimbrady61/Chevelle%20123/DSC03714.jpg

At the Top Shop !!!!
http://i806.photobucket.com/albums/yy348/jimbrady61/Chevelle%20123/DSC03711.jpg
Next picture's with a New Top !!!! Wait and See !!!!

I think Stan should have spent less:beers: and bought a car with a metal top. Stan most likely saved a " LOT " of money buying a car with a Canvas top. Yea ! Saved money on the headliner, No roof to paint, No dome light.
Them canvas top cars are " CHEEPER ":D to build than a car with a metal roof. That is why Stan did that. Plus when he goes to Lowes to get stuff, Put the top down and load it up with lumber, I bet he can haul 10 or 12 foot 2 X 4s. or a washer & dryer. If it dont fit in the canvas top car, Bill Rose has an Orange Chevy Pick Up truck.:noway:
Bob

Jim, when can I drop my car off at your shop and leave it there for a couple weeks. :D Looks like you do great work.

I will be calling you tomorrow for that part for the convertible frame.

Further update. The top guy was having problems with putting the top on and determined the the prior owner and or installer had assembled the top frame incorrectly.

Jim jumped in his truck and worked side by side with the installer to correct the frame AND align the windows. We all know that a Pain that can be.

At the risk of sounding like an advertisement, the point to be made here is that if you're looking for consciencious restorer and Chevelle expert who is willing to go the extra mile to "get your car right", Jim should definitely be THE GUY on your short list. :thumbsup:

Thank you Jim!

Thanks Stan. Just so everyone knows the original top had wrinkles on the drivers side that drove Stan crazy. I appeared that the top had not been pulled tight on the front opening and was back about 3/8 to 1/2 of an inch which will give you wrinkles. However that was Not the problem. Yes I went to the top shop to assist and we had to refrence the pictures in Chevelle world magazines and the internet to confirm an Existing problem. The drivers side rear bow was an inch low. Whoever put the last top on was very Creative in making the window straight but Not fixing the problem. When we were refinishing the top frame the problem was not apparent as when you remove the top pads that bow moves freely. Here are some picts of before , durring and after getting it where it need to be. The top was also short as the front Header vinyl showed when the top was Up. The front drivers side was back over a 1/4 of an inch and finnaly its where it should all be.

http://i806.photobucket.com/albums/yy348/jimbrady61/Chevelle%20123/Left_Rear1-1.jpg
This pict shows at the arrow ithe low side !!
http://i806.photobucket.com/albums/yy348/jimbrady61/Chevelle%20123/DSC03710-1.jpg
Heres the top with the bow fixed
http://i806.photobucket.com/albums/yy348/jimbrady61/DSC03720.jpg

I just got back with the Chevelle. Top came out perfect!

Thanks to Jim Brady. As for the Top Guy, he was 2 hours from me and WORTH THE DRIVE!

C.E. Walls & Son Inc
Upholstery and Auto tops
2800 Kirkwood Highway
Wilmington DE 19805
302.998.4116

Dave did a GREAT job and even had some NOS chrome pieces for the top corners he thru in!

Jim will be posting pics soon!

I want to see your top in person Stan. I'm going to be looking for someone to do the one on my convertible probably toward the latter part of next year. One MAJOR concern I have is to have it done before or after I paint the car. I don't want any dents in the quarters due to pulling the top tight.

I just got back with the Chevelle. Top came out perfect!

Thanks to Jim Brady. As for the Top Guy, he was 2 hours from me and WORTH THE DRIVE!

C.E. Walls & Son Inc
Upholstery and Auto tops
2800 Kirkwood Highway
Wilmington DE 19805
302.998.4116

Dave did a GREAT job and even had some NOS chrome pieces for the top corners he thru in!

Jim will be posting pics soon!

You can always stop by if you are in the area. You know, break up the winter!

If not, she'll be at Chevellabration in June, MD in June, OH in August.

Maybe Niagra in July, trying to get the wife to go.

It still has a few "box wrinkles" but one day in the warm sunshine and they should disappear. :thumbsup:

I want to see your top in person Stan. I'm going to be looking for someone to do the one on my convertible probably toward the latter part of next year. One MAJOR concern I have is to have it done before or after I paint the car. I don't want any dents in the quarters due to pulling the top tight.

I have always had the top installed after paint to avoid any overspray !!!
Dave has been doing my tops for over 20 years and I have never had any dents, dings or problems installing Convertible tops and I have done Dozens and Dozens of them !!!!!

Jim

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