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My 1964 Chevelle SS

17K views 104 replies 19 participants last post by  logan64 
#1 ·
Bought this car a couple weeks ago in a small area couple miles out of San Francisco. From what I've been told from my family and friends, I got very lucky as I got it for a decent price.

I told the man I bought it from, who's had it since the late 70's, that I would be taking a lot of photos to document my progress as he wanted to see the car live again as much as I do.

Plans:
Frame off Restoration. I do work as a sandblaster part time, other half is attending school, so I decided that with my job I am going to do a frame off. Powdercoat the frame, inner fender wells, radiator support, rear end, etc. Sandblasting the body and anything else.

My intentions are to put a 350 with a Turbo 350 Transmission in, although I have thought a lot about 200 - 700R, but again I have a while to go.

Keep it as close to factory look as possible, other than rims I am thinking 17' rallys to get a decent size disc brake in there.

So yeah, hopefully once this strange California rain goes away, I can finish stripping the grill assembly and remove all emblems / moldings before it's ready to get the body off at my shop.


This would be how it sat since, what the previous owner said, 1984. Once he took the motor out, it was destined to sit forever.


Just the Cowl tag. Reads 1964 Chevelle SS 283. Built in the last week of April in Van Nuys. Interior is black bucket seats with exterior being goldwood yellow (an SS only color) Drawing a blank on the options.


Another image of barn location, located in the middle of a ... you guessed it... once prune vineyard.


After pumping up the Ford tires, moving that out, and then trying to fill the Chevelle tires only to learn passenger brake was locked up and driver rear wouldn't hold, we finally managed to muscle it out to an area where it could then be winched.


Finished up the deal back at the orig. owner's house before taking the long drive home.


Thought this was pretty cool. Can't wait to drive back on it when it's done.



Looked a lot better after the power wash.


Location to start breaking down the car before towing back to the shop for the main body work.


Last photo of the interior when it was somewhat all together.

So that's all the photos I have right now. I'll be sure to get some more with the progress as time goes on.

Cheers,
Logan
 
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#42 ·
Been a while since I've done a whole bunch in my opinion, so I'll just give a quick update.

Decided to pull the windows out so it's a tad lighter pulling the body off the frame.



What a lovely surprise when I learned the prior owners had cocked the window moldings in... found out why. Any advice?



On the good notes, rear end is built and all ready to go.



Been selling off some things here and there, still got some powerglides I'm trying to ditch; however, I picked up a 200R4 from a fella in Sacramento thanks to a member on this site. Progress hopefully soon.
 
#43 ·
The rust around the windows isn't too surprising for a coastal car. Do you own a welder? I'm not a body man but I'm sure it can be fixed with some time and effort.

Your mechanical parts are coming along nicely.

Devin
 
#44 ·
Yeah I'm not too incredibly worried about it. I'm debating trying to fix it first or to blast it first so I have a better idea what I am dealing with.

Going to end up buying some new internals for the 200R4 and get that rebuilt. Past that, just finishing up my top end which I've been procrastinating, getting a drive shaft build from a reputable guy I do a lot of business for, and pulling the trigger on some rims and tires, I should be set to roll it around a couple more years.
 
#48 ·
May need blasting? I'm going to blast and powder my frame when I get the body off pretty much the same weekend. (fingers crossed).

I'm not so much worried about the dash as I am the back window section on the right. Hopefully it doesn't get much worse.
 
#50 ·
A little progress here and there. Got the frame in the blaster




Noticed a kink in the rear of the frame, so got that fixed and ground down some of that nasty factory splatter.



Ended up replacing the rear panel since it was too dinged up for my liking.



Prepared the frame for boxing


 
#51 ·



Came time to get it all smooth and powder






It dulled out a hair once it cooled down from it's hour long oven cook. Threw it on a trailer and took it over to the two post where it will be assembled. Gave it the lovely birthday gift (If anyone noticed the frame's birthday is 4/14/18 (Today) with some rear end components.





For the most part it was a smooth day, except for lucky me learning that the rear end upper control arm bushing is a single year O.D. bushing, to which Chevelle forums saved me and gave me an Autozone Part Number (FB295) saved me and allowed me to continue installing.

Not bad progress today.
 
#53 ·
Called up Hotchkis today and they actually gave me the same part number to the Duralast Cross Reference part of FB295 (For anyone else curious). I called up Energy Suspension today to get those two bushings in polyurethane so I'll just press out the rubber and install the poly into the metal can and throw it back in. Shouldn't be too hard. Probably didn't need to do it but I figured I'm here and I'm working above the car so why struggle 25 years down the road trying to replace it. I'm only 20 and plan to hold onto it for a while longer.
 
#59 ·
I haven't posted any progress photos of the whole front end and what not like I should have.

Sadly had to put on my big boy pants when I turned 21 and get on a steady career path as a project estimator in San Francisco, so I'm no longer seeing all my parts that I still had ready to get to powder. BUT very much so it is on my mind. Found a body shop in Auburn, CA that I very much intend to bring my pile to when the time comes, but until then I chip slowly away during the weekends.
 
#68 ·
AH someone asked the grand ol' question that I jumped too quickly on.

Going to have a plate made up that will be mated to the frame with 4 nutserts and a rosette well in the center that I can position when I get the motor and transmission in place for proper measurements. It would've been stock and not and issue but I am going with a 200-4R instead.

The plate will be in an L type fashion that can let the transmission crossmember sit on top of and bolt like your typical C-Channel frame.
 
#69 ·
This is what I did, the holes are slightly elongated along with the center mount. It can be moved both ways and can be raised with spacers. This was before powdercoat.
 

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#72 ·
Been a little long for an update, but i think it's about time for one!

Transmission is built and done. Waiting for install.



Done the mockup needed for my mount brackets.



I've purchased the ABC Performance Brake Line kit to go along with their boxing kit I had ordered. Should go pretty straight forward! Only thing I need is the rear differential kit. Any recommendations for the flex hose?
 
#73 ·
Disassembled the old gauge assembly. Ordered some new parts and pieces through OPGI and sent it down to Redline Gauges. Quality work from a quality company. Couldn't be happier with the outcome! Now I just need to find a small plug for the clock hole.







Next to buy the small little AC Vent, wiper motor, and when get my wiring harness, finish the assembly. Really debating what I want to do with the radio. It does click on and is VERY clean, so I'm not sure if I want to get it tuned perfectly or gut it for bluetooth..
 
#74 ·
And for the big reveal,

Body was blasted and of course, found some super awesome secrets!







Driver side quarter was the worst. Someone definitely tried to do something at one time or another. Dash and A-Pillars were pretty torn up, luckily the patch panel piece did some justice on it. Trunk was bad, rear tail-light housings needed some custom inserts. Passenger Rear Window Sail Panel was practically gone. Floor boards inside weren't terrible, just some small welding here and there. I did purchase an entire set of floor pans, only used about 20% of it, so if anyone is in the Bay Area and is interesting in buying what I have, let me know!

Posting soon the outcome of labors..
 
#75 ·
This was a super-fun day! Got to grind out all of the seam-sealant and glue inside for when I re-blast the car for primer & underside finishing. Pretty content with the work done in this stage. Just a quick trip back in the sandblasting booth before I powder-prime the entire body. Panels are currently in progress.






 
#76 ·
And in between this, managed to score a license plate frame & refinish.





As for the remainder,

My fenders are currently prime coated and ready to hang. Doors are blasted and ready for prime. Hood & Trunk are ready to be blasted, just have to get by on a weekend and knock it out! Car is ready for re-delivery to get blasted and primed.

Transmission needs re-mocking up to hang the brackets, lines need to be run after. Entire fuel system was purchased, Aeromotive Fuel Tank with the electric fuel pump mounted inside.

Debating on pulling the trigger for my American Autowire Kit & Vintage AC Kit for mocking up before giving it back to the painter. Does it make sense to purchase these items before hand? I understand my firewall needs modification, so I'm figuring why not before it is primed. My fenders do also not have the SS molding cutouts (for some reason) so I'm thinking to purchase this as well for the body work to be pre-notched.

need advice on how to proceed!!!
 
#77 ·
Been trying to keep a steady work pace on the project for a couple months now. One piece a week someone told me. Just finished buttoning up the frame & got the body mounted. Went pretty smooth for how long they seemed to have been apart. Waiting for the body / paint shop to let me know when I can bring it to them to keep the ball rolling!

Sherm's Plating in Sacramento has my original bumpers, console pieces, and Wing Window misc other items to be re-done.

Ended up Purchasing Nu-Relics System & All new Glass, so spending the time mainly now just re-painting all the existing window track assemblies and such. One piece at a time, and it's definitely costing more than a dime.. Labor of Love.

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