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67 conversion to 66?

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Aaron_A

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
I'm looking to covert a 67 Chevelle to a 66 Chevelle. I love the 66 front end and tail lights and not the 67's. The body is the same, so I'm thinking about changing them.
I believe the frontend clip (fenders, hood, bumper and grill) will just bolt up. But what about the tail lights? Is this going to be something that needs cutting and fabricating?
Has anyone ever done this and is it hard?
The reason why I'm thinking of doing this (other than I like the 66 better) rather then just buying a 66, is that there are a lot of 67's and very few 66's.
Thank you in advance.
Aaron
 
#8 ·
Anything can be swapped out with enough time & money, but to change the rear panel requires major metal work like Crazychevelle said above. It's not a Saturday afternoon project. I was planning to do this to my first '67 when I bought it as a 19y/o, but as soon as I got the car home, I realized the rear taillights housings are totally different & the tail panel would have to be cut off. That idea ended quickly.

Another thing to consider is the future resale value of the car. If you do this, the car will always be a '67 with an incorrect front end & tail lights. Even if you built it as a show car, you'll never be able to sell it for what it would be worth to you.
 
#9 ·
Dean said:
I want to change one to a 48 Chevy Coupe.
Click to expand...
I'm storing a 40 coupe in my yard for a buddy who's looking to sell it. If you're interested, Dean, I'll send you some pics.
 
#11 ·
The 66 tail panels are available aftermarket ( under $150?) , but the quarter end caps you’ll need to find used parts, although 4door caps will interchange with 2 doors.

as for the front, basically the entire front clip will swap, but don’t forget the radiator support panel...

trunk lids are basically the same (trim and emblem differences).
 
#12 ·
Terry who said:
Have you looked at 1966 Pontiac Beaumont tail light housings?
The lens wraps around the extension housing. Different look.
Click to expand...
I think the Beaumont taillights would be cool, but aren’t they made of unobtainium?
 
Discussion starter · #13 ·
Pete 67 said:
Anything can be swapped out with enough time & money, but to change the rear panel requires major metal work like Crazychevelle said above. It's not a Saturday afternoon project. I was planning to do this to my first '67 when I bought it as a 19y/o, but as soon as I got the car home, I realized the rear taillights housings are totally different & the tail panel would have to be cut off. That idea ended quickly.

Another thing to consider is the future resale value of the car. If you do this, the car will always be a '67 with an incorrect front end & tail lights. Even if you built it as a show car, you'll never be able to sell it for what it would be worth to you.
Click to expand...
I have no intent to sell it if it comes out the way I want it. But even if I sold it, as a 67, I would think if I advertised it as a 66 (but explain it is a 67 and the pink slip won't lie), I would get a lot more inquires on it.
 
#15 ·
You'd be spending a lot of $$ to devalue your car. Money that can be used to install a strong rearend and 5 speed trans, just to mention two better ways.
 
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#16 ·
I like both years but prefer a 67 more. The prices on some of these nice ones is going through the roof lately.
 
#17 ·
Aaron_A said:
I have no intent to sell it if it comes out the way I want it. But even if I sold it, as a 67, I would think if I advertised it as a 66 (but explain it is a 67 and the pink slip won't lie), I would get a lot more inquires on it.
Click to expand...
It's your car so obviously you should go for it if that's what you want to do, but there's no way around the fact that the car is losing value with this modification. Regardless of how you advertise it, it's always going to have a stigma attached to it.
 
#18 ·
When I had my 66 in 1986, there was a kid by my g/f's house that had a 67 w/66 front clip. Everything fit fine, bad but of course I knew it was odd. Not sure if the kid really cared. He was not a car guy. This car was just his high school transportation.
 
#20 ·
You have a better chance of winning the lotto than you do to find a complete 66 front clip that's in usable condition that also happens to be the same color as your 67....so you'd need to plan on buying a new front clip from AMD or wherever. So however much the front clip would cost, plus welding in a 66 tail panel, plus having the car painted, plus all the small parts like tail light housings, grille, headlight bezels, trim pieces, the list goes on....there's simply no way this would be cost-effective. You'd come out way ahead if you just sold the 67 and bought a 66. Or if you don't own one yet, wait until a 66 comes up and buy that.

Even if you find a decent 66 that isn't local that you'd have to haul home or have it shipped, you'd still come out ahead.
 
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