just purchased a 66 SS Hardtop real barn car

wambams69ss396 · Feb 16, 2012

just a thought but if it was turned into a drag car early in its life.most likely it would have been a L78 car.i dont think they would have converted a L34 or L35 into a straight axel drag car.do you know where the original engine is?

71malibu400 · Feb 16, 2012

davewho1 said:
Too high for me, but you get the idea. :thumbsup:

Too bad it's a 4-door...2-doors look better with a straight axle. But it's a neat one. :beers:

66Broke · Feb 16, 2012

The story on the engine: Previous owner says she pulled the original engine out back in the mid 70's because she wanted a small block motor for better gas mileage.
She says she sold the 396 to a nearby farmer who wanted to put it in his combine! she thinks she can still find the farmers location so i will definitely try to track that down. Is it an L78? No way to know that right now from what I can tell. I will have to hope that I can find the farmer first. I would be super happy to find it even if it is a lower HP engine. Wow, that would be really a neat story if it was found to be an L78 wouldn't it!

She agreed to keep the car for me for a few weeks pending a bit better weather. I will try to get back there in the next week to take pictures
and finalize some paperwork with the P.O. (and maybe go try to find Mr. SS396 John Deere combine owner too).

The front clip has been removed from the car and all the fenders, hood, etc were hanging in the rafters of the barn/machine shed. From the pictures I saw of the car from the PO, it sat much lower than the pictures you posted- I would say about 8 inches lower. Not much noticeably higher than a stock setup.

Cam · Feb 16, 2012

Given the trend lately towards the "Day 2" look, and given that the straight axle appears to be well installed according to your testimony, you might consider leaving it in place and going with the "Day 14" look. I'll bet if is well done it will get more attention than just another stocker. Maybe some crazy circa 1970 paint effects like cobwebbing or lace painted panels, the beam axle, vintage racing decals in the rear side windows, a set of fenderwell headers. Lots of the old style mags are a tough sell nowadays unless they are Torque Thrusts, so it shouldn't blow one's budget for vintage aftermarket equipment. Just research any potential stuff for period correctness. Go Street Freak!

(This advice coming from me, Mr. Correctness, is ironic. Think about it though. Seriously)

Alwhite00 · Feb 16, 2012

Cam said:
Given the trend lately towards the "Day 2" look, and given that the straight axle appears to be well installed according to your testimony, you might consider leaving it in place and going with the "Day 14" look. I'll bet if is well done it will get more attention than just another stocker. Maybe some crazy circa 1970 paint effects like cobwebbing or lace painted panels, the beam axle, vintage racing decals in the rear side windows, a set of fenderwell headers. Lots of the old style mags are a tough sell nowadays unless they are Torque Thrusts, so it shouldn't blow one's budget for vintage aftermarket equipment. Just research any potential stuff for period correctness. Go Street Freak!

(This advice coming from me, Mr. Correctness, is ironic. Think about it though. Seriously)

I'm diggin it - Sounds like a great plan. :thumbsup:

LK

Andy69 · Feb 16, 2012

SeventyLS5 said:
I am looking forward to pictures. If the straight axle is done nicely I would leave it in. Most people probably wont agree but if it has been in since 70 I would hate to put it back. I just picked up a 60s built 55 Chevy 210 2dr with an axle and radiused wheel wells. The previous owner was going to change the frame and put new quarters. I told him I was glad I got to it before he ruined it.

WOW! That car is freakin awesome.

Cam · Feb 16, 2012

I can see the wanted section now; "wanted, walnut Grant steering wheel or small diameter plastic 3 chrome spoke wheel (foam, white plastic or metalflake is fine), plus any shag carpet scraps."

All that is old is new again

Stickman · Feb 16, 2012

66Broke said:
She agreed to keep the car for me for a few weeks pending a bit better weather. I will try to get back there in the next week to take pictures
and finalize some paperwork with the P.O. (and maybe go try to find Mr. SS396 John Deere combine owner too).

If you got the green, I would get the paperwork and Title finalized now. Sounds like a deal you don't want to get away from you...

LeoP · Feb 16, 2012

Cam said:
I can see the wanted section now; "wanted, walnut Grant steering wheel or small diameter plastic 3 chrome spoke wheel (foam, white plastic or metalflake is fine), plus any shag carpet scraps."

All that is old is new again

I'm lookin for some baby moons now in case he asks for some.

Ray Gasser · Feb 17, 2012

Nice car; keep the front axle!
Old school is new cool.

CDN SS · Feb 17, 2012

Cam said:
I can see the wanted section now; "wanted, walnut Grant steering wheel All that is old is new again

:thumbsup: LOL I just happen to have that walnut Grant 3 spoke small diameter steering wheel ......put it on my 66 in 69 ..........was still on car when I found it in 2002 cant throw it away ............how did we drive cars back then with those small wheels

I agree if well done consider keeping the straight axle ....... :yes:

69chevelless3964speed · Feb 17, 2012

Ok, let's see some pics!

Bill Pritchard · Feb 17, 2012

Trust me.....I'm old enough to remember a 65 442 and a 66 Fairlane with straight axles driving on the local streets of Aurora IL back in the late 60's, so it definitely was done when the cars were fairly new. Also not unusual for owners to sell the big block and install a small block back in the gas shortage days of the early-mid 70's. I bought a 65 Chevelle SS with a NOM 396 and parted it out back in 1974....sold the engine to a guy who put it in a tractor for use in tractor pulls. As others have said, bench seat/4 speed combo is not unusual.

66Broke · Feb 17, 2012

Bill Pritchard said:
I bought a 65 Chevelle SS with a NOM 396 and parted it out ...

That would have made it a Z16 wouldn't it? or by NOM do you mean the heads and block matched each other?

66Broke · Feb 17, 2012

I am going to get pictures Saturday, that way it will be light out when I am there. I just had a cell phone camera last time, this time I will be better prepared!
I hope to pull the car out into the sunlight for the first time in 21 years and see what else I can find out about it. Hoping to visit a farmer too.

66Broke · Feb 17, 2012

here is a picture of the car from around 1986.
Obviously this is not the exact condition it is in today- however it still sports the exact same tires and wheels!

jeffschevelle · Feb 17, 2012

davewho1 said:
Too high for me, but you get the idea. :thumbsup:

Anybody know where I can get a set of fenderwell headers like that??

66138 · Feb 17, 2012

factory headrests maybe ?

Alwhite00 · Feb 17, 2012

66Broke said:
here is a picture of the car from around 1986.
Obviously this is not the exact condition it is in today- however it still sports the exact same tires and wheels!

That looks bad-a$$ - I'd roll it. :beers:

LK

69chevelless3964speed · Feb 17, 2012

66Broke said:
here is a picture of the car from around 1986.
Obviously this is not the exact condition it is in today- however it still sports the exact same tires and wheels!

I really like the stance of it. Buy it

just purchased a 66 SS Hardtop real barn car

wambams69ss396

71malibu400

66Broke

Cam

Alwhite00

Andy69

Cam

Stickman

LeoP

Ray Gasser

CDN SS

69chevelless3964speed

Bill Pritchard

66Broke

66Broke

66Broke

jeffschevelle

66138

Alwhite00

69chevelless3964speed

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