[Humphrey]

Hey everyone, im 20 years old from BC Canada and lookin to sell my mustangs to start a chevelle project and im lookin for a little guidance.
Im lookin for a 71 or 72 chevelle to into a pro-touring style street car, and since theres not a whole lot of chevelles available here im also lookin into importing one from washington or oregon, so while ive been waiting for one to come up, ive been planning a build and wanted some feedback.Ive done a bit of reading up on the CPP parts i plan on using and seems like people have mixed feedback on their products.

Heres the plan.

Suspension/brakes:

CPP powdercoated 13" front and 12" rear disc brake package w/ new booster and new hardlines
CPP pro touring suspension package w/ upper and lower A arms, and QA1's all around
CPP 2" drop spindles

Wheels:
18 x ? fronts, and 18x10 or 20x10 rear with 285 tires
Obviously i want to stuff the most rubber back there as possible without mini tubbing but I guess i will tub if i have to create the look i want

Exhaust:
LT ceramic coated headers into 3" flowmaster super 44's w/ H pipe

Interior will remain stock black w/ the autometer gauge cluster & wood wheel

Exterior:
Hugger orange with black stripes, shaved emblems, SS badges, new bumpers front & rear

Drivetrain:
383 stroker or 406 ci, aluminum heads, maybe a B&M 144 blower
I definatly want a standard transmission so T10 4 speed or if my budget allows, the keisler TKO package with a centerforce clutch....or an LSX + T56 swap if i can find a decent priced donor car.

Rearend:
Stock 12 bolt housing, eaton posi, 3.73 or 3.42 gears & diff girdle

So basically Im lookin for help planning my suspension/brakes so everything will work together properly. Im sure theres alot of other suspension packages from places like global west and hotchkiss, but the CPP stuff is more affordable for me. Are there other products/packages available that I may not know about in the same price margin as the CPP stuff? I dont want to get stuck half way through my build because ive run out of money to finish the car, this is something I would like to drive within the next year or two. Im trying to keep a budget of $25 000 max...Am I crazy?

Heres are my references/links

I like the stance/wheels that "bigRat09" has for his project "lights out" seen here using the CPP suspension + brakes i want.
http://www.chevelles.com/forums/showthread.php?t=286373

Suspension package

http://cgi.ebay.ca/64-72-Chevelle-Suspension-Upgrade-Pro-Touring-SB_W0QQitemZ330355662841QQcmdZViewItemQQptZMotors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories?hash=item4ceabb5ff9&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14
Brake package

http://cgi.ebay.ca/68-72-CHEVY-CHEVELLE-4-WHEEL-DISC-BIG-BRAKES-13-12_W0QQitemZ380163990406QQcmdZViewItemQQptZMotors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories?hash=item58838a2386&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14
Exhaust

http://cgi.ebay.ca/Flowmaster-68-72-Chevy-Chevelle-SS-Dual-Exhaust_W0QQitemZ350189319397QQcmdZViewItemQQptZMotors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories?hash=item5188e8f4e5&_trksid=p3286.m20.l1116
TKO Tranmission

http://cgi.ebay.ca/Keisler-Tremec-TKO-600-5speed-Transmission-Chevelle-GTO_W0QQitemZ150373468936QQcmdZViewItemQQptZMotors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories?hash=item2302f50b08&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14
Wheels:

http://cgi.ebay.ca/18-20-SET-FOOSE-NITROUS-LEGEND-CHROME-WHEELS-NEW_W0QQitemZ250373911935QQcmdZViewItemQQptZMotors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories?hash=item3a4b72b57f&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

Anyone got .02 cents to throw at the subjcet? Thanks in advance.

 

[Bad66Chevelle454]

Welcome to the board. Looks like you have a pretty nice idea of what you want already. There are a billion different routes that you can go, using different products and such. I think you have a pretty solid set up listed there, nothing too crazy. From my readings it seems like you have some room for improvement in the suspension area, so that might be of concern to you. I think for the price of building your SBC and that TKO you could find a nice used LS/T56 combo also.

Good luck-

 

[Humphrey]

Welcome to the board. Looks like you have a pretty nice idea of what you want already. There are a billion different routes that you can go, using different products and such. I think you have a pretty solid set up listed there, nothing too crazy. From my readings it seems like you have some room for improvement in the suspension area, so that might be of concern to you. I think for the price of building your SBC and that TKO you could find a nice used LS/T56 combo also.

Good luck-

Thanks. How can I improve my plan in the suspension area, especially without shelling out big $$ for hotchkiss or global stuff?

 

[1966_L78]

Thanks. How can I improve my plan in the suspension area, especially without shelling out big $$ for hotchkiss or global stuff?

Look into SC&C control arm packages (Stage 2, 2+, etc). Save money by keeping the stock spindles (the SC&C packages are designed to improe geometry with stock spindles) and maybe go with a brake package from Kore3 ( or getting brackets and piecing together from opther sources, maybe used? depending on how you look at cost vs. your labor/risk tolerance)...
I ended up buying the lower tubular front arms from CPP, mainly because I was in a hurry (SC&C lower arms weren't available yet)... Ironically, they've not been installed yet (on my shelf to 2.5 years)...

Rear suspension, get some upper and lower arms, but make sure you go with a swivel joint in the upper arms, and Rubber bushings in the rearend housing... I like the Edelbrock upper rear arms (decent price at Summit), and also the Global West tubular lowers with a swivel joint on one end (but its been a while, so I haven't seen whats out there for lowers).

Sure better options (wolf racecraft spherical bushings, AFX spindles, Currie arms), but he did mention trying to "not shell out bick $$$"...

Springs, maybe look into circle track stuff to save some money, but also more spring rate choices available...

front bar, maybe a used 70's Camaro front bar...

lookin to sell my mustangs to start a chevelle project and im lookin for a little guidance...
I dont want to get stuck half way through my build because ive run out of money to finish the car, this is something I would like to drive within the next year or two. Im trying to keep a budget of $25 000 max...Am I crazy?

GREAT place for guidance, although you will get alot of "cooks", all with their own receipe's...

Crazy??? 1-2 year build, project for under $25K??? I'd say close to crazy... IMO, I'd look for a car that already has some of the stuff you want (either a decent body/paint/interior, or suspension/wheels, or a fresh drivetrain)... Even if its the wrong color, IF it has good panels/quality work, you can respray the color, and probably save compared to starting from scratch... Otherwise, I think it will be tough to meet your goals... Possible, but tough...

Figuring a rough estimate, luck and skill at finding deals:

$5000+ for wheels/tires/suspension/brakes
$10000+ for a solid project car, complete, with decent panels
$5000+++ for the drivetrain
Plus body and paint, trim, weatherstripping
Plus Interior

Body and Paint car not only ruin your budget, but they could put you behind schedule...


Depending on what you want, affects where to start... Are you expecting to build a show winner right off the bat? or more interested in a truly capable handling car? Willing to have so-so paint and interior, or expect all that fresh, and custom?
Just some more ideas to help you focus on your goals...

Sounds like you have a pretty good plan so far, and thats probably needed to put this together for near your budget...

 

[1badchevelle]

For the suspension CPP is good but I would recomend the SC&C with the ATS spindle. If their is a place you do not want to cut corners is here. Spend the extra $$$ and that way you dont have to spend the $$ later to upgrade from the CPP parts. It took me 1 year to get the parts I have for my 71 chevelle. I have taken my time and looked for good deals. I am saving my $$ to get the SC&C front upper/lower control arms. I have the ats spindle with steering arms(been setting in my shelf for a year) c5 z06 front and rear brakes( total cost with rotors was less than 250)

on a 20 x 10 you can run as wide as a 315 tire (you will have a bit of tire buldge or run 305)


motor wise go LS(you can even go with a 5.3l swap to flat pistons from a 4.8l slap in a cam and ls intake and you are good to go.