[spaceace77084]

You guys probably know a lot about Chevelles. Here's a question that you might be able to answer.

I found 2 Chevelles in a very small Texas town. Population is like 250. I have known about these two Chevelles for about 10-12 years. Since I've known about them they have never moved. I went over there a couple of weeks ago to try to buy them and one is a regular malibu but the other looks to be an SS model. I spoke to the owner who claims it's a real SS. I'm kinda suspicious about it being a true SS. I didn't ask him if they had any of the original paper work but I'm sure he doesn't. The car has a Cowl Inducted hood, Black SS pad on the rear bumper. The car is real dirty and the paint is faded blue but it has white SS stripes. It also has SS 396 emblems on the right front fender but the other side is a regular malibu emblem but you can tell they replaced the malibu fender since it appears to be a different color. Like I said the car is REAL dirty. It's sitting under a carport but there is no grass so you can see why the car would be all dirty and dusty. The interior, the car has bucket seats, center consol with the shift on the floor but it's automatic. The dash has 3 round pods where the speedometer and other instruments are with some smaller holes for other instruments. I don't remember if the door panels have the SS emblem on them.

Now here is what makes me think its not a true SS. This car has chrome trim that runs from the rear window all the way to just behind the front headlights. I've only seen this trim on regular Malibu's and have yet to see a SS model have this trim. Is it possible that some SS models had this trim? I'm thinking it's a regular Malibu that had SS stuff added to it. Any help would be awesome. If you aren't able to answer this question can you point me in the direction of someone who might be able to answer it?

 

[Steve S]

SS Did Not have the trim you described. Sounds like they may have changed some of the easy things.
Here are some other things to check.
12 bolt rear
boxed rear control arms
front disc brakes

Go here for more info: http://www.chevelles.com/shop/ss_ident.html

 

[spaceace77084]

By 12 bolt rear end, what exactly do you mean? Do you mean that there are 12 bolts holding the oil pan to the differential? How can I tell if its a 12 bolt?



Also, this car does not have disc brakes because when I was looking at the engine I noticed that there is no brake booster, just the brake fluid reservoir.

Boxed rear control arms? I don't know what that means.

 

[1badss396]

Here is a picture of a set of rear control arms. the set on the top are regular, and the set bottom are boxed.
Clicky Here

 

[SS4speed]

Boxed lowe Control arms, means that instead of being just the standard U shape (actually an upsidedown U), they have a plated added to the bottom. This plate makes they appear to be sqare (if you cut it in half), like a box shape. So basically, if it has three sides to the bar, it's not boxed, four it is boxed. Not every SS had boxed rear control arms, so this will not tell you if it's a reall SS or not. On the rest, it depends on the years, what year is the SS?

Fred

 

[chevelless1]

yes, 12 bolts holding the cover to the rear differential.
The rear control arms connect the to the rear axle and to the frame. These should have 4 sides to them for an SS as opposed to just 3.

 

[spaceace77084]

I'm sorry, I forgot to mention the year. It's a 1970

 

[gigem]

Hey Space Ace:

I'm guessing with a name like Space Ace, and the 77084 in your name, you must live in Houston. Correct? Good luck with those cars. Even if the SS isn't "real", it sounds like it might be a good find if the price is right.

There are some folks here in Houston that know a thing or two about these cars that could probably offer some help if needed.

 

[Beaux]

Bottom line - without documentation for a 70 there is NO WAY to prove it, hands down. Everything else can be duplicated - F41 suspension package, gauges, ragjoint, turn signal lenses.....everything. The ONLY way you will ever be certain is original docs. Now, someone well versed could go over the car and give you an opinion but in reality, they may be giving you an opinion on the perfect clone because if it was built by someone with the same level of knowledge, they'd get it right when building it. If its Canadian built, you can still get them if he doesnt have them but if not, no way to know.

So if you want a real 70SS and want to be certain, you need docs. Without that, its alllllll heresay.

 

[spaceace77084]

Hey gigem,

I am in Houston BUT I didn't get my name because NASA is in Houston. I got the name because I'm a huge KISS fan. My favorite member is Ace Frehley.

I agree that this car would be a good find even if it's not a true SS. The guy wants $5,000 because he is claiming it's a Super Sport and because he put a lot of money into it, even thought I couldn't tell he put a lot of money into it. I'm gonna try to talk him down to $3,000.

 

[gigem]

First concert I ever saw was KISS - opening band was Styx. Might have been 1978 - I know that I wasn't driving yet. This was in Houston.

If the car is complete and the body is in decent shape with minimal to no rust, and it has a big block in it, $3,000 would be a smoking good deal, real SS or not...

If he sticks hard on $5K, and it meets the above criteria, give me a call. I might take a look at it

 

[spaceace77084]

It's got a small block 350. He says it runs but I don't think so, especially sitting that long.

 

[2BlueLS6's]

Although Beaux touched on it, nobody really described the gauge difference and it's one of the easier telltales assuming somebody didn't switch out the dash. SS's have round guages, where the Malibus have a long rectangular speedo. Lots of things, including rear ends get changed around in 35 years. It's hard to believe that somebody would've added the trip pieces to the top of the fenders on an SS car, but different strokes for different folks I guess. If the car had body damage it might've been easier for somebody to add the trim to the panels they DIDN'T replace than to fix the holes in the ones they did. A lot of 70 Chevelles had a build sheet under the right side of the front seat, and frequently a second one in the driver's side door panel. That'd be worth lookin' for too.

 

[spaceace77084]

would the build sheet be stuck to the bottom or in a plastic package?

 

[Chris R]

I didnt see you mention it but why not pop the hood and see if there is a big block in there to start with. Then look and see if you can pull some numbers off the engine to see if it matches the vin.

 

[Dean]

You can bet if it has the Malibu peak molding it was not originally an SS car.

Some Malibu models did have the round gauge dash but it doesn't matter because none of those things prove anything anyway.

Only documentaion proves "SS or not" and even that is getting iffy these days.

Read this; http://www.chevelles.com/shop/ss_ident.html

 

[2BlueLS6's]

would the build sheet be stuck to the bottom or in a plastic package?

Not in a plastic package. The one under the seat is just stuck up in the springs. The one on the door panel is glued pretty well usually, making it hard to retrieve without severe damage.

 

[2BlueLS6's]

You can bet if it has the Malibu peak molding it was not originally an SS car.

Some Malibu models did have the round gauge dash but it doesn't matter because none of those things prove anything anyway.


Read this; http://www.chevelles.com/shop/ss_ident.html

I thought we were kinda assuming the car was an old barn find, maybe with some changes, but not much effort to conceal a clone attempt. As far as the moulding, if the car had front sheet metal and doors from a non SS car for some repair (or even several peices of it) it would be easier to just drill a half dozen or so holes to put it all on than trying to take it off the remaining areas. I know of a 70 396 (402) SS here that had the whole front climp and doors put on it from a non SS because it was a rust bucket. I can't remember if the stuck the two pieces under the rear quarter windows on it also, but he had it on the rest.

I've never seen a non-SS 70 Chevelle with the round guages. Under what circumstances was that offered?

 

[69Silverstreak]

I've never seen a non-SS 70 Chevelle with the round guages. Under what circumstances was that offered?

Just looked at a 70 El Camino today that has SS dash w tach and guages. 5,000 redline w/ green letters If you ordered guages you got the round dash with it.
Lyle

 

[depley]

You said it is a 1970 and wonder if its an SS, then you say its a small block.

I am pretty sure only big blocks came in 1970 SS versions. Small blocks were not available in a SS till 1971.

If the car IS a real SS it would appear not to have the original engine which means SS or not the value is diminished. $5000 sounds pretty high to me either way. Not a price I would be willing to pay without a matching engine with the description you gave above.