The '64 Chevelle SS tribute build thread

[earthquake68]

Originally Posted by RBeckman

Alan,

I can tell you, I would not want to detail that car.....black hides so much.

...and I swore to myself that I was just going to hose down the frame with semi gloss black and call it a day. I couldn't help myself, though. I just kept taking things apart and cleaning and painting them. Before I knew it, I had done everything I said I wouldn't do again.

This is EXACTLY how the car I had in high school looked. For me, it's quite the time machine.

[earthquake68]

I'm picking away at the metal work. This car looked pretty straight when I bought it, but there was a lot of questionable body work done under the paint. Yet another reason to strip the car and start over when you re do something.

Here's someone's idea of a filled hole for the radio antenna. They just backed up a 1" hole with masking tape and bondoed over it.



Here it is with all the bondo knocked out.



And here's my idea of a repair. 18 gauge steel but welded in and ground smooth.



I had to pound out some cellulite that was under some bad body work. It's not done, but it's getting straighter. At least there's no rust to deal with.

[shadowgray396]

Excellent work

[earthquake68]

Thanks, Ray!

I got the driver's side fender stripped down the other day. The car had four paint jobs on it, so stripping the paint goes slow. I only want ONE paint job on it when I'm done. The other fender is in MUCH better than this one. I was hoping to have the fenders blown in and re-mounted on the car, but I don't want to rush it. I'll make sure they're right when they go back on.

[tunes]

I'll look forward to seeing your '64 when it hits the streets. Be sure to bring it up to the Steak n Shake cruise in Springfield.

[carpoor]

Wow, never seen masking tape used. That's really shoddy. Great repair work though! Growing up, my friend's father used to use silver 200 MPH A/C duct tape, and the green bondo you buy from Advanaced Auto. It was laughable... I remember going home and telling my father about his "repairs." He was speechless, and simply shook his head in disgust.

I totally get that not everyone has the skills or means to do a quality job, but damn... some things people attempt are doomed from the moment they conjure up a hair-brained idea.

[earthquake68]

Originally Posted by tunes

I'll look forward to seeing your '64 when it hits the streets. Be sure to bring it up to the Steak n Shake cruise in Springfield.

Will do! In the mean time, you're more than welcome to come down to the shop and visit!

[earthquake68]

I got a few more things done today. The driver's fender is straight and in primer with the edges cut in and I got the fender wells painted. I almost have the front clip done!

[shadowgray396]

Looks great, like the pin stripe on the fire wall.

[earthquake68]

More work to the Chevelle. This is downright spooky. It's been 20 years since I looked into this engine compartment. I'm still looking for the original car, but this one is SO close to how I had the first one.