Re: My other passion...65' Impala SS
 

Man, that turned out great!

You've got a ton of patience to spend that kinda time on it, but it sure is worth it.

Re: My other passion...65' Impala SS
 

Finally got phase 1 of the grill done. Got all the paint off with the steel wool. This basically how its going to look. I will but some mag polish on it by hand before I hang it back on the car, but until then, here it is. I have quite a bit to do before its ready to go again. My fingers are sore and bruised from all the sanding!

Re: My other passion...65' Impala SS
 

man that looks sweet!

Re: My other passion...65' Impala SS
 

Thanks man!

Re: My other passion...65' Impala SS
 

Yeah, I think that's an improvement for sure. One of those things that took a ridiculous amount of time to complete, and almost nobody will notice...but you'll know you did it;)

Re: My other passion...65' Impala SS
 

The grill turned out awesome!

Re: My other passion...65' Impala SS
 

Thanks guys!

Re: My other passion...65' Impala SS
 

What brand of wheels are those. I know Summit Racing has there own brand that look like those, I was just wondering if yours were the same. Whatever wheel they are I like the way they look on your ride!

Re: My other passion...65' Impala SS
 

They are called showwheels, and are made on the same machines as the intro wheels (and a few others). I saw them first in a classic industries catalog, and really liked the look.

Re: My other passion...65' Impala SS
 

I am going to try to "restore" that stainless window trim that you can see behind the grill in the last pic. Its not in terrible shape, but not perfect. I have a nice book, and some tools especially for this.
I figure with new paint, any imperfections in any of the chrome or stainless trim will really stand out.

Re: My other passion...65' Impala SS
 

You're absolutely right! That trim restoration willl add to your car a ton!

Re: My other passion...65' Impala SS
 

Well, since I will be repainting the entire car, I figured I would replace the pass side quarter panel. It is a bit wavy and the PO covered it up with bondo. With the new sheetmetal up front, the recently replaced driver side quarter, and now this, It should be pretty straight. Looking forward to doing some sanding and getting dirty, in an effort to be driving her this spring!!!!
-Nick

Re: My other passion...65' Impala SS
 

Nicke,

DO you ever go to the end of the world rod run in longbeach???

Re: My other passion...65' Impala SS
 

Nope, haven't been to that one. Longbeach WA?

I can typically be found at Goodguys events... All the Washington ones, Denver Co, Columbus OH, and Del Mar CA too!

Re: My other passion...65' Impala SS
 

Is the suspension on your 65 similiar to a chevy caprice 66?

Re: My other passion...65' Impala SS
 

Yep, its the exact same... 65-70 full size share all the same chassis components.

Re: My other passion...65' Impala SS
 

great job! just wondering didnt you just het the car painted? did they not do a good job? i thought yous just have to respray the front clip. car looks great ! i love 65s
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Re: My other passion...65' Impala SS
 

Yea, I had the car painted 2 years ago, but since I will have to get the new clip painted (from hitting the deer) I figured I would replace the passenger side quarter panel (the only metal on the car that isn't perfect) and paint the entire car again. The current panel is a bit wavy and shows a previous repair that wasn't done correctly.

So, before summer gets underway, I will have a pretty straight impala back on the road!
-Nick

Re: My other passion...65' Impala SS
 

Not being able to drive my car is the hardest part about all of this! I have to settle for looking at pictures until I can drive it again! This is one of my favorite pics of my car from last summer, a few weeks prior to hitting the deer :-/
http://www.wheeltrendz.com/wp-conten...3/DSC02216.jpg

Re: My other passion...65' Impala SS
 

speechless.......... I'm working on getting a 66 right now! Have you ever had a problem with the rear axle supports rusting or breaking?

Re: My other passion...65' Impala SS
 

Nope, no issues with the rear axle at all. She is real solid underneath. It is the 12 bolt rear with 2 lower and 2 upper control arms stock, which was originally put on the higher hp cars from the factory. Other cars only got 1 upper control arm.

-Nick

Re: My other passion...65' Impala SS
 

Learn something new everyday! Around here in my neck of the woods they use salt on the roads during winter and it eats up the metal on all the cars. The 66 im looking at has a rusted broken upper control arm in the rear. They should have used two on all of them.

Re: My other passion...65' Impala SS
 

That brings tears to my eyes. I had a burgundy '65ss,in 1969.My mom used it to take my sis to work,and it came back on a wrecker.She got sideswiped by an 18-wheeler.The frame and body were so messed up,it couldn't be fixed.

Re: My other passion...65' Impala SS
 

Not fun... I literally almost cried, and I knew the damage to mine could be fixed.
Its never too late to get another one though!
-Nick

Re: My other passion...65' Impala SS
 

I just bought a new rear quarter (the side that I didn't already replace) and will be putting that on here soon. With that, all my metal will be real solid!

Re: My other passion...65' Impala SS
 

Sounds good! You better hurry as we've had awesome cruising weather already!

Re: My other passion...65' Impala SS
 

Nice Impala, liking the 18/20" idea and really like the Big block idea. I put a 454/525hp in my 71 Gm 4x4 and sold the 350/330hp small block, wow what a difference, it just is so nice cruising now, the raw power is always there and sure made a big difference in a heavy truck, fuel mileage is even real close to what it was before, but the enjoyable factor just skyrocketed, just smile all day when I drive it now. Either way, beauty of a car, I just love all old cars and trucks, not new, no personality.:metal:

Re: My other passion...65' Impala SS
 

Agreed! I actually went with the correct 327 for the car, but I still think its cool!

Re: My other passion...65' Impala SS
 

Here's some new news... I decide to swap the powerglide for a 200-4r tranny. Should be much more enjoyable to drive around now!

Re: My other passion...65' Impala SS
 

Yes it should!

Re: My other passion...65' Impala SS
 

Also, contemplating a rear gear swap that will work better with the final drive gear of the 200-4r at .67. Currently I have 3.08 gears, and I thinking of going to 3.55 or 3.73. Either of those should put the od crusing in the sweet spot. (I have 27" of tire height).

Re: My other passion...65' Impala SS
 

The 3.73's should work out real nice with the 200R4 and the weight of the car, should pull pretty good, nice having the lower first gear too.

Re: My other passion...65' Impala SS
 

My thoughts exactly!

-Nick

Re: My other passion...65' Impala SS
 

New items ready to go:
I'm hoping to get these installed this weekend.

http://www.wheeltrendz.com/wp-conten.../06/motive.jpg

http://www.wheeltrendz.com/wp-conten.../06/tranny.jpg

Re: My other passion...65' Impala SS
 

How did they get all that in one FedEx envelope? :smoke:

What gear ratio you going with?
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Re: My other passion...65' Impala SS
 

New gears are 3.73... Changing out my current 3.08 gears. I bought the trans locally and just had a full "stage 2" rebuild done with new converter. I will be using a TV cable kit from bowtie overdrives for my Edelbrock carb to get the geometry just right, and I picked up a B&M torque converter lockup module that is speed controlled( as well as brake switch override). I can adjust the set speed from the dash while driving, and even has an LED to show when the converter is locked.

This should really make my summertime drives much more fun!
-Nick

Re: My other passion...65' Impala SS
 

be sure to let us know if your mileage increases and by how much. but with the gear change it prob wont be too big of a difference. love your imp!!
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Re: My other passion...65' Impala SS
 

Thank you! I'll let you know! Even with the gear change, I am guessing I will see a difference. Going from a powerglide to a 4 speed auto with a .67 overdrive can't not help. My final cruise rpm looks like it will drop about 700rpm @70 mph, even with the gear swap....

-Nick

Re: My other passion...65' Impala SS
 

oh yeah i forgot you had a glide. youll def see a difference in mpgs. i thought you had Th350. its gonna feel like a new car ,in a good way. lower first gear and 2 extra gears with od!! its gonna be a fun car to drive
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Re: My other passion...65' Impala SS
 

I can't wait :metal:

-Nick