'69 Impala SS 427 Convertible

[slusher]

Looks awesome, Roger..

[Mike F.]

Looking good!

Can you provide a close-up pic of the assembled front suspension? Would like to see how your front springs look.

Thanks,

Mike

[Plowboy]

1 hour ago, Mike F. said:

Looking good!

Can you provide a close-up pic of the assembled front suspension? Would like to see how your front springs look.

Thanks,

Mike

Thanx! This is the best I could do with my tablet and sucky lighting. If the shocks were a brighter color, they would show better in photos. They show up well in person. 

I did a mockup with the COPO hubcaps and steel wheels. I definitely don't like them on this model. So, I'll be sticking with the Rallies. 

 

[Mike F.]

Nicely done. Looks good. Once wheels are in place, nobody sees them, unless looking. But still......

[Bucky]

I tend to agree with you about the rally wheels. An upscale Impala, especially a convertible, just needs an upgrade on the wheels. Chevy rally wheels seem to be an iconic wheel, that look good on just about any Chevy out there! Of course....this is just my opinion! LOL

[StevenGuthmiller]

I kind of like the poverty caps.

But I agree.

On a convertible........probably not.

A hardtop, on the other hand, would give you the “you don’t know it yet, but I’m about to kick your ass” impression with those wheels. ?

 

 

Steve

[Zippi]

Lot of nice work Roger.  Looking good so far.

[Plowboy]

19 hours ago, Mike F. said:

Nicely done. Looks good. Once wheels are in place, nobody sees them, unless looking. But still......

Thanx! Yeah, they're kinda like the vents on the hood. Only noticeable at certain angles. But, when your eye catches it......

[Plowboy]

I finally got a little time to work on this thing. I was waiting for the embossing powder I ordered to come in so that I could finally be done with the floorpan. It's by WOW and is the super fine grade. Pretty much the same texture I was getting with baking soda. The color wasn't close at all. So, I had to paint it. I thought putting it over black would get it closer. But, it didn't. I'm pretty happy with how it turned out. Now, I can make some decent progress hopefully. 

The underside.

One issue I had to deal with on the chassis was the front track. It was way too narrow. Plus, the right side was worse than the left. The fix was simple. I just added 1.5 mms on the left wheel back and 2.5 on the right.

[Plowboy]

The interior is starting to come together. Right now, all I was able to glue permanent were the door panels, console and bucket seats. The dash and rear seat will have to be glued after the body is mounted permanent. Haven't decided on seat belts yet. They were most often tucked away. If I do add them, they won't be very visible. 

[Mike F.]

Looking good! Nice interior.

[TooOld]

Sharp interior !  Skip the belts . . . it's a '69 , nobody will notice .

[slusher]

Good looking interior , Roger.  Been missing you on here..

Edited August 8, 2021 by slusher

[David G.]

The interior looks great!

David G.

[bisc63]

How 'bout '66 GTO wheels with redlines? Had it in my head and just had to picture it...

[Bob Ellis]

12 hours ago, bisc63 said:

How 'bout '66 GTO wheels with redlines? Had it in my head and just had to picture it...

I usually super glue brass wire under convertible A posts as they are incredibly weak. Why not use Corvette Rallye wheels?

[Bob Ellis]

Very nice job converting a promo into a kit!

 

[bisc63]

I was just spitballing  ideas for something less common.

[Sam I Am]

On 8/5/2021 at 6:11 AM, Plowboy said:

The interior is starting to come together. Right now, all I was able to glue permanent were the door panels, console and bucket seats. The dash and rear seat will have to be glued after the body is mounted permanent. Haven't decided on seat belts yet. They were most often tucked away. If I do add them, they won't be very visible. 

The Corvette rallye wheels pictured look perfect.

[Plowboy]

On 8/5/2021 at 5:04 PM, TooOld said:

Sharp interior !  Skip the belts . . . it's a '69 , nobody will notice .

That's what I'm thinking. Growing up in the '60s-'70s, seat belts were never used and always tucked out of sight. I tucked them away until around ten years ago.

[Plowboy]

On 8/6/2021 at 2:45 AM, slusher said:

Good looking interior , Roger.  Been missing you on here..

Thanx Carl! I haven't had a lot of bench time lately. But, I keep picking away at it. It'll eventually get done. 

[Plowboy]

On 8/8/2021 at 3:13 AM, bisc63 said:

How 'bout '66 GTO wheels with redlines? Had it in my head and just had to picture it...

Those definitely look different. But, I'm going to stick with the Rallies. 

[Plowboy]

21 hours ago, Bob Ellis said:

I usually super glue brass wire under convertible A posts as they are incredibly weak. Why not use Corvette Rallye wheels?

These A pillars are surprisingly strong. I was really concerned about cutting the hood loose with the frame being the only thing holding the body together up front. But, I had no issues with it. I'm going to use the Rallies. They're the only wheel that suits it to me. 

[Tom Geiger]

2 hours ago, Plowboy said:

That's what I'm thinking. Growing up in the '60s-'70s, seat belts were never used and always tucked out of sight. I tucked them away until around ten years ago.

I had an uncle who would ceremoniously cut the seat belts off on any new car he purchased.  Must've been hell at trade in time!  ?     Me?  My father was an army officer and had safety drilled into him!  We had seat belts in the '62 Studebaker and I was wearing them from the time I could talk!

[Plowboy]

I now have the engine detailed and ready to install. It just needs a little cleaning and a 427/425hp decal for the breather. Like the dash and rear seat, it'll have to be done once the body is on. One issue I had was that I cut the lump representing the fuel pump off and replaced it with one from a Revell '69 Camaro. Somehow, just doing that caused a fit issue and I had to grind away a spot on the frame. I was planning on adding a fuel line from the tank to the fuel pump and a brake line from the the rear end. But, now I may not as it's impossible to get a fuel line to the pump without more grinding to the frame. I would have to make a very noticeable notch that wouldn't look right. I may be able to fake it. Just have to see once it's all together.