63 SS Impala original 409 car?
- Thread starter Jim Sullivan
- Start date
Sometimes I wish I had better cars to start with, but where would the fun be in that? I enjoy the challenge of restoring cars and fabricating parts. I don't know what I would do without a project car( I'm sure my wife would have a few ideas though).
Shake-N-Bake
Well Known Member
Nice project....and excellent advice. I do the same thing. If I run into a problem that I can't resolve easily, I step away and do something else. It doesn't take long for a solution to present itself once cooler heads prevail.
Finally had some time today to make some more adjustments to the rear quarters. Looks like they're ready to go one permanently. Just have to wait for some better weather so I can prime the insides and I should be ready to start welding them on.
Fabulous work. I wish I had that much talent!
I just wanted to say that for all you guys out there that go that far into restoring the metal on some of these cars, my hats off to you. It's not so much the actual work, welding, fitting etc., it's the patience, the dedication, the perseverance to your goal that I admire. I can weld, do machine work, etc., I just don't have what ever you guys have to take something that I would consider too far gone and resurrect it like some of you do. And even if I did now, I feel I don't have enough time left to do it. I can remember passing on several cars that were easily repaired when I was younger because I was scared of the body work. I remember particular 55 chevy with a Nascar motor in it that had a little rust on the top that scared me that I could have had for a song. I am glad there are people like you guys out there.
Finally had some time this past week to work on the '63 SS. I epoxy primed the inside of the rear quarters and the outer wheel houses. The quarters are screwed back on the car hopefully for the final time. Now I have to work on fitting the taillight panels and the trunk weather strip channels.
Just an fyi for anyone replacing the trunk weather strip channels on a '63. Dynacorn list their channels as fitting '63 and '64. Well they correct for a '64 but not a '63. I had to cut out approximately 1" in the drop area by the tail light panels and a couple inches at the end that meets the panel across the rear opening of the trunk. Not happy! But I couldn't find any good used ones in our area.
How do I get anything done with such a mess in the garage?
I finally took a picture of the firewall looking for the resistor mounting hole. There is a hole that looks like a self tapping screw was installed but I'm not sure if it is in the correct location.
It's just to the left of the master cylinder mounting stud.
Just an fyi for anyone replacing the trunk weather strip channels on a '63. Dynacorn list their channels as fitting '63 and '64. Well they correct for a '64 but not a '63. I had to cut out approximately 1" in the drop area by the tail light panels and a couple inches at the end that meets the panel across the rear opening of the trunk. Not happy! But I couldn't find any good used ones in our area.
How do I get anything done with such a mess in the garage?I finally took a picture of the firewall looking for the resistor mounting hole. There is a hole that looks like a self tapping screw was installed but I'm not sure if it is in the correct location.
It's just to the left of the master cylinder mounting stud.
De-ja-vu for me seeing these pics. 
I even had to replace the lower sail panels just like your doing. I'm happy to be further along than you. (sorry) 
Mine should be primered next week. Then it gets block sanded and taken apart so I can do door jams, trunk jam, cowl, backs of fenders, doors, etc. After that, it's PAINT time! 
I'll be so happy when that is done. After that, it's gravy.
I even had to replace the lower sail panels just like your doing. I'm happy to be further along than you. (sorry) Mine should be primered next week. Then it gets block sanded and taken apart so I can do door jams, trunk jam, cowl, backs of fenders, doors, etc. After that, it's PAINT time! I'll be so happy when that is done. After that, it's gravy.
Don't know how Bob did it {sail panel gap} but i would think about making that extension sail panel first like a nos panel were made and attaching to quarter before welding on the complete quarter panel , that way you could put rust treatment on back side too, Just saying!!!!!
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Keep posting pictures of yours Bob, it's inspiration for me to work on mine! I'm hoping to paint next year, but who knows when for sure.De-ja-vu for me seeing these pics.
I'll be so happy when that is done. After that, it's gravy.
Well, the quarter panels are finally welded on. Just have to do a little work on the trunk lid gaps and the taillight housings and the sail panel patches. Then onto the cowl area.
It is a labor of love for me! I couldn't imagine not having a project to work on. I have really been motivated lately seeing the photos of your painted body Bob! Hoping to be at that point next year myself.
A note on the ballast resistor. Look at your wire harness, a car equipped without the resistor will have a resistor wire, which is easy to identify, silver colored wired, normally with a white braided type cover. A ballast equipped car would not have the silver resistor wire it would be a normal copper wire going to the resistor.
Oh how I wish I was that talented instead of good looking!
Well your really gonna be motivated when you see the new pics of it out in the sun that I just posted! Our projects have so much in common it's eerie.
I love seeing an old Chevy getting brought back. I wish we could rescue every one of them.