62 BelAir Bubble Build - sport coupe 409

TheLRZ

Well Known Member
When things come together organically, you know you’re hand is being guided.

With the shell is currently on the rotisserie. We’re soon ready to spray the under belly a satin black.
The frame was gone over and every factory weld redone. Sadly there was 4 rot spots after I got it back and he was paid 3k. It showed up back in front of his shop and he called asking why. Mentioned the job wasn’t done and he said he couldn’t work on it, even though the powder coater was waiting.
In an emergency, the next morning a real buddy fixed the rust and I grinded and molded every one of the other guys welds I paid for, to a smooth finish.
I really wanted and expected some nice clean welds in the factory seams but it is what is it and comes home tomorrow with fresh powder.

Now the problem is still finding the side trim.
I have two sets of 4dr trim that can be spliced but am open for that gift to fall from the hands of the car gods.

Until then the chassis is going to be built this month. I’ll be running the second upper control arm on the original GM rearend should look cool.
People talk about the axles letting go on those but I’m crossing my fingers and hoping to use thicker bearing retainers.

Stock suspension parts and front disks.

This build has been 4 years gathering, and until last month I never expected to run a 409.
5 cars cut up so far to build this car. It was coming along so quick I had my feelers out in all directions for a motor. LS, 327...etc.

Then it came. The next day, the date coded T10 was just sitting on a friends floor.
A day later, the IT lady at my work set up my phone.
I looked and out of a thousand numbers, my local was now 409.
Joyfully stunned, I inquired on whether I had asked her for that number at some point in the past? She said no, “it was just randomly selected” in a tiny Iranian accent.
So here I am.
Forever
LRZ
409
 

Attachments

  • E4BD45D9-ADED-481B-886B-5D844CD77576.jpeg
    E4BD45D9-ADED-481B-886B-5D844CD77576.jpeg
    135.7 KB · Views: 153
  • 395FD154-A066-48F7-8EF4-2AA7F1510E01.jpeg
    395FD154-A066-48F7-8EF4-2AA7F1510E01.jpeg
    88.4 KB · Views: 162
  • A6546E9F-A96E-4CC9-A7B3-4FD07A280CA7.jpeg
    A6546E9F-A96E-4CC9-A7B3-4FD07A280CA7.jpeg
    145.8 KB · Views: 164
  • D78F0F01-7FF7-4189-B659-88F6AF64FD1F.jpeg
    D78F0F01-7FF7-4189-B659-88F6AF64FD1F.jpeg
    100.8 KB · Views: 172
  • 8FB637B3-AAD7-472A-A966-7928A7500887.jpeg
    8FB637B3-AAD7-472A-A966-7928A7500887.jpeg
    66.6 KB · Views: 179
  • 15DEAF3F-39AC-48F9-9C59-488C4C0D8C0B.jpeg
    15DEAF3F-39AC-48F9-9C59-488C4C0D8C0B.jpeg
    92.8 KB · Views: 154
  • 771626D5-5F88-4B17-B554-E572BADD142E.jpeg
    771626D5-5F88-4B17-B554-E572BADD142E.jpeg
    104.3 KB · Views: 151
Last edited:

TheLRZ

Well Known Member
Frame home today
 

Attachments

  • 1C95FD17-C292-4779-AF75-ADA9AD0F49CD.jpeg
    1C95FD17-C292-4779-AF75-ADA9AD0F49CD.jpeg
    147.5 KB · Views: 75
  • 72EDF221-B4B7-4B17-A744-023D715FF9F9.jpeg
    72EDF221-B4B7-4B17-A744-023D715FF9F9.jpeg
    142.7 KB · Views: 73
  • 6F550B78-E730-46E0-9AD1-EED0ABEB9BEA.jpeg
    6F550B78-E730-46E0-9AD1-EED0ABEB9BEA.jpeg
    142.3 KB · Views: 72
  • 71BD4318-5B93-46F3-BDD9-DDA1DB5CD565.jpeg
    71BD4318-5B93-46F3-BDD9-DDA1DB5CD565.jpeg
    110.5 KB · Views: 74
  • 2C4B3A97-F756-4F35-901F-9752B7D55639.jpeg
    2C4B3A97-F756-4F35-901F-9752B7D55639.jpeg
    98.1 KB · Views: 72
  • 138C6BA3-5CF6-445B-A29D-5FD2AF60694A.jpeg
    138C6BA3-5CF6-445B-A29D-5FD2AF60694A.jpeg
    127.2 KB · Views: 71
  • BD2933C2-92D5-466D-884D-B58A69A5B325.jpeg
    BD2933C2-92D5-466D-884D-B58A69A5B325.jpeg
    127.5 KB · Views: 72
  • 198B922E-2FA0-48C6-BE0D-5C5C4DE0829E.jpeg
    198B922E-2FA0-48C6-BE0D-5C5C4DE0829E.jpeg
    147.2 KB · Views: 73

TheLRZ

Well Known Member
Welcome to the Forum! Gotta love those 1962 "Sport Coupes" in the Belair style :).

Looks like you're making good progress. Five cars as donors, that's "Bodies by FisherS" :) :) :).

We look forward to updates on a regular basis, thanks for the pics and congrats!

TomK
I had best start using the appropriate and accurate reference terminology for these beautiful, distinguished machines.
 

TheLRZ

Well Known Member
Welcome to the Forum! Gotta love those 1962 "Sport Coupes" in the Belair style :).

Looks like you're making good progress. Five cars as donors, that's "Bodies by FisherS" :) :) :).

We look forward to updates on a regular basis, thanks for the pics and congrats!

TomK
Here’s one

This car gave up the majority of the components of what a car needs to be a car.
Former Alberta Canada government fleet vehicle. The car made it into the hands of a father who eventually stored for 20years. His son, a uptown hipster type drove it for a summer after pops past away and sold it at the end of summer.

Funny story about this car and part of the meant to be theory.
I was supposed to be building a Impala convertible. Had lined up all my parts. Waited inline for best builder in Canada that I know to get free for two years. When two years came, and I was standing in the shop. I got cold feet. I didn’t want an Impala. Every joe blow was buying them. Those who once were happy with 5.0L mustangs with gold plating and lights underneath were now buying Impalas to be like a culture they had nothing to do with.
I was freaking out.
We had a meeting. I mentioned my concerns and how I couldn’t spend that kind of money just to be on the same team as posers.
We talked and talked. He once had a 61 and I always loved that car, but I was a 62 guy. I asked could he do it?
The only problem was I needed every single part of a car to build another car. I had a full convertible, but not a BelAir.
he said don’t worry you got two years we’ll get a 4 dr for the wiper motor and every other piece you need. So we decided, 62 “Sport Coupe” it was.
Later that night this car was on Craigslist. The perfect donor was right there. I called and he said there was people all over calling wanting to leave deposits via e-transfer but he didn’t trust em. I said I be out first thing in the morning.
We drove it home. The add had been posted “8 hrs “ before I saw I. 8 hours was when we had our meeting and decided on the build.
THE EXACT MOMENT I CHOSE TO BUILD THE CAR, the donor presented itself.
We are using the hood, fender, trunk lid, dash, every other do-dad as well.
2500bucks well spent.
I thanked my car gods for that one too.
 

Attachments

  • 3DD86E9B-80B2-4636-98C2-85B0F56A3F05.jpeg
    3DD86E9B-80B2-4636-98C2-85B0F56A3F05.jpeg
    143.8 KB · Views: 144
  • 15338D4B-C567-4A0E-87C7-16EBEC3E6410.jpeg
    15338D4B-C567-4A0E-87C7-16EBEC3E6410.jpeg
    81.5 KB · Views: 140
  • 5A9C7AD6-6864-4335-AC51-8EC5C0F12F05.jpeg
    5A9C7AD6-6864-4335-AC51-8EC5C0F12F05.jpeg
    84.6 KB · Views: 133
  • A8076F09-2AEA-4F7B-BB11-6C3091846CEC.jpeg
    A8076F09-2AEA-4F7B-BB11-6C3091846CEC.jpeg
    78.8 KB · Views: 129
  • F745435D-A13F-440B-BE5B-92219D5B0F2A.jpeg
    F745435D-A13F-440B-BE5B-92219D5B0F2A.jpeg
    84.4 KB · Views: 132
Last edited:

Tom Kochtanek

Well Known Member
Supporting Member 12
So am I understanding this correctly, you had a 1962 Impala convertible and passed on that? Did you sell that one off? Subsequent to that you acquired the '62 Belair "sport coupe"? Both of those are pretty hard to come by in these parts, as they are both well sought after...

That "more door" donor looked very rust free, a great source for parts!

Cheers! TomK
 

TheLRZ

Well Known Member
So am I understanding this correctly, you had a 1962 Impala convertible and passed on that? Did you sell that one off? Subsequent to that you acquired the '62 Belair "sport coupe"? Both of those are pretty hard to come by in these parts, as they are both well sought after...

That "more door" donor looked very rust free, a great source for parts!

Cheers! TomK
Still Have the convertible. It has a beautifully running rebuilt 327 in it. It's a Canadian car and I love the car.
I had found a 62 Impala SS with factory power windows in a barn couple years back. Sat for 40yrs.
We found the “Body by Fisher” broadcast sheet in the front bucket that indicates Power Windows (Anybody need one?)
Got that going and was going to drive that as the Convertible was being re-done.
Then the BelAir idea formed, and CoVID came. Couple that with our Globalist pussy Prime Minister up here, our dollar tanked and I decided to sell the SS to the States. ( I didn't need or have room for 3 cars anyway). It worked.
Couple Mexican brothers in Washington States bought it without even seeing the car. Full trust car guy deal.
They sent the money with seeing the car. I sent the car over the border without money clearing customs.
They said the car was better than they imagined and I now had the funding for the Bubble.

The convertible will be my daily as I build the Bubs.

Also had 1960 fall into my hands. But it only lasted 5 days and helped buy the 409!!!!!!!!!!!
 

Attachments

  • IMG_0460.JPG
    IMG_0460.JPG
    70.6 KB · Views: 89
  • OHLB0609.JPG
    OHLB0609.JPG
    61.3 KB · Views: 89
  • IMG_0906.JPG
    IMG_0906.JPG
    81.8 KB · Views: 87
  • FAB7CC6B-F128-4CC9-A067-5582C56CD419.jpeg
    FAB7CC6B-F128-4CC9-A067-5582C56CD419.jpeg
    116.3 KB · Views: 86
  • 52B5A1CB-7AB5-452D-AB53-C1E790BB0A4A.jpeg
    52B5A1CB-7AB5-452D-AB53-C1E790BB0A4A.jpeg
    99.7 KB · Views: 91
  • 502B4AF3-B3B3-458F-A683-FD8427C15210.jpeg
    502B4AF3-B3B3-458F-A683-FD8427C15210.jpeg
    62.8 KB · Views: 91
  • 1FFBDDCC-000D-4BD1-9E76-C6CD9F565686.jpeg
    1FFBDDCC-000D-4BD1-9E76-C6CD9F565686.jpeg
    80.3 KB · Views: 80
  • IMG_0290.JPG
    IMG_0290.JPG
    53.3 KB · Views: 72
  • Interior_RearSeat2.jpg
    Interior_RearSeat2.jpg
    59.7 KB · Views: 73
  • SS_BroadcastSheet.jpg
    SS_BroadcastSheet.jpg
    66 KB · Views: 75
Last edited:

TheLRZ

Well Known Member
Set-backs for newbies are expected.
here’s another:

so I took suspension parts up to the industrial area to get the bushings burnt out. I heard or read this is the route to success. Well buddy boy burnt a bunch on holes in the control arms and damaged the cross-arms.
Yeah..!!!

powder guy can wait
and so can chassis assembly
 

Attachments

  • D47321A3-ED33-4B01-AB92-04856D5A0376.jpeg
    D47321A3-ED33-4B01-AB92-04856D5A0376.jpeg
    97.1 KB · Views: 70
  • 85E431EC-456C-460A-8A70-CABCCCC15E3E.jpeg
    85E431EC-456C-460A-8A70-CABCCCC15E3E.jpeg
    69.7 KB · Views: 71
  • 435C55D6-8FCC-4E31-8A22-B438E5913F0F.jpeg
    435C55D6-8FCC-4E31-8A22-B438E5913F0F.jpeg
    63.2 KB · Views: 69
  • FD2B60D6-CF0B-42E5-B272-5438E32CF865.jpeg
    FD2B60D6-CF0B-42E5-B272-5438E32CF865.jpeg
    88.4 KB · Views: 69
  • 275B5730-9F3D-4B23-A750-A72EE7139728.jpeg
    275B5730-9F3D-4B23-A750-A72EE7139728.jpeg
    67.6 KB · Views: 68
  • 5B417F5A-84FD-47B6-9F1F-94AC8AB88497.jpeg
    5B417F5A-84FD-47B6-9F1F-94AC8AB88497.jpeg
    65.3 KB · Views: 69

409gang

Well Known Member
Supporting Member 1
Still Have the convertible. It has a beautifully running rebuilt 327 in it. It's a Canadian car and I love the car.
I had found a 62 Impala SS with factory power windows in a barn couple years back. Sat for 40yrs.
We found the “Body by Fisher” broadcast sheet in the front bucket that indicates Power Windows (Anybody need one?)
Got that going and was going to drive that as the Convertible was being re-done.
Then the BelAir idea formed, and CoVID came. Couple that with our Globalist pussy Prime Minister up here, our dollar tanked and I decided to sell the SS to the States. ( I didn't need or have room for 3 cars anyway). It worked.
Couple Mexican brothers in Washington States bought it without even seeing the car. Full trust car guy deal.
They sent the money with seeing the car. I sent the car over the border without money clearing customs.
They said the car was better than they imagined and I now had the funding for the Bubble.

The convertible will be my daily as I build the Bubs.

Also had 1960 fall into my hands. But it only lasted 5 days and helped buy the 409!!!!!!!!!!!
So we can assume that 62 SS now has hydraulics on it, dingle balls around the perimeter of the headliner and itty bitty tires on wire wheels. Lol
 

TheLRZ

Well Known Member
So we can assume that 62 SS now has hydraulics on it and dingle balls around the perimeter of the headliner, Lol
I insisted he not change a thing. The car was so original and intact. I loved the tall extendable antenna up front. Before I sent it he wanted it removed. I couldn’t molest it. He had the dual ones for the back already bought.
I sent it OG. Crushed me to think what trendy changes it will end up going though.
 
Top