So I've started do mess around with the newest acquisition, a 1962 Impala convert.
The game plan is NOT to do a body off restoration, rather try to make it a nice driver by the year's end
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The auto really deserves a body off effort, but that will take me three years or more given my experience (or lack thereof). I'd like to drive it around a bit, get to know it, then decide when and to what extent it needs to come apart.
It's going to be used to break in a 348 stroker (409 crank) and will have a TH400 behind that. Plans are to make a top down cruiser. Quick brake job, drop in the drive train, prep her for color and put the existing interior back in place. Then drive it for a few years to get to know it better. Take it apart sometime later and do it with more detail with a serious body off, assuming the car still deserves it.
I'm starting with the four corners, keeping the drum brake set up but replacing the wheel cylinders and putting new brake pads on. And new lines, gonna switch over to the dual master.
While tearing into the RF corner, I had ocassion to remove the fender and inner to adjust the RH door. And to inspect the condition of those parts a bit closer. Good thing I did. I found what I believe to be some writing inside the RH front fender. It clearly reads "Archie Moore" and the car was Baltimore built. Wasn't he a famous boxer from back in the day? Check this out (hard to see in the pics):
Seems the previous owner did a few bushing replacements, but didn't do the ball joints. And of course everything is covered in road grime. To be honest, I'm having trouble trying to decide where to stop! Do I remove the whole front suspension while I'm in there and detail that then put everything back in place and hang the new brakes under the old drums? (I really do want to keep it drum-drum).
Enjoy!
TomK
The game plan is NOT to do a body off restoration, rather try to make it a nice driver by the year's end
.The auto really deserves a body off effort, but that will take me three years or more given my experience (or lack thereof). I'd like to drive it around a bit, get to know it, then decide when and to what extent it needs to come apart.
It's going to be used to break in a 348 stroker (409 crank) and will have a TH400 behind that. Plans are to make a top down cruiser. Quick brake job, drop in the drive train, prep her for color and put the existing interior back in place. Then drive it for a few years to get to know it better. Take it apart sometime later and do it with more detail with a serious body off, assuming the car still deserves it
.I'm starting with the four corners, keeping the drum brake set up but replacing the wheel cylinders and putting new brake pads on. And new lines, gonna switch over to the dual master.
While tearing into the RF corner, I had ocassion to remove the fender and inner to adjust the RH door. And to inspect the condition of those parts a bit closer. Good thing I did. I found what I believe to be some writing inside the RH front fender. It clearly reads "Archie Moore" and the car was Baltimore built. Wasn't he a famous boxer from back in the day? Check this out (hard to see in the pics):
Seems the previous owner did a few bushing replacements, but didn't do the ball joints. And of course everything is covered in road grime. To be honest, I'm having trouble trying to decide where to stop! Do I remove the whole front suspension while I'm in there and detail that then put everything back in place and hang the new brakes under the old drums? (I really do want to keep it drum-drum).
Enjoy!
TomK
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Remember the song. "One thing, leads to another"
