New 12-15-05

I

Impala

Member
I'm a long time fan of the Impala. I drove my first Impala when I was 16. I'm now 36 years old. I bought that Impala when I was 20. It is a 1963 Impala SS, 327 auto on floor. I now have 4 Impalas/Belairs.

1961 Belair Parkwood (2nd owner)
283 - 4 spd. - 3:70 posi
3rd seat

1962 Belair 2 dr. post (under construction)
496 BBC - 4:56 - 4 spd.

1963 Impala SS (frame-off)
406 bowtie - powerglide - 4:11 posi
12.3's @ 114 mph.

1967 Impala SS conv. (71,000 org. miles)
327 - powerglide - 3:36 open

I found this website while searching for straight axle. I'm working on putting a staight axle in the 63 and putting the original 327 back in. I've added aftermarket heads and a cross-ram 2x4 intake. To help the car take off, I'm swapping the 2spd. powerglide with a 350 turbo/4200 stall. I do all of the work myself. I have also been working on customer cars to afford the "hobby".

Thanks,
Robert G. Rippberger - "Rip"
 
jim_ss409

jim_ss409

Well Known Member
Supporting Member 5
There's alot of info on straight front axles on the Two Lane Blacktop site too. http://groups.msn.com/twolaneblacktophomepage/messageboard.msnw Speedway motors sells kits or parts for straight axle conversions. http://www.speedwaymotors.com/xq/aspx/parent_id.310/dept_id.320/qx/DisplayGroup.htm The biggest problem you might run in to is trying to get an axle that's wide enough because most of there stuff is for the street rod market. If you just want the car to sit higher you can always go with ball joint spacers. They go between the upper ball joint and the upper control arm. They were available in various sizes. I usually see them show up on Ebay with about 2" to 4" lift. I don't think they're still being made.:dunno Here's a link to a set for a Buick that gives you an idea what they look like. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/GM-B...yZ107061QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
 
Tom Kochtanek

Tom Kochtanek

Well Known Member
Supporting Member 13
Excellent collection, but...

Rip, that is one excellent "collection" of classic Chevies :).

I found myself thinking which one I wanted under my Christmas tree, and I selected your 61 Belair Parkwood with the 3rd seat (the fact that it is used to pull a trailer had a big impact). Now all we have to do is arrange for delivery, right???

All kidding aside (I'm not, are you?) I did note one thing missing that needs to be on your next Christmas list: a classic "W" engine for one of those classic Chevies :). So put that on your "stocking list" for next year and see what Santa can do between now and then :) :) :).

May you all have a Merry Christmas (or a Happy Holiday, your choice)!

Cheers,
TomK
 
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