Discussion Forum - Northstar Chevelle Club

Thought I'd start a new thread to capture what will be probably a year long journey on the changes I make to the '72 Malibu Vert from the original thread (Original Thread Link Paste).

I'm now in the decision making thought process, and trying to determine the interior color, and whether to switch from black to white.  Here's your chance to vote on a thread I put on Team Chevelle:  Voting Link to thread paste=Click Here

Please vote!

White for me too.

Replaced the passenger side door handle with one of MUCH better quality (Thanks Pops!), and had a pleasant surprise.  I could tell when taking off the door panel, crank, screws, etc. that it hadn't been off much before, and found the factory moisture barrier intact and the original adhesive still on the door!  The best news is that the inside of the door was rock solid other than a little bit of surface rust.  Hopefully the drivers side is in as good of shape.

The window mechanism looks really good as well:

chevelle wrote:

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I'm sure you were relieved to see it looked so nice. Can not remember the last time i saw one that clean. how is the parts search going?

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The driver side door inside was just as clean! 

The cave is starting to fill up with a few parts.  Picked up a new still in box cowl hood with flapper door from one of the club guys, and of course the AM radio from you is sitting on the bench waiting for an install, probably this weekend. 

I'm working on the parts spreadsheet figuring out what I need and how it fits into the budget...  I'm also watching some of the sales from NPD, OPG, etc. to watch for the bigger discounts.  Just got an email from OPG for 30% off through August, but usually there are some really big discounts at the end of the year, and I have time to wait for those.

I just don't think the stripe would look right on a convert?

dashboard wrote:

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I’m not sure I don’t like it (is that a double negative) could someone photo shop it with the top down? The vert’s lines look so different top up or down, I really like the stripe in the coupe form (top up) but it may make the car look to long with the top down.

 

But the almost similar strips on 69 vert look like they belong. I can’t visualize Jon H’s vert without them; post up JH.

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No need for photo shopping...  lookee what I found!

I guess somebody else thought of this 'what if' Chevy built a Heavy vert.  Black stripes might be more subtle, but it's kind of growing on me...

Here's a '71 coupe with the black stripe version:

The 69 stripe I could maybe see that does not stand out as much.

if they're vinyl you could always remove them if you change your mind

OscarZ wrote:

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if they're vinyl you could always remove them if you change your mind

 

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Yep, they're vinyl. 

Lost in the 60s wrote:

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The white HC stripe might look better with a white interior but on the example above being it's the only white on the car, it's a bit gaudy....

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C'mon Mitch... it was the 70's after all! 

Think about all the other 60's/70's stripe cars... Hemi/440/340 Cuda's with their billboard rear quarter stripes, GTO Judge with their pink/orange/blue stripes, etc.  None of them were known for being subtle! 

And the parts stockpiling continues for the project...  I found a clean '70 trunk lid since mine has rust on the inside of the pinch weld coming through on the outside.  Cool part is it came from a potential future club member!  (Nice meeting you Mitch.  Hope you join the forum and club!). 

And... he had Maaco in Burnsville paint his a dark blue '70 with white stripes.  He had great results from them like Dashboard and Gear Lube.

So, now I've got a new aftermarket flapper door hood (Thanks to Rick!), and now the trunk lid.  We're going to try to use the rest of the body panels with some minor repairs, sand off all the paint, get it in primer, then take it to Maaco.

gearlube wrote:

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Nice find. Definately agree that the new one will be way better then a fix...more garage wall art...

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Tom,

Mitch II (that's what I'm calling him since we already have Mitch I in the club) said he knew you.  Met you at Maaco I think, and remembered your white '71 Chevelle too. 

Getting close to tearing into the vert, so figured it was time to make room for the parts while in the CAC.  Spent the weekend installing floors in the attic of the cave.  Man am I sore!!! 

Here's the before:

And here's the afters of the floor:

I stopped at Northern Tool on the way home from work Friday night to pick up an electric hoist, but of course they were out.  I'll get one by next weekend while they are still on sale.  Until then, I used a ratchet strap to do it the manual way.

I also installed a pull down ladder, so now I have easier access to get at the parts I store up there.

Ready for the CAC!

Good news!  I checked the compression as part of the prep to disassemble, and the compression came in really good:

Cyl. 1 = 162

Cyl. 2 = 160

Cyl. 3 = 160

Cyl. 4= 160

Cyl. 5=162

Cyl. 6 = Unknown due to those 'darn' headers being in the way

Cyl. 7 = 159

Cyl. 8 = 151

Even though Cyl. 8 was lower, the book I have says if it is within 75% of the highest cylinder reading (would have been 121.5), so the 151 is 93% of 162.

Guess the heads are staying on, and it will be a clean up, rear main seal, and new oil pan gasket, then some paint and slap it back in next spring! 

Nice numbers, darn headers!

But do your heads have your name engraved on them.

Had a GREAT day working on the vert with Gearlube, Chad, and Dashboard.  Got everything done on the checklist; Driveline is out, interior is out, bumpers are off, deck lids swapped, and things are put away in storage.  Thanks Guys!!! 

Here's some pics of the deconstruction:

WOW!!  YOu guys got a lot done. Looking good

That didn't take long......one day to gut it .....

Of course Gearlube and The Dashboard have recent experience with major dismantling...

Looks like a few floor pan patches are on the list now too.

dashboard wrote:

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Over the last two winters my Elky has been in CAC, but it won’t be this year; it’s tucked away, far away to help avoid the urge to tear into it.

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So you left it with ME? You've seen what I can do with a wrench... that's kind of like leaving a fox to guard the henhouse.

Lost in the 60s wrote:

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Looks like a few floor pan patches are on the list now too. 

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Yep, probably a 1 or 2 piece floor pan.  I thought we could get by with some patch panels,  but the worst part is right in the center of the floor hump.  Time to dig out the NPD catalog for some floor pricing and talk to my resto expert...

I know some people would say 'come on, it's just 8 body bolts then it's a body off rotisere job, and clean up the chassis (I know there's a couple of spots that need rust repair there), and it will be sooooo much easier.  Right?  I really don't want to go there for budget reasons, but the car really is blown apart at this point!