Discussion Forum - Northstar Chevelle Club

Lost in the 60s · President

My project at work

Derek69SS · Founding Member

Looking great! Are you going to finish everything, or just the metal work?

Lost in the 60s · President

The owner drove the car to the shop 9 years ago. Once the metal work is complete, we will see if he wants to take it to a paint shop before I put the engine/trans and interior back in. I'm assembling the front suspension this week.

Lost in the 60s · President

Right side brakes are done. The radius rod is bolted in and the b racket located but not welded on yet.

Left spindle on and all new brakes installed.

All the suspension is in. Still waiting on the idler arm, center link, and pitman arm. The car came to us with a V8 so I ordered new tie rods for a V8. Turns out it was a 6 cylinder car and the steering components DON'T interchange...........leave it to FORD.

Bungy L-76 · Active Member

So the car was originally a 6 cyl and it's not a fastback. Makes me wonder why the guy would spend the dough to do all this work. Does he have some sentimental attachment? Is he the original owner? I would think he could have bought a much better car to start with.

At least he's got one of the best working on it. keep up the good work Mitch.

Jon H · 1K+ Club

Some people just have toooo much money.

Scott Parkhurst · Super Poster

You are a man among men Mitch...

Lost in the 60s · President

Little more progress.

2 patch panels on the left quarter.

I put the right side patch on but the previous guy who installed the rocker, located it 3/4 inch too far forward.

Start adding material to fill the gaps...

Roughed in close enough for now. A little more shaping and a skim of filler and it will flow nicely.

Hard to see the line on the black but tomorrow I get to cut out the transition and move it back 3/4 inch. The fender is supposed to wrap over the rocker right at the door and it hits it instead.

Tim H · Mega Poster

Nice work Mitch. It looks well put together.

If you need any more pratice come on over I have a bit of that ahead of me.

Lost in the 60s · President

Tail panel is now a permanent part of the body.

Mock up of the valance, bumper, fender extension and tail light for proper fit. The lower valance had been badly deformed to go with the hack patch that was the tail panel when it came in. The bumper is new, as no one knew where the original went after 9 years...

Lost in the 60s · President

Moved the right front rocker line back today. The leading curved body line should be right under the door.

John D · 2K+ Club

Your boss isn't totally nuts... there was a 65/6 Mustang at the meeting (Roger's Rod & Custom) that was being converted from a hardtop into a fastback... at the owners request

bowtie · Secretary

Not mention the tri-five with the Impala roof and 55/56 dash bezel grafted in. Saw that car later last summer on a rod run stop. He does some cool things there.

Lost in the 60s · President

When I saw the pic from the meeting thread, I thought it was a convert. I didn't notice the A pillar was cut. They make kits to transform a coupe to a fastback and I don't remember needing to remove the A pillar ??

The fastbacks bring more money but would still be far less than what the owner will have into this boondoggle. Actually the shop owner, and I, will be untitled partners in it, as I am donating some time just to get it done and the shop owner will be loosing money on the parts that got lost and most of what labor he does pay me.

I put the rear springs and axle in now and have pretty much run out of parts to weld on. It was supposed to go to paint this week to get all the new metal covered in epoxy primer and the engine bay painted satin black, but no one knows where the other 2 wheels went after all these years either. They may be stacked outside next to the building but there is 3 feet of snow/ice from the roof on everything and I'm not going to dig for them.

Lost in the 60s · President

Well, it's down off the rack and on a hoist to seam seal underneith. I finished that yesterday and it's ready to go to paint, once they come up with 2 more wheels and tires....

Lost in the 60s · President

Been a while since I posted anything on this. It has come a long way.

Here it is after it came back from paint.

Installed the new fuel tank.

Installed the engine and trans.

All new fuel/brake lines and e-brake hardware and sending unit.

Everything plumbed, wired and ready for a battery to see if it runs. I got a battery a short while later, put 2 gallons of gas in the tank. Checked for leaks and there were none, so I trickled a little gas in the carb and it fired right up !!!! This engine last ran 8 YEARS ago !!!

-- Edited by Lost in the 60s on Wednesday 1st of May 2013 04:31:37 PM

Lost in the 60s · President

Put the doors and fenders back on. The left door is totally junk from an old collision and fits like crap.

Ordered in all new headlight bucket kits. They fit like crap too....

Today, welded in the raer seat brackets and install the seat.

As it sits at the end of the day. I started fitting the hood and fenders but the owner is now thinking of having it completed with paint, so we stopped to see what his final decision is. No sense spending a bunch of time fitting panels that will just come off again. It is a drivable car. I put the left seat and seat belt in today too. Starts, runs, moves around in the building...

Chris R · 2K+ Club

Wow. Talk about being brought back from the dead. I hope your shop got a good deposit from the guy. I have heard of shops being stuck many times with a vehicle they were commisioned to do extensive work on and the owner bit off way more then he could chew and did not have the money to pay for the work that was done.

Tim H · Mega Poster

Mitch thats awesome

Dave Seitz · Mega Poster

Chris R wrote:
Wow. Talk about being brought back from the dead. I hope your shop got a good deposit from the guy. I have heard of shops being stuck many times with a vehicle they were commisioned to do extensive work on and the owner bit off way more then he could chew and did not have the money to pay for the work that was done.

I heard of one shop that the owner told people flat out he will start on the job and bill them every 20hrs until done. He will not stop until the job is done, the car valued set at X,XXX and when done will be worth XX,XXX if the owner stops paying the car will be sold when completed at sheriffs auction. Guess he has had a few sold and people have lost in court trying to sue him to reclaim cars.

Lost in the 60s · President

The shop called last Thursday and the owner sent them a check to order a new left door and hinges, a complete front signal kit, complete weatherstripping along with a bunch of small detail pieces to make it more complete. Still no decision as to final paint ??? Guess I'll be going to work next week when the parts come in and put them on. I'll get some more pics when it's all together.

Jon H · 1K+ Club

Amazing amount/quality of work you are doing. I just have to wonder like everyone, why? There must be some sentimental attachment to the original car.

John D · 2K+ Club

As an old Mustang enthusiast, there's only ONE thing that would prompt me to bring one this far back "from the dead".... and I'm tellin' you that the back seat is NOT BIG ENOUGH!!!