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66 Impala Convert LS2 Conversion

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Old 08-17-2011, 04:35 PM
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Default 66 Impala Convert LS2 Conversion

I've already started with the conversion and will be posting updates directly here in the future.....but....here's a link explaining what has happened up to this point.....

http://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/ubbt...453#Post455453


Ken
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Old 08-17-2011, 05:38 PM
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For anyone considering the Holley Pan for this type of a conversion, there is a slight issue that Holley should have taken care of before releasing the pan for sale....the Pan itself fits with plenty of steering clearance for the "B" body cars...I have a engine height issue I have to correct (Pan rests on the crossmember) need to raise the engine about a 1/2"......But....I guess that's to be expected......The issue that Holley should have corrected is the pick-up tube assy that is supplied with the pan has an attachment bracket welded to it that bolts to one of the nuts on the windage tray.....there is an embossed profile that the nut fits into on the tray.......the bracket on the pickup has an embossed shape also....except it is way too big to seat the bracket into the tray.....it ***** the tube assy at an angle and won't allow the pan to seat against the block due to the tipping.......the instructions say there might be a problem in this area.....it's almost impossible to correct without having a beltsander some 1/8" metal to make some gussetts for proper support and a welder handy......if you just grind the bracket away to clear, theres almost nothing left to hold the tube........Poor Engineering....they should have just had the tooling made to the smaller shape and it would work in any situation........Big Companies........Sheesh!!.....such a simple fix that now becomes a major problem for the average guy working in his garage that shouldn't have to deal with that nonsense...........Just a few words of "Experience".......

Ken
Old 08-18-2011, 08:58 PM
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I needed to raise the Engine about 5/8" to get the Pan off the Crossmember.....Rather than mess around with Frame mounts and Motor mounts, I decided to make new motor mount adaptor plates......because the mounts are on an angle and I wanted to raise the engine, I had to figure out how much to move the rubber mount holes and how much thicker to make the plate to get everything to fall into place.....here are some pic's

Store bought plate in black......you can see how the 3 rubber mount holes are moved down and the plate is also thicker



New plate mounted to the engine......




Rubber mount installed......



Engine down on the mounts and the holes line up perfectly....Just slid the bolts in....I love it when a plan comes together....






Pan not sits nicely above the crossmember.....



And sits perfectrly with the bottom of the crossmember



Also got my raised alternator mounting kit....



Old 08-18-2011, 09:23 PM
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Hey Ken, been waiting for this for a while! Subscribing to see the work progress. Sorry to hear about your troubles with the previous owner, been there! Good luck man!!!!
Old 08-19-2011, 07:02 AM
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Subscribed....another fine build in the works from "The Whizz"........

T,
Old 08-21-2011, 08:03 PM
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Got entergetic this morning and created a major mess in the garage.....took the front end apart....Grille, bumper, lights, etc.......also took off the rear bumper assy.....the car is going for Media blasting on Tuesday....when it gets finished there (gonna be interesting to see what's under the 1/8" of paint) I'll bring it back home and gut the Interior and then off to the Puleras where they will work their magic on the Body.......The Bumpers will also go out for re-chroming





LOL.............





But....as Shoddy the body and paint on the car is....the "Important" stuff is in pretty good shape....Trunk floor is perfect......and there is just minor surface rust behind the rear bumper.....should clean up pretty easy......could be a lot worse







Time to start ordering parts ............
Old 08-21-2011, 08:20 PM
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Here's a Photoshopped pic of where I want to end up.....

Old 08-23-2011, 09:08 PM
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The car is going for Media blasting tomorrow.....So....I wanted to break the car down a little more......Found the trunk full of Nu Yawk mouse crap....



tail light assy's are pitted with lousy chrome....I'll try and find some NOS ones......if not I'll just get these rechromed$$$$$$



The paint is probably 1/16" thick in spots....



Anyone need any Nu Yawk Day 2 Speakers....LOL



Except for the speaker holes and the dents on the outside of the doors......the doors are rust free.....a welcome surprise..





Took the rear seat out and the there was just light surface rust on the seat pan.....





Ready for the trailer.....



Look what I found.........Hadn't been started for two years.....110 octane and a Diehard and she started right up....amazing...



we will see what's under all that paint in a couple of days
Old 08-23-2011, 09:16 PM
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Getting Closer..................

Old 08-26-2011, 07:01 PM
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Picked the car up this afternoon......I'll post some better pic's tomorrow...but...In a nutshell........It's better than I thought......Remember, I have new fenders so I didn't have the old ones blasted, but....the Doors,Hood, Trunk Lid, Rockers are all in great shape........the wheel openings in both quarters had rust and had been patched..........Gonna have to get some patch panels and repair them correctly.......Not as bad as I expected, but......I'm glad we decided to blast the body to really see what was under that "Survivor" Nu Yawk Paint.....LOL

Drivers Side







Passenger side....





Rear......





More Tomorrow..........
Old 08-27-2011, 06:31 PM
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Got the car out of the trailer today to clean it up and strip the inside so when I get the call to take it to Pulera's for Body/Paint.....it will be ready......Again....there is good and bad after stripping.....but....I think there is more good than bad.....
Here are the bad pic's.....





And some good pic's......the doors are rust free except for a minor area that will require a little a little patch...



Doors and rockers are in great shape.....





Drivers side is perfecto.......





Floors......Minor surface rust only....



Found this "Classic" Nu Yawk spare tire cover.........



And I decided to store it in the Garbage can.....A fitting end..



And.....as I was working on the car today I could almost hear it telling me "Thank You" for getting me out of Nu Yawk....LOL
Old 08-27-2011, 09:23 PM
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Gee Ken, I'm getting the idea you're not a fan of Nu Yawk? LOL! Well hurricane Irene is getting ready to clean it up a bit!

And what's the story on the '70 Nova?
Old 08-28-2011, 06:40 PM
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Originally Posted by ls1nova71
Gee Ken, I'm getting the idea you're not a fan of Nu Yawk? LOL! Well hurricane Irene is getting ready to clean it up a bit!

And what's the story on the '70 Nova?


Eric........I've had the Nova for 7 years....it's a 11,500 mile L.A. car.....396-375 H.P. column shift turbo 400, Bench seat rubber floor mat car.....It's been in the trailer sealed up for two years........needed the trailer to move the Impala around........I actually drove it to a car show today......not a squeek or a rattle......Great car that needs a new home......

Ken

Old 08-29-2011, 07:56 AM
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That's going to be a nice ride when it's finished.
Old 08-29-2011, 09:28 PM
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Did some more dis assembly today.....took the rest of the front sheetmetal off and things ended up being better than expected.....all the Body mounts are in great shape.....the only issue is the lower fender mount on the passenger side will need to be replaced.......the mounting surface was rusted away and the body shop (LOL) that repaired the fenders just tack welded the lower portion of the fender to the body......Nu Yawk's finest.......the original cowl paint behind the fender cleaned up very nicely.......Here's some pic's from today...



















Old 08-29-2011, 09:41 PM
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More........



With the heater box out, I was able to get a shot inside the cowl area.......Looking pretty good in there.....



Getting Closer........

Old 08-30-2011, 12:04 AM
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Ken, you have an amazing talent for finding and building great cars. That car is a sure keeper and will be a head turner when it's done. Of course I will be following along.

What did they use when they media blasted the car? I want to get my Impala done and thought about baking soda but it has some rust and a few spots with a lot of filler.

Edit: Sorry about the deal Ken. That really hurts when you buy something that isn't quite the deal you thought it was. I still stand by my original statement, it will be a head turner when complete.

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Old 08-30-2011, 06:24 AM
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They used plastic media.....it's very gentle, not aggressive like sand......it won't take rust out.......also you won't have a possible issue like happens with Baking Soda if it's not neutralized correctly........

Ken
Old 08-30-2011, 09:39 AM
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Thanks, that is good to know about baking soda.

I'm not really concerned about getting the rust out because most of what is rusted I have replacement metal for. I just need a good clean slate so I can work and not have to worry about making a new mess trying to clean each area before I work.
Old 08-30-2011, 07:47 PM
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Almost Done......LOL.....Got the Goodie box from John at Speartech today.......Plug and play....Well almost....







Stopped at the Body Shop today (Puleras in Kenosha, Wi)and talked to Randy about getting the car in......Randy told me to bring all the bolt on parts in, Hood, Fenders,Doors,Deck Lid, etc.......So.....The part of doing a project that I hate more than anything........Taking the window mechanisms out of the car........What a Pain in the A$$!!!.........Only have the patience to do one a day........





Parts from inside one door.....




Gonna order the quarter patch panels and in a week or two the body should be at Puleras.........

Getting Closer......



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