DHARROD; Project Black Diamond Chevelle

[DHARROD]

http://www.lateral-g.net/members/harrod/

My name Darrell Harrod. I joined in June of 2007 and have been looking for a bit at the site and am just now getting to an intro. Grew up in South Dakota in a small town of around 500 (600 with the country folk). My exposure was to "red-neck" hotrods of the 80s/90s, meaning big fat tires on the back with the ass of the car jacked up. In the town cruizin was all there was to do. I had a 1969 Impala, a 1970 SS 454 Chevelle which like a dummy I sold my senior year to get a 1984 Trans-AM and pay for the first year of college.

In 2005 I purchased a 1969 SS Chevelle 396 to flip - but after finding out how good the body was my father took an interest. So for his retirement I did a complete restoration. Like a home-made card I decide to do ever peice of it I could from chassis to paint. For the most part I went stock (my own project will be more of a g-machine). All and all it turned out well - I'm think I'm ready for my next project ... project black diamond .....
http://www.chevelles.com/forums/showthread.php?t=194722&highlight=harrod

In 1999 I got back in touch and bought a 1969 Chevelle SS 396 which was restored in 1990. I'm now working through it as best I can to get it closer to a G-machine (saving all of the original SS stuff

Project Plan - - Black Diamond (1969 Chevelle SS396)

Engine: Original to car 396 block and steel crank – everything else changed to get to C/550HP and 500lb TQ on pump gas built/Dyno’d by Mike’s Performance Shop Rocky Mount

Dart Pro 1 Heads; Aluminum Roller Rocker Arms; PBM Eliminator Hydraulic Cam; Weiand Xcelerator Intake; Mallory Ignition Box; MSD Pro-Billet Distributor; MSD PowerMaster Starter

Fuel System: 750 Barry Grant Mighty Demon; Holley Peformance Fuel Pump; Aeromotive regulator; Stainless Steel Gas Tank Rick’s Hotrod Shop Texas, Fram fuel filter at tank with Jegs filter at carb; Stainless steel gas lines by Right Stuff Detailing

Wheels/Brakes: Wilwood 13" 6 piston Superlite Drilled and slotted Frt; Wildwood Brakes - 12.2" 4 piston Dynalite Drilled and slotted Rear (GP Superstore); Stainless steel break lines – Right Suff Detailing; Energy Suspension bushings and body mount; 17” Budnik X-Series Mirage Rims (Detriot Speed & Engineering)

Transmission/Exhaust: Munci 4-Speed (M-21); Hayes Performance Clutch; Stainless Steel Hooker Super Comp Headers; Magna Flow 2-1/2” Stainless steel exhaust; Stainless Steel exhaust tips by Pypes Performance

Suspension: Silver powder coated frame by Top Coat Inc. Raleigh NC; Original 12 Bolt (3.31 gears) with Eaton Posi; KMA 1-1/8” Front sway bar ; KMA Rear sway bar ; Upper/Lower Rear Tubular Control Arms by UMI Performance; Tubular Upper/Lower A-arms by BMR Fabrication Inc; Moog Steering Components with Solid Aluminum couplers; Hotchkis F/R springs 2" lowr frt, 1” lower rear; Edelbrock Performer IAS Shock F/R; Mr. Gasket Aluminum Diff Cover with ARP SS bolts; Energy suspension bushings/body mounts; Suspension bolts by Wielder’s

Body – (South Carolina/North Carolina Car): Original Panels; All new weather striping and door felts; 2003 GM Black with Pewter stripe (DuPont paint system: Primer, Sealer, Base, Clear; Powder coated core support and front inner fenders; Aluminum radiator

Interior (Original Stock look): Leather Seats; Tilt Wheel: Gauges by Autometer; Original AM/FM Radio


07/13/07: Ref - XcYZ (Scott's question) - I grew up in Edgemont a small town on the edge of the Black Hills. Some of this forum is likely to be routine attendees of the Sturgis Rally.

[XcYZ]

Welcome, Darrell. Glad to have another A-body aboard. :thumbsup:

Where in SD did you grow up?

[slenning]

Welcome Darrel from another South Dakotan. I've lived in Sioux Falls most of my life. The ass end jacked up with the big fat tires is still the biggest share of what you see around here.:rolleyes: I took the PT Camaro I just finished to a show downtown a couple weeks ago and some people just weren't sure what to think. Just the way we like it!!

[XcYZ]

Steve, (maybe you've already said, but I can't remember), are you going to Car Craft?

[70gotboost]

Living in Wake Forest yet flying the Tar Heel banner... I think I'm gonna like this guy!!!

- welcome to the site.

[va72mlibu]

Glad to see another A-body represent. You should get an Fquick page...similar to myspace but specifically for cars. Lots of folks here have them.

[slenning]

Steve, (maybe you've already said, but I can't remember), are you going to Car Craft?
Hi Scott, I'm hoping to. Finishing up all the misc. odds and ends on the car seems to take forever. Got the exhaust installed yesterday and just got the alignment done this am. Still needs a tune etc. Be great to meet ya, hope to see you there.

[V8TV]

Hey Darrell,

How did you "clock" the Hotchkis springs in your '69? And how did that work out? Ours seems pretty high for having lowering springs...

- KO

[DHARROD]

How did you "clock" the Hotchkis springs in your '69? And how did that work out? Ours seems pretty high for having lowering springs...

Kevin .. sorry I missed your posting related to springs. I may yet find I have an issue because I haven't set my body on my car (frame only at this point). With any luck I have them in right. In my other three experiences on chevelles I was using Moog springs that were stock. I would note that I'm actually using small block lowering springs from HTKS - I have a lot of lighter parts on my car (heads, intake, suspension, etc) and thus am banking on a better more appropriate stance (besides had'm couldn't return them). Sorry for not checking the post .. your 69 convt looks great..

[DHARROD]

I'm through the stages of paint .. now I have to wet-sand and buff it out. Only the main body though ... still have the other pieces.
I had to repair the rear window area - a lot - as it was formally a vinyl top car, thus I elected to smooth the rear quarter seam lines. Since its still the factory quarters I took a little extra time improve the transition from the rear pillars to the roof, there is a natural bump from the factory where the rear quarter is seamed in, I'll even state I believe the passenger side is a little worse than the driver side out of the factory (at least on the 30 or so I've checked). Final picture is of the firewall; here I smoothed the firewall, I tried not to rush to much but its a tough area to get perfect. My goal is to end up with a clean and wire/hose free engine bay.

http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd233/dlharrod/blk69ss095.jpg
http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd233/dlharrod/blk69ss093.jpg
http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd233/dlharrod/blk69ss096.jpg

[Aschle]

Very good looking project ! I hugely regret selling my 68' Chevelle SS 396...Seeing a nice 68' or 69' always makes it harder on me... :faint:

Keep us updated! Like I said, it looks great !

Jason

[V8TV]

Looks great! How bad was the steel under the vinyl top? What did you use to repair it?

[DHARROD]

How bad was the steel under the vinyl top? What did you use to repair it? KO/V8TV, I think you guys may laugh a little on my approach ... I accidentally deleted a lot of pictures of what I did and what it looked like once I removed paint/bondo. Below is a picture of the initial discovery (that oh-crap how bad moment). Could have been worse as it was a bunch of spot holes (about 1/4 bondo at the corners and 1/8 up the pillars) . They had pop-riveted metal underneath and then bondo’d over the larger holes; this was done on both sides. The worst part was the rounds in the corner were history and everything continued to rust towards the trunk. I removed what I could and used some left over metal from the firewall kit, did some spot welding and to get the rounds I used -industrial saw blades for a reciprocating saw (held it in my hands and bent it to the right curvature – also used them to form the base the window rests in - had to weld them together for the overall window seat). They're actually about the right height and thickness (red-neck way I know .. but its metal; a real shop would have taken the time to have metal bent/shaped so you'd have a natural 'L' that's curved; after I finished someone told me there are kits out there for this very thing). There were also rust spots at the roof seam/window's edge and along the entire pillar. What I did is/ drill/grind every hole then very patiently welded the holes I could.

A special note to any novice (not V8TV) ... On a hard-top the rear panel is a pain because it is convex length-ways and concave across the short distance and if you have very much rust the easiest thing is probably to just replace it as the body work is challenging (I was chicken, but think I'll be OK). I'd wouldn't have had to spend so much time if I had put a vinyl top back on it. A vinyl top can make minor imperfection unnoticeable.

http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd233/dlharrod/blk69ss077.jpg

[7TSS]

Wow, great looking project. I'm doing something similar to a '70 Chevelle SS.
Keep on posting pics.

[jy211]

Looking good! :thumbsup:

[DHARROD]

Spent Sunday finishing up the firewall area. Black is definately a tough color as it shows any issues you have, but it looks great and is a natural for a Muscle car. All and all the firewall turned out good.
http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd233/dlharrod/blk69ss099.jpg
http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd233/dlharrod/blk69ss102.jpg

[DHARROD]

http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd233/dlharrod/blk69ss113.jpg

[XcYZ]

Looking great! :cheers:

[DHARROD]

After getting the car back on frame I spent some time on the interior getting some initial wiring done and laying the sound proofing. The shot right below is simple sound proofing that almost everyone is doing. I ran it all the way up the front pannel as I had already removed the factory sound proofing to put in inner brackets for the heating unit and ignition box. http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd233/dlharrod/blk69ss115.jpg
The wiring was a learning experience. Trying to keep wires hidden and removing the old remote sensing/regulator and moving the battery soleniod to the trunk made things fun. Add in the ignition box, electric fan, new headlights, wiper motor and new heating unit I had several electrical gremlins to work out. I was able to get it to fire after a couple of goofy mistakes on my part. You'll see the stainless steel headers turned a golden brown; I plan to remov the headers and have them ceramic coated along with part of the exhaust
http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd233/dlharrod/blk69ss139.jpg
Another step prior to the fenders was to get the brake system working. I decided to go with manual brakes to get as clean of an engine bay as I could. My wife and I pumped for ever to bench bleed it and I used all of my husband points as my wife was the pedal pumper overall. As a side note the paint appeared to turn out fine and had a good shine after the first round of buffing (my second paint job overall) .
http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd233/dlharrod/blk69ss140.jpg
I then moved the main car two the detached garage to have more of a 'clean' room (I took the wife's bay/spot) after a little begging. This allowed me to get the fenders and doors painted.
http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd233/dlharrod/blk69ss160.jpg

[V8TV]

Man, that's a killer looking car. Very nice work! I dig the colors!

[badbu68]

Very nice! Keep up the good work and the pix to follow.

[audioman]

Love the frame color on the black. I did a gunmetal gray on red, really shows the bottom good.
Great job from another "A" body guy.

[DHARROD]

Continued work .. made a trunk kit, added stripe, re-did dash
http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd233/dlharrod/blk69ss564.jpg
http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd233/dlharrod/blk69ss-1.jpg
http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd233/dlharrod/blk69ss566.jpg
http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd233/dlharrod/BLACKSS/blk69ss556.jpg
http://i225.photobucket.com/albums/dd233/dlharrod/BLACKSS/blk69ss563.jpg

[Nick.V70]

Looking good :thumbsup: Some great updated parts but still has that classic look, very well thought out.:cheers:

[214Chevy]

Nice gauges Dharrod. I have the exact same ones going into my Chevelle. They were too expensive though. But, I had to have them. LOL!!

[DIGI-TAILS]

Awesome car Dharrod!!! Keep going!!! :thumbsup:

[buickfunnycar.com]

Looking great Darrell,especially love your choice in wheels...not something you're likely to see at every show you attend.

[moparnate]

great looking chevelle!