1969 Chevelle Build Thread

[dstryr]

Well after selling my camaro that I restored over my high school years and really growing sick of the diesel scene, I decided it was time to get into another project. I searched for months looking for a solid car, debating between buying a shell and frame and going the long way or getting a rolling shell with all the body and rust fixed. I found a 69 chevelle on ebay and jumped on it. It should be delivered here either today or tomorrow from Vegas.

Plans:

LSX (not sure yet)
T56
Ford 9"

Lots of billet suspension, exterior, interior pieces going to be made for this one.

All of the custom parts will be made by me and designed by me and a friend on here. (I'll see if he wants to chime in or not).

Here is a teaser pic for now.

http://content.screencast.com/users/Dennisrathi/folders/Jing/media/053b7475-8004-4400-98f4-866977206511/2012-12-10_2122.png

[Spiffav8]

looks like fun!

:thumbsup: :thumbsup:

[coolwelder62]

looks like fun!

:thumbsup: :thumbsup:X 2!!!!

[214Chevy]

Looks like majority of the body work is already done. Keep us posted and lots of pics please. :cheers:

[Vince@Meanstreets]

This should be a great project, I can't wait to get my hands into it.

I think I will let you handle the updates, I just don't have the time to put up a projects page, way too many of them and not enough time in the day. I think I need to hire someone to do it for me.

I think we will have to look into machining poly, resin or phenolic stuff for this project. :thumbsup: We will be doing some black delrin for sure.

[MaxHarvard]

have fun!

[Vince@Meanstreets]

you diesel head would get a sponsered carrier. :lol:

[dstryr]

Whatever gets the job done. Price was fair and don't have to worry as he comes recommended. He is looking for a return trip if anyone needs something shipped from California down 5 to Vegas.

[Vince@Meanstreets]

no doubt! Is it here yet? You 've been pretty quiet.

[dstryr]

I wish. It will probably be here Sunday or Monday. I told the guy to take his time since I'm in no hurry.

[dstryr]

Well 6 months later..... No progress. I've been swamped with college and the CNC machine shop.

Car is sitting in my friends backyard while I wait for a short sale house to come through so I can have my own garage.

Picked this 9" on CL last week for a good deal. Picking up a t56 from a member here and an ls3 short block from another member very soon.

https://fbcdn-sphotos-d-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-prn1/1039537_10151481998756616_98919969_o.jpg

[dstryr]

LS3 arrives today. Pictures later :ups: :ups: :ups:

[Vince@Meanstreets]

nice billet yoke. :thumbsup:

[dstryr]

LS3 showed up today thanks to a Lateral-G member. Just need a set of heads now

http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/7555/ykmm.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/23/ykmm.jpg/)

Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)

[waynieZ]

Nice start . Its going to be a nice build.

[dstryr]

Some CNC goodies hot off the presses........More things to come. Stay tuned

http://img23.imageshack.us/img23/4184/zokm.jpg



https://fbcdn-sphotos-g-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-frc3/1048313_10151496989011616_242200651_o.jpg

https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash4/1040563_10151495885496616_651548922_o.jpg

[Vince@Meanstreets]

haaaa nice. wheres mine?? :ups: :action-smiley-027:

[dstryr]

Sneak preview of the wheels I'm getting built for the car. Should be done in 1-1.5 weeks. They will look very similar to these.

http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x82/passperf/IMG_3680.jpg

[Vince@Meanstreets]

but in 18's right? BTW those heads are a killer deal man. I hope your on the road getting them.

[dstryr]

but in 18's right? BTW those heads are a killer deal man. I hope your on the road getting them.

Yup 18s. I'm talking with the guy right now. Trying to figure out a way to get them here. I dont have the time or energy to drive to Sac :).



What brand of tires should I buy?

[Vince@Meanstreets]

Yup 18s. I'm talking with the guy right now. Trying to figure out a way to get them here. I dont have the time or energy to drive to Sac :).



What brand of tires should I buy?

Nothing yet. Get further into the build.

[dstryr]

Update:

Wheels are done and I should pick them up Monday. =D. Pictures will come then.

Still searching for some ls3 heads if anyone has some.

More billet goodies coming off the machine.

Prototype from Vince @ MSPFab:
http://imageshack.us/a/img42/4366/bqsf.jpg

Modeling it in CAD:
http://imageshack.us/a/img201/3640/wora.jpg

Cut First Op in Old Fadal (Not pictured because its a POS lol):
http://imageshack.us/a/img21/7329/huwg.jpg

5 Axis Machine Fixture:
http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/1280x720q90/208/vhz8.jpg

5 Axis In Process:
http://imageshack.us/a/img43/787/bvyt.jpg

Finished Machined Part:
http://imageshack.us/a/img845/6111/uo6e.jpg

Took it to the Sheet Metal Shop next door to put the final bend:
http://imageshack.us/a/img194/5407/o2kr.jpg

[fleetus macmullitz]

Subscribed. :thumbsup:

[Rick D]

Very nice!!! Let see some more please :relax:

[dstryr]

Bringing the car home from my brother in laws this weekend...time to start ripping it apart. :superhack: :superhack: :superhack:

[dstryr]

Just bought the ls3 heads...scored a set of GM performance ported ls3 heads for $1k shipped. :ups: :ups:

[dstryr]

https://scontent-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-frc3/1395139_540542086040726_1147217855_n.jpg

Mocked up at Meanstreets Performance.

[dstryr]

http://imageshack.us/a/img854/892/1e3k.jpg
http://imageshack.us/a/img834/8546/qezj.jpg
http://imageshack.us/a/img841/6383/2gse.jpg

[64pontiac]

ok 5 axis stuff is way cool, but what type of pizza is that? Damn I am hungry!

[Vince@Meanstreets]

I wanna machine my own rims....now I'm hungry too.

[waynieZ]

Awesome piece.

[dstryr]

I wanna machine my own rims....now I'm hungry too.

Lol....sometimes its not worth it if someone else already has it dialed in. Better to spend time doing other things other people aren't doing....

COUGH COUGH Get to work so we can get my chevelle up there....COUGH COUGH. :thankyou:

[dstryr]

18x12

http://imageshack.us/a/img19/2292/p7um.jpg

[luismag7]

That's going to be a nice ride. I've always wanted to build a 69 Chevelle.
keep those progress pictures coming.

[Vince@Meanstreets]

18x12

http://imageshack.us/a/img19/2292/p7um.jpg
$1 =
BROKE ASSS LOL

[dstryr]

Started stripping down the car to get it ready for Vince @ MSP. Getting closer =D

http://imageshack.us/a/img841/9830/6grg.jpg

http://imageshack.us/a/img607/8746/eh0f.jpg

http://imageshack.us/a/img41/3418/nc42.jpg

[Vince@Meanstreets]

Almost ready for you. Im working all week just to make room for you. :thankyou:

Nice cooker too!

[dstryr]

Almost ready for you. Im working all week just to make room for you. :thankyou:

Nice cooker too!
Lol don't kill yourself on my behalf.... Sending you a txt now

[Vince@Meanstreets]

The car finally made it to the shop. It only took 10 months or so.

The day will start out with inspecting the body and see what sections we will have to remove prior to media blasting. I like to do major cut outs first so the blaster can get in all the nooks and cracks.

Punch card for this stage:
Inspect panels
Cut out:
inner and outer rear wheel houses
rusty rear window channel sections
trunk filler panel
heater side firewall
front cowl gutter
trans tunnel


Get to media blasters by Thursday.

[waynieZ]

Good to see it there.

[dstryr]

Good to see it there.

Me too. I might need to sell some things to fund this build though with my new mortgage payment. Anyone want to buy a GTX?....starting the bidding at $5k. :innocent: :innocent: :computer: :computer: :computer:

http://imagizer.imageshack.us/v2/640x480q90/89/668y.jpg

[Vince@Meanstreets]

LOL, 3 more days and you'll have laundry hanging off of the roof. :waveflag:

Guys, take a look at this picture.

Clam shell mounts, tall spindles, and buick wheels.

What year did Buick/A-bodies use clam shell style motor mounts?

[Vince@Meanstreets]

body's off.

[Jgmoney]

Any more pics and info on the gtx?

[dstryr]

https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/p480x480/935136_10151906569966616_1744569765_n.jpg

Scored a fiberglass hood, bumpers and a trunk lid on craigslist yesterday. Test fix the hood on the GTX. Almost fit.... lol

[Jgmoney]

Is there a drivetrain or is it a roller?

[dstryr]

GTX is a roller but not for sale. I was just teasing Vince @ MSP because its his car and its chilling in my garage lol.
:drowninga:

[Jgmoney]

Gotcha! I've got a 69 roadrunner protouring and I'm always looking for more mopar toys. We need more on here

[Vince@Meanstreets]

you oughta start a thread on it, i'd love to see some pictures JG!!

tubs firewall and rusty panels cut out , car is off to media blasters :y0!: buubye

[Rick D]

Wow Vince you are making quick work of this one!!

[Vince@Meanstreets]

not me, im working on another car. Thanks to my magical elves. This poor guy has been waiting to get in the shop for a year. :ohsnap:

[dstryr]

not me, im working on another car. Thanks to my magical elves. This poor guy has been waiting to get in the shop for a year. :ohsnap:


You da man.

:RunninDog:

[Vince@Meanstreets]

car is in the trust worthy hands of Myers media blasting in Oakland CA.

We are not doing a full body, just jams, full underside, full interior, trunk, firewall and cowl.

I managed to remove most of the rusty panels. Odds don't look so good for the floor pan.

[Jgmoney]

Where in the Bay Area are you? I'm in San Jose I could bring the roadrunner by the shop

[dstryr]

Where in the Bay Area are you? I'm in San Jose I could bring the roadrunner by the shop

He is in San Mateo

[Vince@Meanstreets]

Where in the Bay Area are you? I'm in San Jose I could bring the roadrunner by the shop

He is in San Mateo

San Carlos to be exact!

Bring it by, love to see it.

I'm here on the weekends too 11-7pm

Closed Monday's. Let's see a car thread.

[Vince@Meanstreets]

back from media blasters...we ended up doing the whole car. Not as bad as I thought. A few body shop repairs and the only fiberglass was in the floor.

Its funny that with all the trouble they went through to fudge it it would have been easier to just do it right. The filler panel for instance. A filler requires some grinding and about 40 spot welds with minimal filler. Its an easy job.

They chose to to strip it....30+ tacks and a ton of filler. Same with the quarter.
:headscratch:

[dstryr]

So much for buying a rust free, body ready, starter project..... :twak: :twak:

[Vince@Meanstreets]

So much for buying a rust free, body ready, starter project..... :twak: :twak:

if I only had a dollar for each time I heard that....oh wait I did. LOL

:G-Dub:
I'll start working on the frame next week. At least that is prestine!!

[Vince@Meanstreets]

So now that the body is inspected we can start filling in the blanks. Plan is to repair the rear filler, package tray, dash and firewall then we can start building the floor. We decided we will be going all fabricated pieces instead of a replacement part since most will be modified, including the tunnel.

Got my new apprentice (meet Joker) to head up this part of the project. So far so good.

Using the old firewall that was removed and tape in the right spots to make a template for the new 16 gauge piece.

[Vince@Meanstreets]

a few minutes later we have it fit and cleko'd up.

Now to fine tune.

[dstryr]

So stoked. Now I have to post pictures in your thread with progress on my end

[Vince@Meanstreets]

im working on your drip rails but i killed my camera battery.....waiting for paint to dry on the 69 Camaro

[Vince@Meanstreets]

So stoked. Now I have to post pictures in your thread with progress on my end

thank you!!

cut out the old rear deck filler....some surface rust on the lower shelf. No blow through's.

After a few hours of 80 grit disc and a nice coat of weld through primer, its better than new.

next i'll get started melting the old lead out and closing up the rear glass hole to get the stock glass flush. No mo trim!

[Vince@Meanstreets]

melting the lead and burning out some extra seal sealer.

[1transam]

WOW, i would have wanted to put paint on that first picture LOL!!!!

Great job vince! :gitrdun:

[Vince@Meanstreets]

Its too bad cause it was a nice looking body. We'll get it back together.

The rear filler came in but I have to do some quarter panel work before it gets put in permanent. After spraying the bare metal with weld through primer we applied Dynamat Extreme to the package tray and underside of the deck filler. Just a bit of Dynamat Extreme makes a huge difference in NVH.

One side of the drip rails are done, cranking on the other side.

[dstryr]

:) this picture is keeping me going. About to have a break down from the 16 hour work days...

[Vince@Meanstreets]

:) this picture is keeping me going. About to have a break down from the 16 hour work days...

one day we'll be able to take a day off. Im use less after 12 hours. Forgot a picture.

[dstryr]

MOAR PICS ! lol:king:

[dstryr]

So quiet in here.... :)

[Vince@Meanstreets]

I know,

This would be a great page to show off some of those nice billet pieces we have going.

[barrrf]

That's how I feel

[Vince@Meanstreets]

:weld: warming it up for updates.....

[Vince@Meanstreets]

Winter was a bit more busy than I had anticipated but the car is back on the rack getting some rust cut out and we are getting ready to install front and rear AFCO coil overs.

Hotchkis lower control arms going on so we can set up shock angles.

As soon as we get the lower ball joint sleeves machined we can get a full picture.

[dstryr]

:D. I forgot I had a chevelle ...........

[Vince@Meanstreets]

I'm not surprised, you've been a busy guy and are going to get worst very soon.

: )

[Vince@Meanstreets]

rear suspension striped out and 9 inch installed for a quick wheel mock up.

[Vince@Meanstreets]

sorry for the bad shot, it was a full house this weekend with so much going on.

I'll get better shots when we get it into full mock up.

[dstryr]

I must have missed these last week. Coming along :D:ups:

[Vince@Meanstreets]

Housing ends are coming in for the rear end, I'll cut the a axles and we'll do another fitment. Then the coil over mounts as soon as I get the short body bushings.

[Vince@Meanstreets]

yeah wheel fitment time....
but first
The 9 inch rear we had picked up on the cheap turned out to be for a g-body...brackets are not even close. so...off they go. Looks like we'll be doing scratch brackets and a 3 link rear.

[Vince@Meanstreets]

Wheel fitting to measure rear end width. We will be trimming the lip, adding to the wheel house and doing some frame modifications. Shooting for 1/2" to quarter and 1 1/2" to the tub/frame

[dstryr]

Always love it when people from craigslist lie lol.....

[Vince@Meanstreets]

Atleast it came with some pretty decent parts.

[WSSix]

Always make then tell you what it fits and do this before letting them know what you have.

Anyway, car's looking good, Vince. Is 1/2" to the outer wheel well a good goal to shoot for in general with a car or does it really matter on the car? Didn't know how much clearance needs to be accounted for with rim/tire/suspension flex etc.

[Ron in SoCal]

Always make then tell you what it fits and do this before letting them know what you have.

Anyway, car's looking good, Vince. Is 1/2" to the outer wheel well a good goal to shoot for in general with a car or does it really matter on the car? Didn't know how much clearance needs to be accounted for with rim/tire/suspension flex etc.

x2 Vin, lookin' real good :thumbsup:

Post up some pics of that 3 link design :D

Trey tire clearance seems to be a never ending debate. Presume the rear has a locating device and the wheels don't flex (much). The tire when pushed hard will move a bit. I've seen as little as 3/8" but don't trust it, so 1/2 to 5/8" would be my minimum.

[Vince@Meanstreets]

It really depends on the car and the suspension. We ran 1/4" on a 66 Chevelle and no issues. It's the inside space where you have to get right. Driveway articulation dictates the 1" minimum.

This car will be running a watts link.

[Vince@Meanstreets]

Always make then tell you what it fits and do this before letting them know what you have.

Anyway, car's looking good, Vince. Is 1/2" to the outer wheel well a good goal to shoot for in general with a car or does it really matter on the car? Didn't know how much clearance needs to be accounted for with rim/tire/suspension flex etc.

sorry, lost my train of thought....Thanks guys.

Trey, on a second gen, you would need more room due to the outer wheel house protrudes in an inch. Moving the outer wheel house almost flush with the quarter panel would open up that room.

[WSSix]

Thanks for the info guys. I hate it when a car has muffin top, lol.

[Wissing72]

Chevelle is coming along nicely!!

[Vince@Meanstreets]

Chevelle is coming along nicely!!

Thanks Chris,

i can't wait to get to the fun stuff!!!!

[dstryr]

This car will be running a watts link.

Hopefully the one I made way back when will fit???? :waveflag: I'm going to email you some cad files shortly. At work trying to get like 5 machines running...what a Saturday :)

[dstryr]

[QUOTE=WSSix;554814]Always make then tell you what it fits and do this before letting them know what you have.

QUOTE]

Yeah...in my defense the **** had it listed for a 69 chevelle and told me when he came down to drop it off that he was parting his car out. Oh well.

[Vince@Meanstreets]

Hopefully the one I made way back when will fit???? :waveflag: I'm going to email you some cad files shortly. At work trying to get like 5 machines running...what a Saturday :)

[QUOTE=WSSix;554814]Always make then tell you what it fits and do this before letting them know what you have.

QUOTE]

Yeah...in my defense the **** had it listed for a 69 chevelle and told me when he came down to drop it off that he was parting his car out. Oh well.

Don't worry, "we'll make it fit"


So we got the Quick Performance 9" stripped down and its time to narrow. After a quick check in the rear end fixture I found that the drivers side was a bit distorted, I took meaasurments and made notes.

We will bo going from 61.25 to 57.625"

Cutting the brackets off wasn't too bad. 2 hours later and we have a bare housing.

[taxidermy man]

Alway's liked this year chevelle. Nice job

[Vince@Meanstreets]

Hopefully the one I made way back when will fit???? :waveflag: I'm going to email you some cad files shortly. At work trying to get like 5 machines running...what a Saturday :)

I need a set made with snap ring grooves. Do you need the snap ring or will CAD specs do?

Also changed made for the bearing bore and heim pass through holes.

[dstryr]

I need a set made with snap ring grooves. Do you need the snap ring or will CAD specs do?

Also changed made for the bearing bore and heim pass through holes.

lol got excited when I saw a post. :(.

Send me specs.

[Windsor GTO]

Looks good, wish I had access to some machines......well then I would have to know how to use them.

Always loved the 69 Chevelle looking forward to seeing it finished.

[tubbed69]

Updates for us Vince?we need them.:thumbsup: :thumbsup:

[Vince@Meanstreets]

Just waiting on a couple key components then we can see how much frame we can tuck.

[dstryr]

Looks good, wish I had access to some machines......well then I would have to know how to use them.

Always loved the 69 Chevelle looking forward to seeing it finished.

After putting in 70 hours a week making customers parts it takes some motivation to build personal parts.... That motivation usually comes from pics sent by Vince.. LOL

[Vince@Meanstreets]

After putting in 70 hours a week making customers parts it takes some motivation to build personal parts.... That motivation usually comes from pics sent by Vince.. LOL

Ive been holding out on you.... :buttkick:

[dstryr]

Bump :)

Working on fixing the CAD model for the part you sent me. I'll send it back to you tonight :)
:stirthepot:

[Vince@Meanstreets]

Bump :)

Working on fixing the CAD model for the part you sent me. I'll send it back to you tonight :)
:stirthepot:

Cool, I also need to get your fenders so I can finish up your upper control arm dimensions.