1965 Chevelle SS

[1965_SS]

I picked up this 1965 SS a few years ago. I drove it a couple of years and then started tearing it apart and doing a few things to it. It's an original SS with protecto-plate. It's got about 90,500 original miles. The previous owner rebuilt the original engine, along with a turbo 350 trans. The original 10 bolt is in place and up front the previous owner added disc brakes. It also came with an aluminum radiator with electric fan. The interior has been completely redone. The previous owner also added the rims and tires.

My plan is to upgrade everything except for the body and paint. That can come much later. There is some rust, bondo, dings and dents, but I'm focusing on all the mechanical things first.

[1965_SS]

Bought a GM crate LS3 525HP engine and T56

[1965_SS]

Got this hydraulic clutch setup from Bowler.

[tubbed69]

These cars are one of my favorites,I will be following along with this build:thumbsup:

[1965_SS]

Engine out and front clip off

[1965_SS]

Factory A/C taken out

[1965_SS]

Seats, carpet, dash out

[camcojb]

Great project!!!

[Roscoe03]

Awesome! The car looks well taken care of.

[rixtrix1]

Looks like a solid start for your project!

[waynieZ]

Nice looking car , great condition.

[1965_SS]

Overall the car seems pretty decent. It still has the factory quarters on it. I know the passenger fender has been hit and is full of bondo on the front point area. So at some point in the future when I do body and paint I will deal with that. I will probably paint the interior floor/trunk and bottom of the car since I will be doing a new trans tunnel and smoothing the firewall.

If anyone is going to LS Fest West in two weeks, let me know, I will come say hi to you:hello:. I will be there.

[1965_SS]

I figured it was time to finally get a lift and basically blow all my rim and tire money:lol:
I had a Mohawk System 1A installed yesterday, made in the USA and very nice!!!!!
Now I can finally do some real work the easy way.............
In this pic the arms on not all the way down.

[1965_SS]

I wasn't getting the parallelism I wanted from the bellhousing so I had it machined flat. I'm now getting a max of .001" parallel all around to the flywheel. I also took the front flange/plate off my new T56 and mounted it to the bellhousing so I could check the true position of the center bore to crank. That came in at +-.0045" or .009" total. Just within the spec of .010" so I don't need to install offset dowel pins.

[1965_SS]

Got the Speedtech oil pan installed.

[1965_SS]

After going to LS Fest West for three days and watching all the action, I made the trip up to Speedtech and picked up my new Extreme frame:)

Thanks to everyone at Speedtech, it was great hanging out!!!!!!!!

[waynieZ]

Nice lift! Everything looks great.

[1965_SS]

Making some progress getting the chassis put together. Ron Sutton/Ridetech shocks w/ Draco springs. I'm waiting on some parts that are on back order :mad:

[tubbed69]

That frame sure looks great,love these cars:thumbsup::thumbsup:

[65_LS1_T56]

Looks awesome Todd!

[1965_SS]

Thanks everyone! I'm finally getting a little progress on this car.

[tommycomfort]

Awesome, I can't wait to follow along!

[pro66tour]

Love this type of build...great foundation to start with:popcorn2:

[1965_SS]

Small update after a little while. I got the frame pretty much built up now.


I installed the Speedtech/Dutchman floater rearend. Waiting on the rear brake caliper brackets, then I can install the Corvette parking brakes. I had Speedtech take out the 12MM studs on all four corners and put in longer ARP 1/2" studs. The StopTech rotors and the Forgeline RB3C Concave rims are on there for mockup for measuring overall width to make sure everything will fit to the body and just because I wanted to see it all together!!! All four rims are 18X11 and I will be putting 315's on all four corners. I did satin black on the inner hoop/spokes and transparent smoke on the outer. I like how the transparent smoke looks....no polishing all the time here!

[1965_SS]

I got the body of the car on the rotisserie. Plans are to clean it up and either paint it chassis black or rubberize coating of some sort. I was looking at the Eastwood products. What are your thoughts on this? I don't have the funds to do body and paint right now, even though it needs it, so I'm just going to do the underside for now and clean it up. I will also smooth the firewall, install the Speedtech tunnel kit, and install mini tubs.

[1965_SS]

When I took the body off the factory frame, I found what was left of the old build sheet. Real SS, 13837 :) I also have the original Protect-O-Plate.

[214Chevy]

Sweet rolling chassis. What are your wheel specs?

[JB64CHEVELLE]

Nice chassis ! I would sand, spray black SPI epoxy then Black Raptor liner. It looks good and cleans up way better than undercoating.

[Flash68]

Great project. And nice lift!

[65_LS1_T56]

Chassis and wheels look awesome! Especially the wheels :cool:

[tubbed69]

Very impressive chassis:trophy-1302:

[1965_SS]

Nice chassis ! I would sand, spray black SPI epoxy then Black Raptor liner. It looks good and cleans up way better than undercoating.


Thanks! I will look into that.

[1965_SS]

Great project. And nice lift!


Thanks! The lift is definitely nice to have!


Chassis and wheels look awesome! Especially the wheels :cool:


The chassis is way cool:cool:, I like it! I just can't wait to drive it. Love the rims :thumbsup:


Very impressive chassis:trophy-1302:


:thankyou:

[1965_SS]

Sweet rolling chassis. What are your wheel specs?


Front: 18X11 8" Backspace
Rear: 18X11 6.5" Backspace

[WSSix]

315s all around is going to look mean! I love it.

[1965_SS]

Finally got the engine and trans together and mounted in the frame.

[1965_SS]

Mocked up the Ultimate Headers............really nice!!! That is the brushed finish for those wondering.

[SRD Art]

Lookin' good Todd!! Have you got a time frame to have the body on it?

[SSLance]

Man that rolling chassis looks sweet!! I bet you can't wait to set the body back down and button things up.

[WSSix]

The brushed finish on the headers looks great!

[1965_SS]

Lookin' good Todd!! Have you got a time frame to have the body on it?
No time frame...........


Man that rolling chassis looks sweet!! I bet you can't wait to set the body back down and button things up.
Yeah, can't wait to see it sitting down on the Forgelines!!!

[1965_SS]

Got the Ricks Tanks Vaporworx tank in. Huge thanks to Hector and Rick at Ricks Tanks. I had bought a Vaporworx tank from them 2 1/2 years ago when I was going to build my Chevelle with the stock frame. Fast forward to 2018 and changing everything, now I needed a tank for the Speedtech frame. He said "no problem, return the one you have and I will build the one to fit the Speedtech frame!" WOW, AWESOME!:thumbsup:

[Flash68]

Awesome. Looks killer.

[64mali]

Man, this is going to be a really cool build! I can't wait to watch it come together. I'm not sure if you have painted the underside of the body yet but I thought I'd throw in my two cents. That undercarriage is so clean I think it would look good if you did a nice satin black. After I stripped mine down I used an epoxy black sealer/primer them 3M Trim Black. It is really easy to spray yourself, durable, easy to clean or touch up, and has that factory look. You can see how I did mine in my build. I'm pumped on your ride.. keep it coming

[1965_SS]

So I'm currently working on the wheel tubs. I'm using the ABC Performance 2" over stock wheel tubs. So far I've got the tub in place but not welded in. The tub itself needs to widened another 1.4" because my SpeedTech frame is a lot narrower than a stock frame. These tubs will have to be cut in half and a strip of metal welded in to get the correct width.

[waynieZ]

Nice!

[67XR7]

Love how far this has come along!

[1965_SS]

I got the trans tunnel all cut out and the interior floor all in epoxy primer. Decided to put the body on the frame to check things out. I need to get the trans tunnel fabbed and get the firewall smoothed out. After all that I can paint the underside and firewall.

[andrewb70]

Frame envy...LOL

Looks Awesome!

Andrew

[SRD Art]

Nice!! Getting closer!

[GEARBOXGARAGE]

Looks Fantastic! Keep up the good work.

[Flash68]

Outstanding. :thumbsup:

[WSSix]

Congrats! It's coming along very well.

[Cheveezy]

Any recent updates??

[abadsvt]

Looking Awesome! I haven't been on this site much the last few years but thought id check in. Really cool project. I ordered a Roadstershop chassis for my 65 chevelle SS Conv i am getting ready to do. I wish i would have know Speedtech chassis would allow you to put 11" wide wheel up front. Thats freaking RAD!!!!! Super jealous! Roadstershop told 9.5" is the largest front wheel. Kind of bummed. Defiantly going to be following your build! What backspacing did you do for the rear wheels? Thanks

Josh G

[1965_SS]

Looking Awesome! I haven't been on this site much the last few years but thought id check in. Really cool project. I ordered a Roadstershop chassis for my 65 chevelle SS Conv i am getting ready to do. I wish i would have know Speedtech chassis would allow you to put 11" wide wheel up front. Thats freaking RAD!!!!! Super jealous! Roadstershop told 9.5" is the largest front wheel. Kind of bummed. Defiantly going to be following your build! What backspacing did you do for the rear wheels? Thanks

Josh G

Thanks!.........I haven't been on here lately also. The rear rims are 11" wide with 6.5" backspacing.

Do you have a build thread???

[1965_SS]

Here are some updated pics. Slow going......
I'm doing wiring and plumbing right now.
I have to paint the grill the way it's suppose to be for a 65 SS and the bottom rocker moldings also need to be installed.

[214Chevy]

Car looks beautiful. Nice job!!

[ScotI]

Love it!