1964 Impala Rebuild

[hassanazeem]

Thread Subscribed Brig. sb...

and there is no such thing as a last project/rebuild...

p.s. i see the Demon is not at the workshop any more... Pics and updates plzz...

[fouadhafeez]

Fouad bhai youve answered the question yourself :)... the Uzis are capable machines no doubt.. i somehow got the impression from your earlier posts (also this being the last project for now) that you wanted this one to be a bit more over the top vs the other 2.... a no compromise, no expense spared rebuild... hence the purist approach towards a chevy at the heart of the chevy.... what gen is the 1UZ... the 300hp ones are the ones with vvti... if its that one then that would be my choice... if not go for the 2uz.

on another note, this isnt going to be your last project :).... i remember there being discussions about ratrods and baja buggy style rigs

The 1UZ is a fourth generation VVTi motor, Yaser. Hence the 300 bhp figures. The 3UZ is a 2007(?) vintage engine.

Aur bhaiya...no mention of ratrods or baja buggies...PLEASE!

[fouadhafeez]

Thread Subscribed Brig. sb...

and there is no such thing as a last project/rebuild...

p.s. i see the Demon is not at the workshop any more... Pics and updates plzz...

The Demon is still at the workshop, Hassan, although they've shifted it to some "secret" premises where they're finishing off with the cleaning-polishing-refining and final spit-and-polish. They were facing some problems with the adjustment of the carb, which is the only thing left. Hopefully, that should be sorted out tonight, and we should be getting the car tomorrow.

Kal kee umeed pe duniya qaim hai!

[N1J1M]

Sir, anxiously waiting of marvelous piece of work

Please do post the videos of all RoaRRRRing beasts , as i've been through, max modification posts onto Pakwheels, but no one post the videos of there project.

Thanks

[fouadhafeez]

It would be my pleasure, Najam!

To be honest, Shayaan and myself have made many many plans to capture the '65 Impala on video, but somehow, hum baap beta iss kaam mein kuchh nakaam hee rahe hain.

I promise to put that right over the weekend, Insha Allah.

[fouadhafeez]

@ The Mods: could you please shift this thread to the D.I.Y. section of the site? And if you're really going to do me a favour, could you also please change the name to '1964 Impala Rebuild'.

Thanks.

Fouad.

[N1J1M]

Thanks Sir G , Visited last night to F11, concern persons were working, rest the Impala is awesome MASHALLAH. love the chrome on this car !!

[dr3vil]

Sir put LS motor as its a Chevy so it must have a Chevy heart and again no mufflers daymn that sound i am in love with these
but can u have a price idea of a hemi i know i sound insane but just a hinch
if ls is hard on pocket then 1uzfe again will do it

[fouadhafeez]

Thanks Sir G , Visited last night to F11, concern persons were working, rest the Impala is awesome MASHALLAH. love the chrome on this car !!

Then we probably missed meeting one another, narrowly! I was there until about 7-ish in the evening, Najam, because we were starting the engine on the '67, yesterday.

The niggling little problems associated with the '67 rebuild - engine burps, steering column adjustments, getting the lights/indicators to work - are what's left on the ride. As soon as we're done with the '67, it's time for the '64 to go under the knife.

We're going to stick to body mods to turn this ride into a two door hardtop, after all. In all probability, this work should start anytime within the next week/ten days. And of course, I'll be sure to chronicle all of this over here...in pictures as well as words.

[fouadhafeez]

Sir put LS motor as its a Chevy so it must have a Chevy heart and again no mufflers daymn that sound i am in love with these
but can u have a price idea of a hemi i know i sound insane but just a hinch
if ls is hard on pocket then 1uzfe again will do it

I absolutely agree with you, when you talk about the sound of these large-displacement engines, over the more compact modern ones. Yesterday, we fired up the 350 V8 of the '67, and it made the exhaust note of the '65 (1UZ powered) appear like it was a little girl trying to match vocal chords with a full-blooded, full-bodied woman!

I also agree that the Chrysler HEMI Engine is truly a classic, in any form. Whether we're talking about the 426 HEMI "Elephant" which powered the 1971 Plymouth Barracuda, or the more modern 5.7L HEMI which is used in the present-day Dodge Charger R/T, Dodge Ram, Chrysler 300C, and Dodge Challenger.

To be honest, though, the LS engines (especially the LS2 and LS3) outperform the 5.7L HEMI by a fairly comfortable margin. To this end, let me show a slight comparison of the performance figures in respect of all of these engines under consideration.

Chrysler HEMI 5.7L: 345 bhp, 390 lb-ft

GM LS2 6.0L: 400 bhp, 400 lb-ft

GM LS3 6.0L: 430 bhp, 424 lb-ft

Toyota 1UZ 4.0L: 300 bhp, 310 lb-ft

Toyota 3UZ 4.3L: 300 bhp, 325 lb-ft

If you vector in the fact that the LS2/3 engines that are under consideration have ALREADY undergone a 100 bhp / 100 lb-ft performance upgrade, the figures show that there is absolutely no comparison, at all.

Other than the costs, of course

For now, we're still working on this subject. Let's see how things turn out.

As always, I'm grateful for the advice and interest.

[usmanulamin]

No pics updated since a long time

[dr3vil]

I absolutely agree with you, when you talk about the sound of these large-displacement engines, over the more compact modern ones. Yesterday, we fired up the 350 V8 of the '67, and it made the exhaust note of the '65 (1UZ powered) appear like it was a little girl trying to match vocal chords with a full-blooded, full-bodied woman!

I also agree that the Chrysler HEMI Engine is truly a classic, in any form. Whether we're talking about the 426 HEMI "Elephant" which powered the 1971 Plymouth Barracuda, or the more modern 5.7L HEMI which is used in the present-day Dodge Charger R/T, Dodge Ram, Chrysler 300C, and Dodge Challenger.

To be honest, though, the LS engines (especially the LS2 and LS3) outperform the 5.7L HEMI by a fairly comfortable margin. To this end, let me show a slight comparison of the performance figures in respect of all of these engines under consideration.

Chrysler HEMI 5.7L: 345 bhp, 390 lb-ft

GM LS2 6.0L: 400 bhp, 400 lb-ft

GM LS3 6.0L: 430 bhp, 424 lb-ft

Toyota 1UZ 4.0L: 300 bhp, 310 lb-ft

Toyota 3UZ 4.3L: 300 bhp, 325 lb-ft

If you vector in the fact that the LS2/3 engines that are under consideration have ALREADY undergone a 100 bhp / 100 lb-ft performance upgrade, the figures show that there is absolutely no comparison, at all.

Other than the costs, of course

For now, we're still working on this subject. Let's see how things turn out.

As always, I'm grateful for the advice and interest.

its just rumble of these 426 hemi motors yes LS are more modren and being a chevy its better to go for Ls motor
and about that 350 small block i wish i could hear it and 1uz is quieter and the most stable jap v8 available quad cams make it even better but again just for the love of old School muscle Ls will be the best in it
and waiting on pics when el cheovrlet get done
thank you sir

[fouadhafeez]

No pics updated since a long time

I went yesterday, and spent a couple of hours at the rebuild site...but forgot to take any pictures. I DID however, take a video clip of the V8 fired up...but I have no idea of how to upload it, other than YouTube

its just rumble of these 426 hemi motors yes LS are more modren and being a chevy its better to go for Ls motor
and about that 350 small block i wish i could hear it and 1uz is quieter and the most stable jap v8 available quad cams make it even better but again just for the love of old School muscle Ls will be the best in it
and waiting on pics when el cheovrlet get done
thank you sir

The vehicle is basically finished, but we have minor bits and pieces and adjustments that are still ongoing. I haven't driven the '67 yet, because we want the 350 engine to get in at least 20 hours of static running, before we move it onto the roads. However, judging by the ease with which it is starting (half-chaabi), and the complete absence of any blue smoke or carbon, or rattling noises, I have the feeling that it's going to be a cracker, Allah be willing.

Again, on the subject of noise and the exhaust note, I already have a 1UZ installed in a '65 Impala...and while it has a gentle burble at idle, it has a beautiful, high-pitched snarl at anything above 4500 rpm. The big-displacement V8 in the '67 though has a growling, menacing rumble...even at idle. It isn't loud, per se. It's...spine-tingling dangerous And that is one of the reasons why I'm still hopeful of getting a big 8 potter in the '64 Impala. Sometimes, you simply can't beat the sheer thrill of the big guns.

[VEEeight]

Yesterday, I left for Islamabad, so as to set my eyes on the '64 for the first time. Understandably, I was pretty excited.

Imagine my disappointment then, when I got snarled up in traffic that was so jam-packed (courtesy of our friends who have come here to attend the D-8 summit), that I literally crawled my way over to F-11, at a snail's pace...reaching there in the hours of darkness. This, is also an excuse as to why there aren't any photographs to chronicle what I'm about to say in the next few paragraphs. Yes, before anyone mentions it, I know: this thread is useless without pictures!

Let me start off by saying that this car is what Americans would call a "barn find". It's in absolutely stunning condition, and seems to have remained in a pristine state of non-use for a number of years. Every tiniest bit of trim, every last gola, knob, switch, button is in place. The windscreen and other glasses are perfect (unscratched and uncracked, thank God!), and the body seems to be in absolutely genuine condition. The dashboard is beautiful and bright...with no discolouration over the years. The handles work perfectly. As do the doors, the hood, the trunk, and all other moving body parts.

It's an absolute treat to see the ride in its four-door pillarless state...which is giving me second thoughts about making it a two-door or a convertible. It's simply to pretty to undergo cosmetic surgery!

Now, coming onto the plan of action...the first and foremost aspect is going to be the engine and transmission. I already have a beautiful Buick 455 engine lying with me, which is mated to a TH350 transmission. However, after having driven a 1UZ-FE VVTi (in the '65 Impala), I'm pretty much certain that no readily available V8 can start to approach the smoothness, power, acceleration, and sheer exhilaration that this engine offers. If I were to do this, I'd also swap the rear diffs/tube and opt for a matching tube from a Lexus LS400, just to make sure that all the power of the engine is transferred to the wheels, optimally. Which is why I'm very much inclined to doing a repeat of the 1UZ in the '64. Another option is to fit a turbo-charged, inter-cooled straight six engine (the 2JZ-GTE springs to mind, immediately), which I've heard is equally terrifying. Since I have no personal experience with it, I really would love to know the opinion of those who've used this powerplant. Comments and advice on this aspect would be much appreciated, friends.

This time around, I think I'm going to hold out on old-school wheels, and wait until I lay my hand on a pair of Cragars, or the like. Some thick, meaty, higher-profile tyres should do the trick quite nicely.

This Impala is going to get a paint-job that it merits, being a model which is the most beloved lowrider donor vehicle in the world. I'm still very eager to find out if we have airbrush artists who can transform what I have in mind, into reality. If anyone knows of any such artists, I'd be very keen to know of them.

The interior will be tricked, too. Contrasting colour coded upholstery, fittings, carpet, embellishments...and of course, a humungous sound system. For this, the stunning work done on the interior of the '65 Impala by Ishfaq, will be a very good yardstick to measure by.

All told, we seem pretty much set for what promises to be a very exciting rebuild, Insha Allah!

Hello again. I just saw this thread from your side. Rest assured will b "watching this space" for all the novel features you are planning for this car. Good luck.

[fouadhafeez]

Hello again. I just saw this thread from your side. Rest assured will b "watching this space" for all the novel features you are planning for this car. Good luck.

Thank you for the kind words, Sir. I hope it proves to be as much fun reading about it, as it is actually going about it.

[Xulfiqar]

do not let the new engine idle static for 20 hours unless you love the sight of glazed cylinders and low compression. It needs to be driven at moderate load to bed in properly.

btw what cam profile are you using... and is your transmission rebuilt standard or upped - like an executioner or something?

[fouadhafeez]

[U]Logistics

[/U]Some interesting things happened today, with regards to the Impala's rebuild.

First off: tyres.

I'm a great fan of wheels on a car. To my mind, they're a reflection of everything that the car is about. So naturally, the quest for rims and tyres has been fairly high on the list of priorities for the rebuild. When you go for an out-of-the box, unorthodox rebuild, it's always a good idea to base your build around the key "design features" that you have planned for the car. In the case of the Impala, its key design cue is something that celebrates its status as a lowrider favourite over the years. That would mean plenty of bling, wild performance, and some mean paint on the sheet metal.

To achieve this look, the first option was to go for "true" lowrider rims and tyres, which would have meant 100 spoke 13" rims, with whitewall tyres. But then, to be honest, the wheels of these "true" lowriders are what aggravate me the most. To my mind, they look puny on a car so large and so bold and so brassy. So...rule that out.

The other option was something in 20 inch size.

I'm happy to report I've tracked down a set of 20 inch spinners with 275/40/20 Yokohama tyres. The rims are absolutely stunning! And are brand new. I can already visualise them fitted to the Six Foe, and the mental image is very pleasing, indeed!

Second up: the engine.

I was very happy to find a picture of one the actual engines we're planning to fit in the Impala. After much hemming and hawing, the choice has narrowed down to two choices.

The first engine, is a 3UZ-FE VVTi, from a 2007 Lexus. This engine has done 48000 km, comes with a six speed auto transmission, and is good for 300 bhp and 325 lb-ft of torque. No slouch by any means.

But then...I saw this...

This engine is from a 2009 Chevrolet Lumina SS, and is an AlloyTech 4th Generation V8. The beauty of this powerplant is that it has a genuine 18000 km reading on the odometer. The car in which it is fitted was rear-ended, and the picture will show that the front / engine bay is pretty much virginal!

This engine is a derivative of the legendary LS2 motor built by Chevy. The only difference being that it is built by Holden (the Australian subsidiary of Chevrolet). It a 6.0L engine, is good for 362 bhp and 391 lb-ft of torque, comes with a 6 speed auto gearbox, and has Active Fuel Management (AFM). AFM is a stroke of sheer genius on the part of the engineers, which allows the vehicle to run on only four cylinders when you keep it at low revs and want some semblance of economy. Press the pedal to the metal, and you have a genuinely scary engine which comes pretty close to the performance figures of a C6 Corvette!

So...the madness commences. The sickness rises. The next two-three days, when we finally make the purchases should be VERY interesting!

[fouadhafeez]

do not let the new engine idle static for 20 hours unless you love the sight of glazed cylinders and low compression. It needs to be driven at moderate load to bed in properly.

btw what cam profile are you using... and is your transmission rebuilt standard or upped - like an executioner or something?

Duly noted, with thanks. No worries on that score, though. The Impala (the '67, NOT this one around which this thread revolves) IS being driven around slowly - read VERY slowly, since I've told the blokes I'll murder them if any harm comes to it - while we're running it static, too. And we'll be taking every precaution to make sure that this ancient engine is broken in gently. And we haven't changed a thing with the transmission. It's been rebuilt to standard.

Cam profile? I'll certainly have to check up on that.

[khattak_lala]

Sir, if its rims your after you should give a set of 20s (I THINK ) A look! they are the deep dish kind and are in Saddar. When you are going towards Kamran market there is this auto parts store named AL SHEIKH on the right hand side of the road(Comes right before the center median of kamran market chowk starts). The rims shop is 2-3 shops to AL SHEIKHS right and the rims are right in the front of the store. U cant miss them! Please give those a look before doing your purchase.

[khattak_lala]

Oh Oh its opposite the STATE LIFE building or something !