1965 and 1967 Impala Rebuilds

[fouadhafeez]

Good news on the front of the '65 Impala.

When I first bought this beast, it was fitted with a 2JZ-GE engine. Now, this is a pretty decent engine. The 3.0L 2JZ-GE produces 220 bhp and 220 lb-ft of torque. Which by any standards is a good amount (for comparison's sake, the 4.5L I6 1FZ-FE in my FZJ pickup produces 224 bhp, and the 4.6L V8 HSE in my Range Rover produces 222 bhp). This was mated to a four-speed auto transmission. Overall...pretty good performance.

However...

The NEW engine that's been fitted into the engine bay today...is a different breed, altogether.

The '65 Impala now boasts a 4.0L V8 1UZ-FE VVTi engine that produces 300 bhp and 310 lb-ft of torque. The engine is mated to a four-speed Tiptronic automatic transmission, which transfers all of that power/torque to the rear wheels beautifully. An increase of almost 40% power and over 40% of torque should make this beast travel!

At the same time, there were some niggling issues with the brakes, steering, and suspension. These have all been ironed out. In a couple of days, the other engine bay fittings, airflow, reservoirs, and lines etc should be complete.

I have a yearning to see what this is going to drive like...and how the engine sits in the engine compartment. Expect pictures and videos!

[fouadhafeez]

[Kazani]

How do you plan on retaining/maintaining the tiptronic function with the column shifter? I hope you are not going to go with a floor shifter.

[fouadhafeez]

How do you plan on retaining/maintaining the tiptronic function with the column shifter? I hope you are not going to go with a floor shifter.

Actually, I'm planning EXACTLY that.

The '65 is ALREADY a highly-modified vehicle. And WAS, since the day I bought it. Fitting a floor shifter really won't harm it any more, to my mind. Especially when the performance benefits outweigh temporary aesthetics.

I say this, because at some point in time (after I've thoroughly sorted out the mechanicals...AND I'm done rebuilding the '67 Impala, which IS pretty much stock, btw)...this '65 Impala is going to undergo a rebuild of its own (to put right some of its cosmetic inadequacies). A custom-built shift "gate", a customised floor shift gear lever, and some other goodies are on the cards. While it won't be bone-stock genuine...I hope to lend it a "period" look, when I'm through with it.

[fouadhafeez]

On the other hand, the reverse holds true for the '67. It had a nasty-looking Toyota floor-shift, and is being "de-modified" to the original column shift. It had a Buick 7.4L V8 engine, which has now been replaced by a Chevy 5.7L V8. De-modifying the '65 was simply too much of a PITA. Hence the decision to go whole hog modded with it.

[Porsche_Maker]

@fouadhafeez

I would say Amazing thread of Rebuilding the Impala 65 and 67, have you also got one car from somewhere in between Mandra Sohawa as before i saw one being rusting near GT Road for some time back.

But i am not impressed by your RIM Selection Taste those Rims are not for these cars, you need to check again.

[fouadhafeez]

@fouadhafeez

I would say Amazing thread of Rebuilding the Impala 65 and 67, have you also got one car from somewhere in between Mandra Sohawa as before i saw one being rusting near GT Road for some time back.

Thank you for the kind comments. Yes...I had indeed bought that Impala, which was a very sour experience indeed. I'd advise anyone thinking of buying that vehicle to steer clear of it. It's a whole lot of pain.

But i am not impressed by your RIM Selection Taste those Rims are not for these cars, you need to check again.
While you're certainly entitled to your opinion, friend...these cars are whatever you make of them. Whether we're talking lowrider modifications with hydraulic suspension and underbelly lights, or pimped-out "gangsta" rides with 26 inch wheels and lots of bling, or hot-rod modifications, or kept bone stock...the beauty of these machines is to seamlessly encompass each genre. To pigeonhole them and say there's a "type" for these cars is wrong.

And besides...I like those rims. So there

[fouadhafeez]

[U]Updates

The '65[/U]. The 1UZ-FE lives! We just got through a long, exhausting day bunging the V8 into the engine compartment. Everything fits beautifully, thanks to Nikku Ustaad's expert eye and nimble fingers. The steering was fairly @#$%ed up earlier on, because of a Toyota Surf steering box that clanged against the exhaust manifold each time you'd turn the steering wheel more than halfway. Now, I don't know from WHERE the Dream Team found it, but the '65 now bears a brand new GENUINE Chevy steering box. The way that baby swings the wheels left and right, is simply amazing. It's mind-boggling how our mechanics and experts make an engine that isn't really intended for use in a particular vehicle marque...FIT that marque. The engine looks stunning inside the engine bay. The next couple of days will be spent connecting up the electronics, positioning the Tiptronic lever, and generally giving a couple of changes to essential fluids, etc. Tentative time for it to be ready to roar is the middle of the coming week...following which it'll relocate to Kharian, immediately. I have some plans for this beauty...which will certainly come to the forefront in a couple of months. Until then, I'm going to use it...HARD. Probably scare some people with the sound that this engine is going to make.

The '67. Spent some time in Islamabad with the '67, today. Thus far, we've managed to scrape the nasty-looking paintwork off the doors. Am happy to report that the sheet metal beneath is absolutely spotless, Masha Allah. The frame has been scraped clean, too. Nothing wrong there, either. Overhaul and beautification work on both of the engines (the Chevy 350 cid for the Impala, and the monstrous Buick 455 cid to be used in another project) will commence in a couple of days. The low-profile, high-performance 20 inch wheels originally intended for the '67, MAY be fitted to the extreme-modded '65, instead, and the '67 MAY get old school wheels in lieu. Let's see how that turns out.

Good day, today! VERY good day, indeed, Allah be blessed.

[N1J1M]

Sallam Fouad bhai,

please post cabin (Interior) pictures.

Regards,

[fouadhafeez]

I thought I'd already posted some pictures of the interior of the '65.

Apparently, I was wrong. Here you go, brother.

[wasifali89]

wonderful progress there bro
its nice to see a ground up resto of an impala in progress

BTW,
are you the owner of the mercedes ponton and GTO in the back of the pics of ur chassis work day?

[fouadhafeez]

wonderful progress there bro
its nice to see a ground up resto of an impala in progress

BTW,
are you the owner of the mercedes ponton and GTO in the back of the pics of ur chassis work day?

Thanks for the words of encouragement. I need the good wishes for undertaking the resto-modding of ONE car, and the close-to-original restoration of ANOTHER, simultaneously! Believe me...this is chaotic.

And no...those rides belong to someone else. I don't know the owners.

Thanks again.

[fouadhafeez]

The '65 came home last night, with all the necessary goodies installed

The quick rundown of it, is as under:-

The Engine. I was absolutely taken by surprise, by the sheer grunt of the 1UZ. It's quite impossible to equate the earlier powerplant (2JZ-GE) with this one. Torque, power, propulsion...this baby has got it all.

The Brakes. A LOT needs to be done on this score. There's too much squeaking-rattling-bite to the brakes.

The Suspension and Steering. After the engine swap, the suspension seems to have been balanced out, nicely. The vehicle rides well, handles well, and the steering is sharp and precise...light at idle and nicely weighted whilst travelling fast. And it DOES travel fast...VERY fast.

The Transmission. This was a point over which I'd initially procrastinated a great deal...as to whether or not I should go through with the conversion of the Tiptronic transmission to floor shift. I'm happy to report that this experiment has been very successful. The gearshift is absolutely incredible. The transmission slicks through the entire range, beautifully. When you floor the pedal, the engine just seems to seamlessly keep on going, in a never ending power rise. All you can tell from, that it's actually shifting gears, is the obvious drop and rise in engine revs. Ergonomically, the unadorned gearshift still looks ugly. Functionally, though...it's fantastic!

Pictures and videos will follow, after we've put some things right.

Cheers!

[fouadhafeez]

[fouadhafeez]

All is NOT well, in paradise.

Much as I had wanted the '65 rebuild to be a complete success story, apparently, there are going to be some glitches en route.

We spent a couple of days REALLY thrashing the '65 around. While it has absolutely mind-boggling acceleration, there were some annoying-irritating-frightening rattles and clunks and scrapes, when you'd brake, or steer, or corner, or take off. Another thing which I noticed was a slight "delay" in the power delivery, almost similar to a turbo lag...not something which one would expect in a large, 8 cylinder, normally aspirated powerplant.

So...we went troubleshooting. With the car parked over an inspection pit.

First the power delivery. It appears that the Impala's fuel pump is not suited to the changed requirements of the 1UZ. The existing fuel pump (which is attached to the fuel tank) will thus, have to be changed. Not a very expensive option, but one that means that the Impala WON'T be travelling to Kharian with me, as was originally envisioned.

The bigger problem pertains to the rattles and clunks, emerging from under the car. Apparently, that is going to take some major remodifications to the sitting position of the differential, the undercarriage shaft positioning, the shocks, the exhaust, and the suspension. It's just something that HAS to be done...and is likely to take up the better part of two days to put it right.

IF the vehicle were still using the 2JZ-GE (lighter, less-frighteningly-fast, and far more sedate), perhaps these faults might not even have become immediately visible. Now that the powerplant IS such a terrifying beast...it's going to require that all things be made proportionately robust and efficient...so as to avoid high speed catastrophes.

Allah khair kare...when we're DONE with these modifications, this machine should be an honest-to-goodness, dyed-in-the-wool muscle car. To be completely honest, the quickest car I've driven was my brother's RX-8 (247 bhp), with my FZJ79 pickup (224 bhp) a close-ish second. I'd venture to say that in a straight line, this Impala (300 bhp) is quicker than both. And even if it is NOT, the illusion of three tons of half-a-century-old metal moving forward at an INCONGRUOUSLY quick pace, certainly makes you THINK it is.

Whilst the Phantom rebuild is the culmination of a great deal of toil, sweat and tears...I sometimes wonder as to which one of these vehicles I'm looking forward to more...The Impalas, or the FJ!

[fouadhafeez]

A lovely discussion which I had with Usman (vague_one), though...pertained to the brighter side of the picture.

Apparently, the Impala is in "good nick" when it comes to exterior and interior. The engine bay is "better than average", for a vehicle of its vintage. The chrome, et al, is in "decent shape".

This is a very happy state, indeed. Once the vehicle becomes mechanically perfect, the next step will be to get it detailed well and proper. The engine bay, the body panels, the chrome work, the interior, the trunk, the wheels...will all be receiving some TLC. I have no doubt, that the vehicle will look stunning once some magic has been worked on it, Insha Allah!

[fouadhafeez]

One of the most exciting developments that has arisen from my discussion on body work with Usman, has been wrapping.

Initially, I was skeptical...on the basis of "yaar...achhi khaasi gaadi pe plastic charha ke kiya faida ho ga?"

However, research into the subject has revealed that this form of body-cladding is being taken to exceptionally high levels abroad. There are some absolutely magnificent results in this field...and they are NOT just your "boy ricer" types, either.

Lamborghinis are being wrapped. Ferraris. Bentleys. Audis. Mercs. Range Rovers. The list is endless.

One thing which has particularly caught my eye is chrome wrap. I find myself picturing what the '65 would look like, were it to be wrapped in this manner...with a black vinyl/leather roof. See some results for yourself.

This modified, hot-rod '65 is SO going to get wrapped, one of these days!

[fouadhafeez]

And before anyone jumps on me, for pointing out chrome wrap in particular...

...relax, gentlemen. Chrome wrap is just ONE option. There're THOUSANDS of colours out there!

[qwertypoiu]

chrome can be a good bling option. 65 serious power with alot of bling and 67 fullly restored to original spec.

[fouadhafeez]

chrome can be a good bling option. 65 serious power with alot of bling and 67 fullly restored to original spec.

EXACTLY!

You take the ALREADY modified '65 over the top, with performance parts, modern day aesthetics, and incomparable optics...whilst retaining the beautiful body shape and all the necessary styling cues of the original. You use this as a daily-ish driver...for its performance, availability of parts, and ease of use.

The '67, which is ALREADY stock...you restore to original ("de-evolving" where necessary), and make it a museum piece / collectible. Drive sparingly...care for lingeringly...and admire lovingly!