1965 and 1967 Impala Rebuilds

[murtaza_murti]

Candy orange with black is SO on.

That's exactly what I'm planning on doing, at some point in time. Unfortunately, the past paint work on this beauty was rushed...with scant attention to the body. As a result, we have several "blisters"...which means that all is not well beneath the gleaming surface. I've planned a frame off rebuild for this vehicle (like my '67 Impala), at some point in the not-too-distant future. When that takes place...I'm going to get the frame scraped and resprayed, as well as the body. All rusty bits, and suspect parts are going to get replaced, or repaired properly. Only THEN will I get the candy orange and black paint job. Until then, the car is going to be driven as a daily-ish driver...blisters or no blisters!

I actually HAVE a beautifully overhauled 455 cubic inch engine...although this is a Buick powerplant, rather than a Chevy. And I STILL discarded it for the 1UZ 4.0L V8. I'm of the quite firm belief that the older powerplants (the '67 for example, has a Chevy 350 cubic inch 5.7L Twin-Jet powerplant) simply cannot match the power, torque, reliability and refinement of these newer monsters. To exemplify this statement, once the '67 is complete Insha Allah, it will see very little running...while this '65 on the other hand will be thrashed about EVERY day. At abnormally high speeds, too!

Therefore, for the '65 (which is a HIGHLY modified machine, and will CONTINUE to be one), I want it to remain free of the dogmas of "keeping things stock", or limiting myself to "period" hardware for the same. While the idea to fit a 454 or 396 is very tempting, thus...I'll stick to the 1UZ.

Frame-off is the way to go! You get to find out all the hidden stuff the proper way. A Candy Apple Red paint-job would do justice as well, here is a picture just for reference.

That is true, the older engines cannot do those things you've mentioned but it sure doesn't bring back the originally of the vehicle itself. I would rather have the original big block instead of a Toyota V8 but then that's me. But one thing is for sure, it sure is a thrill to put the pedal to the metal on the V8 in this bad boy.

Cannot wait to see how both of these beauties turn out to become. Good luck, and if I can be of any help do let me know

BTW, what brake set-up are you currently running on the '65?

[murtaza_murti]

[fouadhafeez]

Frame-off is the way to go! You get to find out all the hidden stuff the proper way. A Candy Apple Red paint-job would do justice as well, here is a picture just for reference.

That is true, the older engines cannot do those things you've mentioned but it sure doesn't bring back the originally of the vehicle itself. I would rather have the original big block instead of a Toyota V8 but then that's me. But one thing is for sure, it sure is a thrill to put the pedal to the metal on the V8 in this bad boy.

Cannot wait to see how both of these beauties turn out to become. Good luck, and if I can be of any help do let me know

BTW, what brake set-up are you currently running on the '65?

HOT paint job, indeed! These candy colours are beautiful.

In my humble opinion "originality" is a bit of a misnomer when it comes to these cars. MOST four-door Impalas in 1965 came with the 250 cubic inch inline six cylinder engine. The biggest engine was indeed the 454 Turbo-Jet, but that was a performance option on the SS coupe. So at best, a 454 would be a token semblance of originality, at best.

Then, also to be considered is the fact that the entire suspension, all-round disc brakes, axles, etc, are those of a 1999-2000 Crown Royal Saloon. When we're talking "originality", we can't really harken to that, by simply swapping to a Chevy engine.

Finally, I'm equally eager (probably MORE so) to see both of these Impalas come to fruition. I have no doubt that the '67 will be a beautiful, close-to-original machine...with good all-round performance, and styling, Insha Allah. I'm equally certain (God willing) that eventually this '65 will be something absolutely stunning...wild, intimidating, and borderline psychotic. Perhaps that very contrast will be the most satisfying part to owning them both!

Thanks for the comments and photos.

[veitnam]

sir beautiful car MASALL ALLAH :):)

[fouadhafeez]

An update on the '65.

The beast has settled down, some. We spent yesterday, fixing its exhaust, which had blown clean open after the thrashing around that the vehicle had gotten from me. The right-bank muffler had a crack the size of a little gorge...so that needed replacement and repair. Also required, was the adding of slightly meatier exhaust pipe "tips" to the exhaust exit. The earlier ones were looking decidedly incongruous, when viewed in context of the tremendous bellow of the exhaust.

The hand-crafted console should be ready within three-four days, Insha Allah. Will report progress on the same.

Besides this also gives me an excuse to post some more pictures of not one, but TWO apex predators; in their natural habitat!

[fouadhafeez]

[fouadhafeez]

[vague_one]

Looks smashing bro! Sigh......tasverrain dekh dekh kar ab aur anxiety hoti jaa rahi hai original shay ki! MashAllah! Looks smashing!

[aark30]

gr8 effort sir ...your effort is showing its self...lovely

[fouadhafeez]

Looks smashing bro! Sigh......tasverrain dekh dekh kar ab aur anxiety hoti jaa rahi hai original shay ki! MashAllah! Looks smashing!

A few days more...then she's all yours to work your magic upon.

Jazak Allah, brother.

[fouadhafeez]

gr8 effort sir ...your effort is showing its self...lovely

thank you for the very kind sentiments.

[fouadhafeez]

Like I've maintained all along...since the '65 is an already-heavily-modified vehicle...it gives me "license" to tinker about with it, a bit, in terms of performance, aesthetics, and ergonomics.

One such aspect, was the gear stick.

Now, as you all might know, the '65 came with a 3-speed gearbox mated to its modded 2JZ-GE engine, which was swapped for a 4-speed (5-speed if you count OD) gearbox attached to a 1UZ-FE VVTi. The former was fixed to the steering column shift of the car, while the latter was moved to the floor, so as to accrue maximum benefit of the Tiptronic function of the gear.

The only thing is...it looked unsightly. Ugly, even.

Well...now, the gear shift is housed in the (very rough) beginnings of a custom built console. My plans for this include replacing the plastic "gate" of the shift-stick for a chrome gate (possibly from a Premio). The possibility of fabricating a one-off gate from brushed metal may also be on the cards. The console itself is made from synthetic wood, and will eventually be coated in leather / suede to match the vehicle's eventual interior. The "PWR/ECT/SNOW" button that regulates the vehicle's output has also been mounted into this console, and a space for change, keys, phones etc, has also been scooped out.

At some point in time, I'm going to fabricate a new dashboard for the '65. Whilst retaining the original "flavour", it will be something minimal, stripped down, and simple...which houses a cluster of high-visibility, high-performance gauges. In that eventuality, the switches for the lights, the wipers, the power windows (which I intend on modifying), central locking and engine immobilization system and MAYBE a push-to-start button will fit into the remaining space on the console...leaving the dashboard uncluttered for only the essential readings required on a high performance vehicle.

Of course, wood is a great way to go, because of the ability to fashion it exactly as you want. At some point in time, though...maybe a fiberglass console might replace it.

Pictures to tell the tale of progress, thus far...

[fouadhafeez]

Ok...apparently, photos aren't posting...

[fouadhafeez]

[fouadhafeez]

[fouadhafeez]

[fouadhafeez]

[fouadhafeez]

[fouadhafeez]

Of course, one of the advantages of such a console, is...bling!

A snap of a modified console in a '65 Impala LowRider.

[vague_one]

Like I've maintained all along...since the '65 is an already-heavily-modified vehicle...it gives me "license" to tinker about with it, a bit, in terms of performance, aesthetics, and ergonomics.

Of course, wood is a great way to go, because of the ability to fashion it exactly as you want. At some point in time, though...maybe a fiberglass console might replace it.

Pictures to tell the tale of progress, thus far...

Good clean an simple......but come on capn! Look at the untame monstaa from the outside! Look at the engine ! An when you sit it?? Needs some darn hardcore interior ! I mean one should sit in an go....."now thats what Im talking about!"

I for the love of creativity find it absolute murder to keep silent at this point......the juices are flowing cap`n!! Big man.....please do not stop me from indulging in my usual "roshan khayalat!"....peshkash haazir hain....

heres somthing I picture for the way the gauge cluster can turn out