Bexs 68 Impala Caprice Hardtop

[Liam-B]

This is actually my wife Bex's car but its too cool not too share with you guys.

So we bought this old chevy recently. It came in from San Fran, California. Rego ran out in may 2016. Bit of a project but its a complete running driving hardtop.

Bonus is its a factory 396 big block TH400 optioned caprice and factory black paint as well, making it quite a rare car. Its original as well, never been messed with except for a pertronix ignition setup.

Plans are to fix the rust in the front floors (standard on these haha) tidy the mechanicals up and give the interior bit of a freshen up.

Not painting it though, the original rough original factory black paint rules!

Pics of it in the usa before it came over recently

Discuss here //oldschool.co.nz/index.php?/topic/53695-68-chevy-impala-caprice-396/?p=1742905

[Liam-B]

Few more pics of it here at home.

Pics probably make it look a lot nicer than it really is, its actually a bit rough around the edges but we kinda like it that way. Will get some progress pics up later on but probably not going to get stuck into this beast until october as got some of my other projects on the go! Needs lowering asap I know.

[Liam-B]

Quick update. Haven't really done much to it yet except change the oil to make me feel better about starting it up from cold and move it around occasionally while i finished off some other projects.

First thing to do is pull the interior out of it, well whats left of it anyway. Then I will pull the engine & transmission out, send the rolling shell out to get the floors, trunk, engine bay and complete underside blasted and primed.

I will be interested to see how much of the floors survive after that, then i can order new sheet metal as needed.

Big Block in all its Glory. Dont think I've posted a picture of the old lump yet.

[Liam-B]

Will pull the engine and trans out, then gut the interior after that.

[Liam-B]

discovered I need quite a bit of sheet metal for the floors... Might even need a whole LH floor pan, as its pretty much like corn flakes in the spots that aren't completely wasted!

Im up for the challenge though, its not too bad a job. 

[Liam-B]

Look at that lump. The essence of Detroit.

Engine finally out. I had to buy a new crane as the work one wasnt long enough to reach!

Im just going to throw gaskets at the old lump, check the bottom end and if all is well put it back into service. It seems to run fine, no knocks or smoke and the compressions were all good.

Anyway, can make a start on the floors now

[Liam-B]

Boom. The power of time lapse internet!

Complete whole floor pans but cut in half. ie down the length of the trans tunnel. Works out cheaper.

Thinking about lifting the body off the frame now to fit the new floors and clean up the underside and chassis.

[Liam-B]

Ok. Update. Had a mini break but back into the Capiche

Started with the trunk floor :

Oh, Hai there!

[Liam-B]

Got the screens removed without breaking them, pretty rusty in the rear channels. Shocking actually. Will do that a bit later on.

Going to do the drivers side floor this weekend. Its a pretty big piece of real estate compared to the trunk floor patch.

Want to pull the body off the frame once all the structual rust is done. Big job!

[Liam-B]

Thought i better show you lot i havent been a slacker and basically share the misery of what I've been doing on this nugget since the last post

Rear window channel was found to be fully fucking rusted when i removed the screen. I cut another section from a pontiac wreck and grafted it back in, along with repairing the trunk lid seal lip that was totally missing.

Chop chop, weld, grind etc.

[Liam-B]

Cut the drivers side floor out last weekend. Not for the faint hearted. 

 

 

 

 

Started mocking up the new floor, going to butt weld it in so it looks decent. Big piece of realestate this mofo.

 

I got to lunch time on saturday, thought fuck it, im off to the pub for a beer. The weather is too nice for any more of this shit today. Haha

 

 

 

Anyway, progress continues. Want to try get it back together for end of summer. Probably dreaming but its not impossible if i try do a few serious full days coming up on my annual leave next month

[Liam-B]

Fark me that was a mission butt welding that much GM full size floor pan real estate... 

Pretty good result though, looks sweet from underneath as well.

Can move onto the next chapter now!

 

[Liam-B]

Made the throttle pedal heel board from scratch today, as it was obviously missing.

I actually used left over pieces from the new trunk floor stamping I bought, as the shapes were kinda close to what I think should be there for the pedal mount. Bonus. 

Still took me about 6 hours to fab this to size and butt weld it in though. Bastard.

[Liam-B]

Might stop boring you all to death with rust repairs for awhile. 

Next exciting thing for me will be lifting the body off the frame now its structurally sound enough to do so. 

Fucking hanging out to get this going. Momentum game is strong at the moment!