1970 SS 396 Chevelle: My first job!

[BlueSS454]

I thought I would share something here with you guys. I have been toying with the notion of doing side work on Chevelles for a while now and finally made the jump. I have taken on my first customer car, a 70 SS 396/4 speed car built in Atlanta. It still retains its original engine, transmission, and rear. It's an L34, unsure if it's an M20 or M21 as I have not verified that yet, and a 3.31 cogged posi. I have a list of things the owner wants done including a suspension and brake overhaul, power steering conversion, interior work not completed by the previous owner, electrical work on the dash and under the hood, I will be pulling the dash out, also an install of a factory original AM/FM 8 track STEREO...how cool is that, the holy grail of 1970 Chevelle radios and this car has one! The engine needs a little tuning as well. I have to rebuild the door hinges, align them which will be a little tricky since it has had new quarters installed at some point and done incorrectly at that, then adjust the glass and fix the door guts. I also have the green light to go ahead and fix any other issues I come across. The inner OCD part of me wants to tear the whole thing apart and do a frame off, but now I have to remember that I am suppose to do what the customer asks and offer suggestions instead of going all out like I do on my own stuff.
I can say that I am really excited to have a paying job on a Chevelle instead of one costing me money. Here are some pics of the car..






Original rotors still in place. I thought it was odd there is one of each type...




Original non cowl early hood...



Engine Stamp...



Engine...




The dash that needs some TLC...

[CC Rider]

Nice first side job Tom. Hope one of the services is a good paint correction and shine. It'll look like a million bucks when you are done with it. [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif[/img]

[BlueSS454]

Thanks Rick. The paint is VERY dirty and I will be cleaning it up. I may even run the polisher over it after a good clay bar job. The left door has a split in it which the owner will be getting repaired elsewhere after I do the door hinges and adjust them. I'm not ready to do paintwork yet, it's too costly for a loner in a back yard shop to do. At least it has the correct stripes on it for the model year [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif[/img]

[mockingbird812]

What's the paint code? Looks like a '69 color Lemans Blue.

[Xplantdad]

Very nice Tom!

[Fast67VelleN2O]

Love that color! Whats with the 1970 Camaro steering wheel?

[Postsedan]

Tom,

Good for you! I`m sure your customer will love what you do to it [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/biggthumpup.gif[/img] Congrats!

Boo on the Power Steering conversion.....I love a Manual Steering Chevelle.
See if you can also locate a correct master cylinder, get rid of the Cowl Screens!

Are you going to go as far as putting back on the original intake, carb and exhaust manifolds?

Dan

[BlueSS454]

The original paint/interior codes are 28 B and 756...Fathom Blue with black bucket seat interior. It has been repainted some variation of what looks like 69 LeMans Blue.

I will be campaigning to put a correct steering wheel on it, that kind of bothers me but again...up to the owner.

The cowl grills definitely have to go Dan. As far as the engine, as of right now I'm only giving it a tune. If he decides he wants it pulled and detailed later, that would be OK...another job later on! He does want to find an original intake and carb for it to have.

[Postsedan]

Tom,

Be sure to stress and make the owner aware of just how rare that hood is [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/headbang.gif[/img]

Dan

[BlueSS454]

I already took care of that Dan [img]<<GRAEMLIN_URL>>/smile.gif[/img] That was the first thing I noticed when I lifted it because my blue hardtop has the same hood on it!