Discussion Forum - Northstar Chevelle Club

67ss · 1K+ Club

Time for a change

Lost in the 60s · President

Having hit the big 6-0 several weeks back, I'm realizing that I don't have another 20-30 years to build all the projects I have. I've always wanted a street rod and I'm going to BTTF to see what is around in a '37, '38, 40 Chev coupe. I will be sacrificing 3 of my current projects for this to get room in my shop again. I don't have any intention of selling the '66 Chevelle or '67 Camaro. They are drivers and could be very nice cars if I can get them done. I have a '69 K10 GMC that I will be listing on craigslist soon. My '67 GTO is for sale but I doubt I can find anyone to take it over at the point it's at unless I give it to them. That won't happen. I have WAY too much in it for that. I intend to finish the body and get it to a roller next winter and see what I can get for it. I am very torn about my '70 SS Chevelle. I would love to have this as a finished product but the reality is that it would be several more years before that happened. Yes, I could use the funding to restore it rather than buy a street rod, but then I still wouldn't have a street rod either..... The '70 is 1 of only 3300 Z25's built in Canada and is a factory documented SS. It would be a valuable car in restored condition.

The teaser pics in Stan's thread is a '40 coupe with a Camaro/Nova subframe. 327 4 speed and 12 bolt rear. It's an older build but the 4 speed really calls to me. The dealer is asking way too much but if I can get him down to a reasonable level, I may hire someone down there to do an inspection for me. As Stan noted, the speedo obviously doesn't work and I doubt any of the other gauges do either. It will need more updating and a few interior changes but it's very close to what I am looking for.

Lost in the 60s · President

67ss wrote:
I thought maybe you were selling PETE off to buy the street rod.
Let me know what you decide on your 70 I might know someone that would be interested in it.

-- Edited by 67ss on Friday 22nd of June 2012 04:57:14 PM
I may be selling that too......the front diff/power divider broke on the last load today. I'm so disgusted with trucking in general, I may fix it and sell it.

Tim H · Mega Poster

That's cool on getting a finished car. I am going to BTTF Sunday for the swap meet. I hope you find what you are looking for.

On the 70 if Chris P's person doesn't work out I would like to check it out as well. I need another project soon. (like I need a hole in my head but I am interested in itmore than just kicking tires)

Derek69SS · Founding Member

Last time I said "I'm never buying an unfinished project car again" I ended up buying a '66 convertible later that day (seriously... said that to my brother while we were talking cars, then he spotted the '66 on the way to his in-laws about an hour later).

I know how you feel Mitch. Too many projects just gets overwhelming after a while, which is why I sold off a lot of my stuff. Let someone else do all the work, and take the kick in the shorts when they realize they're not worth what it costs to restore. As long as you can buy something that suits your style, and is built to your quality standards, that's definitely the way to go... just don't "settle" for one that you might decide to repaint at a later date because the previous guy was a hack (which is why I sold the '66 Wagon... if that car's body was up to my standards, we'd still have it)

Why no '39 though? That's my favorite of the pre-war Chevy's.

Lost in the 60s · President

Derek69SS wrote:
Last time I said "I'm never buying an unfinished project car again" I ended up buying a '66 convertible later that day (seriously... said that to my brother while we were talking cars, then he spotted the '66 on the way to his in-laws about an hour later).

I know how you feel Mitch. Too many projects just gets overwhelming after a while, which is why I sold off a lot of my stuff. Let someone else do all the work, and take the kick in the shorts when they realize they're not worth what it costs to restore. As long as you can buy something that suits your style, and is built to your quality standards, that's definitely the way to go... just don't "settle" for one that you might decide to repaint at a later date because the previous guy was a hack (which is why I sold the '66 Wagon... if that car's body was up to my standards, we'd still have it)

Why no '39 though? That's my favorite of the pre-war Chevy's.
I'm looking at '39's too but they seem to be like a '68 Chevelle......not quite a '37-'38 with the head lights on the grille and not as refined as a '40. I am waiting on pics of a '39 in IL right now that is interesting but has an in-line 6 with a '85 GM 5 speed. Again, not quite what I want for a drivet train but the body and interior look really nice and it is a beautiful Blue !!

Chris R · 2K+ Club

Frank could probably give you some ideas on the late 30's Chevs too.

Lost in the 60s · President

Here ya go, Derek.....very nice '39.

Bowtieman427 · Active Member

I hear you Mitch..... At one time I had a project 1935 Chevrolet Master Deluxe Chevy Coupe always wantted a hotrod and I thought the 35 was cool. I have only seen one once at BTTF. Not to many 35s around and I think it was the only year Chevy made factory suicide doors. Ened up selling it to help pay for the 72 as It needed a lot of body work and 3 kids one on the way figured the 72 Chevelle was more doable with my limited skill set. If I kept the 35 I would still be working on it today. I would be very cool car. I would have done it with a rumble seat trunk

Derek69SS · Founding Member

Lost in the 60s wrote:
Here ya go, Derek.....very nice '39.

Wow, I love '39 Chevy coupes, and blue paint, and white interiors...

Buy that one.

frank · Active Member

saw this car once and would like to try that with a 37 chev

-- Edited by frank on Monday 25th of June 2012 04:10:42 PM

Scott Parkhurst · Super Poster

I dream about a hot rod too. I wanted a roadster when I lived in CA, then I moved here and saw a closed car was the way to go, so I thought 3 window for sure, then I drove a couple 3-windows and decided a 5-window might have a bit more room and be easier to see out of, then I had a kid so now I'm thinking 2-door Sedan. So, the current dream is fenderless Model A sedan on Deuce rails, probably with a Nailhead for power. Good thing I never change my mind.

bowtie · Secretary

What about a fenderless convertable wagon?

My dream is a '57 Chev (2 or 4 door is OK) dropped a little, black with flames. Good thump sound, but not too loud. It would look like the '57 that's in a Shania Twain video.

Lost in the 60s · President

I made an offer of 16k for the Blue one in the pics. Compared to what I saw Sunday, I thought it was reasonable enough to start a dialog but he just said he had more invested than that and thanks anyway. He has it listed for 23k. I could've bought an Orange, professionally done, full blown rod for less than that Sunday.

bowtie · Secretary

Yeah, orange cars cost less.

Chris R · 2K+ Club

Why didnt you buy the orange one?

Derek69SS · Founding Member

Chris R wrote:
Why didnt you buy the orange one?

Orange isn't as fast as blue.

Lost in the 60s · President

frank wrote:
saw this car once and would like to try that with a 37 chev

-- Edited by frank on Monday 25th of June 2012 04:10:42 PM
My absolute dream rod, Frank. There is one in Lake City FL for sale set up as a gasser but the price is a little out of reach. I am working on 2 bone stock '40's that I would seriously try to put a straight axle under for "the look".
Chris, I have an Orange car that needs a different color now. I'm afraid I would get tired of it and it is way too nice to repaint over. I could probably get it for 20-22k and it is a very nicely done car but not exactly what I want and not worth spending thousands more to change.

Tim H · Mega Poster

Derek69SS wrote:
Chris R wrote:
Why didnt you buy the orange one?
Orange isn't as fast as blue.

Really? Now I need to paint my 70 again.. I wish someone would have told me that a couple of weeks ago.

Are 4 headlight cars faster than two headlights?

Lost in the 60s · President

frank wrote:
saw this car once and would like to try that with a 37 chev

-- Edited by frank on Monday 25th of June 2012 04:10:42 PM
Just sent an email inquiring about this car...

Lost in the 60s · President

Tim H wrote:
Derek69SS wrote:
Chris R wrote:
Why didnt you buy the orange one?
Orange isn't as fast as blue.
Really? Now I need to paint my 70 again.. I wish someone would have told me that a couple of weeks ago.
Are 4 headlight cars faster than two headlights?
Absolutely.....

Tim H · Mega Poster

Lost in the 60s wrote:
frank wrote:
saw this car once and would like to try that with a 37 chev

-- Edited by frank on Monday 25th of June 2012 04:10:42 PM
Just sent an email inquiring about this car...

AWESOME!!!!

Tim H · Mega Poster

Are 4 headlight cars faster than two headlights?
Absolutely.....

That's because they are Lighter in the front

Lost in the 60s · President

Tim H wrote:

Are 4 headlight cars faster than two headlights?
Absolutely.....

That's because they are Lighter in the front
That is a great play on words.....

seagrams72 · Active Member

I agree with you on "changing gears" with the cars. My dad bought a 57' chev the year I was born (no I was not born in 57!). It has sat in the garage the way he got it for years... Straight body, 30 y/o paint, interior in pieces, and a full roller with no motor/ tranny. He has offered it to me a few times. As my time frees up and he gets older I have been thinking about taking him up on the offer and just getting it going down the road. He is getting older and would like to see it running, but will never get around to it.

-- Edited by seagrams72 on Tuesday 26th of June 2012 10:00:49 PM

OscarZ · Treasurer

Andy my 47 Ford pick-up (future rod project) is a similar story. My step Dad owned it since 1969 and drove it occasionally for years until the stock flat head 6 gave out. He acquired motors and other parts required to convert it over to a flat head 8 but it sat for years in various storage locations and he never got to do it. He lost the storage it was in a few years back and I acquired it since he'd come to the conclusion that he would never be able to complete it. Hopefully I will not continue that tradition too long so that I will be able to give him a ride in it again someday. I know it will be a few years before I start on the truck because it will take that long to finish the Chevelle!

Scott Parkhurst · Super Poster

Ya my '58 Impala started off as a 'father/son' project for me, but later became more of what my Dad wanted. The more he did to it, the less I liked it (continental kit, dummy spots, etc.)

Now it's in my garage and I don't even know if I want it at all. I've got other cars I'd much rather own, and even though this one has been in my life since I was 14, I just don't have a sentimental attachment to it like I should.

Plus, it would take a lot to bring it up to where I'd want it. The 348 smokes, so it needs rebuilt. The Turboglide transmission leaks, so it needs rebuilt or replacement. The paint is only okay, the chrome has some pits, the original drum brakes are less than excellent, etc. I'm seriously thinking about selling it, but my Dad would be heartbroken if I did (and he found out).

So, it sits...

bowtie · Secretary

Here's what I would do with it if I had one:

58 imp

Chris R · 2K+ Club

Scott Parkhurst wrote:
Ya my '58 Impala started off as a 'father/son' project for me, but later became more of what my Dad wanted. The more he did to it, the less I liked it (continental kit, dummy spots, etc.)

Now it's in my garage and I don't even know if I want it at all. I've got other cars I'd much rather own, and even though this one has been in my life since I was 14, I just don't have a sentimental attachment to it like I should.

Plus, it would take a lot to bring it up to where I'd want it. The 348 smokes, so it needs rebuilt. The Turboglide transmission leaks, so it needs rebuilt or replacement. The paint is only okay, the chrome has some pits, the original drum brakes are less than excellent, etc. I'm seriously thinking about selling it, but my Dad would be heartbroken if I did (and he found out).

So, it sits...

If it were mine. I would pull all the stuff off you dont like, like the continental kit (which I kind of dig on a stock restored Impala). Then I would go back and clone it to one just like Ron Howard drove in American Graffitti.

Lost in the 60s · President

OscarZ wrote:

I would like to be able to give him a ride in it again someday. I know it will be a few years before I start on the truck because it will take that long to finish the Chevelle!
Don't wait too long, Mike. My Dad was a fairly healthy guy to 84, then it went from "you're seriously ill" to dead in 10 months. He did live a full life and I wasn't trying to meet any time line with him but damn, his time ran out too suddenly. We don't need to live with regrets....

Lost in the 60s · President

Lost in the 60s wrote:

I had a conversation with the owner and he has a deposit on the car and is holding it for another 4 weeks for the buyer to come up with the cash. He got $29,500 for it and I can't match that, even if the sale fell thru.

seagrams72 · Active Member

Similar situation with the 57' (belair or 210, I forget). He wants it gone, but to a male heir who would not sell it and get it going. So it falls on me. He would probably never drive it, but would like to see it run. May make a nice cruiser and BTTF ride now you all got me into it.

seagrams72 · Active Member

Mitch, only advice I can give is... You only live once.

Lost in the 60s · President

seagrams72 wrote:
Mitch, only advice I can give is... You only live once.
If I spend 30k on a car, my life may end suddenly....

bowtie · Secretary

Lost in the 60s wrote:
seagrams72 wrote:
Mitch, only advice I can give is... You only live once.
If I spend 30k on a car, my life may end suddenly....

That's all at once right?

Lost in the 60s · President

bowtie wrote:
Lost in the 60s wrote:
seagrams72 wrote:
Mitch, only advice I can give is... You only live once.
If I spend 30k on a car, my life may end suddenly....

That's all at once right?
Yes, 30k spread over several years doesn't count....

Lost in the 60s · President

seagrams72 wrote:
Lost in the 60s wrote:

And don't be talkin' to me 'bout no FORDS..........that would be for the Mustang crowd...

Could do a Ford... with a Chevy motor...compromise.
We don't do fords here, Andy this is bowtie country.
I got pics of a beautiful '37 in Maryland a week ago and it had a FORD engine and trans in it......yuck....

-- Edited by Lost in the 60s on Thursday 28th of June 2012 08:11:36 PM

Chris R · 2K+ Club

I was on the HAMB the other night and noticed several 30's era Ford 5 window coupes for sale in the mid teens, they were out of state though but the several I noticed did look like pretty decent deals. Also seen a few other 30s/40's/50's era coupes from many other makes that would make a potential road trip worth it.

Why arent you getting that 40 flat bed Chevy going you went to Colorado for instead?

Bungy L-76 · Active Member

Mitch, I saw a brown 40 coupe at the 50s swap on Sunday, looked a lot like the one you posted pictures of in the other thread but had different wheels. Did you see it? Was that the same car?

Lost in the 60s · President

Bungy L-76 wrote:
Mitch, I saw a brown 40 coupe at the 50s swap on Sunday, looked a lot like the one you posted pictures of in the other thread but had different wheels. Did you see it? Was that the same car?
Yes, I have his number to call him later. It is mostly bone stock with a little interior work done and the engine rebuilt. He claims it's from AZ and he has the title to prove it. The body is really clean but the PO did a "quickie" bondo over the dents and a paint job. It's all steel and I could see the holes in the fenders from underneath where they pulled the dents and then bondo'd them, so it could be stripped down and repaired properly. I just don't want to "build" another car. I was hoping to find a turn key.
Chris, I have parts coming for my '52 flat bed to mount the engine/trans in the correct location.
And don't be talkin' to me 'bout no FORDS..........that would be for the Mustang crowd... I will check out the HAMB site for "proper" vehicle makes...

seagrams72 · Active Member

Lost in the 60s wrote:

And don't be talkin' to me 'bout no FORDS..........that would be for the Mustang crowd...

Could do a Ford... with a Chevy motor...compromise.

Chris R · 2K+ Club

Lost in the 60s wrote:
Chris, I have parts coming for my '52 flat bed to mount the engine/trans in the correct location.
And don't be talkin' to me 'bout no FORDS..........that would be for the Mustang crowd... I will check out the HAMB site for "proper" vehicle makes...

Most of the Ford street rods have Chevy motors in them anyways. Besides, thats back when Henry was running the show. Anything made back when he was running the show is just fine with me. I hear you on the old Chevys though, they look good too.

I didnt realize or I forgot all about that engine dealio you had going with the 52. A truck that size can be a pain to navigate through car shows though.

Lost in the 60s · President

Lost in the 60s wrote:
Lost in the 60s wrote:

I had a conversation with the owner and he has a deposit on the car and is holding it for another 4 weeks for the buyer to come up with the cash. He got $29,500 for it and I can't match that, even if the sale fell thru.

This guy called tonight while I was at No St Paul and said the sale fell thru. He knows I won't pay 29.5 so he must be looking to see what I offer. It's too late to call FL now but I sent him an email saying I will call tomorrow. Could be an interesting conversation...

Jon H · 1K+ Club

Time to polish up those negotiation skills. Good luck!

Tim H · Mega Poster

You never know he may be getting tired of the "No Shows" and "Tire Kickers" the price may be very negotiable to a serious cash buyer. If he knows you won't pay the price he wants and he is calling you then that could mean something. There is a market for those style cars but not that big of a market so his oppertunities may be few and far between. Offer him what it is worth to you and see what happens.

Good luck Mitch

Lost in the 60s · President

Yep, the blower motor is an issue. I asked if he would consider selling it less the engine the first time and the answer was no. I don't know if I want to feed that engine and if I changed it out for a carb, there is the hole in the hood to contend with. No heat or A/C either and adding a compressor to the blower looks to be a major obstacle. I'd like to have a car I can drive to Des Moines or KC for Goodguys events and not go broke paying for gas or dying of heat stroke.

I love the color, stance and interior but it isn't my "ideal" set-up to get deep into with price and then start changing things...

Tim H · Mega Poster

I wonder what the compression ratio of the engine is. It may not be a canidate for just removing the blower.

Lost in the 60s · President

Tim H wrote:
I wonder what the compression ratio of the engine is. It may not be a canidate for just removing the blower.
8.5 with a blower cam that would probably be a slug with a carb. I would most likely sell the engine complete and install what I want.

Lost in the 60s · President

He's still at 29.5k and claims he has another guy in Houston that wants it, so I'm moving on.

I got pics of a '39 in TX today but it has a few things I don't care for too and the price is still a little high. I may work on him more now that I know I'm not going to FL anytime soon.

Whadda ya think ? I'm not liking the flames.

MY 39 CHEVY COUPE HAS BEEN A VERY DEPENDABLE RIDE FOR OVER 8 YEARS, PICKED UP SEVERAL AWARDS AT SHOWS, JUST TIME TO DO SOMETHING NEW. IT HAS A 481 BB ENGINE, ART CARR 700R TRANS, 9" FORD REAR END 373 GEARS, 4 LINK COILOVER SETUP, MUSTANG II FRONT WITH COILOVERS, CENTERLINE WHEELS, REAR TIRES 29.0 X 18.5X15 MICKEY THOMP SR RADIALS, 205X15 FRONTS, GOOD COLD A/C, SONY STERO C/D, P/W,P/S, TILT WHEEL, 12 GAL FUEL CELL, POWER LATCH TRUNK, ELEC EXHAUST CUTOUTS, HAS A P/B SETUP THAT GOES WITH CAR NOT INSTALLED NEW. IT IS A GOOD DRIVER, HAVE MADE SOME 400 MILE TRIPS WITH HER.

John D · 2K+ Club

The flames would "work" if:
- they started at the nose of the car and swept back
- lose the rear fender licks