First Muscle Car

Today, Tommy, Zach and I went to the Atlantic City Car Auction to start off the 2011 year. One of the many beautiful cars we found there was this 1964 Pontiac GTO, arguably the car that started the entire muscle car era. This was the only '64 that we found, but there were a ton of GTOs from 1964-1970 for sale in the auction. I explained to Zach the importance of this car, and then we went and purchased some hot-rod T-shirts, a Chevelle Hat, and 2 gallons of Captain Lee's Spra' Strip. We need to start to get the paint off of the Chevelle, and I've had much success with this product before on the Stingray.

We also came across this 1966 Chevy II survivor, a true 1 of 1 car widely accepted as the only know 1966 L79 SS Nova Sports Coupe that was produced with Tropic Turquoise with a Fawn interior. It was ordered an d delivered to Hawaii in the spring of 1966 as a heat delete car with a rear speaker. The car still has it's original factory drive train, a 327 cu/350 HP with M-21 4-speed and 3:73 12 bolt posi rear. The car was un-restored with all original sheet metal, thanks to it's warm Hawaii storage until 2009. This was probably the nicest and unmolested L79 left in the country.

My First Car

OK, I may be taking this way, way back, but here I am in 1970 with my first car. I still remember this little plastic pedal car. We lived in a trailer in PA, and my parents owned a 1968 Camaro. I don't remember the Camaro... go figure.

Some of my earliest memories were of my grandmother racing her 1967 Jaguar in the Pennsylvania Hillclimb Association. I think riding around in that car, and then watching her fly by me as I stood on the side of the road left an indelible impression on me. There has never been a day in my life since that I have not thought of something automotive.

66 Chevelle Front Seats

I can't believe that we actually found a pair of front seats for the '66 Chevelle! I woke up Saturday morning, and stumbled all blurry-eyed onto Craigslist. The ad read:

"i have a set of 66/67 chevelle orginal bucket seats that need to be redone. they are complete seats. if you were to do them the right way i would sandblast them and paint the frames and then bring them to an upholster and get new foam and leather skins. somebody that is building a chevelle knows how much these seats are worth to the cars finished product if they are trying to make it original.... they would also know how much each seat frame goes for brand new. its around 350 per seat frame brand new and im looking to get 200 obo for both. you can give me a call - thank you, frank. p.s. pics upon request."

Nancy wanted me to try to low-ball him, "Offer him $100", she said. I've been looking for months, and the best price I've found so far was $550 (when you could find one or two), so I had no problem paying the full price. The seller purchased the seats at Carlisle after he put a deposit down on a '66 Chevelle. When he brought the seats home, he found out the seller of the Chevelle sold the car to someone else. Ouch! The seat backs and trim will need to be replaced/rebuilt, and new foam and covers installed, but the foundation is all there. I'll detail the seat rebuild in a few months, right now they are just going to be put away in storage.

Hot Rod TV

Not much on TV this weekend for the gear heads to watch, so I'm posting a little Hot Rod TV! The Pump Gas Drags should get me out of my winter funk.

Chevelle on the winter roads

I had Sarah's '71 Chevelle out on the ice-covered roads, and got a few comments about driving it on a winter day like today. I can't wait to wash and detail it, but there is still just too much snow and salt. I had a guy try to get me to street race him with his Mustang, which was never going to happen, but the thought was nice.

I also found a new video on YouTube about another 1966 Chevelle restored by CC Auto and Body in Craig, Colorado. It was a 2008 Moab Utah Car Show, 1st and Best of Show Winner. They have published an article "The dying Art of Auto Body" which I wanted to share. The Chevelle was a really rough project, much worse than ours, but the end results seem very nice. Hopefully this will help motivate me, although I think a nice spring day would do the trick too.

Shinya Kimura @ chabott engineering

My friend Jason found me this video of Shinya Kimura, formerly known as the founder of "ZERO" or the so-called "ZERO Style" motorcycles. He has launched his own workshop called "chabott engineering" in the city of Azusa, California in 2006.

In his 25 year career in the motorcycle world, Kimura started his own small repair shop named Chabo in 1992, a year before he started ZERO in Japan. Chabo means "bantam rooster" in Japanese and, to Kimura, it means "back to basics". To me, his style is so raw and brutally functional, and yet there is so much beauty in his work. I am thinking of incorporating his style into my next build.

shinya kimura @ chabott engineering from Henrik Hansen on Vimeo.

Atlantic City Car Show

Every year, at about this time, I start to get cabin-fever. I hate the snow and the cold, and I can not wait for spring, and to get back to the garage and track. So when the Atlantic City Car Show and Auction is just around the corner, I can hardly wait.

Held annually at the Atlantic City Convention Center, the Atlantic City Classic Car Show and Auction is the East Coast's largest classic car show & auction! Over 60,000 enthusiasts and collectors are expected to browse, buy and admire this premier collection presented by GPK Auctions, February 18 - 20. Over 1000 collectible cars will be available for sale all on one floor. I love to browse the parts and memorabilia available from the vendor too. Oh, who am I kidding... we just need an excuse to hit the White House Sub Shop for some cheese steaks!

EVENT SCHEDULE

Dates:

Feb. 18, 19, & 20, 2011

Show Hours:

Fri. 8:30am - 9pm

Sat. 8:30am - 9pm

Sun. 9am - 5pm

Auction Hours:

Fri. 10:00am - 9pm

Sat. 10:00am - 9pm

Sun. 11am - 5pm

Top Gear

I was talking to my pal Cary this weekend about the recent damage to his truck from a fender-bender in the snow. We painted his truck rims black, and one got scuffed, "no problem" I tell him - we can fix that. He confessed that he had not watched Top Gear yet, and so I thought I'd out him about it here on the SHC blog. The first season just finished, but shows are available on-demand or online.

One of the UK's most popular series since 1977, Top Gear now brings its high-adrenaline action entertainment to America. The series tracks the colorful history of the automobile and showcases an offbeat celebration of the art of driving, featuring super-cars, extreme stunts and challenges, car reviews and celebrity interviews, as well as the eccentric adventures of its hosts with Top Gear's customary wit and humor. Hosted by comedian and car buff Adam Ferrara, champion rally and drift racer Tanner Foust and racing analyst Rutledge Wood, Top Gear explores the history of America, one lap at a time.

Snow...a four letter word

I had the day off of work this Wednesday, but not for a good reason...jury duty. Now I fully understand the importance to society that I fulfill my civic duty, but like a visit to the doctor it was not comfortable. I was completely bored, falling asleep, I'd rather have been at work. To make matters worse, more snow. I woke up today to another foot of the white stuff everywhere, and after five hours of shoveling, I am out of places to put it. (Yes, another day off of work due to inclement weather - and again I'd rather have been at work)

I have given up shoveling out the frame of the '66 as it sits all covered up in the driveway, we dig it out at least once a week just to have it covered up with snow again. Tommy is probably making enough money this winter plowing snow to build a Top Fuel car for next race season. Zach and I watched a new show on Discovery, Desert Car Kings. The show profiles Ron and Jason McClure and their family business — Desert Valley Auto Parts — which houses over 10,000 rust-free vehicles over 100 sun-baked Arizona acres.

Not content with merely providing original parts for thousands of car collectors and restoration junkies each year, the McClures and their crew are constantly on the hunt for cars to restore — seeking them out in backyards, barns and even on their own massive lot.

Their goal? To restore these classic American cars to their original glory and get them back on the road, while discovering the unique and historically significant qualities of each car — and of course, to fetch a fair price at auction.

PT Cruizer...Flat again

So we are trying to leave for work today, and it is only 5 degrees outside this morning. We hadn't started the Chevelle or PT all weekend, but they both fire up with only a little whimpering. Nancy get's out of the driveway first, then blocks me in, and I'm perplexed as she walks up to me in the Chevelle. "I have a flat...again", she says. Sure enough, the left front is flat and half off the rim as I put it back in the driveway for her. I brought it up to the local tire shop, and the tech there tells me they do Chrysler tires everyday, because the rims corrode and the beads leak. Nice. I've already replace one due to a pot hole bending the rim, and I have no intention or doing any more. I'll need to keep up with checking the air every few days, not that big a deal, but a pain in the butt.

I started scanning a few of my old photos today, and will post them up as soon as I can get them organized. I found a few of the Vette before I restored it and was racing Solo 2 in the SCCA. I haven't done that in a while, but am thinking of drag racing the Vette again this year.

SHC on Facebook

In my never-ending quest to promote the South Hill Customs lifestyle, I decided to add a Wall on Facebook. Hopefully this will make things easier for some of us locally to connect for events, shows and cruise nights, and for my long-distance friends to keep informed.

I have also created a link for the SHC Photobucket account, where I just uploaded a few hundred more pics of my cars. I have a few photos that I need to scan and post up there still.....I have a cool idea for a future post.

Gearz

I have been busy all morning watching my usual "car" shows, and waiting for the Barrett-Jackson auction to begin. After watching Gearz, I created an account on the Official Website of Stacey David's Gearz. My hope is to help promote the SHC blog and let more people know what we are doing. I'd also love to have one of our cars featured on the show....that would be so cool! Maybe I'll work on some new links later today for the blog.

Another '66 at Barrett-Jackson

I've been watching the Scottsdale auction, and playing along with the Hagerty Fantasy Bid game, although I have not won yet. I got pretty close though! I also saw another 1966 Marina blue Chevelle, lot #426.1, sell for $61,600. It is a 396/360hp factory 4-speed with air conditioning. Special order, high option car with 1 owner until February, 2009. 1 of 33 cars built with 3.07 posi-traction rear axle. Original documented car with dealer order invoice, original keys with punch outs on dealer ring showing stock #713C, broadcast sheet, bank finance agreement showing paid in full on April 10, 1969, owner protection plan with Protect-O-Plate and original owners manual. Extremely high optioned car featuring factory air conditioning, custom deluxe seat belts with retractors, Strato bucket seats, tinted glass, console, 1 of 33 cars equipped with 3:07 posi-traction rear axle available only after January, 1966, F40 special suspension, M20 4-speed manual Muncie transmission (wide ratio), factory equipped AM/FM radio, rear speaker and convenience equipment package, gauge package with factory knee knocker tachometer. Restoration has been done all within the past 750 miles. Interior has been professionally restored. 1 repaint approximately 1986. Original sheet metal, body panels and floors. Very rare Chevelle with excellent pedigree and many desirable options.

Barrett-Jackson 2011

It was another snow day today, with 2 inches of ice keeping us out of school and work. The only warm feeling I have is that the 2011 Barrett-Jackson Auction from Scottsdale is on Speed TV tonight. We are going to watch for a few of the 1966 Chevelles specifically. I can't wait!

Update - The first '66 Chevelle was lot #56.2, a black 327 small block with 72,344 original miles on matching numbers drivetrain. The original 327cid has 350 heads and 350 4-barrel intake. Factory options include power brakes, power steering, air conditioning, electric bucket seats, center console, Powerglide automatic transmission, 4-way hazards, electric trunk lock, knee knocker tach, deluxe seat belts, factory floor mats, original jack, original sheet metal, factory vinyl top and 3.36 rear end. Full frame-off restoration. SOLD for $38,500 including buyer's commission.

"Shift"

As I sit here waiting for the next snow storm, 6-10 inches expected tonight, I dream about the spring weather and all I want to do in the garage. Tommy told me about this new film about drag racing coming out called "Shift". Here is the synopsis: Boomer Honeycutt is a drag racer. His lone quest is to escape his father's shadow and become the next Classic Gear Jammers Champion. After separating from his fiancée Tina, Boomer takes refuge sleeping in his van. He awakes after a rough night out to find an eleven-year-old boy on the doorstep and a note from his high school sweetheart welcoming him to fatherhood. Set against the backdrop of stick-shift drag racing in the heart of the South, this is a story about fathers and sons, teaching each other what it takes to be a man.

Spring can't come soon enough.........

Oil Light...Oh NO!!!!!

So, I'm driving down the road on my way to work, stop at a traffic light....and the oil light comes on. Instant panic. I immediately throw the car in neutral to check if I'm idling too slow, then shut her down to check the oil level....full and clean. So I stop by to see my friend Mark at Advance Auto and borrow an oil pressure gauge. I pull the oil pressure sending unit and test, 60 lbs of oil, and the switch is covered with oil...whew. After a quick stop at the auto parts store for a new switch ($7), we are back in buisiness and running great. Now if only I could get the snow to stop falling.

Ho-Ho-Ho

It's Christmas eve, and I spend most of the day tuning the Edelbrock carb on the '71 Chevelle. There has been a flat spot on part-throttle acceleration for a while, but Sarah didn't seem to be bothered buy it. For the past week I've been driving the Chevelle, so I noticed it a lot! I pulled the spark plugs last night to check them, and it was running a bit lean. So today I ran to Roadrunners and picked up a new set of springs and metering rods to richen it up. It was noticeably better with just one change, and after a few more tweaks and test runs around the block, I think I have it dialed in. I then gave it a quick wash, and we are going to take it to my sister-in-law's house for the holidays....after all it is clean, running well and full of gas!

Yes Trunk!

Yes, now I have a trunk in the '66 Chevelle. I have been test fitting and trimming, and welding and grinding.... and finally there is a trunk floor. I even cleaned up the drain plugs, and am ready to seam seal them in along with the edges of the trunk floor.

I also installed the gas tank straps after a lot of careful measuring and some test fitting with the tank. I am not going to go too crazy detailing the trunk, because I plan to coat it and the underside of the car with LizardSkin or bed liner of some sort....still researching the one I want.

No trunk

I've been working on the trunk floor of the Chevelle, or rather the lack of the trunk floor. We also realized that the wheel tubs are not the same, the drivers side is much bigger. Wierd? I found out that GM thought of putting the gas filler neck up on the quarter panel like the Chevy II, and that is why they designed two different wheel houses! I've also cut out the lower quarter panel extension, and just need to start welding in everything.

Floor Braces and Frame Mounts

I have been working all week on the frame mounts and floor braces for the 66 Chevelle. I finished up the front, middle and rear on both sides and only have one small part on the inner rocker panel to finish tomorrow. Then the drivers floor hole, which isn't too bad, and then on to the floor brace above the rear end. That one doesn't look like it will be any fun at all. I am excited to think that after I finish up the trunk floor pans, I won't have to crawl under the car anymore.....until I have to undercoat it. I'm thinking about spraying Lizardskin if it isn't too expensive. The photos show the before and after of the inner rocker, and does it no justice....it looks much better.

Chevelle in garage

The '66 Chevelle is now in the garage, and up on blocks. I looked at getting special jacks, or 12 ton stands, but decided to go with the concrete blocks and safety straps tied to the ceiling joist. Best part was the whopping $25 cost!

I spent a day crawling around under the car, just evaluating the condition of the floor and braces, and getting my game plan together. There is NO grease or dirt, just a bit of sand and cobwebs under the car....and lots of rust on the floor braces where they meet the inner rockers. I came across a few factory stamping numbers on the passenger inner and outer rockers that I want to keep. So, my plan is to keep as much of the good factory steel as possible, and only replace the rusted out spots. Once the floor is done, then the trunk, followed by the quarter panels, rear deck and windshield lower channel. Then, tackle the front end sheet metal. That's the plan.

Throttle

Zach took this pic with his phone, and I just thought it was the best photo we have of the car so far. I worked on the outer heater box, trying to clean and strip most of the old paint off. A new one is only $40, but the original is not in too bad shape, and I think it will suffice. I also detailed and greased up the throttle assembly, so all I have to do is install it now, when ever I get that far into it. It seems like such a long way to go. Fall is definitely in the air now, the temperature is much cooler. We had an entire week of rain, and another on the way this week......so it looks like a lot of little parts will be looked at while I wait for better weather, and my inner rockers!

66 Chevelle heater box

I forgot to post last week when I went to the Englishtown Swap Meet. I found a '66 Chevelle used rear seat for the bargain price of $50, and a steering column for $20! Tommy was trying to sell his 75 Vette, and picked up a cool pit bike.

I ran down to IWS to fill my welding tank and pick up a new tip and some wire for the MIG welder, in preparation for all the new sheet metal. Most of it is here, still waiting for the inner rocker panels however, and without them I really can't do too much. I did learn that the 40 lb bottle should last me about an hour welding, looks like I'll be making regular trips back soon.

I started unpacking some of the many parts and pieces of the 66 Chevelle, and when I unwrapped the inner heater box, I was in for an unpleasant surprise. It was rusted out..bad. Where there wasn't a whole, the metal was as thin as tin foil. There was obviously a leak in the heater core for a VERY long time, all the inner workings of the box were destroyed. I tried to patch it up, but it is mostly just for parts. I ordered another off eBay for $100, since no one seems to reproduce this part. The only other option would to be to install a new air conditioning system, and since the car already came with a brand new heater core, it didn't seem worth it.

1966 Chevelle Project - Zach's First Car

The next project at the South Hill Customs garage has arrived....Zach's 1966 Chevelle. The project arrived from Philly in two trips, one with the rolling chassis, and the second with the body. A big thank you to Tommy for helping with trailer!
The chassis was separated 15 years ago, and is already restored, with new suspension, brakes, lines, bushings, springs and shocks. It is even painted and all ready for the body.







The body is going to require some floor and trunk pans, and quarter and fender patch panels at the least. The good news is that most of the parts are there, and everything the previous owner took apart was labeled and the hardware was attached. A few items are even brand new or restored already!

New Project

The summer has been brutally hot, and thus we really have not done too much in the SHC garage. We have enjoyed a few cruise nights, and some days at the Jersey Shore, but now it is time to get another project under way.

Zach has been looking for a 70-73 Camaro for his first car, but the pickings in our price range are slim at best. We also found this project.....but I will wait until it arrives home to go into detail.....stay tuned!

New trunk

On my first vacation day, I decided to tackle some of the loose ends on the Chevelle. First thing was to look into why there were no reverse lights. After a bit of troubleshooting with the test light, I determined that the switch on the steering column was not working. I removed it, took it apart, and found a contact was stuck. So after a few minutes, and one new bulb, we now have it working.

I then decided while I was in the trunk to make a set of panels up to finish it off. I picked up some 1/4" MDF and black felt, a trunk jamb switch and LED light, and the results are pictured below...

Woodbridge Car Show

Sarah took her Chevelle to her first show, at the Woodbridge Main Street Car Show in downtown Woodbridge. They block off the main street to all car traffic, and although the weather was cloudy, there was a good turnout. We followed Tommy in his 72 Chevelle there, and even parked the "twins" next to each other.
(Tommy's is on the left, Sarah's is on the right.)

We had a great time, and Sarah even got a bit frisky with a mean, green '71 Cuda on the way home. That's my girl!

NHRA Supernationals

Tommy and I went to E-town for the 41st Annual NHRA Supernationals on Saturday. Thats Tommy on the right, and his buddy Cliff on the left, who is an NHRA Tech Inspector from Las Vegas. He always hooks us up when he comes back home to NJ....thanks Cliff! We had to go into the pits and get "nitro-ed" of course...and if you have never experienced the smell of a top fuel car, well it is like tear gas or pepper spray. I tried to get some video of the crowd, but I couldn't see where I was pointing the camera. I did get some footage in the pits and on the track...

We also stopped by the pits to talk to Chris Trela's pal Karen Stalba and her Top Alcohol dragster, who qualified 7th with a 5.574 @ 254.9 mph, but unfortunately went out first round.




I also saw this awesome Tucker hot rod in the pits. Now there is someting you don't come across very often.

Hot Rods & Harleys '10

Zach and I decided to hit up the 2010 Hot Rods and Harleys show in downtown Rahway....we had not been there since 2008. First thing we had to do is drain the old gas out of the Vette, and wipe it down. We had just enough gas to make it to the local Sunoco...it seriously ran out of gas as we pulled up to the pump! We were parked so far away from the main show, we were almost in the next town. We had to move to a better spot, not to mention we were parked under a sign that said "SLOW" with an arrow pointed to our car (see the photo)....and we were not staying there!

So we found a better spot, and even found a video on YouTube that someone shot with our car in it here...

We ran into a lot of friends at the show, and in the end won a trophy! The best part of the day was the look on Zach's face when we left the show and pulled out on to the highway with a HUGE drifting burnout....and Zach said "Damn...that was awesome".

Rear End Questions

I bought a new rear sway bar for the Chevelle at the swap meet, and when I climbed under to see if it fit....I realized that my suspicion of this not being a Chevelle rear were true. There is no way the sway bar will fit, as there is a large bracket in the way. Now I need to figure out what rear this is from, and if I can get a bar to fit it. I took pics of my rear and Tommy's '72 and you can clearly see the difference. More to come as soon as I figure this out...

I then figured I would show Zach how to tear down a small block chevy, so we took the 283 apart to clean up the pieces. To my surprise, it was stuffed with TRW 11:1 pistons....WOW! I'm glad I didn't decide to use that for Sarah's Chevelle, but now I need to decide what to do with it.

Chevelle Wheels

This weekend, Zach and I went to the Spring 2010 Englishtown Swap Meet. We picked up a few items for the Chevelle, but mostly spent the bulk of the weekend working on the new 18" Coys wheels for the Chevelle. I took the tires and rims to Ace, but we could not mount them with the equipment there, so I went to see Cary at BC Tire. After a lot of effort to remove the tires from the wheels, he was able to get them mounted and balanced. Saturday, I mounted the front without problems, but the rears required new longer studs. I removed the rear brakes for more access, and after a few hours got them installed. They look and feel great!

R.I.P. Bob

Today we paid our final farewell to our friend, neighbor and car enthusiast, Bob. His '29 Ford pictured here was chopped and built by Bob and his son Bobby. Although Bob had spent the past few years living away from the neighborhood (and the '29), Jimmy and Tom made sure to get the hot rod cleaned up and running so that it could go to the service today to honor him.

A few years ago, I was talking to Bob about how the shifter ball broke on my Stingray while I was racing it, and the next day he called me over to give me a beautiful billet aluminum sifter ball that he machined at his shop. I fit perfectly! When I needed some good advice on my project car, or just wanted to stop by on the way home from work, Bob was always eager to talk about the cars.

We will miss you Bob.

At the track...

I've been spending some more time down at the track this year, both with Tommy and Chris. Tommy's wagon has been running very well, and has even dipped into the 10's! There are some new video clips posted on the SHC YouTube site.

Chris and the Ace Motorsports Altered has been getting things going at Atco, and although we ran out of brakes last week, we were able to throw a new set of pads in the front and go another round. Funny how you can burn through a set of brake pads in 20 races...that's only 5 miles! I guess trying to stop from 150 mph is the reason.