Recently acquired car needs some lovin'

Queeb Salaron · Post by **Queeb Salaron** » 2003-05-23 11:56am

Ok, so I finally broke down and bought it. It was only $800, and it's a gorgeous piece of machinery... It just needs some lovin.

Added to list of toys: 1970 Chevelle (not an SS, but better than nothing). Everything's stock, and it's got about 200k miles on it. Runs, but shakes above 55. Chasis in good condition, needs a paint job rather desperately. Tires showing the first signs of baldness. Probably wouldn't pass CA emissions inspections, but fortunately MA is a lot more lenient. Needs new exhaust system (headers to tip), new muffler, new brake pads, new suspension (or it will very soon), and the engine needs to be given a generous once-over.

And it's here that I run into my problem. See, I COULD just fix up the engine, replace all the hoses, give it a much-needed grease job, and otherwise play doctor to the tired hunk of metal.

OR...

I could rip out the whole block and replace it with something else. Right now the car's running a small block 200-something, as was stock back then. What I COULD do is rip it out and see if I could get a big-block 350 from my uber-mechanic uncle. The problem with that is this, though: If I get the 350, I'll need a better exhaust, and I'll probably break down and get a flowmaster. And then I'll have to rework the transmission, or gut that, too, and replace it with one that has... umm... "quick" gear-ratios. And if I rework the transmission, then I'll probably stiffen up the suspension. And if I do that, then I'll give it some nice chrome racing rims. And a paint job, of course. And after all that, then I'll probably have to go BACK to the engine and chrome it up a little bit, 'cuz that's how we do it where I come from. And then we'd install chips for efficient fuel distribution. And with all of this (and some nice racing slicks), I'll probably need a roll-bar.

And I would obviously not even consider this if I had paid thousands of dollars for the car. But with the money I saved, am I justified in tweaking it back to what the Chevelle SHOULD be?

BrYaN19kc · Post by **BrYaN19kc** » 2003-05-23 12:10pm

It sounds like you have your work cut out for you, but when your done I'll bet it will be a very cool ride.

What color is it??

Queeb Salaron · Post by **Queeb Salaron** » 2003-05-23 12:12pm

BrYaN19kc wrote:It sounds like you have your work cut out for you, but when your done I'll bet it will be a very cool ride.

What color is it??

Mostly rust, right now.

But it used to be this ugly-ass piss-after-four-cups-of-coffee-and-a-half-dozen-bran-muffins yellow.

Phil Skayhan · Post by **Phil Skayhan** » 2003-05-23 12:22pm

I know exactly what you're dealing with. I picked up an '84 Porsche 944 n/a for $1900 as a Christmas present to myself. It was in need of a lot of work. Over the past three years I've been doing a little hear and there in order to restore it to stock. Of course, the $big$ jobs (torque tube, dash, and steering) have been put on hold since I went back to school. I figure I'll be done in about another three years.

Got any pics of it?

Queeb Salaron · Post by **Queeb Salaron** » 2003-05-23 12:28pm

Phil Skayhan wrote:I know exactly what you're dealing with. I picked up an '84 Porsche 944 n/a for $1900 as a Christmas present to myself. It was in need of a lot of work. Over the past three years I've been doing a little hear and there in order to restore it to stock. Of course, the $big$ jobs (torque tube, dash, and steering) have been put on hold since I went back to school. I figure I'll be done in about another three years.

Well, the steering needs to be fixed anyway, so I might go ahead and do that as one of the first things (after a trip to Midas, of course. I don't feel like lifting the car to put on brakes). But yeah, torque tube and dash (actually, the restoration of the entire interior) will be put off for a bit while I get it to good stock running condition. This serves two purposes: One, as long as it runs well, I can drive it around. Two: Tuned, working engines sell for more than ones that haven't been touched in 30 years but to have the oil changed.

And for the record, revamping a Porsche 944 takes a bit more know-how than bolting together a Chevy.

My compliments.

Got any pics of it?

Not yet. And even if I did, you wouldn't want to see them. The car is absolutely atrocious.

Crayz9000 · Post by **Crayz9000** » 2003-05-23 12:59pm

A 350 V8 isn't a big block, IIRC it's a mid block engine. A 454 is a big-block.

But certainly look into replacing that engine. You should be able to find a good 350 block at a local wrecking yard, and it shouldn't cost too much to get it put back together. And as for a transmission, get either a 350 or Turbo 400--both are very tough trannies (IIRC the Turbo 400 is regarded as one of GM's toughest automatics).