Dave's 1964 Impala SS 409 Convertible

1964 Chevrolet Impala SS Convertible

For Dave in British Columbia !

We're doing complete body and paint, mechanical rebuild, interior, top and a new 446 inch 409 stroker engine with a 700R4 transmission !

On the trip to the coast with my truck, I stopped off at the Revelstoke location of Trans Canada Fitness... founded by my late brother, Rodger a number of years ago. Then another photo taken about 20 kilometres west.

Three photos were taken September 30, 2006 at the summit in Rogers Pass, at a resort along the highway. These are full size high resolution photos. On the right, about 30 kilometres east of Golden, BC.

Morning of October 1, 2006, in the shop.

After the rain stopped, the car was unloaded from the trailer. Bit of inspection, checked a few things. With the carb bowl filled with fuel, verified the ignition, the engine was started and run for the first time in almost 20 years ! After less than a minute, being a 283, it sounded good ! Car was then DRIVEN back into the shop.

Here is Dave's 1964 409 engine block that we'll be using to build his 450+ cubic inch stroker.

Was just simply TOO dirty to even remove !... so, the engine and compartment were given a preliminary cleaning prior to disassembly.

The 283 / 'glide balancing on the engine hoist, then set in the "cart" that Dave sent up with the car. The original drivetrain is going to be stored.

After an EXTREMELY thorough cleaning with solvents and pressure washer, the car is ready for sanding.

Body and frame are completely free of dirt, grease, ect. Brake cylinder and lines will now be removed, and the metal prep and detailing begin.

Here is the cowl after cleaning. All the trim around the upper body sill has been removed. Minor rust holes were found in spots underneath, and will have to be welded. Trunk is pretty good original. New panels will be welded in place of the two that had been riveted in behind the body mount supports at the wheel well. The REAL difficult part here is going to be removing the rubberized coating under the blue paint, in order to prep the entire trunk interior to be painted back to body colour ! ( as all 1964 Canadian Chevrolets and Pontiacs ).

After a thorough "sand down", a situation unveiled itself ! Someone in the past, had hammered in the body panel at most of the holes for the SS trim, and plugged them with filler, sanded smooth. Half of the others on the right side had been welded, which has resulted in substantial warping of much of the upper body panel.

This is going to take some doing to resolve ! Next step is hammer / dolly the filled holes, remove remaining filler, hammer / dolly again... then apply minor filler as required. The welded holes require a more serious undertaking... CAREFULLY re-drilling / filing each hole. Then, a bit of hammer / dolly work... then a bit of heat to straighten the warped panels, and finally minor filler work.

We knew the holes had been filled, but the damage that had been done to the body was unforeseen.

Spent some time hammer and dollying the multiple dents in the body at the trim holes. After removing excess filler, left side is pretty good now. Did the same on the right, but now have to re-drill an number of the original SS trim holes.

After the holes wedre properly drilled and filed, a little filler was a applied and sanded.

First coat of light grey high-build primer.

Along with working on the body, we've been bringing in the parts for the chassis. Shown here is the complete Wilwood Disc brake kit. Lower pictures are after the sub-assembly was done. Also shown are our 30 Spline Moser axles and left upper upper control arm bracket which will be installed on this car. Far right... just in... the new Wilwwod aluminum master cylinder.

Updated August 12, 2007.

E MAIL

Phone 1 403 854 4097 or 1 403 854 4094

To get to the main page just click: http://www.bruneauperformance.ca