Projects My '61 Biscayne build

So, Here are the early pictures as my '61 gets underway. I've been on the hunt for parts over the past year as this project is moving side by side with my '62 Falcon custom. The background is that I bought this '61 from a gentleman in San Francisco in January 2002 after a return from a tour overseas. I've held onto it as a '61 Chevy is THE CAR in my mind when it comes to Chevy's even though it's not a bubbletop. It was originally going to be a 409 transplant stock looking restoration-but that has changed. I finally got underway on the car seriously this past year in thoughts that I'd build a 60's super stock car that would have been seen during that era on the drag strip. However, the car will not be undergoing cosmetic restoration during this build. I've invested a lot of money in this car over the past 9 years with storage, transportation, and even buying an enclosed trailer to store it out of the weather--but it's time to get it back on the road.. So, here we go.
I got a set of Radir M/T Slicks on GM 15x8" steel rims on the back--and a set of 6.70x15 Firestones up front on new American 15x4.5" rims up front. The brakes will be all stock drums going all around the car. The engine--that'll be a 454 dressed up to look like a 396-427 from the era with fenderwell exiting exhaust with caps so full exhaust can also be run. The stance you see it at now will not be altered much with the engine/trans mounted in it. As far as the trans goes--a 700R4 will be in place, using the original 3spd column shift for gear selection. Overall--this car is being built on a budget so that the Falcon can also get done this next year (that one has been being worked on for 10 years now....). The original color of the '61 here is Seafoam Green (903A) and the interior was turquoise from the remnants inside. As far as the interior goes--it's a no-nothing-optioned car. From the rubber floor covering to the radio delete--it was a stripped car. I think it's perfect for the build. The only serious rust on the car is the rear floor pans--which have already been gotten from Eckler's. If anyone has any ideas, or pictures of a similar '61, please let me see it. Looking forward to killing the M/T's when this one gets on the road!
thanks HAMB--great site!

PS.. for anyone wondering--the front end is all intact--it was all removed to aid in removal of the old I6. But otherwise--she's got one-piece California bumpers--and even the original black plates--I may run those on there--even though I have a set of vintage '61 Illinois plates.

 

Love those '61 flattops and yours looks like it is in great shape. Took 3 cars to make my 64 post car! Typical NE **** rusted to death. It would look really great with a 409 and a M21. Why did you change your mind?

 

Let's see.. I changed my mind for the expense for the most part. I have a 454 that is really cheap and it's already known to be a good powerplant as it was in an L88 '69 Corvette-clone. I can always find the 409/427 with a 4 speed somewhere down the road--and at that time--all that'll need to be done is bodywork, paint, and the engine transplant. At this time--I'm very happy with the look that this car will carry and it's design. Like you said-these Flat-tops are different, and unique in that they are not plentiful because they were typically econo-cars that weren't loved. Do you have any pictures of your '64?

 

I like your plan..I too like flat tops and should be a fun cruiser....

 

I got a friend building a 61 too. He is replacing a lot of the rusty metal. (IL car) Looks like you got a plan in place.

 

i had a 61 bis.2 door when i was in school. it had a 261 l6 with carbs and fenten dual ehaust. in my senior year it got a muncie 4 sp and hurst shifter. then after i got out. it got a 327-340 hp. i worked part time for a large junk yard. also got a pontiac rear for it. learned the hard way the chey rears would not take much pounding. later it got a low hp 409. that did not last long. i had it parked out back of the barn waiting for a 396-375. when one dy i came home and it was gone. my father hauled it to the junk yard. i would like to find another 61 2dr.

 

Here's the sad thing.. I had actually 'gifted' the '61 to my dad this past summer in order to further finance the body work on my '62 Falcon.. Well, he had the '61 on Racingjunk dot com about 2 weeks later--so I gave him the cash for it instead. I couldn't stand to think that all the time in hauling this car around would have gone to waste and ended up in someone elses garage--or worse... It'd end up on the street in all the glory that I wanted for it. It seems that alot of these '61's were owned by HAMB'ers at one time or another.
thanks for the compliments--just looking to get it on the road! If all goes well--the car could be complete by the end of January-only I'll not get to enjoy it until I come back from another trip overseas next fall. I'll have to make sure the heat works in it!

 

nice car, i Like that year of those Chevrolets ! and the wheel / tire combo...I say spot on, any one else is WRONG !

 

nice car! sounds like my plans for my 61 belair bubbltop....which I've been collecting parts for and slowly working on since 2001. I have just about all the parts to build a rectangular port 11:1 427. I was originally planning to run a th350, but realized that a 4 speed is mandatory, so I spent some money and bought an muncie and found an old Lakewood ****tershield and an aluminum flywheel. I have 6" G/Ts out back and probably will use 55 stock wheels up front. I did a bit of bodywork this year, but I need to do quite a bit more.

 

Thanks again 'mbmopar'... for the compliment. I'll ask my dad to pull the car forward and get a good side shot. I know the rear end has to come out--needs some work--maybe a 9" will be going in back there if I can find one with the right measurements. Luckily, the big rear tires fit perfectly in the wheel wells--

Squirrel--nice looking bubbletop project! Looks like my '61 and yours wer sitting in the same field together from the pain patterns!!

 

love the '61s and a biscayne too!

 

Looks like you got a real nice start...check out my album.I've got a 64' Belair,small block goes in this spring.

 

Those wheels and tires look killer on it!

Keep us posted on progress!

 

good luck with your build, my 61 has a one piece bumper too, why did chevy do that?

 

Man, the compliments keep coming.. The whitewalls were a 'lets see how this works' idea--and they actually work quite well.

Gizzy--nice looking '64!!!!

69tincanfairlane--thank you--I think so too!

61Chevy--I have no idea why they did that. I'm gonna guess that it was for replacemment of parts in case of a small fender bender? You could replace a section vice the whole thing?? I dunno really-

 

I think the one piece/three piece bumper thing was based on how big of presses they had at each plant, they pressed it in one piece if they could, or 3 if they couldn't do a single piece.

But that's just a guess.

 

I love the looks of a 61 2 door sedan. However, I would run a better brake system if I had a BBC under the hood

 

The brakes on the 61 car are a little bigger than the brakes on a late 50s truck, and I've been driving 59 chevy trucks with big blocks for 30 some years....ymmv

 

Good luck with the build. My 61 was probably the best all around car I've had. Your wheels and tires look really good for that era. Mine was a daily and I always took the long way home from work just to drive it! I'll be watching this one.

 

I drove a seafoam green 61 2dr Biscayne in high school back in 68. It had a dark metallic green interior. 235,3sp. I had a 61 Impala conv. 235,3sp while inthe Navy in 70 then another 61 Biscayne 2dr in 94 that was to be a big block project. Seafoam is a nice color.

 

Yeah guys.. As it goes--I know drums could be updated--but the 11" drums should be sufficient as they were no different on the Impalas--and were basically the same up until '70 unless it was a police optioned car. So, i think they'll be fine--and everything will be brand new--so no worries there.

Choptruck--you say it like you don't have the '61 anymore.. Looks like a nice driver.. Bama Jama--you don't have any pics??

 

Nice nice rig !!
And I like the direction you are going.....
Also like Biscayne's.....(I am building a '63)
Keep those wheels too.

 

Cool build, had a 62 Biscayne 2 door post 235 3 sp only options radio and heater, loved that car.

 

Here is my 61 belair bubbletop I have been building. 8 1/2 hurst cheater slicks, 15x7 rims, 15x5 vette rims with 7.10x15 bias front tires. Cutouts installed and a mild 350 cuz it was cheap!!! hurst shifter with radio delete, moon tach. Going to be painted Ermine white when done

 

Belairbubble-- Looks good man!! Really good---

 

Nice project! Same exact roof and gl*** as mine. Thats where it stops. Bubble tops are cool, but I prefer the sedan because Olds only made 4920 2 drs.

 

So......are there any more pics? Progress?

 

No man,no pics. I wish I had pics of all the old cars I've had since '66.I was looking through some old photos my mother had last nite and found none.

 

Bama... too bad.. I guess i'm just a picture-***** sometimes..

Sorry guys--progress is slow.. Work happens on weekends. I got all the brake parts in.. But, the rearend has to come apart. Long before I bought it in '02, someone figured the best way to get the car rolling with the rear wheels locked up was to remove the drum from the p*** side, and dispose of it.. Never putting it on but rather just putting the wheel back on the bare axle end. On the drivers side, they actually cut a circle around the lugs ultimately leaving the brake drum outer stuck on the brake shoes--but freeing the axle to spin. However, when spinning the axles, they are very difficult to turn--so the center section still needs to come out to do some investigating.. Please be patient..

 

Thanks I appreciate your comments!