Hey out there, Here's my "new" '62 Impala. 283/glide, original interior, perfect, been painted once probably 30 years ago in the original color, a seafoam green metallic. Body is arrow straight and looks good as is. It's on cut coils, mechanically ALL new and drives like new money. Leave it "patina'd", or repaint? It's going to Las Vegas to be a daily driver, so I'm a little concerned about it becoming a little too rustic. The original factory A/C doesn't blow cold, although it's all there and the compressor is free, I'm thinking a va***e check and recharge will probably be all it needs. The PO said it's needing a water shut off valve in the heater, heater hoses are off and why the A/C was not being used. Seems reasonable. I'm thinking original color on the body, pearl white roof. DA off the crazing repaint on the hood and trunk, and it'll be ready for a driver quality basecoat clearcoat. Get the A/C fixed, and we'll be good to go! Other ideas for a driver quality, quick and easy fix-r-upper project are welcome. Winning idea gets an attaboy. Brian It looks nicer in person than the photos, BTW.
Put a 2004r or a 700r4 in it, paint it, get air blwing cold, and give yourself an "atta boy". Don't over-complicate it. Good luck with it.
If you want some instant gratification, a TH350 will give you an extra gear and bolts straight in with nuthin else to change. Dirt cheap, too. Same ****** mount, I think the output yoke is the same too but I can't 100% guarantee. That'll give you some time to get a 5-speed worked out If you plan to up the power or shift hard with a manual or give it any other kind of a thrashing, the diff will break. My 283 ('63 Belair) blew up 2 of them with nothing more than a hard-shifting modified TH350 and a hot cam and 4 barrel. Now I've got a 8 3/4 out of a Fury in it. Worked a treat!
I second the 700R4 idea. Not fond of the different colour roof thing, but that's just me. Polish the old paint, some cool hubcaps ('Vette?) and drive it! ?
Nice looking car. Dogdish caps are cool, but I think an Impala needs something a little fancier - as mentioned, Corvette caps would be nice.
Gee, I'm dissapointed I was hoping for some really cool suggestions!! Nobody likes the metalflaked roof idea? I agree with the no dog dish hubcaps, it should be flashy. After all, it's VEGAS, BABY!!! Has the original full wheelcovers in the trunk, which I like better. It'll be my sons car, he's leaning towards 5 spokes or just chrome wheels. It's got brand new tires, radials, so in the interest of budget, he's keeping them. I actually kinda like the PG, it's nice and tight, and I don't want to fix it if it ain't broke. This car will be replacing his '68 Mustang GT convert. It'll come back here for some freshening up and some TLC. He's had it since high school. Shelby clone maybe?
Sweet ride!! I'd fix the air, clean and polish, and run it for now. Like mentioned before, the updated trans of your choice plus conversion to an alternator and front discs ( my 62 SS was a BEAST to get stopped) when time/money allow would make it just that much sweeter. I've also been partial to original SS caps or ralleye wheels on these. just my .o2 ......
I really like thes cars in a solid color. But then again, they did come with white tops on some color combos, especially the 4drs. I think the white top would look good with the original color. As for budget concerns, and to teach your son about not needing to have everything the way you want it right now, I'd roll it the way it is for awhile. Put the caps on it, It's an Impala, the SS caps or the full wheel covers would look best, the dog dish would look better if it was a BelAir or Biscane(sp). My brother has a '66 Caprice with the 327/glide in it and he drives the hell out of it, swap the ****** out when you get the cash to do it. update the important things first like brakes if you need to. Just my .02 Larry
If you're going to repaint, i think Ivory with an Emerald Pearl top would suit. Side trim detail and wheels could be a lighter metallic green. Beauty rings would be nice, as would Bellflower pipes. Tri-bar or Lucas style high beams would be a nice detail. Blue dots would be a trip with that many tail lights.
What about some Radirs with skinny whites? Or better yet how about a set of dayton or player wires with skinny whites?? Other than that, drive it till the wheels fall off.
Since it is going to be a daily driver, I would fix the ac/heat and put a 350TH in it (super cheap). Maybe put a type of car appropriate (gl***pack not flowmaster) dual exhaust system on it. I'd leave the paint the way it is, its just going to get ****ed up driving it everyday anyway. I would rather get rock chips in old paint than new 'cause paint aint cheap anymore. The poverty hubcaps are super cool, I like the pin whites that are on it now. Understated is were its at. If you make your daily too flashy and nice some thief will be able notice it more and snag it from you. You don't want that! Marty McF. '62's Rule!
Well here's 2 cents about the visuals....since you have a 4-door hardtop, I would consider painting the lower half of the car a dark color to help 'hide' the 4-door cutlines; I've even seen folks shave the rear door handles but leave the fronts on; doesn't REALLY fool anyone but it helps fool the eye just a little bit.....then paint the top a lighter color to visually lower the car, but if I had my druthers, I'd keep all in the 60's mild kustom spirit... Additionally....if you''re in the K-Zoo area...wouldn't it be cool IF we could get a HAMB-type event at the Gilmore? I've seen a lot of car shows from one end of the country to the other and The Gilmore is one of my favorite places to take in a car show...and now with the diner working...that would be nice. Real nice....maybe too nice, but nonetheless nice. Have fun with your Impala,
this car looks exactly like my friend Roberts car, here in Houston. CMX bagged it, and it sits and rides right. if it's not the same car,...it has a twin.
Great idea with the Gilmore, I too think it's a GREAT venue. Plus, I live a mile from there...I'll speak with the director, I'm going to the Red Barns Spectacular show with the Tin Can Tourists (vintage trailers) and with our Chris Craft next weekend. They might should a want HAMB event!!! I think pulling door handles off a four door is cheesy, you're right, not fooling anyone. My son (he's 30) is stunned at the 4 door hardtop, he's never seen one, loves the look. He wanted a sedan, roomy, comfortable, and different. He had no idea there was a pillarless 4 door built (?) and is in love with the looks. I'm trying to talk him into NOT painting it, maybe just clear to preserve it. It's a survivor.
Thanks for the input everyone. It's got new aluminized dual exhaust with gl***packs, dumps out right behind each rear wheel. I like the Bellflower tips idea, that'd be easy to do. Mechanically, as I mentioned, it's ALL new, so there's nothing to do. New one wire alt, water pump, belts, hoses, brake lines, shocks, tie rods, etc. etc.. The paint on the floor pans is as nice as the topsides. Frame is still black. Great photos of the slammed sedans, very nice! Just got off the phone with my son, he's jazzed about the car, and will be following this thread, so keep those cards and letters (and photos of slammed '62 4 doors)coming! Brian Here's the car with the full wheelcovers....
THAT would be great if the Gilmore would consider that...and I think the 'Muscle-car crowd' could learn a thing or two about having fun without being so **** about things...'oooooh my '69 Fartknocker GT is one of only 5 ever made in ****bringle Brown with Babypoop Stripes...oooooh -weee it's rarrrrrrrrrrre" Get real-come to a HAMB event and have some fun and lose the High School one-upmanship mentality....The antique and restoration crowd would just **** their Depends when the HAMBers arrive and cower in the corner...Remind your buddy over there at Gilmore that EVEN Pebble Beach Concours has a hot rod cl***...so why not Traditional Rods and Kustoms?!?!? If this could be put together, this could easily become one of the coolest shows in all the land....if anyone reading this lives within 3 hours of Kalamazoo, MI, swing by the Gilmore Museum....you'll be glad you did..especially if they're hosting an event... http://www.gilmorecarmuseum.org/ A friend of mine has a super-schweet all-black 64 Galaxie 4 door hardtop....dead-stock except for a refreshed engine...and it is beautiful....another old feller I know back home has a 4-door hardtop 68 Impala...again all black, dead stock...the 4-door hardtops sure makes for a beautiful car!! Have fun and let us know how it turns out....think about painting the lower parts dark...60's colors mind you, but dark...
Re: Gilmore Museum. Yup, it would be cool. They have a couple of open weekends, are dying to get attendance. It's a cool place, they have a campground licence and it's a beautiful setting. I will definately approach Mike about a HAMB oriented event. I laughed out loud at your muscle car "qoute". The Mopar event is today, I don't think they'd think it was as funny as I did...;-) Our local gendarme's would be overwhelmed with the open exhausts, low headlights, ground s****ing, and general shenanigans, they'd probably have an apoplectic fit!
Well, my hopes to not paint the Impala have been vetoed by my wife and son, and it's probably best. It'd been painted decades ago, turns out with enamel, and there were a couple of dings in the trunk that we just couldn't look at. Also, the heel of the rt. frt. fender had a couple of blisters, and as I suspected, the thin metal hammered down and filled with bondo. Again, probably 30 years ago, but I just couldn't leave either. So, here it is now, dents out, fender fixed, and half sanded. The repaint evidently had been done with dirty lines, as it had ****tered pimples lifting. So, all those areas sanded with 80 gr, down to the original finish, and feathered back. I'll go over the entire car with 220, then "DelSeal" the whole thing. "FeatherFill" on the repaired sites and areas where the 80gr was used, then block, reseal, and paint. The plan is original color, lighter top, and we'll be done. I'm thinking I'll have it finished up in a couple of days, it's not too bad a project. All the trim came off without breaking any pins, and other than the cheesy lower fender, no surprises.
FWIW, I've found the heaters in these cars aren't all that great. Good thing it's going to Las Vegas.
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