2nd Time Around 1961 Impala

Still nice.

 

well finally got around to finish lowering the rear end of the car today. Also finally got a set of little caps to run for a bit, still have the crossbar caps in a box ready for a later date.

 

I like the small caps too....

 

I know I'm probably in the minority here, but I always preferred the thin trim of the Belair vs the wide of the Impala for some reason. Both beautiful no doubt!

 

I dont think you are, I like the bel air trim as well on the side. I just like all the extra stuff that the Impala got, the interiors, and the extra tail light. But any trim level 61 bubble top looks great.

 

Killer looking bel air

 

Thanks! And I think your Impala is one of the nicest I’ve seen. Perfect stance.

 

Finally got the car dialed in enough to start taking it to some local shows. Still fixing a few things and working some bugs out.

 

Still wrapping up a few things to get ready for Goodguys in a couple weeks, got the rear end rebuilt, tore the aftermarket radio in the glovebox out. Sold a spare engine we had sitting to now start the process of getting the 409 rebuilt to stick in it.

 

I am putting you in for the "KOOLEST GRANDPA" award!!

 

Went to a picnic today with the Impala with some car clubs in a neat little old west town. Come out of the venue, sitting in a driveway was another seamist turquoise 61 Impala, so had to pull in and introduce ourselves and chat with the owner for a bit. Was neat seeing another 61 in the same color in the wild.

 

Beautiful car . Enjoy the connection and time with your Grandfather

 

I bet you guys did a double-take!

 

Really nice car. It's my favorite body style for the early '60s.
I really like the poverty dog dish caps on it. That's another option so you can change them back and forth as you wish.
Another idea would be some beauty rims for those 14 inchers. all kinds of options to switch back and forth as the mood changes.

 

Man, I had forgotten that you all had this but went back through the thread as I am considering a 61 right now. The car looks like a whole different car with the steel wheels and poverty caps. I like that look as well as the look like your grandpa had it in the early pics with the crossbar wheel covers as well. Very cool car and will be even cooler with the 409.

 

Forgot to post these pics, but had fun at Goodguys last month with the 61, car ran great all weekend. Then the following weekend the throwout bearing went bad. So luckily is lasted on the road trip. Already had pulled the trans and swapped in a new one and got the car back on the road.

 

While at Goodguys met an awesome guy and a fellow hamber. Got to talking 409s and w motors and asked if had parts he might want to sell. Well he had leftover parts bad said he would just give him to is. So we met up last Sunday, bought him lunch and loaded the car up with a bunch of nice 348/409 parts. Got a tri power setup so now have enough carbs to make another 6x2 setup again, a distributor, 409 oil pan, water pump, valve covers (i think off a truck based on the wire separators) and other odds and ends. Was great meeting him and can’t thank him enough for the parts.

 

Got all the main bugs now worked out of the car have been enjoying it last couple of weekends as summer is winding down. Getting ready to go full bore on the 409 to get it into the car for new spring.

 

Took the Impala to a little fundraising show for the local skills college with my car club, lots of super nice stuff (around 225 cars) at this event and was surprised to come home with hardware.

 

Car is perfect for my tastes.....

 

Been out enjoying the nice weather before it goes to normal rain here.

 

Fall fun before the weather turns.

 

Now getting onto the 409, took the block in to the machine shop and found one good scratch in a cylinder and will need to be bored 30 over. Also got all the parts out to finally write down the inventory of what we have and can use, what is a might need, and then a list of need to order. First order is tomorrow to get the stuff needed to get the short block done at the machine shop before moving onto the heads.

 

Got the block back from the machine shop on Friday, new pistons on the original rods that have been resized, crank polished. Now just need to get camshaft, but gonna start getting the short block together. Dropped the heads off when picking up the block for them to be gone through next.

 

well small update today, no pics yet. Took the 340hp cam and lifter that came out of the block up to a local cam grinder to be reground with a new profile and have the lifters resurfaced. After going over the cam chart from show cars and what I typically run in my small blocks, ended up with a grind between one of the Isky cams from show car and a L79. Should be a nice street cam with just a little thump at idle. Should have that in at the start of December. The heads will be done in another week or two. Got everything though to get the rotating****embly in this week.

 

L79/409, interesting!

 

yeah, I had a cam chart from one of the main 409 parts houses and we had kind of landed on a cam, then while talking mention that I love the L79 cam as its a super all around cam and he looked in his cam book he has and the grinds were almost the same, lol. Only change being made is on a tighter LSA over a stock L79.

 

Started putting the 409 together today. Got the rotating****embly all in and torqued down after doing all the tolerance checks all over.












Also was able to pick up the heads from the machine shop. All new stainless valves, hardened seats, screw in studs as these heads were very early 690s and were not pinned like most were from the factory, guide plates and all new springs, retainers, locks. Now just have to wait a few more weeks for the camshaft.