okay, so a few guys on here know their impalas.... is it fairly even to get parts? is there any reason you couldnt use on as a daily driver?
lots of repop stuff available. I did some rust repair on a 64 and got a couple catalogs. as for daily use... no problem. "some guys just want to bring you down to their level and split hairs" tell us more about the Z16 61's
SS badging means nothing, there are clones everywhere. The only true way to verify an SS in the Vin# only.
Yes it is very easy to get parts Classic Industries has a complete catalog prices are resonable chances are you've got a 300hp 327
I owned a 62 for about 8yrs. There are lots of suppliers of parts but that one looks pretty good. Check out this link for info on Impalas http://www.348-409.com/ Also here is a link to there VIN decoder http://www.348-409.com/6064vin.html. You can also check out this site for some neat info on Canadian 409's http://www.bruneauperformance.ca/intro.html
SORRY But most of the info you have stuck out there is wrong If you are going to comment try to get it right. A dipped bumper and a aluminum bumper are totaly different. And yes I have ben aronnd several Z11 cars
In 62 the vin will not tell you if it is an SS I think 1963 was the 1st year it appeared in the vin. However the trim tag may show it because the interior was a different code #
hey bosco im not knowledgeable in z11 cars but i am certain that the first year an SS impala was offered as a model was 1964. ray
Wow. I mean seriously, W O W... I can't believe that with how popular the beloved "X" frame chevs are that the knowledge base is such a mess. I mean here on the HAMB should be enough fact to damn near make it legal documents! 1st SS, 61. Undisputed. 1st 409, 61. Undisputed. Z11s, look em up as was offered earlier if you're interested. The car in question, your prime concerns ought to be the quality of the restoration. Every restored car in "auction whore red" looks great in photos. Look at the door jambs. Look at the body mounts to the frame in the rear wheel house behind the tire. Look at the inner rear 1/4s as well as the trunk extensions. Don't settle for nice doors and hood making you think you have a great car. The General was pretty smart about drainage on those Chevs and most have great doors and decklids and hoods. Look at the floor pans closely and make sure it was not just a drop in pan job smoothed over with sealant. If you want a numbers matching concours car there's enough info out there to qualify the car's pedigree that I won't bother with it here. Check the frame where it catches road salt and mud and look for repairs. Look at how well the front suspension was done. After all of that then check the panel fit and alignment. Check the vent window mechanisms and rear window risers. Lots of diecast in their construction and known trouble spots. Parts are almost available in drug stores...IT'S A CHEVY! Seriously, there's dozens of aftermarket parts suppliers like C.A.R.S., Impapla Bobs, Classic Chevy, etc. Good luck and I hope you get it for a good price if you really want it. As an aside, I can't wait to finish mine so's all you experts can tell me how wrong it is!!
Sure thing chief moderator! If you read my first comment I said that he probably was looking at a 283 and a 2 speed powerglide if that gives you any clues as such most were 283 and 235's someone else mentioned the 409 so the conversation gravitated to the W engine.I know that there clearly is a difference between a dipped bumper and an aluminum one I suppose you're gonna say you've owned dozens of Z11 cars huh!?
I think he meant that in 1961, 62, and 63, the SuperSport package was an option on the Impala series. And 1964 was the first year the Impala SS came its own series or model. Oh yeah, I'm a hair splitter --> 348 and 409 are not "big-blocks".
A 1962 Chevy is a great car! You can get almost any part needed from a catalog or a website. Harmon's and Lutty's are great examples. Roman Red is a great color. My Dad had a Roman Red 61 Impala with a 348 in it. Beautiful! In 62 the SS package was a dealer installed option. So there isn't anything on the VIN to identify it. The only way to prove it is to get the original bill of sale. Good luck with that! That is the reason every 62 Impala out there is wearing SS badges. It's hard to prove (disprove). I agree with an earlier post on the fact that you need to put this on a lift and check out the frame. The floor braces are well known to rot out where they meet the rockers. The rear body mounts are also known to rust out. Looks like a great car. Good luck.
The ss option was factory installed on 62 not to say that dealers didn't add ss equipment to impalas But it was a factory option
The SS option for 62-64 can ony be denoted by the trim tag and was a factory installed option. The vin show's nothing but if it was either a V8 or L6. The SS code for interior material will be vinyl. Standard bench cars had cloth, bucket cars were vinyl. A factory high horse car will also have a 3/8ths fuel line that is run under the right front control arm instead of the low horse 5/16ths, which was run on the frame just under the upper control arm mount. The lines are made new so they can obviously be changed, but, an original one will look just that, original. Also, the SS option was nothing more than a trim option. I can't remember if that was mentioned already so i just thought i'd toss that out there. An SS could be powered by an inline if so ordered. I won't even get involved with the rest of the discussion regarding 409's etc... All the early X frame Chevy's are slick, and as was mentioned in the thread, rust in the rear box mounts ( rear of the rear wheel well) are extremely common. Generally speaking, just look it over like any other car though and again, as was mentioned, get it up in the air and give it a once over. Getting under it will show if it is a tight solid car. The pics of it look great so it may very well be a real clean car under that nice skin. Best of luck! They are great cars! Tony
Wrong Wrong Wrong it was available all year Wrong Wrong When you are wrong you aer wrong why the personal attacks More 250 hp than 300 hp 348 409 are not big blocks Why do you want to get into name calling you are the one that's giving out misinformation See above WTF By the way the 63 Z11 cars had aluminum inner fenders core support and fan shroud it also had a air cleaner ducted to the firewall. They also had a extra trailing arm on the rear end where the normal cars had 3 the Z11 have 4 .. I have been around a couple of Z11 cars there were also some aluminum 62 Impalas don't remember if it was just the front clip or more
Ray My mistake I read your post to fast you may be right I couldn't remember if it was 63 or 64 when the vin would show as a SS Sorry for the rude comment. I just hate it when people don't have a clue PRIME
I think you need to do some more research like I just did!^^^ some of the info was wrong but admitted that it was wrong and corrected it! Rust is very common in the floorpans,trunkfloor,and doglegs where sand and salt accumulate TRUE statement since you live in OK you wouldn't see the rust I do!! The 283 was a VERY common engine like I stated you must of "skipped"over that part of the conversation TRUE statement the 409hp 409 was an option in '62 look it up!! The Z11option was not available to the BUYING PUBLIC until 1963 that does not mean that chevy wasn't experimenting with the concept with thier factory backed racers(I.e.Dave Strickler)on an aluminum front end '62 impala's . The 425 hp 409 was NOT a Z11 option the only engine that could be with it is 427 engine based on the 409 but completely on it's own dude!! Yes the 348 and the 409 ARE and WERE big blocks they were the first generation before the 1965 and up MarkIV versions which are completely a different design,don't believe me?call up Lamar Walden he'll be glad to tell you!!you can also Wikipedia it too if your dialing finger is broken!
There you go, someone who knows instead of some chumlee who thinks he knows. The 409 was first available in January 1961 and the first Impala Super Sport was also introduced. Last year for the 409 was 65 and the buyer had a choice between the 409 and the 396. 63 had the Z-11 with the 427 "W" motor.
Not to be a smart----, but I know a thing or two about 62 chevys/ My first son was born in 62, if that tells you something. There is sufficient information available for all of you to find to end all the "they did" or "they did not" build. I have been around long enough to have found out just when you think you know what GM built, you will find there are exceptions to the rule. Oh Red cars, the judges like them, so does Custom Rodder magazine!
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