I bought this 1963 Chevrolet Chevy II in November 2007. The cowl tag tells me it is a 1963 Chevy II Nova 400, with an L6 194ci inline six-cylinder engine, three speed manual on the column, 2 door hardtop coupe manufactured in Oakland, CA in the third week of June and was painted Marine Aqua with Aqua cloth trim and a vinyl bench seat. Accessory options were the passenger side exterior mirror & a push button radio.
The engine and transmission were already converted to a 327ci SBC and TH350 combination with a B&M ratchet floor shifter, keeping the stock 10-bolt rear end. It has an Edelbrock Performer RPM intake and Weber 4-bbl. carburetor, and "some" cam. Bucket seats from who knows what.
I am in the process of getting it right with respect to being mechanically sound and reliable !
Then I'll make her pretty.
Here's what the engine bay looked like when I got it;
First test drive was scary. Great drivetrain, but the steering was all over the place. Found out later that the steering column was put together without any bearings. All manual drum brakes (note the single reservoir master cylinder). The heater leaked, so I cleaned that mess up and bypassed the core with a 3/4" - 5/8" heater hose adaptor kit and some new hose. While I was at the parts store, I also replaced the crappy 1" paper air filter with a 3" K&N and a pretty chrome Edelbrock air cleaner.
First major repair was the front end and suspension. I installed a PST "Super" polygraphite front end kit, front & rear KYB shocks, a 1" front & 3/4" rear sway bars, and a new Mullins steering box. While I had all this apart I also put on YearOne chrome shock towers. I also replaced the steering column with an IDIDIT black powder-coated tilt kit and a Grant "Classic" steering wheel with a “SS” horn cap and their cool security system kit.
I replaced the kick-down linkage assembly and realigned the “sticking” accelerator linkage. Vanity made me install a Mr. Gasket chrome accelerator dual spring & bracket and since the instrument panel only had the speedo hooked up and working, I installed a SunPro gauge set.
Here is the engine bay now;
Since the car already had the zip, I needed a good deceleration system, so I installed a Master Power Brake power front disc brake conversion kit (with 9" power booster, dual reservoir master cylinder and 11" vented cross-drilled/slotted rotors). The first time I hit the brakes they locked up.
... more to follow !
;D
The engine and transmission were already converted to a 327ci SBC and TH350 combination with a B&M ratchet floor shifter, keeping the stock 10-bolt rear end. It has an Edelbrock Performer RPM intake and Weber 4-bbl. carburetor, and "some" cam. Bucket seats from who knows what.
I am in the process of getting it right with respect to being mechanically sound and reliable !
Then I'll make her pretty.
Here's what the engine bay looked like when I got it;
First test drive was scary. Great drivetrain, but the steering was all over the place. Found out later that the steering column was put together without any bearings. All manual drum brakes (note the single reservoir master cylinder). The heater leaked, so I cleaned that mess up and bypassed the core with a 3/4" - 5/8" heater hose adaptor kit and some new hose. While I was at the parts store, I also replaced the crappy 1" paper air filter with a 3" K&N and a pretty chrome Edelbrock air cleaner.
First major repair was the front end and suspension. I installed a PST "Super" polygraphite front end kit, front & rear KYB shocks, a 1" front & 3/4" rear sway bars, and a new Mullins steering box. While I had all this apart I also put on YearOne chrome shock towers. I also replaced the steering column with an IDIDIT black powder-coated tilt kit and a Grant "Classic" steering wheel with a “SS” horn cap and their cool security system kit.
I replaced the kick-down linkage assembly and realigned the “sticking” accelerator linkage. Vanity made me install a Mr. Gasket chrome accelerator dual spring & bracket and since the instrument panel only had the speedo hooked up and working, I installed a SunPro gauge set.
Here is the engine bay now;
Since the car already had the zip, I needed a good deceleration system, so I installed a Master Power Brake power front disc brake conversion kit (with 9" power booster, dual reservoir master cylinder and 11" vented cross-drilled/slotted rotors). The first time I hit the brakes they locked up.
... more to follow !
;D
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