STEVE POLLARD Posted January 2, 2015 Share Posted January 2, 2015 (edited) I wanted to share some photos of my current project, a documented 1969 SS CHEVROLET IMPALA 427/390hp car. I been looking for one of these for a while now, my last Impala project took me 14 years to complete ( a young family and available funds delayed the project.. lol ) I was very fortunate to acquire many, if not all of the nos parts from the previous owner to bring this SS back to it's former glory. I'll post pictures as the restoration get's underway ! Steve Edited April 15, 2015 by steveimpala (see edit history) 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keiser31 Posted January 2, 2015 Share Posted January 2, 2015 My brother-in-law had an Astro Blue one of those with the 427/4 speed. Rare and beautiful car! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
95Cardinal Posted January 3, 2015 Share Posted January 3, 2015 I think the 69 full-size Chevrolet is one of the nicest looking vehicles ever sold by Chevrolet.Great project! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
STEVE POLLARD Posted January 3, 2015 Author Share Posted January 3, 2015 Thanks Guys....It's rare...total production of full size ( Impala, Caprice, Biscayne, Bel Air, wagons ) was around 1,168,300...... of that total, just 2455 were the SS edition.Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keiser31 Posted January 4, 2015 Share Posted January 4, 2015 Probably not too many four speeds. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest sebastien buick Posted March 28, 2015 Share Posted March 28, 2015 good luck for restoration;) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest myold88 Posted April 7, 2015 Share Posted April 7, 2015 Probably not too many four speeds.My buddy in Davie.Fl recently sold his '69 Impala SS 427, factory 4 speed, convertible. A silver bench seat car. Very few were built, and it was the last year for the real full sized SS. Several years ago there was one in light green, White conv top and interior at GM carlisle. Again a documented 4 speed 427 car that was a nice #2-3 car. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
STEVE POLLARD Posted April 7, 2015 Author Share Posted April 7, 2015 A friend of mine also purchase a 1969 Impala SS at GM Carlisle back in 2005. His was also a documented 427 4 speed convertible, Frost Green with a black top and interior! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest myold88 Posted April 7, 2015 Share Posted April 7, 2015 A friend of mine also purchase a 1969 Impala SS at GM Carlisle back in 2005. His was also a documented 427 4 speed convertible, Frost Green with a black top and interior!The one I saw was for sale. The seller had a large 3x5 place card spelling out the car's stats. It could have been the same car but I believe it was light green with white, not black trim if my memory is not fooling me. I remember it because again, my buddy's carhad the same exact equipment at the time. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
STEVE POLLARD Posted April 15, 2015 Author Share Posted April 15, 2015 Here are some before and after photos of the top....it actually turned out not too bad ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larry W Posted April 15, 2015 Share Posted April 15, 2015 My buddy had a triple black 427/4 speed convertible. It may have been fast, but I was pulling away from him in my '63 SS convertible with 327/4bbl and Powerglide. We had to let up approaching busy intersection with red light. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
STEVE POLLARD Posted August 3, 2018 Author Share Posted August 3, 2018 It's been a few years, but I wanted to share some updates...Quarter panel repair work was done by Jeff over at Penn-Dutch Restorations...trunk extensions and wheel wells had to be fabricated. The patch work on the quarters were taken from a section of a sedan quarters that I received when the car was purchased. Currently , I'm working on the front end, installing nos fenders / checking proper alignment and transferring all of the attachment locations from the original fenders body molding and scripts to the new ones. Some before and after pictures: 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
STEVE POLLARD Posted August 3, 2018 Author Share Posted August 3, 2018 More pictures... 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
STEVE POLLARD Posted August 3, 2018 Author Share Posted August 3, 2018 Passenger side.... 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
STEVE POLLARD Posted August 3, 2018 Author Share Posted August 3, 2018 Front fenders are next on the list.... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hursst Posted August 3, 2018 Share Posted August 3, 2018 This is one of my favorite cars. Great work so far! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
STEVE POLLARD Posted August 16, 2018 Author Share Posted August 16, 2018 Question: I need to drill out a hole on the top of the passenger side front fender for the radio antenna mast. Due to the size of the hole, I don't want to drill, for fear of tearing the metal..... is there a tool out there that could punch out a perfect hole without damaging the surrounding metal ? Thanks ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luv2Wrench Posted August 16, 2018 Share Posted August 16, 2018 Someone will chime in with something better... but a hole saw will work. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dl456 Posted August 16, 2018 Share Posted August 16, 2018 Steve, Center the hole and start with a 1/4'' or slightly larger bit. Then use a step drill to proper size. It will look like a factory punched hole. You could probably get by with a harbor freight tool but a Irwin will last forever. This is also the best method to enlarge any existing hole. Dennis 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Laughing Coyote Posted August 16, 2018 Share Posted August 16, 2018 A step drill bit will work great with out tearing it. You can leave the hole a little small and finish it up with a Dremel with a carbide deburr bit. Hole saws seem to wobble and leave a bigger hole. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArticiferTom Posted August 16, 2018 Share Posted August 16, 2018 Yes , a Greenlee knock-out set is what you need . They even have the nipper for the little key slot . Most electrical contractors carry them . 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
STEVE POLLARD Posted August 17, 2018 Author Share Posted August 17, 2018 Great info ! Thanks guys. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lahti35 Posted August 17, 2018 Share Posted August 17, 2018 Great body work there.... keep it up! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
STEVE POLLARD Posted August 22, 2018 Author Share Posted August 22, 2018 I ended up using the "step drill bit" and finished it up with the Dremel..... turned out great ! Also as a side note, I had a hard time trying to align the passenger side fender. Using the body shims, I still could not get the proper gap between door and fender. Then I realized that the radiator support bushings were never replaced when the body bushings were replaced by previous owner. New radiator support bushings were installed and that made all the difference in attaining proper gap. Steve 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
STEVE POLLARD Posted August 22, 2018 Author Share Posted August 22, 2018 Old bushing.....and new bushing installed. Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JTR Posted August 1, 2019 Share Posted August 1, 2019 What did you use for new steel on the inner wheel well? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
STEVE POLLARD Posted August 8, 2019 Author Share Posted August 8, 2019 I didn't do the inner wheel well work..... Jeff and his team at Penn-Dutch did the work..... he is a member here, so he might chime in.... Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
STEVE POLLARD Posted August 10, 2019 Author Share Posted August 10, 2019 Just an update from last year.... slow going ( health issues ) but making some progress. I ended up removing the fenders and coating the inside with POR-15.... the firewall, radiator support , headlight buckets and support brackets were all painted. Remounted the fenders & realigned them as well. Basically I want to finish the front end and go thru all the mechanical's and get the Impala running before moving onto paint. Since the Impala came to me in boxes, I just want to make sure that I have everything and nothing is damage. Slow process but I enjoy it ! Steve 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John S. Posted August 10, 2019 Share Posted August 10, 2019 Steve, Hope you are doing feeling better. Really nice work on the Chevy. Slow is good. John 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesR Posted August 18, 2019 Share Posted August 18, 2019 I really love that car! Doing an awesome job. My first car was a 1966 Impala Super Sport 327. I believe it had a 275 hp motor. I bought it when I was 17, and I would say that the car was maybe slightly better than your car in it's pre-restoration condition. I paid $200...but that was in 1976. Car was sold a year or two after I bought it, but I still have the original hub caps. Thanks for sharing your pics. That thing will look great when you're done. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
STEVE POLLARD Posted August 18, 2019 Author Share Posted August 18, 2019 Thanks James.... My other '69 Impala is the 327, but it's the 235HP version... Steve 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John S. Posted August 23, 2019 Share Posted August 23, 2019 Steve, how many 427 full size Chevrolets made in 1969? Thanks, John 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
STEVE POLLARD Posted August 24, 2019 Author Share Posted August 24, 2019 (edited) John, approximately 2455 of the SS427 package were manufactured... not sure if there is a break down of how many 427 full size were produced for model year 1969.... ( Impala, Caprice, Biscayne, Bel Air, Wagons: Brookwood, Townsman, Kingswood ) Steve * Note - Just found some more info... L-72 ( 427 / 425 ) 546 produced L-36 ( 427 / 390 ) 5582 produced LS-1 ( 427 / 335 ) 18308 produced Edited August 24, 2019 by STEVE POLLARD (see edit history) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
STEVE POLLARD Posted September 2, 2019 Author Share Posted September 2, 2019 Bumper and lower valence installed & aligned .... I'm in the process of refurbishing the grill which is specific to the SS model. Steve 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John S. Posted September 2, 2019 Share Posted September 2, 2019 I love the Red Line tires with the Frost Green body.. Really different. John 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hursst Posted September 4, 2019 Share Posted September 4, 2019 What a great car. If you are looking for any additional parts, I know of about 5 of them in a junkyard here in Virginia (Not SS427's, of course). 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
STEVE POLLARD Posted September 4, 2019 Author Share Posted September 4, 2019 I might take you up on that....I'm missing the "catch support bracket", it's the bracket that is located under the hood latch plate ( vertical bracket in picture ) I have a friend looking in his stash of parts... if he comes up empty, I'll contact you via pm. Thanks ! Steve Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hursst Posted September 5, 2019 Share Posted September 5, 2019 Steve, sounds good. Our next trip to the yard is Sep 11th. -Chris 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uptowndodge Posted September 11, 2019 Share Posted September 11, 2019 Artic Tom knows what he's talking about. He must be a plumber. If not he's still knows what's up... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
STEVE POLLARD Posted September 11, 2019 Author Share Posted September 11, 2019 What ?? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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