5 years of work almost complete on restoration!

[Dargo]

I just had to post a pic of what I've been working on and spending all my money on for the last 5 years. This is a complete frame off restoration of a '62 Biscayne. Every single nut and bolt has been either replaced or polished and clear coated. The entire frame and all suspension parts were powder coated to match original colors. The body was the easiest part. I went all the way from Indiana to New Mexico to pick up this car since it had no rust. It was painted back to the original Roman Red, except this time with a clear coat top.

The underside of the car is every bit as nice as the top side. Also, all of the interior has been replaced with original NOS materials. The powertrain was the only place where I deviated from stock. The 70k mile in line 6 cylinder (that ran like a well oiled sewing machine) was taken out and stored on a shelf. I was going to make a 409 clone, but after driving a fellow collector's 409, I thought the 409 was actually pretty weak on power. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif So, in went a 502 cubic inch GM performance crate engine with a few modifications to up the hp from the original 502 hp. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif Of course, since it gets hot where I live, I had to add a Vintage Air A/C system. Which, I discovered, created hundreds of extra hours of work to get a radiator designed and fitted with the appropriate fans to keep the beast cool. My original high performance aluminum radiator wasn't big enough. (anyone need a hot rod radiator? /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif) Hey, it's only money; right?! /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

A 3500 stall convertor was added to a built turbo 400 transmission and the frame was professionally tied together and the carrier bearing eliminated. I then took a 12 bolt rear end from a '69 Chevelle and went through it completely. I raised the gear ratio from the 4:11's to a more reasonable 3:73 posi trac. That was mated to a set of Strange axles and a custom made 4 link rear suspension was finally added to keep the power to the ground.

Since I couldn't find a company that would reasonably make a set of "original" looking wheels (to allow me to keep the perfect condition dog dish hub caps on the painted steel wheels), I put on a set of American Racing Torq Thrust D chrome wheels that are appropriate to the era. Then a set of 6" BF Goodrich tires on the front and 13" ones went on the back. Quarter times will not be forth coming since the car will blow the rear tires out at will, and I'm not going to invest in a set of slicks. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

I know it's not a tractor, but I've spent untold hours (and really untold dollars) on this project. I have a few more things to do before I'm ready to take up a guy at a magazine for a photo shoot. At this point, I just had to get it rolling and enjoy it a little. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif

 

[HomeBrew2]

Very, very, very NICE !!!! Congrats !!!!

 

[LarryRB]

I had a 63 SS, 409/425 which was the dual quads with Carter AFB's, and a 4spd. Can't remember as it was so long ago, T10 or rockcrusher?

 

[TMAC]

Nice Dargo great job and I'm sure all the time and effort was well worth it. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Nasty135]

She's real fine, my 502 Hmmm, I dunno about that one ...(bad lyrics)

But the car is NICE, I'm sure it'll run faster anyhow with the 3:73's because the 502's have a lot of grunt, is it the 502hp or the 440hp?

Good thing about the center bearing those were a disaster waiting to happen.

You could always borrow a set of slicks for a couple shakedown runs /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

Come'on you know you want to , might break into 11's in the qtr.

 

[JimR]

Very nice job and what a beautiful Chevy. I bet she'll turn in the 10's in the 1/4 mile. How many horses she got under the hood. Nitro boost?

 

[bgott]

That's a nice car! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif I wonder if your overheating problem was from the A/C or is that 3500 stall converter helping it along?

 

[AMP762]

Niiiiice!! with 3.73s and a 3500 conv. will it lock up and any legal speed?

 

[jlbota]

Dargo,
Did you try Wheel Vintiques for your original type of wheels?
I have had good luck with them. Wheel Vintiques

Thats a sweet ride! /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[DannyD]

Where can I see this car in real life? I live in S. IN also. I thought for a second there I recognized the fountain in the photo, but not sure now.

Very nice job!

 

[Dargo]

Thanks for the great comments. They are really appreciated after so much time and money. Several of my friends wondered if this car was ever going to see the light of day after being disassembled for so many years. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif

Nasty, you won't believe how many times I've played that Beach Boys song that was inspired by the 409 version of this car. /forums/images/graemlins/laugh.gif My wife still says "I don't get it". She still wonders why anyone would write a song with the lyrics about the size of a car engine. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif Mine started out as a 502 hp version of the 502ci engine. It's up a bit from there. GM Performance Parts now has a 572 engine with 720 hp without any mods. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

JimR, I have a friend who put the same engine, stall, transmission, gear, and rear end in the same car. With no mods at all to his 502 (still at the rated 502 hp - actually dyno around 550) he consistantly runs in the 11.6's. He didn't have his frame welded together and braced, and the first time he really got his hooked up he shattered his windshield. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

bgott, the car actually did stay cool with the previous radiator in it on some "shakedown" test drives before the A/C was added. I wasn't smart enough to know that adding the A/C was going to cause some issues. /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif Oh well, live and learn...

AMP, yes, it will absolutely roast the rears even when running 55 mph and then standing on it. /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif Sometimes that is less than convenient, but I did want a car that would do a great burn out without power braking. You'll never see tail lights when I roast 'em. /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

jlbota, you are right on to a place I was told about yesterday. I'll probably call them with the size wheel I need and have them make a set for me. Other places I contacted wanted more than the Torq Thrust D chrome mags cost.

DannyD, although I'm not completely finished with my restoration, I've been talked into taking my car to the big cruise in this Friday on Main St. in Evansville, IN. I'm sort of reaching "burn out" on the restoration, as is my father. He has done a huge amount of the work. We also restored a '71 Ghia for my wife. It is just as nice (but not nearly as fast /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif)

I just had to show a pic of the engine too...

 

[Dargo]

When it was easier to work on the engine... /forums/images/graemlins/smile.gif

 

[Dargo]

When the car was just painted...

 

[Dargo]

Here is my wife's little car. It was another time eater. The same process was used doing her car. She just has a smaller engine. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

P.S. Thanks for my indulgence here. I know it's not tractors, but it sure put aside tractoring for a while.

 

[Dargo]

Oh, wait! There was a tractor involved...

 

[alan40]

I believe good work on any type project is greatly appreciated on this site. Both cars look great. My 3 year old likes the yellow one. Must be something to do with Big Bird. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif The Bascayne looks like a speeding ticket waiting to happen. That's what would happen to me. Of course I'd have a big smile too. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
There's just something about power!
Take care

 

[Bob_Skurka]

Dargo, nice work on the wife's car! The lovely Mrs_Bob had a VW Squareback just before we got married, she blew 2 engines in that little thing but it was a fun little car. I presume that is your wife's summer car? What did you do to the engine?

 

[Dargo]

The wife's car is a bone stock (but completely rebuilt) dual port 1600. It runs great, but how exciting is that when it probably has something like 70 hp? /forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif She wants a convertible now. /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif I'm not taking a can opener to her car. I'm trying to explain to her how the IRS has her convertible. /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif (Bob will understand this one /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif)

My car, the red one, in case you were wondering, seems be a cop magnet. I actually had a state trooper ask me to do a burn out. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif Not trusting his motives, I passed and claimed that it wouldn't. I couldn't tell by his grin if he was thinking "BS!" or that he was just surprised I didn't "fall" for it. Either way, I didn't. I don't think I'll participate in the "burn out" after the show this Friday either. It is very time consuming to get the melted rubber out from under the wheel wells and from behind the rear wheels. I'm told that spraying Pledge furniture polish under there helps. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif Besides, I'd like to get more than 100 miles on a set of rear tires. /forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif

 

[bczoom]

Dargo,

Both are very sweet!!! Nice job. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif
You still owe us the RTV vs. Rhino tug-of-war.
For the interest payment, please strap your new ride to your truck and do the same. /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif
We need videos of both! /forums/images/graemlins/wink.gif

Brian

 

[GeneD14]

Dargo,
Beautiful job on both restorations. The Chevy looks much better than new.