1960 Biscayne

[72BlckButy]

What's the process you're going through in detailing under the hood?

[Zoomin]

It's pretty easy, given how clean the rascal was when I got it.
Used several cans of Gunk and then power washed it. Then I removed all the accessories off the engine and painted them satin black. R&R all hoses and clamps. Took the radiator out and had a small hole welded up and flushed it, painted. Re-taped all harnesses. Primed and painted engine, firewall and inner fenders.
Bought a new battery tray.
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[bmfm64]

She's really looking good all freshened up!

[crawdadfox]

Heres a pic. of my old original paint 60 Biscayne with 30,000 miles rockin' the Blue flame six and a three on the tree!

[Zoomin]

Awesome! Let's see the BF6!
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[crawdadfox]

All stock except Pertronix ignition. This car ran and drove like a brand new car! I had a LS2 and T56 sitting in the garage and just couldn't bring myself to do the deed.

[Zoomin]

Originally Posted by crawdadfox

All stock except Pertronix ignition. This car ran and drove like a brand new car! I had a LS2 and T56 sitting in the garage and just couldn't bring myself to do the deed.

I'm on a mobile device so I can't post pics right now, but you can look at page 1 of this thread to see what I mean, but there are a few differences in your car and mine that I'm curious about. My seat covers are different and I'm sure yours are the way they should be. My steering wheel is different. It's not the Impala wheel, but it does have a horn ring which yours does not. The upper door frames that surround the windows on mine are painted the same color as the roof, where yours are the same as the body color. I suspect yours is correct since it's original paint and mine has been repainted once.

Yours has a Blue Flame 6 decal on the valve cover, which I thought mine should have, but when I went to Ecklers, the catalog says High Thrift Six. It looks like your engine compartment has been freshened up since the inner fenders have a gloss to them. Do you know for sure if the BF6 is stock or not?

Whats the info on your tires and wheels and suspension? Your car looks fantastic with them.

I know exactly what you mean about hesitating to put an LS engine in there - it would be cool, no doubt, but on the other hand these cars have made it all these years without getting messed with, so I hate to be the first to do it. I bought the car with the intention of modifying it, but it turned out to be so much nicer than I anticipated.

Thanks for the info on your car - it's great to hook up with someone that has one in such great original shape.
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[nicke]

Great car and great thread! I have a 65 impala SS and am part of impalas.net, which is a great resource. As you know, Year One, Classic Industries, Impala Bobs, and a few others have almost everything you could want for your car. (I say almost because there are always exceptions!)
I look forward to seeing what you do with this car! Perfect as it, but so much potential if/when you change anything!

[Zoomin]

Originally Posted by nicke

Great car and great thread! I have a 65 impala SS and am part of impalas.net, which is a great resource. As you know, Year One, Classic Industries, Impala Bobs, and a few others have almost everything you could want for your car. (I say almost because there are always exceptions!)
I look forward to seeing what you do with this car! Perfect as it, but so much potential if/when you change anything!

Hey Nicke, thanks for the list of sources. This is the fun part of getting a different kind of car - tracking down all the sources and learning about them. I didn't get my first 67-72 truck until a couple of years ago and ran across this site doing research. This place has been a real treasure trove of info, and now it even is a great source for these cars too.
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[nicke]

Originally Posted by Zoomin

Hey Nicke, thanks for the list of sources. This is the fun part of getting a different kind of car - tracking down all the sources and learning about them. I didn't get my first 67-72 truck until a couple of years ago and ran across this site doing research. This place has been a real treasure trove of info, and now it even is a great source for these cars too.
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I agree! Let me know if you ever need help tracking down a part. I bought my impala when I was 16, and have learned of quite a bit of "unpublished" sources for parts over the years, especially near me. Happy to help if needed!

[crawdadfox]

My motor was bone stock including the valve cover Blue Flame stencil. The inner fenders were repainted but everything else was OG. I detailed the engine bay on a 61 Bel Air with a Blue Flame and used a decal i bought off ebay and original color engine paint from Hersh and it came out great. If you decide to put original seat covers or interior i would use Cars Inc. they are probably the best and most accurate on the market. I deal with Hubbards, Impala Bobs for alot of nick nacks. I bagged this car along with 13" CPP front discs and dropped spindles. The first pic was with 20x8 1/2's in front and a 245/35/20 Nitto 555 and a 20x10 out back with a 275/35/20. After looking at the car for a while i changed to a 18x8 Front wheel and a 225/40/18 tire...which i like the staggered look alot better! The great thing about the 58-64 big Chevs is they are so easy to bag on the cheap and they ride super! Thats why i'm allways looking for more of them since i can't seem to find a 67-68 short wide!! I dont want to keep posting my junk in your thread...but heres a pic. with the 18's on the front. PM me if you have questions or if i can help.

[Zoomin]

Feel free to post all you want on this thread - maybe it will help the next guy that comes along.

Did you have to modify or swap the a-arms to install the bags?

I found another web site that has some interesting tidbits, like VIN and trim taf decoding, colors, etc - www.60impala.com

After looking at that site, I think your steering wheel is correct for the Biscayne, and mine came off a Bel-Air.

Do you happen to have the backspace info handy on your rims?

Thanks!

[crawdadfox]

I ran the stock a-arms at first and then changed to Air Ride Technologies tubular Strong Arms. They supply you with lower air spring plates that will bolt to your existing arms and work great! The rear 20x10 i ran a 5 1/4" backspace and on the 18x8's a 5" backspace works fine...with the front 20x8 1/2's i ran a 5 1/2" backspace. If you plan on a disc brake conversion front or rear make sure how much they are offset over the factory drums to avoid any clearence issues. If you decide to bag it i would suggest an adjustable panhard bar out back to center the tires up side to side at ride height.

Originally Posted by Zoomin

Feel free to post all you want on this thread - maybe it will help the next guy that comes along.

Did you have to modify or swap the a-arms to install the bags?

I found another web site that has some interesting tidbits, like VIN and trim taf decoding, colors, etc - www.60impala.com

After looking at that site, I think your steering wheel is correct for the Biscayne, and mine came off a Bel-Air.

Do you happen to have the backspace info handy on your rims?

Thanks!

[Secret Squirrel]

Originally Posted by Zoomin

Feel free to post all you want on this thread - maybe it will help the next guy that comes along.

Sweet, I am the next guy and it helped me. I bought a 1960 Biscayne Wagon converted into an El Camino. It has a 1990 Camaro sub frame married up to the x frame with a sbc 350 and 700r4 trans. New wires, gages, vintage air, power steering, tilt steering (new style) with grant steering wheel, Tahoe 40/60 electric bench seat. Wife liked it so much she took the car from me.

Trying to find parts for this old gal has been challenging for me. The learning curve is very steep. All the chain auto parts stores irritate the snott out of me when they know nothing about cars but work the parts counter and rely on the computer. Most records they have only go back to 1962. But sir that car did not come with a 350, does it have a/c? LOL

The guy who built it did an awesome job, then he sold it to a guy who knew little about cars. She was abused for a few years then I got her. I need to get polyurethane bushings, body mounts, and a u-joint style rag joint to eliminate the rubber one and she'll be handling like a dream.

If I have questions on what a certain part is called I'd love to ask you guys for advice. For example a 55 rear end looks simular to a ford 9 inch to a young guy like myself!

here is a pic

[BlazinC5]

I think ya messed up on loading the pic Squirrel. lol try again. Even though I know what she looks like... I wanna see more...

[Secret Squirrel]

Originally Posted by BlazinC5

I think ya messed up on loading the pic Squirrel. lol try again. Even though I know what she looks like... I wanna see more...

Ok Bro you learnd me how to do this! Here is my wife's Frankamino. I have an update ... turns out it has a 78 Camaro Sub Frame and a stock rear (55 Bel Air).

I finally was able to get the wife to dress up for Halloween, all I had to do was buy her a car. Who knew? I think she loves that car more than me, maybe teaching her to shoot was a bad idea.

I replaced the current steering shaft (crappy rubber rag joint) with 93-95 a Jeep Cherokee U-Joint shaft. Very responsive steering now. Because of all the custom fab on this car the shaft married up to the gear box at about a 30 degree angle. I ripped two rubber rag joints and finally had enough. Sweet mod and it is a lot safer. Next - going to be changing the shot rubber bushings on the control arms (front/rear) to poly.

Wife gets mad at me when she can't drive her Hot Rod, so I'll need to hurry!

[BlazinC5]

Originally Posted by Secret Squirrel

I think she loves that car more than me, maybe teaching her to shoot was a bad idea.

I think your safe for now Bro. If she put up with ya for this long and ain't shot ya, She's in it for the long haul. But if she does start showing signs, Tweek her sights to the left a bit and always run to the right.

It's good to finally see the interior of the car. Looks pretty nice. Even got a redneck flare with the CB and the antler handle. But I kinda like the window slats on that car. You don't see that pretty much anywhere.. I say leave them.

[yahoos]

Originally Posted by Secret Squirrel

Ok Bro you learnd me how to do this! Here is my wife's Frankamino. I have an update ... turns out it has a 78 Camaro Sub Frame and a stock rear (55 Bel Air).

I finally was able to get the wife to dress up for Halloween, all I had to do was buy her a car. Who knew? I think she loves that car more than me, maybe teaching her to shoot was a bad idea.

I replaced the current steering shaft (crappy rubber rag joint) with 93-95 a Jeep Cherokee U-Joint shaft. Very responsive steering now. Because of all the custom fab on this car the shaft married up to the gear box at about a 30 degree angle. I ripped two rubber rag joints and finally had enough. Sweet mod and it is a lot safer. Next - going to be changing the shot rubber bushings on the control arms (front/rear) to poly.

Wife gets mad at me when she can't drive her Hot Rod, so I'll need to hurry!

I see this thing all the time parked up at the cvs in Haughton

[mcbassin]

Looks like another super sweet project Steve! Subscribed and looking forward to seeing in person.

[bmfm64]

You guys are killin me with these super sweet rides....

[jb1016]

crawdadfox, that thing is dead sexy.

[SOON2BLAZE]

That is one sweet ride!

[LEEVON]

my new favorite thread.

[bmfm64]

It's not a 60 but I figured I'd dirty up your thread with my 64... I LOVE these big bodies! Do you (crawdadfox) have any pics of your rear bag mounts as they should be the same on 58 to 64. I need to rework mine to straighten up the bags and squeeze some big wheels in there. Sorry for the hi-jack!

[Zoomin]

This black beauty (Bel Air) was at the Good Guys show in Ft Worth this week end. I wanted to share it with you guys...



It was displayed in the M.A.S.T. area and had an awesome LSX in it.