My other passion...65' Impala SS

[nicke]

I started working on getting the grill cleaned up. It wont ever be perfect, but then again, this car is a driver. I am removing the black paint in on the sides of the grill as I like the polished look there better. This will be the second grill I have done this too, and my last one turned out pretty well (see wreck photos). This grill is in pretty good shape, but certainly needs a cleaning! I hit it with steel wool and take my time with it. Took me about 10 hours to do the last one, and all by hand. Here are before pics. I'll post the after shots when I am done.

[hotrodhomi]

I can't wait to see it polished.

[Dieselwrencher]

Originally Posted by hotrodhomi

i can't wait to see it polished.

x2!

[nicke]

Got one side done... hoping to get the other side this weekend. This side took about 6 hours. All done by hand because every attachment seems to take too much off. Have to have that perfect touch and I couldn't get it with the drill. Tough to see the finish in the pics, but I really think it looks nice!

[hotrodhomi]

it looks great. Have you tried stripping this with chemicals? It might save some elbow grease.

[nicke]

Yea, on my last grill I tried in a small spot. It lifted the enamel and caused it to be a bit discolored later, so I finished without it. I am sure there is a better way, but this way at least I know it will turn out correctly.

[Heavy Evy]

what did you use to polish?

[nicke]

So far, just really fine steel wool and a bunch of elbow grease;-)
Once I get it cleaned up how I like it, I will give it a nice once over with some aluminum/mag polish.

[Zoomin]

Man, that turned out great!

You've got a ton of patience to spend that kinda time on it, but it sure is worth it.

[nicke]

Finally got phase 1 of the grill done. Got all the paint off with the steel wool. This basically how its going to look. I will but some mag polish on it by hand before I hang it back on the car, but until then, here it is. I have quite a bit to do before its ready to go again. My fingers are sore and bruised from all the sanding!

[chevyndn]

man that looks sweet!

[nicke]

Originally Posted by chevyndn

man that looks sweet!

Thanks man!

[jb1016]

Yeah, I think that's an improvement for sure. One of those things that took a ridiculous amount of time to complete, and almost nobody will notice...but you'll know you did it

[Dieselwrencher]

The grill turned out awesome!

[nicke]

Thanks guys!

[nicke]

I am going to try to "restore" that stainless window trim that you can see behind the grill in the last pic. Its not in terrible shape, but not perfect. I have a nice book, and some tools especially for this.
I figure with new paint, any imperfections in any of the chrome or stainless trim will really stand out.

[Dieselwrencher]

Originally Posted by nicke

I am going to try to "restore" that stainless window trim that you can see behind the grill in the last pic. Its not in terrible shape, but not perfect. I have a nice book, and some tools especially for this.
I figure with new paint, any imperfections in any of the chrome or stainless trim will really stand out.

You're absolutely right! That trim restoration willl add to your car a ton!

[nicke]

Well, since I will be repainting the entire car, I figured I would replace the pass side quarter panel. It is a bit wavy and the PO covered it up with bondo. With the new sheetmetal up front, the recently replaced driver side quarter, and now this, It should be pretty straight. Looking forward to doing some sanding and getting dirty, in an effort to be driving her this spring!!!!
-Nick

[hopped up]

great job! just wondering didnt you just het the car painted? did they not do a good job? i thought yous just have to respray the front clip. car looks great ! i love 65s
Posted via Mobile Device

[nicke]

Originally Posted by hopped up

great job! just wondering didnt you just het the car painted? did they not do a good job? i thought yous just have to respray the front clip. car looks great ! i love 65s
Posted via Mobile Device

Yea, I had the car painted 2 years ago, but since I will have to get the new clip painted (from hitting the deer) I figured I would replace the passenger side quarter panel (the only metal on the car that isn't perfect) and paint the entire car again. The current panel is a bit wavy and shows a previous repair that wasn't done correctly.

So, before summer gets underway, I will have a pretty straight impala back on the road!
-Nick

[nicke]

Not being able to drive my car is the hardest part about all of this! I have to settle for looking at pictures until I can drive it again! This is one of my favorite pics of my car from last summer, a few weeks prior to hitting the deer :-/

[Heavy Evy]

speechless.......... I'm working on getting a 66 right now! Have you ever had a problem with the rear axle supports rusting or breaking?

[nicke]

Originally Posted by Heavy Evy

speechless.......... I'm working on getting a 66 right now! Have you ever had a problem with the rear axle supports rusting or breaking?

Nope, no issues with the rear axle at all. She is real solid underneath. It is the 12 bolt rear with 2 lower and 2 upper control arms stock, which was originally put on the higher hp cars from the factory. Other cars only got 1 upper control arm.

-Nick

[Heavy Evy]

Originally Posted by nicke

Nope, no issues with the rear axle at all. She is real solid underneath. It is the 12 bolt rear with 2 lower and 2 upper control arms stock, which was originally put on the higher hp cars from the factory. Other cars only got 1 upper control arm.

-Nick

Learn something new everyday! Around here in my neck of the woods they use salt on the roads during winter and it eats up the metal on all the cars. The 66 im looking at has a rusted broken upper control arm in the rear. They should have used two on all of them.

[jhngardner367]

That brings tears to my eyes. I had a burgundy '65ss,in 1969.My mom used it to take my sis to work,and it came back on a wrecker.She got sideswiped by an 18-wheeler.The frame and body were so messed up,it couldn't be fixed.