My '68 Impala daily-driver project

[66Submarine]

Bought this last week for $880. Super nice car with only a little rust in the floor; nearly all the panels are literally rust-free. Kind of surprising--especially considering it's a Delaware car originally. Only 98,500 miles, and it still has the matching-numbers 307 and PG that came in there; both still seem good (although the nylon cam gear shucked the nylon off and I will need to stick a new timing set on it before I start driving it). Runs nicely and sounds good; don't think it's ever had the heads off before. Mostly needs interior work done to it, along with the rust-repair in the floor pans.

Needs a little work, but should be a really nice car without much effort/money. Bought it as something to get decent fuel economy and be able to also haul more stuff/people out of the rain (driving my '65 C30 pickup right now). Liking it so far.

More later...

[66Submarine]

Here's a taste of how nice this thing is; check out the total lack of rust underneath it...

Also note the new exhaust with the nice Flowmaster mufflers.

[hopped up]

Cool! I'd add poverty caps ,slight lowering and drive it away!

[66Submarine]

Thanks!

[NONHOG]

Originally Posted by hopped up

Cool! I'd add poverty caps ,slight lowering and drive it away!

X2, Maybe larger "steelies" Things drive like a Caddy.

[66Submarine]

Yeah, the skinny wheels on the back and the hideous 14" S10/Oldsmobile/whatever wheels + whitewalls on the front need to go! I'm going to put 15x8 on the back and 15x8 or 15x7 on the front; black steel wheels or rally wheels. Thinking of 255/70R15 tires on the back and 235/70R15 in the front; should look nice like that.

[66Submarine]

BTW, this is why it's sitting slightly higher than normal.

Thank God the P.O. that did that crap didn't do much!

[NONHOG]

you'd think a new coil would be cheaper than all that hardware. Yikes!

[68Gold/white]

I did a rebuild on my 67 Bel Air in early 80's. Bought all new springs, should of just bought rears, fronts were not that bad.
When I re-installed my rear end/springs, I noticed there were two sets of mounting holes for the fronts of those control arms. Mine were originally installed in the lower holes, on my install, I used the upper holes, to also help keep the bumper off the ground.

I no longer have the car, but learned a lot about those cars. I found a much larger sway bar off of a 1970 station wagon. I got a 12 bolt rear end from a 1969 Impala.

I had a 283 engine built for it, ran good w/ 4 Bbl carb, but in hindsight I should have built a 400 small block, MPG would not have been much different. I bought a disc brake setup from a salvage yard, (front, you don't need rear disc...) Disc brakes was the best thing I did!!!

I replaced the powerglide w/ a th350 trans, that was another good move, made car easier to drive, way better!!!

I found a source for new stock type 15 X 7 steel wheels (if you use factory type front disc brakes, you HAVE to have 15" wheels...worked well.

That car drove/ran sooo nice!!!

[D13]

I've owned a 65, a 66, 7 67, 2 69' with big blocks, but never a 68. My family put 400K on the 67, never had the heads or oil pan off the 250. I personally put 2 interiors into it including the black cloth one out of a Cparice that was wrecked at 39k.
I love your car, and that floor is really is clean. Do be sure to check the frame just in front of the control arms, favorite rust and break location. Definitely add the bars, will really help the handling.
My 69 396 car came with discs, 14" snows and 15" fronts, was in a world of hur when I went to put my 60's on the back and neede da spare on the front. I did confirm the 14's would not fit over the calipers!

Boats forever!

[66Submarine]

Thanks! Yeah, those sixes sure do run a long time. No frame rust on this one.

I removed the pile (really need to get a picture) of spring spacers and got some new wheels and tires on it the other day; 15x8 with 235/70 front and 255/70 rear. Much better!

Shouldn't be too long (hopefully) before I get ready to shoot some new paint on it; probably black with the vertical grill bars blacked out like the SS grills.

[66Submarine]

Got some new parts the other day, including a very nice (106,000 mile?) 2.73 12 bolt out of a '68 BB Caprice for $250. The $75 '69 seats will also give me a large head start over the exploded seats that came in the car.

Replaced the non-existent rubber bushings in the left upper a-arm, too. Must have been real nice to drive before...

[Russell Ashley]

It's amazing how much better a good set of wheels and tires make a car look.

That 2X4 in the spring is a first for me. I've seen some crazy stuff done but never seen that before.

[ERASER5]

So are you going to chase yellow eyed demons in that? Yea Stupidnatural uses a 67, but demons won't care if it's a 68.

I once had a 67 4 door 327 pg. Wish I could have kept that one.

[66Submarine]

Originally Posted by Russell Ashley

It's amazing how much better a good set of wheels and tires make a car look.

That 2X4 in the spring is a first for me. I've seen some crazy stuff done but never seen that before.

Yeah, the combination of wheel/tire and spring spacers made it look really bad. There were four 2x4's IIRC...left rear spring wasn't even in the pocket...

Originally Posted by ERASER5

So are you going to chase yellow eyed demons in that? Yea Stupidnatural uses a 67, but demons won't care if it's a 68.

I once had a 67 4 door 327 pg. Wish I could have kept that one.

Yeah, my sister likes that show.

[DBLSPRT68]

I'm liking this one! I'm an Impala lover all the way. I had a 65 SS parts car, a 65 Bel Air 2 door sedan, a 68 Impala coupe parts car, a 68 Impala fastback parts car and a 68 Impala SS convertable.... Not all at the same time, but over many years. I would say my favorites are 65 and 68. It's going to look great when your done

[66Submarine]

Originally Posted by DBLSPRT68

I'm liking this one! I'm an Impala lover all the way. I had a 65 SS parts car, a 65 Bel Air 2 door sedan, a 68 Impala coupe parts car, a 68 Impala fastback parts car and a 68 Impala SS convertable.... Not all at the same time, but over many years. I would say my favorites are 65 and 68. It's going to look great when your done

Thanks!

[66Submarine]

Thought I'd add some sort of update here:

Just bought two new full-length floor pans from Summit.

I finally painted the wheels black.

Got a set of pedals for the manual trans.

I also rebuilt the transmission and I'm nearly ready to assemble the "new" engine.

Picked up a set of 3.42 gears and a thick/3-series 4.56 set for $100.

Bought a solid hood for $150.

Should start making some actual progress in the next week or so...

[alsriv2]

Glad you brought this up to date. I really enjoy these old cars and am glad to see one get saved. My Dad had a '72 Buick with a rock solid 350/th400 combination that served us well for years. Due to Maine winters, the body didn't survive past '84 but it still ran like a top when it went to the junk yard.

[66Submarine]

Thanks, I'll keep the updates coming as I start making progress on it.

[Kerry P]

That Impala is a keeper. I am glad it is not mine. An LQ4, S480, 4L80 and Megasquirt are not something I'd want to have to fund right now. Hint, hint. Plus there's ARP studs, LS9 head gaskets, intercooler and a good fuel system.

[66Submarine]

Originally Posted by Kerry P

That Impala is a keeper. I am glad it is not mine. An LQ4, S480, 4L80 and Megasquirt are not something I'd want to have to fund right now. Hint, hint. Plus there's ARP studs, LS9 head gaskets, intercooler and a good fuel system.

An LQ4 like this one? An LQ4 + T56 combo is probably in this car's future...

[Kerry P]

Oh heck yes! With that huge engine bay I hope some boost is part of the plan.


My wife and I have smaller '68 Chevys. Hers got a 406 and a 6-71. I've got an LQ9, LS3 heads, pair of turbos, nine inch and TKO600 for mine. I'm' getting close to digging into it.

[66Submarine]

Originally Posted by Kerry P

Oh heck yes! With that huge engine bay I hope some boost is part of the plan.


My wife and I have smaller '68 Chevys. Hers got a 406 and a 6-71. I've got an LQ9, LS3 heads, pair of turbos, nine inch and TKO600 for mine. I'm' getting close to digging into it.

A few PSI of forced induction will probably be part of the future plan.

I finally got it moved yesterday so I can really start working on it.

[Kerry P]

It will be good to see a big ol Chevy give those LS Fairmonts something to think about.