Just picked up a '77 Impala coupe

I found this on my local Craigslist and had to go check it out.  The owner was very honest about the condition (which is VERY good for a 37 year old car with original paint).  Aside from the deer damage and grunge/funk from sitting for 3+ It's a very clean, mostly original car that runs and drives with 90k miles.  I think it was well worth the $1900 I shelled out for it.  What do you guys think?

Excellent score! Looks like it should be an easy fix. Did the owner have any of the missing front parts?

Yeah, the seller did include enough parts to put it back together, but the stuff he gave me is pretty rough. About the only things I plan on using are the grille and maybe some of the grille surround mouldings.  Even those will need some serious polishing.  I also got a chance to pressure wash and then hand-wash the whole car.  It was nasty!!  It looks so much better now.  I also discovered that the paint which both the original owner and I thought was original, is not.  It is a way better than average quality professional looking job, which is a relief.

Wow, that car looks really sharp in that color. I'd be interested to see what it looks like when you get it all back together.

It looks well worth the price you paid.

If you can't find anything closer I have a Nice Hood, radiator core support & front inner fenderwells in the Detroit area. Looking for a good home.

anymore progress?

I've been working on this car for about the last 9 or so months in my spare time. I'll explain a little as I go, but I think the pics are pretty self explanatory. I'm building on a budget for sure. Trying to get a little bit of a vintage NASCAR vibe and just have fun reliable and fast driver. Feel free to ask questions!

Oh shiny new parts! Nice work looks great, where did you get the control arms

from those look very shiny?

looks bitchin man

And here's a teaser on the exhaust!

Myloth wrote:Oh shiny new parts! Nice work looks  great, where did you get the control arms

from those look very shiny?

Thanks! The rear control arms are from UMI. Roto-joint/adjustable uppers, Boxed poly/roto-joint lowers, and new polyurethane bushings in the axle housing ears. The front has stock lowers that recieved new Moog balljoints and Global West Del-alum bushings, and the uppers are SPC adjustable units with Howe ball joints and delrin bushings. Tall spindles from a 94 Roadmaster. The same car I got the rear end from.

what the tire wheel and offset detentions? Looks great man, gonna strip mine down like that when this engine gives out... stock sbc going back in yours?

Fierro51 wrote:what the tire wheel and offset detentions?  Looks great man, gonna strip mine down like that when this engine gives out... stock sbc going back in yours?  

Thanks! The wheels are 17x9 Cragar D-windows with 5" backspacing with 285/40zr17 Nitto 555s. The engine is not stock... It's mild built 406 c.i. with Dart Iron Eagle Platinum 200 cc heads, hyper pistons forged I-beams and a Scat crank. Th400 with a transgo kit and TCI 2000 stall. 3.42 gears in the Roady 8.5" rear end.

Cadtorque wrote:

Fierro51 wrote:what the tire wheel and offset detentions?  Looks great man, gonna strip mine down like that when this engine gives out... stock sbc going back in yours?  

Thanks!  The wheels are 17x9 Cragar D-windows with 5" backspacing with 285/40zr17 Nitto 555s.  The engine is not stock... It's mild built 406 c.i. with Dart Iron Eagle Platinum 200 cc heads, hyper pistons forged I-beams and a Scat crank.  Th400 with a transgo kit and TCI 2000 stall.  3.42 gears in the Roady 8.5" rear end.

dam good.. I would pull the hyper pistons out and put some forgered in an you'll be set for some boost or even some n2o... but either way killer setup

The thing with the motor is: I built it for a C10 that I have, that needed way more work than I initially thought.  Years ago, and on a tight budget.  I saw this car and saw it as a good use for the motor, so I can actually use it!  I have a set of sb2 heads and want to do a Dart block build for this car, eventually.  At that point, I plan to put a TKO600 in it and a cage, and try to go road racing.

But, for now it's just going to be a simple driver that I can have some fun on the street with.

Cadtorque wrote:The thing with the motor is: I built it for a C10 that I have, that needed way more work than I initially thought.  Years ago, and on a tight budget.  I saw this car and saw it as a good use for the motor, so I can actually use it!  I have a set of sb2 heads and want to do a Dart block build for this car, eventually.  At that point, I plan to put a TKO600 in it and a cage, and try to go road racing.

But, for now it's just going to be a simple driver that I can have some fun on the street with.

understandable similar build just no road racing for me.. cage back half an front tubular clip.. gonna make it the biggest street toy you ever seen

Cadtorque wrote:The thing with the motor is: I built it for a C10 that I have, that needed way more work than I initially thought.  Years ago, and on a tight budget.  I saw this car and saw it as a good use for the motor, so I can actually use it!  I have a set of sb2 heads and want to do a Dart block build for this car, eventually.  At that point, I plan to put a TKO600 in it and a cage, and try to go road racing.

But, for now it's just going to be a simple driver that I can have some fun on the street with.

understandable similar build just no road racing for me.. cage back half an front tubular clip.. gonna make it the biggest street toy you ever seen

Cadtorque wrote:The thing with the motor is: I built it for a C10 that I have, that needed way more work than I initially thought.  Years ago, and on a tight budget.  I saw this car and saw it as a good use for the motor, so I can actually use it!  I have a set of sb2 heads and want to do a Dart block build for this car, eventually.  At that point, I plan to put a TKO600 in it and a cage, and try to go road racing.

But, for now it's just going to be a simple driver that I can have some fun on the street with.

understandable similar build just no road racing for me.. cage back half an front tubular clip.. gonna make it the biggest street toy you ever seen

Cadtorque wrote:The thing with the motor is: I built it for a C10 that I have, that needed way more work than I initially thought.  Years ago, and on a tight budget.  I saw this car and saw it as a good use for the motor, so I can actually use it!  I have a set of sb2 heads and want to do a Dart block build for this car, eventually.  At that point, I plan to put a TKO600 in it and a cage, and try to go road racing.

But, for now it's just going to be a simple driver that I can have some fun on the street with.

understandable similar build just no road racing for me.. cage back half an front tubular clip.. gonna make it the biggest street toy you ever seen

Cadtorque wrote:The thing with the motor is: I built it for a C10 that I have, that needed way more work than I initially thought.  Years ago, and on a tight budget.  I saw this car and saw it as a good use for the motor, so I can actually use it!  I have a set of sb2 heads and want to do a Dart block build for this car, eventually.  At that point, I plan to put a TKO600 in it and a cage, and try to go road racing.

But, for now it's just going to be a simple driver that I can have some fun on the street with.

understandable similar build just no road racing for me.. cage back half an front tubular clip.. gonna make it the biggest street toy you ever seen

Cadtorque wrote:The thing with the motor is: I built it for a C10 that I have, that needed way more work than I initially thought.  Years ago, and on a tight budget.  I saw this car and saw it as a good use for the motor, so I can actually use it!  I have a set of sb2 heads and want to do a Dart block build for this car, eventually.  At that point, I plan to put a TKO600 in it and a cage, and try to go road racing.

But, for now it's just going to be a simple driver that I can have some fun on the street with.

understandable similar build just no road racing for me.. cage back half an front tubular clip.. gonna make it the biggest street toy you ever seen