61 impala Bubbletop project car part 1

I'm starting a new project....a 1961 Impala Bubbletop! I'm almost done with the 10EE Lathe project but I needed to switch gears to get certain parts of the Impala project done while the weather is still good.

[@darrenblattner2508]

I'm not a car guy but after watching you restore the lathe I have to see the car. It's a pleasure to watch someone do nice work no matter what they are doing. Keep smilin

[@fourpondsshop7940]

Wow... Thanks! I actually smile quite a bit although when I'm editing the videos it seems like I'm pretty deadpan! I'll work on some enthusiastic facial expressions going forward! Lol!

[@outsidescrewball]

Nice car…enjoyed and will follow….certainly understand having to change from the lathe….have to enjoy each day/everyday!

[@fourpondsshop7940]

Hi Chuck, as you may know, in certain cases a short break helps maintain enthusiasm!

[@dannywilsher4165]

This is going to be an awesome build. I've had quite a few of them old Impalas of nearly ever year in the 60's. My favorite was the 63. I had half a dozen of them but the 2 door SS 409 was the favorite! forward to seeing this one come to life!!!

[@fourpondsshop7940]

Cool! I hope to post more videos on the project as it moves forward

[@pjmazar4533]

That 409 was a rare car. Less than 150 0f them! That maybe should have been the one to keep.

[@pjmazar4533]

I could only wish my 61 flat top was in as good shape as yours. Some bodywork done 20 years ago is now coming back to life. I'll probably never get back to repairs at my age, but I plan to continue driving it till I'm gone. I had always hoped to reach 300,000 miles but it's at 252 and I'm at 75. So...

[@jamesbarnes7045]

Is your flat top a two-door or a four-door?

[@pjmazar4533]

It's a 4 door. Picked it up back in 1978 for $200. With 4 doors, automatic, small block and factory air, it was a good choice for a family traveling car. And travel we did.

[@jamesbarnes7045]

@@pjmazar4533 she said It's not a two-door if it was you could go find 1961 - 1962 GM full size convertible and convert your flat top to a convertible find someone selling a convertible vintage swap that over now you got a 61 convertible

[@fourpondsshop7940]

keep going!!!!

[@terrybush4270]

You, sir are a true Renaissance man. Chickens, lathes, classic cars, etc. You are getting good at this KZbin thing, too. You are a natural explainer. Learning a lot and loving the series. Well done, sir. Thanks for sharing.

[@fourpondsshop7940]

Hi Terry, thanks! Life is short and I want to do as many things as possible. I love tinkering!

[@jamesbarnes7045]

You could have just pushed the frame outside the shop it took more work and effort going to get the damn Kubota

[@mikepelelo5657]

Love those bubbletops and that looks like a nice clean one. Wish you weren't blasting it though. I'm kind of a Wray Schelin disciple.

[@fourpondsshop7940]

Hi and thanks for watching. So learned about Wray after I blasted the car and agree with his thoughts about striping vs blasting. With that said, I did get a great outcome which you will see in later videos. The blasting guy did use very low pressure and did only enough to remove paint. No warping

[@mikepelelo5657]

@@fourpondsshop7940 Great! Looking forward to seeing more on this car.

[@TraditionalToolworks]

Was it made in South Gate, CA ? They made Impalas there in the 60s. I'm feeling sorry for you with 2 lifts, and that Plymouth is the shizzle, a pretty rare bird. Looks too clean for a Hot Rod, but certainly would make a cool one. Is that an Inline 6 in it?

[@fourpondsshop7940]

I have to decode the Vin to see where it was made and I'll post that. Yes.. The lifts! I don't remember exactly where I got them but it was 15 or so years ago and I've moved them and the cars 3 or 4 times over the years as I got kicked out of the rented spaces I was using! The Plymouth has a stuck 4 cyl that I haven't messed with. Trying to decide what to do with it! I have a couple of old Desoto hemi engines so maybe stick one of those in a make a rat rod?

[@TraditionalToolworks]

@@fourpondsshop7940 When I was a kid, my family owned a liquor store around the corner from the South Gate plant. The plant bordered Alameda, where the railroad tracks would take the cars down to Long Beach for shipping, or PMT would take 'em in car carriers. The plant was a stones throw from where the Watts Riots broke out in '65. I was only 7 years old, the Sheriffs ran me and friend away from Alameda, it had sand bags lining the railroad tracks with Sheriffs EVERYWHERE. The GM workers would come in and buy liquor on their break, and cash their checks on Thurs. night. They made the Impalas there. I don't know if they made them back east also, but suspect in those days they just made them in South Gate. First I was asking if that was a 327 in it, they did put 327s in them, with Mickey Thomson covers, like yours. But I then heard you say it was a 396. RE: Plymouth, that thing is way cool. Getting really hard to find those 20s cars in one piece. It would be a way cool rat rod. There is enough for someone to do a full resto if they wanted to.

[@TraditionalToolworks]

@@fourpondsshop7940 Another question for you, I think you might know this. I have a '95 S10 WC T5, GM shipped them in S10s in '94-'95. A guy is making me an adapter, but is taking some time. As a backup, I made a template of the T5 case (shape, holes, bolt holes) on a piece of cardboard. As long as I center the bell housing input shaft, I should be able to determine the shape and location for the bolt pattern that I need. Is this logic correct? I don't have my bell housing off yet, but trying to get someone else with the same bell housing to make me a template.

[@pjmazar4533]

If it was manufactured at South Gate and sold in California, it would have had one-piece bumpers.

[@bid6413]

Kevin, Good to see you back on KZbin. How’d the mice liked being evicted? Your Impala project looks like a lot more work than the 10ee. I look forward to seeing your progress. Cheers, Will

[@fourpondsshop7940]

Hi Will..Thanks for checking in. Yes, the mice and mud wasps were seriously pissed!!

[@Adrianinhd]

Question, is it possible to remove the front grill without disassembling the rest of the front end?

[@fourpondsshop7940]

Hi Adrian, yes... The actual grill is held on by only a few screws. I removed the entire front end piece by piece as opposed to the entire front "clip".

[@Adrianinhd]

@@fourpondsshop7940 thanks for the response! Im working on my 61 and ive come to find that there are very few detailed videos on youtube compared to the rest of the 3rd gen chevys 👍🏾

[@rickhaass1133]

What's the plan for the new chassis and drivetrain?

[@fourpondsshop7940]

Hi Rick, so I'll be going with a Roadster Shop frame and an LS and 4 speed auto trans. I'm not looking for 1/4 mile performance or road rally handling but mainly comfy reliable fair weather drives with the family

[@rickhaass1133]

@@fourpondsshop7940 Roadster makes some top notch stuff… great choice

[@glennstasse5698]

61 and 62 Bubbletop Chevys are just the best. What will you do with the chassis since you won’t reuse it? BTW, given the lack of rust that just CANT Be a northeast car!

[@fourpondsshop7940]

I agree! I think the 61 is one of the best looking rides of the early 60's! I don't know where this car came from but it's hard to believe it lived its whole life in the northeast. I just found out from the guy I bought it from that this car was literally moments away from being squashed by a D8 cat dozer and scrapped. He jumped in and saved it. Not sure why he sold to me but I'm sure happy he did!