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Q:
What makes a Chevelle a Malibu?
A:
A Malibu is a Chevelle
with the Malibu option
package. (Fancier trim
and nicer interior
basically)
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Q:
Why is it important to
know the difference?
A:
It's not that important
except in the case of
the SS vs. Malibu, the
SS cars generally had
larger engines and more
PERFORMANCE upgrades
than just a Malibu.
This will make a
difference if you are
purchasing an SS that is
really a Malibu in
disguise. Chevelle
SS's are sometimes faked
by people to get more
money. Then again
sometimes they are
turned into a "fake" SS
purely because that's
what the owner or
restorer preferred,
which is FINE as long as
the car is not
MISREPRESENTED as a REAL
SS.
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Q:
How can I tell car is
not an SS?
A: For
this I will refer to a
comprehensive
explanation by Dan Carr
on the ways to tell an
SS from a NON-SS car.
http://www.chevelles.com/shop/ss_ident.html
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Q:
How do I remove the
headlight knob?
A:
Reach under the dash and
find the little spring
loaded button on the
body of the switch
housing. Press this
button in while pulling
out the knob. The knob
will come out attached
to the shaft. To put it
back in just push it
right back in.: How do I
remove the headlight
knob?
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Q:
I have a 72 chevelle,
the body is bad, the
front clip is good, I
found a 69 body. Will
the front clip and tail
section match up on the
69 body?
A:
Nope, not even close.
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Q:
Has anyone tried the new
reproduction 70 chevelle
ss hood or fenders?
A:
I bought a passenger 70
fender made from the
original tooling. There
still not perfect, or
mine was a fluke. At
about a 1/2 inch below
the style line where the
fender meets the door
make sure the fender is
crimped to the inner
structure ensuring a
even parting line from
fender to door. My seam
was off a little bit in
this area, and I didn't
realize until I painted
the car and almost
chipped the corner off
opening the door. Don't
expect to use the
original shims either.
They will get you close.
The hoods from what I
hear are just fine.
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Q:
How do you install a
rear quarter panel on a
69 2 door hardtop
chevelle?
A:
Installing qtr panels
isn't a easy job you
should some help from
some one who has done
this kind of job before.
You can really screw a
car up if you don't
install them right. The
best qtrs to use are
full factory ones. The
aftermarket qtrs that
are part of a qtr
require a lot of filler
because you splice down
the top body line. To
install if can't find
anyone you has done this
before buy the part
first. Then you will see
how it will fit on. Then
you need to start buy
drilling out all the
spot welds and grind the
lead out of the roof
line that will get you
started. You need to
have a mig welder to
spot weld it back on.
Drill out all the spot
welds as mentioned.
Unless you want to spend
$600 or more on factory
quarters you'll most
likely use an
aftermarket panel. Spend
the extra money and get
it from a reputable
source like year one or
classic industries. try
to find one that comes
over the top of the
ledge, next to the
trunk. This way you
limit the area that you
have to do filler work.
if you have to splice it
down the center of the
panel try to do it under
the original body line.
Take your time fitting
it, make sure you check
and double check so that
you don't cut you old
panel to short. Leave a
few inches extra, lay
the new panel over it
and hold it in place
with sheet metal screws.
Get it exactly where you
want it with the screws
before you weld. You
will probably have to
put it on and take it
off again a few times
and trim here and there.
Don't rush it, when you
weld don't make one long
weld or you will warp
the shit out of it. Jump
around when you are
welding it. Grind the
welds flush and finish
with body filler. If you
have no body work
experience I wouldn't
recommend trying this
yourself. If you supply
a quality panel a body
shop will install it up
to primer for around
$400-$600 and you'll be
happier with the
results. or if your
daring try it yourself,
that's how I learned.
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Q:
Where I can find a 4
speed setup for my 71
chevelle?
A:
Keep scanning the Team
Chevelle parts for sale
ads. They turn up every
now and then. Also scour
the local junkyards if
you have any good ones
near you. I just picked
up one for my 72 from a
GTO in the local yard.
(Try to find one the
same year as your car as
there are minor
differences that will
need to be corrected if
changing out from a
different year car.) GTO
and Monte Carlo 4 speed
setups will work as well
as Buick GS and similar
A-body cars.
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Q:
Where can I find a
place that refurbishes
the paint and/or guts
and markings on a '69
tach and gauge assembly?
A:
Pick up a copy of
Hemmings Motor News (http://www.hmn.com)
there a several guys in
there that do it. Mine
were done by Clock Doc
in Tenn. Very happy with
their work.
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Q:
How do you swap out a
327 in a '67 to a '75
model 454. What changes
will have to be made?
What parts will be
needed?
A:
It should drop right in.
You'll need new motor
mounts for the 454, but
the mounts on the frame
should work and line up
just fine. It will also
bolt up to the tranny
just fine, If I were
you, I'd change to Big
Block front coil springs
to handle the extra
weight and go with a
bigger radiator. Of
course your exhaust
manifolds or headers
from the small block
will not fit.
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Q:
How do you remove the
ignition on the dash on
a '66 Chevelle?
A:
With the dash in, you
must remove the heater
ashtray and the mounts
for it, so you can reach
above the dash to unplug
the ignition. Should
have three connectors.
With the ignition key,
turn the switch to the
accessory position and
insert a paper clip in
the little hole in the
switch face. Turn the
key and the tumblers
will come right out.
Remove the bezel ring
(unscrews to the left)
and the switch falls
back into the dash
(that's why you have to
remove the ashtray
components). Reach up
and worm it down so you
can see it, then unplug
and install your new
one. Reverse the
process.
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Q:
Can I change my VIN tag
to make a real SS from a
Malibu?
A:
Isn't that illegal? I
might as well get some
Porsche data plates so I
can make my VW a 356!
Not only is it illegal,
it's dishonest.
Definitely a frowned
upon practice by every
Chevelle nut I know. If
you want a real SS, fork
over the cash for a real
one. If not enjoy your
clone. The only reason I
can see for switching
VINS is to rip off and
unsupecting buyer.
What's the difference if
the VIN says its a real
SS or it just appears to
be one.
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Q:
Where do I start on
restoring a 72 SS 396
Chevelle?
We pulled out of the
shed after sitting in
there since 1984. needs
bucket seats, a console,
and a steering wheel for
it, and I need to know
what years interchange.
Also what about fenders,
and rear quarters. And
where to find
replacement body panels?
The area just below the
rear window where the
stripes are, is rotted
really bad. Is there a
panel for this? How is
this repaired ? Any tips
on that ?
A:
Bucket seats are the
same for 69-72. Consoles
are the same 68-72.
(71-72 console lids have
a lock in the them,
previous years do not
have the locks.) Fenders
from 71-72 are the same.
Quarters 70-72 are the
same. Try
http://www.goodmarkindustries.com/HomePage.html
for replacement parts.
They are the major
supplier who most
retailers get their
parts from. Also try
http:// www.ss396.com
for parts of all types.
NOS (New Old Stock) is
always better than
reproduction except for
the quarters for these
cars. From what I am
told the repro quarters
are excellent.
The area just below the
rear window where the
stripes are, is rotted
really bad. Is there a
panel for this? Yes
there is a panel for
this. How is this
repaired ? Carefully!
cut out old one, weld in
new one. Any tips on
that ? Have a pro do it!
Good luck!
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