[politicalwit]

First, expect to spend more on a restoration than you originally thought.

#1 Take a lot of photos. (This helps greatly with reassembling)
#2 Label all parts
#3 Bag all nuts, bolts, screws and label.
#4 Eliminate any and all Bondo
#5 Avoid parts suppliers like JC Whitney.
#6 Check out a place called "YearOne" on the net.
#7 Join your local Chevy club.

Lots of other tips for the asking. I've restored 6 cars in the last ten years.

[Doctor Raoul]

Sell it to me for a $1. That's my advice.

[processing please hold]

No help here just an opinion. I never cared much for the four doors, but the two doors are a beauty.

[sully777]

Automotive Ping List

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· Automotive Ping List · join list & same if you want off

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[tje]

My dad had one of those.. nice car... If you restore the car, it better be because you love it, cause you'll never get the money out of it what you put into it. Especially with a 4 door..

If you don't love it.. I'd sell it on eBay, and put the profit into something you do love.

[xcamel]

Make it look like this:

[xcamel]

See here:
www.azcarsandtrucks.com/1966chevimpala.html
($10,900)

[sodpoodle]

Take the engine out and put it in a Camaro;)

[Muleteam1]

From your comments, I take it your Impala is a four door hardtop? Nice find. I have refurbed eleven antique tractors in the last four years but have been working on my family's 1924 Dodge Brothers business coupe. I just ordered and received four 33x4 Lester tires for the DB coupe yesterday ($999.64!). Unfortunately I just sold my shop and am having to look for another one right now. Your Impala's tires should not be near as costly as I what I had to give for the 24" tires but be prepared to spend lots of money in any restoration project.

While picking up a non-running 1955 Oliver tractor this summer, I found a 1974 Chevy Nova coupe for $400 in great shape, still running. I usually don't pay much attention unless a vehicle is built before 1970, but I ended up picking up the Nova for my brother who is now working on it.

Good luck with the Impala.

[Sen Jack S. Fogbound]

Now you have done it!

I wish I had never traded off my 1964 Chevrolet Super Sport Impala in 1965. It has leather seat, everything with 350 cu in engine with automatic tranny, A/C. Tan.

I am just a dumbass!

[reagan_fanatic]

I'm kinda partial to 50's cars myself (here's mine)



Sounds like you got a heck of a good deal on yours - remember, you'll never get back the value of what you'll be putting into it, so don't worry about details like that and just ENJOY IT!

[trimom]

My husband is restoring a matching number '68 Vette. I call it his girlfriend because she takes a lot of time and money. On the other hand, he's right there in the barn working on it and comes in for dinner when I call.

It's a labor of love and has little to do with value. LOL

[Rudder]

1. Replace all after-market parts with original Chevrolet parts. Never add any parts which were not original to that year and make.

2. Obtain all the original paperwork regarding that vehicle you can find.

3. Use only paints that were originally used for that particular vehicle.

These were the instructions I received over and over from restoration buffs when I was selling my restored, 1940 Buick Century.

[Red Badger]

IF the paint is original, do not change the car's color. If it is not original, then try and determine what it was, and repaint in that color. If you cannot determine the car's original color, the find out what colors were available in that model year and use the one you like best. Get rid of any "after market" additions that were not available at that time. Find out what "dealer options" were available at that time and add as many of them as you can find. If it has a modern stereo, replace it with an original GM radio. Replace the worn carpet with factory original style and color. If the seats are not original, replace them and reupholster them in factory original colors that match the paint you chose. This is just the start......

[Cold Heat]

With a car like that, you need to be very careful what parts you use during restoration. This car has it's value in being totally original, and even if the part fits, like a alternator and the like, the production date of the alternator is more important than the fit.

I think that should tell you all you need to know.

[Tijeras_Slim]

When you get frustrated, put a sign in the window stating "Project 2 Years Ahead of Schedule."

[Fierce Allegiance]

1966 Chev Impala 327 four door.

WOW, my first car was a '67 4 door impala with a 327! Cool ride! I got it for $180 and I had to mow the guys lawn for the rest of the summer for free.

[epow]

I bought a new '65 Impala 2-door hardtop when Chevy first came out with the "coke bottle" design. It was a beauty, but unfortunately the beauty was only skin deep.

After a year of it being in and out of the Chevy dealer's shop every few days I finally gave up trying to get GM to fix it so I could depend on it and traded it in on a '66 Cadillac DeVille 2-door hardtop. Which BTW was a really great car that I drove for 8 years with practically no serious mechanical problems. That's in contrast to the shop queens that Cadillac puts out nowadays.

[bmwcyle]

Listen to politicalwit.

[Smokin' Joe]

Maybe something like this?(rust repair panels)