🔧 BUILD Shawns 1971 Impala Donk

Thread
Interior/Top
LS Swap
Wheels
Sounds/Music
Suspension/Brakes
Paint
BOOST TIME!!!!

General Information

1688879068474.png


***Check out the tabs to save you the headache of reading this whole thread, also post 3 has a current mod list***

Well boys and girls my new project is finally home. Ive always had a hard on for the Donks (71-76 Caprice or Impala) and always told myself since 1994 that I was eventually going to build one. My buddy mike at the time had a 74 Caprice Vert with 30's and Vouges (google them if you dont know what they are) basically 30 spoke cragars and vouge tires. Its a classic old school gangster look. Over the years he built a few more and sold them and always offered them to me first and I declined because of my love of G Body's as well. When I bought the Regal a couple years ago, I really looked hard at the Donks and believe it or not they were going for half of what they are going for now. Even last summer they coulda been had for about a 1/3rd less maybe a little less for what they are going for now. I was set on a 71 or a 75 for 2 reasons. 71 is the most sought after and fetches the most money as its known as the ACE. 75 because it was the year I was born, and thought that would be pretty cool. Didnt care if it was a HT or Vert, kinda preferred that HT as I dont think Chgo weather is weather for Verts. Pay a extra $10k for a Vert, no thanks.

So when my buddy and I made a deal for the Regal months ago and I knew he was serious. I got serious in my search for a donk. As most of you know I went to Miami for 4 days last month. Had a shit load of them lined up to look at and found either garbage or guys that wouldnt move off what I thought was too high of a price. Few that I thought were too high, have actually sold since then, so I'm thinking price wasnt too high. While in Miami I met this dude Josh and him and I clicked and became friends. Super cool white boy who is in to donks as well, not generally something you see white boys building. He told me he would keep his eyes and ears open and if close enough would do the leg work for me. But told me if he found something I would have to hi-tail my ass down there asap as when they are priced right they sell in hours. Just so happened we decided to go down to Orlando this weekend because we found $61 RT airfare and the biggest donk/g body show just was going on. Figured I might be able to buy something there. Called Josh to tell him we were coming down and if he planned on taking his car to Orlando. He said he might know of a 71 going up for sale with a motivated buyer. I said well fuck let me know asap.

Touched down in Orlando Friday night and had to be up early Saturday to cruise to Ft Lauderdale to see this 71. Pull up to this gated community with $1m+ townhomes and get buzzed in by security. Pull up to the house and she was sitting in driveway and looked as clean as the pics I was sent. Took it for a ride, BSing with Josh, my buddy Ralphy and the owner of the car. Talking about everything from sports to woman to cars. Come to find out this rich fuck is a collector and has 2 other 71's besides the one I bought, and just purchased another on top of 6-7 other cars he has. I guess the Wife has a rule, every time he gets a new one something has to go lol. While BSing I kinda feel him out and get the idea he doesnt want this car going to a black guy who is going to ruin it with big wheels and a LS swap lol. So I played my white privilege card with him. He was asking $25k and very easily had him down to $20k. My final offer was $17.5k and he said he would sleep on it. Told him if he agreed in the morning then it was his job to get it to Orlando before Sunday night. He woke me up about 8am saying the car was mine and was on the way to Orlando. He showed up, we exchanged cash and paperwork, took it off the trailer and parked it at my Airbnb. We were going out for the day/night, so I pulled the coil so the fucker wouldnt start in case someone wanted to steal it lol. Also backed it in so a tow truck would have a hard time stealing it as well.

Talked to a few of the Chgo guys down there for the show and got lucky as one of the haulers had room for me to get her home. Car was dropped off in Midlothian today at $how and Go Customz and turns out Playboy a friend of mine just opened that shop up. Does nothing but suspension and motor work. Talked pricing about shortening my rear end, coilovers all the way around, new axels and adjustable control arms to squat this car. Basically a "California Lean". Front end will sit at stock height with a 26" rim and the rear end will squat 3-4" lower. I have some 26" Billets but probably going to put new barrels on the rear rims. Right now they are a 5.5" lip and I want that 7" lip on the rear, hence the reason for shortening the rear end. Most of you think of Donk and think of those 71-76 sitting on fucking 4x4 suspensions with 30" wheels. Yes those are donks as well, but not the look I'm shooting for.

Shawn1112

TCG Elite Member
TCG Premium
Aug 4, 2010
34,872
104,481
Streamwood
What heads are you taking off?
317's that have been machined and ported, have less than 1500 miles on them, they will be for sale. I got them for free from Satera, but spent $800 on them at the machine shop. They will also come with the BTR springs on them. I'll let them go to $500 to someone I know
 
  • Like
Reactions: DEEZUZ

FESTER665

TCG Elite Member
TCG Premium
Apr 13, 2008
39,951
66,070
Streamwood
Tell me what your looking for and I will ask him what his pricing is.
Throttle body adapter 12-10017
Icon 92mm Throttle Body 10-13009
Throttle cable bracket 18-11009-1
Throttle Cable 18-140

Basically everything to make it drive by cable with the Holley instead of drive by wire with the control pack.
 

Shawn1112

TCG Elite Member
TCG Premium
Aug 4, 2010
34,872
104,481
Streamwood
Talking to a few people on Sunday at the car show and picking others brains. I'm leaning towards (not 100% yet) doing this over the winter.
I say not 100% because I really want to throw some power at this bitch now lol.
But I think the best route to go, is stock pile parts between now and winter time. Then just tackle everything at the same time and have the car ready for World of Wheels in March.

I'm 100% going to need a 9" to support the power, maybe not immediately but eventually. I drive my cars hard af, especially when boosted. So I will literally be a launch or 2 away from causing some major damage in the rear end. I'm going to have to order the 9' built to the way I want it. Pending cost of new rear barrels on my rims. Might go with a shorter rear end and put 7" lips on the rear rims (yes DEEZUZ DEEZUZ, you can fit a $100 bill on them lips lol). They are the standard 5" right now and you might be thinking, how much of a difference in 2". Its a huge difference visually and looks sooooo fucking good.

Going to do a 2 step or trans brake, not sure yet on whats the better application for me. Will be just to fuck around on the streets and maybe an occasional track visit but doubtful on that.

I'm also thinking of having the lid painted to match my car and possibly my valve covers (they are currently Chevy orange)

Open to suggestions and comments both positive and negative. I build my cars for me, so your not going to hurt my feelings with negative comments.
 

FESTER665

TCG Elite Member
TCG Premium
Apr 13, 2008
39,951
66,070
Streamwood
Talking to a few people on Sunday at the car show and picking others brains. I'm leaning towards (not 100% yet) doing this over the winter.
I say not 100% because I really want to throw some power at this bitch now lol.
But I think the best route to go, is stock pile parts between now and winter time. Then just tackle everything at the same time and have the car ready for World of Wheels in March.

I'm 100% going to need a 9" to support the power, maybe not immediately but eventually. I drive my cars hard af, especially when boosted. So I will literally be a launch or 2 away from causing some major damage in the rear end. I'm going to have to order the 9' built to the way I want it. Pending cost of new rear barrels on my rims. Might go with a shorter rear end and put 7" lips on the rear rims (yes DEEZUZ DEEZUZ, you can fit a $100 bill on them lips lol). They are the standard 5" right now and you might be thinking, how much of a difference in 2". Its a huge difference visually and looks sooooo fucking good.

Going to do a 2 step or trans brake, not sure yet on whats the better application for me. Will be just to fuck around on the streets and maybe an occasional track visit but doubtful on that.

I'm also thinking of having the lid painted to match my car and possibly my valve covers (they are currently Chevy orange)

Open to suggestions and comments both positive and negative. I build my cars for me, so your not going to hurt my feelings with negative comments.
Sounds like a good plan to me.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Shawn1112

Shawn1112

TCG Elite Member
TCG Premium
Aug 4, 2010
34,872
104,481
Streamwood
Do you have enough room in the wheel wells to shorten the axle and widen the wheels? Or are you just keeping the same width and just changing the mounting offset?

I have to agree on the 9", by the time you beefed up the 12" your probably cost ahead and have a stronger rearend.
Rear frame is notched already, so yes there should be enough room. Rim will be the same width, what they do for the wider barrels is just set the face of the rim deeper on the rim. So yes I suppose the offset changes with that being said
 
  • Like
Reactions: Jimy Bilmo

Thread Info