🔧 BUILD Shawns 1971 Impala Donk

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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.

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Have you seen what clean all original G Bodies have been selling for?
Yeah I just spent 2 hours on the phone with a friend of mine whose neighbor just bought a $32,000 87 T. And he bought it knowing it has some issues from sitting and only having 15,000 mi. . The market's crazy I love it but it's crazy
 
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Shawn1112

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Car back home from Redline. New carrier to convert to posi with 373 gear, Wildwood 12” brake kit with rear disc conversion, new rear studs, driveshaft correction and installed my Trick Chasis rear upper/lower control arms. Will create a separate thread on the boys at Redline and they can chime in.





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Shawn1112

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Little bit of an update. Car is at my guys sound shop, I had no time at all to get over there last weekend to help. Wifey wanted pool and yard ready by next weekend. So yard duty/deck staining/pool opening and other shit all weekend. My guy was busy as shit at the shop as well, so car sat untouched for the last week, no biggie. At this point if its ready by July just to cruise, I'll be happy.

Dropped of my headlight bezels to get re-chromed. They werent terrible, but I couldnt have a brand new $1500 Tiara grill and pitted headlight bezels sitting next to it lol. Those are going to take 6-8 weeks lol. Ive been telling myself since March to get those done, so shame on me. In the meantime I'll see if I can find a shitty cheap set just to have. Maybe re-chrome those and then resell at a profit.

Tiara grill showed up after 10 weeks or so, and I immediately sent it back, smfh. They market it as a 71 Caprice/Impala grill as that grill fits both.
Well the damn emblem that lights up in the center is a Caprice emblem. How many people would notice, probably not many. But it would drive me up a fucking wall. Guys at Tiara said they have sold a bunch to Impala owners with no complaints, I literally lol. Told them, I cant do it. So the only other option was the Tiara symbol. Thats better than a Caprice emblem on an Impala imo. So I shipped it back and they claimed they will turn it around in 2 weeks. They rcvd it last Monday so we will see.

New rims were supposed to be 4-6 weeks at most. This is week 6 and no shipping info yet lol. Guy in Florida that wants to buy them is up my fucking ass for them. I cant put stock wheels back on due to the big brake kit.

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Shawn1112

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Before I get to updates below. I’m almost to the point where I’m ready to pull the plug on even driving this thing this season. I put in a call to my interior guy and told him if any spot opens up between now and October I’ll take it. I talked to Satera about starting a turbo build, but he still can’t get parts in a timely fashion. Has winter turbo builds still waiting on parts. So I’m gonna go give him some money to get my parts ordered now. That way when they do come in, he can have the car. So basically if interior guy has an opening or by miracle Jeremy gets parts, it will go to either one of them ASAP. If not then I’ll eventually cruise it this year lol.

Ordered led sequential tails, should be here this week. Will probably take me a full day to install once the car is back. That’s how long it took me on the Regal. Wifey ordered me Lokar Billet door handles and front/back window cranks for Fathers Day.

Got my Tiara grill back with correct emblem. But the fucker was damaged in shipping. So back to Arizona it went. Smfh.

Car still at sound shop. Basically the only thing done is alarm w/drone. My guy put door actuators in so it has power locks from the alarm remote or my phone. Drone gives me full control from my phone. Start it, lock/unlock, gps and all kinds of shit.

My new rims came in after about 10 weeks. But of course the matching steering wheel and floating center caps are back ordered. Rims are copper faces with chrome lips. They call it Rose Gold, but it’s copper lol. Pics to follow, they are on my phone
 

Shawn1112

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My son sent me a pic of NBA Devon Bookers car and asked me what it was cause he really really likes it. Booker has a convertible like yours. I sent him pics of your car.
Turbos?? You goin for the title of fastest donk?
My guy in Miami sold him that car and a Grand National. If you got IG look up Magic City Classics. That’s my dude, I hang out with him when I’m down there. Those rims on that Donk that he sold Book are $20K

Single turbo and no, I’m not dropping $100k in to motor and shit to compete with them guys. Just something respectful on the street.
 

Shawn1112

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Those wheels are sick Shawn!
Thanks dude, I REALLY like them as well.
How much is that drone app and alarm setup? Monthly fee?
$150 on top of the alarm ($200). So $350 was my cost and plans range from $5.99 a month up to $40 a month. Better rates if you pay by the year.
I'll do the $11.99 a month plan which is like $110 for the year iirc. The plans over that have a bunch of shit I'll never use.
Fixed it for you.
Car isnt going anywhere unless someone offers me north of $50k the way it sits right now. The more I do to it, the higher the price is going to go.
Nobody has really even seen the car yet as it hasnt been out, its been a shop whore since January lol.
 

Shawn1112

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Did the Regal ever officially sell?
Yes, in that pic Yaj Yak quoted the Regal was officially gone. Notice the temp plate on the rear.
That was taken at my buddy who bought it GF shop.

Funny story about the Regal. My buddy I sold it to, traded it to my interior guy for a 70 Chevelle (super nice). My interior guy is supposedly selling it to someone in Green Bay lol.
 

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Yes, in that pic Yaj Yak quoted the Regal was officially gone. Notice the temp plate on the rear.
That was taken at my buddy who bought it GF shop.

Funny story about the Regal. My buddy I sold it to, traded it to my interior guy for a 70 Chevelle (super nice). My interior guy is supposedly selling it to someone in Green Bay lol.

Still love the Regal and the Impala. Sorry the damn thing has been a paperweight, but with how things are right now, people that want shit done RIGHT are all going through the same thing. You're doing a beautiful build on this thing, and I really hope you're able to roll thru here on 7/17 for my open house!
 

Shawn1112

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Still love the Regal and the Impala. Sorry the damn thing has been a paperweight, but with how things are right now, people that want shit done RIGHT are all going through the same thing. You're doing a beautiful build on this thing, and I really hope you're able to roll thru here on 7/17 for my open house!
If the car is in my garage, I'll be there lol.
 

Shawn1112

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So some progress in the last couple of weeks. Not as much as I would have liked, but work and my company come first and same goes with my buddy. He has been insanely busy with daily cars coming in and out. Hoping we/he can finish up late this week or early next week. Both my center console and box for the trunk are 85% done. We took some measurements and might have a hard time fitting 2) 8" and 2 tweeters in rear deck due to the fact that we are porting the box thru the rear deck as well. That was also very tricky to do, but pretty sure we figured it out. I'm picking up the whole saws needed today and we will see what happens. I have to work OT tonight so wont get over there.

Swapped my rims out and the Billets are already gone and paid for. I really liked the Billets but I think these are a game changer. It looks like a totally different car now. Pics do it absolutely no justice on how good they look. Probably going to have to run a very small spacer up front as the center cap wont stay on. Its hitting the bearing cover.

My interior guy was down here Sat night dropping off his Chevelle to my guy he traded for the Regal. Him and I had a real good conversation and what our game plan is. I really want to keep the bench seat up front, but its super uncomfortable. So I was thinking of doing power buckets up front. He is trying to talk me out of it and keeping it OG. He thinks if he moves the bench seat back between 4"-6" it will make it more comfortable. Possibly thinking of doing a big ass pano sunroof, but not sure if I want to cut this car. As of now, he is booked out till Sept/Oct. Told him pencil me in for the next opening.

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