🔧 BUILD Shawns 1971 Impala Donk

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

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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.

Shawn1112

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My interior guy called me over the weekend checking the status of my car as we had April 1st as a tentative date for him to start. He is finishing up a Box Chevy and is hoping to be done by Friday and will want my car Saturday. So I went in to Rolandos yesterday to get a game plan together. Ricky said he has about 60hrs to put my car back together, wet sand and buff it. He cant get all that done by Saturday, he said he could get the car re-assembled by Saturday. I could then take it and then once the interior is done, bring it back for wet sand and buff. I actually like that idea, just in case my interior guy accidently does something to my paint. I 100% CAN NOT miss this interior appointment. Otherwise its not getting done as he will take on other cars that are on his schedule.
 

FESTER665

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My interior guy called me over the weekend checking the status of my car as we had April 1st as a tentative date for him to start. He is finishing up a Box Chevy and is hoping to be done by Friday and will want my car Saturday. So I went in to Rolandos yesterday to get a game plan together. Ricky said he has about 60hrs to put my car back together, wet sand and buff it. He cant get all that done by Saturday, he said he could get the car re-assembled by Saturday. I could then take it and then once the interior is done, bring it back for wet sand and buff. I actually like that idea, just in case my interior guy accidently does something to my paint. I 100% CAN NOT miss this interior appointment. Otherwise its not getting done as he will take on other cars that are on his schedule.
Tell him to answer his emails. :bowrofl:
 

cap42

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No worries, I'm just venting.

Sorry for mucking up your thread.....
Really wish I had room to fit another car, I'd offer to do your scott rod panels just so your project get's moving.

Shawn those teaser photos look awesome, loving the color can't wait to see a full car shot in sunlight!
 

Shawn1112

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Car is at my interior guys place in Milwaukee. My truck and trailer combo did well.

Anyway, a few minor issues at the paint shop. Most are minor and could have been done if he had another day. But getting it to interior was more important.
They still have to adjust drivers side door window, so I drove up there thru the snow with that window down lol. Driver door handle wont open from the outside, they have to play with that. Drivers side LED tails not working, and my fuel gauge on my Dakota Digi dash is reading empty. They didnt know that, I noticed it pulling it off the trailer in Milwaukee. I'm sure its something simple when they took rear bumper off or put it back on. Passenger side door needs to be adjusted as well as the trim on the bottom of that door.

Major issue, while putting passenger side rear window sweeps in, he grabbed the wrong screws and divited the rear 1/4. I'm not upset at all as they didnt have to tell me that. They could have tried hiding it with a bullshit repair or hoped I didnt see it and then blamed it on the interior guy. In my 20ish years installing office furniture, I've probably done that same shit a half a dozen times. Not paying attention and just grabbed screws, shot them in to a top and went thru the top side of it. Shit happens, and as I told Ricky I'm happy he took blame for it and didnt try to do any sneaky shit. So whatever, they will repair it correctly when the car comes back to them for the above minor issues and the wet sand/buff. He is thinking 25-30hrs just on the wet sand/buff. So with the other shit, they probably need the car 5-7 days.

Interior guy has pretty much the whole back of my car done already. Rear seats are cut down the middle and re-upholstered, rear door panels 90% done, rear deck is done, rear sail panels and these filler pieces that go between the seat backs and rear door panels. I also had him add 2 tweeters to the inside of those fillers. He said 3 weeks, but I've had 3 cars done by him, so that means 6 weeks lol. Anyway, power buckets goin up front, cut the middle out of rear seats so we can run the center console the full length of the car and take it up between the rear seat backs. Seats are black leather with black suede inserts and all stitching is brown.
 
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Shawn1112

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Step up Shawn!


That guy aint shit, he just got lucky and caught his 15 min of fame at the right time. Cant remember the last time he won a big rim racing event.
I'll be perfectly happy with 550whp-650whp. Ive mentioned before, those guys that race their donks have over $100k alone into the powertrain of those cars.
 

Shawn1112

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Been 4 weeks since I dropped it off at my interior guy and he said it would be done in 3 weeks. I really got on his ass Saturday and basically told him to stop BSing and get my shit done asap. He is the type that will take on small jobs while he is doing larger projects, because those small jobs are quick cash where something like mine he isnt seeing anymore money until its complete. He also used the same excuse he has used on my other 2 cars he has done and friends cars he has done. "My sewing machine broke and was waiting a week for the part". I said JB, you need a new sewing machine because that has happened on every one of my cars and my guys cars that you worked on. He was like "bro, I have an old machine and it breaks down, I cant afford one of these new fancy computerized machines that the big dogs are using" lol. Anyway he FT me yesterday to show me the progress and it looked really good, I'm excited. He has to re-upholster the front seats and build the center console from front to back. He is thinking he will be done by next weekend, I wont hold my breath lol.

Also I went to my vinyl top guy that Ive used in the past. Gave him a deposit to order material and hold a spot for me as he is a one man show as well with a small garage. He said he will get me in within a month which is fine as it still needs to go back to the body shop for probably 5-7 business days.
I was going to leave the black vinyl top on it. But the more I look at it the more I hate it. I think it clashes with the root beer paint and really takes away from the paint if that makes sense. So I'm doing like a beige color top which imo will make the paint pop.
 

FESTER665

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Been 4 weeks since I dropped it off at my interior guy and he said it would be done in 3 weeks. I really got on his ass Saturday and basically told him to stop BSing and get my shit done asap. He is the type that will take on small jobs while he is doing larger projects, because those small jobs are quick cash where something like mine he isnt seeing anymore money until its complete. He also used the same excuse he has used on my other 2 cars he has done and friends cars he has done. "My sewing machine broke and was waiting a week for the part". I said JB, you need a new sewing machine because that has happened on every one of my cars and my guys cars that you worked on. He was like "bro, I have an old machine and it breaks down, I cant afford one of these new fancy computerized machines that the big dogs are using" lol. Anyway he FT me yesterday to show me the progress and it looked really good, I'm excited. He has to re-upholster the front seats and build the center console from front to back. He is thinking he will be done by next weekend, I wont hold my breath lol.

Also I went to my vinyl top guy that Ive used in the past. Gave him a deposit to order material and hold a spot for me as he is a one man show as well with a small garage. He said he will get me in within a month which is fine as it still needs to go back to the body shop for probably 5-7 business days.
I was going to leave the black vinyl top on it. But the more I look at it the more I hate it. I think it clashes with the root beer paint and really takes away from the paint if that makes sense. So I'm doing like a beige color top which imo will make the paint pop.
I need to subcontract you for these damn shops to go tell them to hurry up on my behalf. :bowrofl:

So what youre saying is I shouldn't ask your interior guy to do my seats?
 

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