🔧 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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***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

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Thanks again IZZy IZZy! 6.0 LQ4 short block acquired. Was gonna buy some 243 heads but Satera being the kool dude he always has been is giving me some 317 heads for free.99. Saves me about $500. Gotta sit down with my builder now and figure out cam, headers and accessories. I have a budget in mind for this 6.0 build. If we come in under, I might buy a fancy looking intake mani as the TBSS is just ugly lol. I’m already $500 under with the heads

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01Sleeper

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Thanks again IZZy IZZy! 6.0 LQ4 short block acquired. Was gonna buy some 243 heads but Satera being the kool dude he always has been is giving me some 317 heads for free.99. Saves me about $500. Gotta sit down with my builder now and figure out cam, headers and accessories. I have a budget in mind for this 6.0 build. If we come in under, I might buy a fancy looking intake mani as the TBSS is just ugly lol. I’m already $500 under with the heads

View attachment 75621

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That all looks very familiar... IZZy IZZy
 
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Outlaw

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That’ll be a solid setup! 6.0 even N/A will make that thing far more bearable spinning those 26’s.


Given how popular that scene is, there is market for bringing up clean cars and LS swapping them.

Definitely. Turns into a question of can you do a nice enough swap, with a nice enough car with nice enough jewelry and still be profitable.
 
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Jon01

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Thats what Satera told me as well, lol. Said the 243's flow better but 317's are great for boost.
Fuck it, might as well plan ahead. Probably sacrificing 15whp N/A between the 2

From what I've read 317's and 243/799 have the same intake port, 317's just have bigger chambers so drop compression.
 

Shawn1112

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Short block is at the builders shop. He is going to get a parts list together that him and I will both tackle. Thinking I will do the same starter I replaced on the Regal that DEEZUZ DEEZUZ and I think Great White Drake Great White Drake recommended. Going huge on the alternator as I plan on trying to knock the trunk off this bitch with the music. Probably a 300 amp alternator and 1-2 extra batteries. Talked to Carl at Redline and we are going to go with a 4l80e. I want to be able to get up one day and drive this car to California and be comfortable doing so if need be.

I'm now considering wrapping the car in vinyl pending cost. Reasoning behind that, is I can switch it up every 3yrs or so if I keep this car. Again unless I get an offer that blows me away, I think this one is going to be my keeper. Also thinking of doing the rims faces in copper vinyl and leaving the lips polished. Got a quote on the rims yesterday, $400 total to do them in copper. Thinking I might do one rim in 2 variations of copper. Throw it on the car and see what I think. Thats worth a $100 imo. Worst case, it looks bad and I only lose $100

Also found my old painter who did everything on my 06 Charger (my brother found him on FB). He swang by last night to take a look. He was impressed by how clean it was, pointed out a couple of shitty repairs over the years. Nothing really concerning. Said the shop he works for would want every bit of $10k just walking in the door to paint it correctly. He said he is allowed to do side jobs but after hours and weekends when he is off. Quoted me $6k to paint it, includes any and all bodywork (no metal replacement if it needs it) he doesnt see anything that would need it though. He recommends a silver or gold metallic base coat, then a candy rootbeer over that basecoat. Told him I'd probably have the money in April when I get my yearly bonus, but again now thinking of wrapping pending cost.
 

Shawn1112

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Also my partner and I talked last night about X Mas bonuses for the guys. Him and I usually dont take one as we take our huge bonuses last week of March. Depending on what kind of money comes in between now and the last week of the year (over $50k expected). He is thinking him and I will take between $7500-$10k each for X Mas. So things just got a little more interesting as I will claim exempt on that check and get pretty much the full amount.
 

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