🔧 BUILD Shawns 1971 Impala Donk

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Interior/Top
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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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I love that there is just a cone filter mounted straight to the throttle body
Only option right now, my CAI tube is too long. So my options are run it as is, with just the filter mounted to the TB.
Or have a custom tube made. I cant see the custom tube making that much of a difference by moving the filter 6" or so.
IMO, its going to suck the same air in if its on the TB or moved closer to the fender.
 
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Jimy Bilmo

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Only option right now, my CAI tube is too long. So my options are run it as is, with just the filter mounted to the TB.
Or have a custom tube made. I cant see the custom tube making that much of a difference by moving the filter 6" or so.
IMO, its going to suck the same air in if its on the TB or moved closer to the fender.
01bluesnake 01bluesnake could always make you a custom CAI tube as well.
 

Shawn1112

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Yeah as long as that tensioner can move up and down and won't hit the hose you are fine.

As for the air intake, one advantage to running a pipe to the grille (if you have any room) would be to source air that is not the hot stuff coming from the back of your fan.
No room, to go to the grill or even go lower near the fender. Thats why I cant see moving it 6" or so towards the fender would make that huge of a difference.
But I'll take a look again tomorrow and will hit up 01bluesnake 01bluesnake if I see something that might work
 

01bluesnake

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I'm not happy with the Lokar throttle cable either. I have to see if they make a longer one. It looks like shit going over the top of the lid

Im a dealer for them as well, and can usually have next day if in stock. For the CAI, i would recommend 5", just not sure what angle. Looks to be about a 45* from the pic, but i can also pie cut something together that is exact, maybe two or three cuts. I did this for a very tight bend blower inlet

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Shawn1112

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Im a dealer for them as well, and can usually have next day if in stock. For the CAI, i would recommend 5", just not sure what angle. Looks to be about a 45* from the pic, but i can also pie cut something together that is exact, maybe two or three cuts. I did this for a very tight bend blower inlet

View attachment 149815

View attachment 149816

View attachment 149817
I’ll be in touch in probably closer to April. I’m assuming I have to bring the car to you for measurements, correct?
 
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Shawn1112

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Please change the radiator hose to AN fittings/line so that when the blower belt snaps it has a chance of survival. That is all :p
I might actually see if 01bluesnake 01bluesnake can make me one. I know Satera used to have them made for one of his turbo kits on the WK1's
I'm already planning on carrying a bag with an extra belt and tools I need to do a belt swap on the side of the road lol. I used to carry that shit in 2 of my other cars that I ran superchargers on. I do not want to have to lug around a hose and antifreeze.
 

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