🔧 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.

Milhouse

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Jan 5, 2017
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Make that hose with these!

 

Pro Stock John

LS is the best engine
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On the subject of AN lines, there are some shops that have the $3K crimping equipment to make Brown & Miller hoses. I'm mentioning them (https://www.bmrs.net/) because those hoses I've heard a little more flexible, which is nice when you work with -16 and -20 diameter hoses. These big hose diameters don't have much flexibilty so you have to pretty much nail the right angle fittings.
my rad.jpg
 

Shawn1112

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Like everything on the car, nothing is ever easy. Got my 320a alternator yesterday, plan was to throw it on and drive the car around the block a few times to get it up to operating temp today. Then recheck everything and top off the trans fluid. I swap out the alternator and now the belt is way to big. Call CVF who by the way, their customer service has been top notch. Ask them what belt do I need to run. Nobody had it in stock, Oreilys will have it some time tomorrow.

Car goes to exhaust on Wed, so I need to get this fucker on the road driving Monday. The tuner who gave me a base tune just to get her running said DO NOT get into boost until it’s properly tuned.
 

Shawn1112

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And a no go on driving it today smfh. Those fuckers at CVF gave me the incorrect belt part #, the belt I had to order is exactly the same size as the belt that I have now that is to big. Before hanging up with the guy on Friday, I re-confirmed its the correct belt for the 2.4 blower pulley and 320a alternator. Yes, he replied thats what you need. So, I ordered another that is 1" smaller which should be fine. Went and talked to Winkles about tuning it and properly seating the rings. He said to seat the rings, drive it and get it into some boost and just watch my A/F and I should be fine. He said just dont make no WOT pulls. He wants to wait on the tune until my rear end is in so they dont have to go in and revise the shift points and all that other shit do to the gear ratio change in the new rear end. He also confirmed with the flex fuel sensor, that the Holley will read the ethanol content and make the adjustments on its own. So no need to run separate tunes.
 

Pressure Ratio

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Glen Ellyn
I'm not a fan of that look on old school cars (exhaust tips out the back or side) and I've always dumped them pre axle. Yes it does get drone which doesnt bother me as my music drowns it out lol
I know I am late to the party haha, but the turn downs or 45 degrees outward are still going to churn up a lot of dust and debris. Making that beautiful paint always dirty. And more fumes in the car. Plus exhaust drone could be an issue with turn-downs at the muffler.

Many muscle cars had tailpipes that were turned down right after the tire and at the bottom of the quarter panel. This is a 1968 Nova with a transverse muffler so not exactly the same. But you get the idea of how the tailpipe is terminated. So you don't really see it. He can raise or lower where it terminates depending on where you like the look. Be it a small amount showing or none showing at all.

Just something to think about.

68novaundercarriage3.jpg


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BOTTLEFED

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I know I am late to the party haha, but the turn downs or 45 degrees outward are still going to churn up a lot of dust and debris. Making that beautiful paint always dirty. And more fumes in the car. Plus exhaust drone could be an issue with turn-downs at the muffler.

Many muscle cars had tailpipes that were turned down right after the tire and at the bottom of the quarter panel. This is a 1968 Nova with a transverse muffler so not exactly the same. But you get the idea of how the tailpipe is terminated. So you don't really see it. He can raise or lower where it terminates depending on where you like the look. Be it a small amount showing or none showing at all.

Just something to think about.

68novaundercarriage3.jpg


maxresdefault.jpg
FUCK THAT DUMPS FO LIFE!! :ROFLMAO:
 

Pressure Ratio

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Nov 11, 2005
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Glen Ellyn
Most of the time you tend to make an armored passage or Shield for that sort of stuff since even a braided stainless hose can be damaged when a belt lets free
I was going to say a shield or make a metal pipe from the engine to in front of the engine accessories. Then you can run a short hose to the rad. That is what we did on my Capri. Worked out great with no space to run a hose.
 

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