🔧 BUILD Shawns 1971 Impala Donk

Thread
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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Having a significant other that respects that and lives the same way is key...





I does not haz that... :(
I wouldnt say my Wife lives the same way, in all seriousness she is as basic as they come. She has NEVER wanted or asked for a new car. So when I get her a new car its all my doing lol. She was fine with her 2018 Cherokee, but with 0% last year I had to take advantage and get a 2021 for her. She doesnt like jewelry or fancy purses, doesnt want to go out to the fanciest restaurants. As long the bills get paid, have an emergency savings, have our pool and go on vacation once a year, she is the happiest girl on earth lol. We have an agreement though, any bonus from work ($25k-$35k per year), overtime and any cash side jobs I do, that money goes to my toys.
 

Bob Kazamakis

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1quick

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Having a significant other that respects that and lives the same way is key...





I does not haz that... :(
My wife saves all her money, she just knows how I roll I’ll buy and not ask forgiveness it’s my money, when she gives me shit abut buying something I just tell her what do you want I’ll buy you anything just tell me, “well I don’t really want anything” cool then shut it
 

Shawn1112

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This car is going to be awesome Shawn1112 Shawn1112 hope to see you out this year
It will be 100% out, might not be complete but will be a half finished cruiser lol. I've already made up my mind on the paint and interior. If we cant get her painted and back in my possession by mid/end May, then its not happening till next winter. I'll do a full paint correction on the factory paint and drive it as is. Interior is almost guaranteed not to happen this year. My interior guy is slammed with work and he would need my car for 3-4 weeks. As long as the swap is done, sounds/digi dash are in and suspension is done, I'll be more than happy. Anything else is just an added bonus at this point. Back ordered parts really set my build back, oh well!
 

Shawn1112

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Well, still waiting on B/O parts, the accessory drive kit in particular is the biggest hold up. We were promised it would be here this week, but have heard that same song and dance for the last month. I'm resigned to the fact, she wont be painted this year and kinda bummed about it. Being I have to wait till next year now. I might just go HAM and spend around $15k and have PC Customs in Milwaukee lay down a sick candy root beer color. They are booked out till January and I can start giving them some money every month to get a jump on the cost. Still not decided on that, more to follow on the paint job.

New carrier ordered to convert to posi and have a Wilwood front and rear disc conversion kit. Also have a Wilwood new master/proportion valve as well as all new brake lines waiting to go on.

Going tomorrow to Sammy's in Joliet to drop off a deposit to get F/R coilovers, Q1A upper and lower tubular control arms, rear adjustable control arms and an anti-roll bar ordered. He said he could knock that out in 2 days.

Going in a different direction on the sounds. Got a little more money than expected in my yearly bonus and was going to go crazy on the trunk. Got a quote from a shop thats killer in custom shit. But the price was way out of my range lol.
Called an old friend who has a very small sound/alarm shop, he is going to look out for me. Will still have to pay him, but nowhere near as much as if I was a customer off the street. Also he is a certified Hertz dealer, so we are going to do Hertz mids/highs as he is giving me that shit at cost. He said instead of the 8-DB Drive 6.5's, we could do 4-Hertz 8" mids and get another set of Hertz horns as I already have 1 set, and it will sound way better than the 8-DB Drive 6.5's.
He knows how to build custom boxes, and consoles. My other buddy who was gonna help me couldnt wait on me any longer. He is now booked out till mid summer.....smfh

Digi dash ordered 3rd week of January, still not here and cant get a ETA

Tiara grill ordered 5 weeks ago and no word on that
 

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