🔧 BUILD Shawns 1971 Impala Donk

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Interior/Top
LS Swap
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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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Well made it to Satera and of course it didnt go as planned, why would it lol. Apparently in order for Jeremy to hook up his laptop to the Holley system we needed a brand (Holley) specific plug/adapter. So he was able to get her on the rollers but could only tune thru the little hand held 3.5" screen that comes with the Holley Terminator. So limited on what he could do.

Anyway, she was pig fucking rich when I brought her in. He leaned her out, added some timing and fucked with the lock up on the trans. Put down 350ish to the wheels and like 325TQ. Feels 100% better and the drivability is a lot different now. Discussed the turbo build while I was there. More than likely going with a single 80mm turbo. I know practically nothing about turbos as I have always been a SC guy. I know the concept of them and how they work, but as far as why an 80MM and other questions about the build, I probably dont know the answer lol. I've known Jeremy a long time and he has been screaming turbo at me with all my builds and I trust him and his expertise. So I will take him for his word and I will educate myself as well.
 

Shawn1112

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Did one of you order the Holley specific adapter ? would be nice to have on hand
I’m gonna go out to my garage after dinner to see if it came with it. I highly doubt it but will check first. If I don’t have it, I will order one as it’s 100% needed when he does the turbo build.
 

Shawn1112

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Little odds and ends I’ve had sitting in my garage. New door sills and door jamb hardware. Have Billet window cranks and a Billet dress up kit for steering column. Will do all that when I swap out my standard steering column to a tilt column. Have the tilt column sitting in garage as well. I gotta paint it black before I install it. Haven’t done a steering column in probably 20yrs. So that will be fun.

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b00sted

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Discussed the turbo build while I was there. More than likely going with a single 80mm turbo. I know practically nothing about turbos as I have always been a SC guy. I know the concept of them and how they work, but as far as why an 80MM and other questions about the build, I probably dont know the answer lol. I've known Jeremy a long time and he has been screaming turbo at me with all my builds and I trust him and his expertise. So I will take him for his word and I will educate myself as well.

As in an s480? If so, it's a great turbo, but likely overkill if you're going to be staying with a stock bottom-end or close to that.

I forget which engine you have, but if it's a 4.8 or 5.3, look into the standard T6 s475 with the 83mm turbine wheel(factory is 96mm). It'll spool super quick and make that car a shit ton of fun on the street.

If you're looking to do a built motor and/or make more than say 600-650rwhp, then the 96mm s475 or the s480 would definitely be the better choice.

In any event, that car will rip with a turbo on it.
 

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As in an s480? If so, it's a great turbo, but likely overkill if you're going to be staying with a stock bottom-end or close to that.

I forget which engine you have, but if it's a 4.8 or 5.3, look into the standard T6 s475 with the 83mm turbine wheel(factory is 96mm). It'll spool super quick and make that car a shit ton of fun on the street.

If you're looking to do a built motor and/or make more than say 600-650rwhp, then the 96mm s475 or the s480 would definitely be the better choice.

In any event, that car will rip with a turbo on it.


i think he has an Lq4 iirc from my recent re-read
 
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Shawn1112

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Shawn1112 Shawn1112 I have that data cable if you need to borrow one.. It plugs in right where your three and a half in handheld dash thing does
Thats the cable and correct on where it plugs in. I already ordered from Amazon, figured we are going to need it regardless.
But appreciate the offer.
As in an s480? If so, it's a great turbo, but likely overkill if you're going to be staying with a stock bottom-end or close to that.

I forget which engine you have, but if it's a 4.8 or 5.3, look into the standard T6 s475 with the 83mm turbine wheel(factory is 96mm). It'll spool super quick and make that car a shit ton of fun on the street.

If you're looking to do a built motor and/or make more than say 600-650rwhp, then the 96mm s475 or the s480 would definitely be the better choice.

In any event, that car will rip with a turbo on it.
I'll discuss that with Jeremy

Stock bottom end for now, but might go full retard a few years down the road if I still have the car and/or when I hurt the engine. The way I drive, I'll probably hurt the engine at some point.

I have the 6.0 and 600-700whp on corn is where I plan to start. Probably closer to 600ish, but we will see lol
 
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Shawn1112

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And she is at the suspension shop in Joliet and as soon as I pull in the bad news starts. Wasnt even out of my car and got the bad news.
The owner tells me just eye balling it, my rear end will need to be shortened. I said you gotta be fucking shitting me, had I known that I would have did a 7" rear lip.
He said he sees it often where the passenger side rear sits a little to close for comfort. He is right as I noticed that when washing her. Drivers side I have about 1/2"-3/4" more room than the passenger side. My Regal was the same and my guys Box Chevy was as well. He said he might be able to split the difference on the 2 sides and will give it his best shot. But I know thats not happening, as I have mentioned multiple times. Nothing at all has gone right lol. So a 1.5 day job will now turn in to a 3-4 day job lol.
 

LikeABauce302

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And she is at the suspension shop in Joliet and as soon as I pull in the bad news starts. Wasnt even out of my car and got the bad news.
The owner tells me just eye balling it, my rear end will need to be shortened. I said you gotta be fucking shitting me, had I known that I would have did a 7" rear lip.
He said he sees it often where the passenger side rear sits a little to close for comfort. He is right as I noticed that when washing her. Drivers side I have about 1/2"-3/4" more room than the passenger side. My Regal was the same and my guys Box Chevy was as well. He said he might be able to split the difference on the 2 sides and will give it his best shot. But I know thats not happening, as I have mentioned multiple times. Nothing at all has gone right lol. So a 1.5 day job will now turn in to a 3-4 day job lol.

Is it not possible to center the rear end with adjustable control arms or a panhard bar?
 

Shawn1112

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He's saying the wheels/tires are too close to the fender?

With regards to your turbo selection, Jeremy is a smart (and great) guy. I'd just be clear if you want this car to be a bit laggy so you can hook on those tires, or you want power from a dig too. 600rwhp adding a turbo is not hard at all.
Passenger side is insanely close, drivers side is close as well but not as close.

Good point on the turbo and Jeremy also brought that up.
 

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