🔧 BUILD Shawns 1971 Impala Donk

Thread
Interior/Top
LS Swap
Wheels
Sounds/Music
Suspension/Brakes
Paint
BOOST TIME!!!!

General Information

1688879068474.png


***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

TCG Elite Member
TCG Premium
Aug 4, 2010
35,462
106,560
Streamwood
Motor dropped off at Speed Service on the north side. I guess the guy Brian that owns the place is very well known per my painter.
I stopped by my painter on the way home to let him know that we arent painting the block and go over some other shit. He asked where I took the motor, I told him and he said he knows Brian very well and has had 3 motors built by him, and in fact has a big block over there right now. My painter said that dude is very good and very well known, small world.

Talked to Brian about the cam, told him my goals and that I also drive the car a lot on both the street and expressway, so street manners are a must.
Looks like my rear main is just forming a tiny leak, told him to fix it, I dont need to be dealing with that shit later. I also told him to look everything over and if something catches his eye to let me know and we can discuss.
 

Shawn1112

TCG Elite Member
TCG Premium
Aug 4, 2010
35,462
106,560
Streamwood
And I just ordered the flex fuel sensor. I wasn’t going to do flex, but I might as well being I have the capabilities with the pump and injectors. Talked to a few people that told me I just need to make a slight adjustment in my Holley when running corn. I thought I would need separate tunes which isn’t the case.
 

strtcar

Regular
Oct 28, 2007
492
2,383
And I just ordered the flex fuel sensor. I wasn’t going to do flex, but I might as well being I have the capabilities with the pump and injectors. Talked to a few people that told me I just need to make a slight adjustment in my Holley when running corn. I thought I would need separate tunes which isn’t the case.
Did you get the motion flex fuel sensor mount, pretty slick.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Shawn1112

Shawn1112

TCG Elite Member
TCG Premium
Aug 4, 2010
35,462
106,560
Streamwood
Gonna hopefully start ripping the old fuel system out tomorrow, and start installing the new fuel system. Might fuck around with mocking up the intercooler and trans cooler as well. I talked to the motor guy and asked him if he thinks I should have him regap the rings for boost while he has it. He said he will lmk when he tears the heads off.
 

Jimy Bilmo

CSVT OG Member
TCG Premium
TCG Goldmember
Aug 16, 2005
38,804
60,846
Gonna hopefully start ripping the old fuel system out tomorrow, and starting the new fuel system. Might fuck around with mocking up the intercooler and trans cooler as well. I talked to the motor guy and asked him if he thinks I should have him regap the rings for boost while he has it. He said he will lmk when he tears the heads off.
You're going very conservative on power IMO, so probably not needed. But, if you want to turn up the wick, might as well. It's only money.
 

Shawn1112

TCG Elite Member
TCG Premium
Aug 4, 2010
35,462
106,560
Streamwood
You're going very conservative on power IMO, so probably not needed. But, if you want to turn up the wick, might as well. It's only money.
I know myself and like most dudes that go turbo or blower it’s never enough, right lol. I have enough pump and injectors to go up to 800ish to the wheels.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Bob Kazamakis

Jimy Bilmo

CSVT OG Member
TCG Premium
TCG Goldmember
Aug 16, 2005
38,804
60,846
I know myself and like most dudes that go turbo or blower it’s never enough, right lol. I have enough pump and injectors to go up to 800ish to the wheels.
Then it's probably wise to make the necessary changes, as going stop light to stop light in a 550rwhp car is fun, but doing it in a 800rwhp is even funner!
 
  • Like
Reactions: Shawn1112

Shawn1112

TCG Elite Member
TCG Premium
Aug 4, 2010
35,462
106,560
Streamwood
Brian has built some boost LS engines for local friends he's definitely knowledgeable. Did he promise some sort of turnaround?
Yup, I've talked to other friends of mine who use him as well and the only bad thing I hear leads me to your question.
No he didnt and from what I've heard from multiple people, I need to stay on his ass or I will get lost in the shuffle. If he were to only install the cam and heads, imo it should only be a few hours of work with my motor on a stand. If he has to regap the rings, then I would think 2 days tops and in reality he should be able to do that in a day. I stripped it down to the bare block for him and delivered it on a stand.
 

Shawn1112

TCG Elite Member
TCG Premium
Aug 4, 2010
35,462
106,560
Streamwood
I have nothing to report over the last 2 days. This is why I fucking hate with a passion relying on other people to help me. This is why I stopped doing shit that I need help with and just paying shops. Dude whos shop/lift I'm using and who is helping me has made an excuse the last 2 days to not go into the shop and get shit done. So I'm just standing here with my dick in my hand when we can get everything done prior to my motor being ready. That way we just drop it in, bolt on the blower, run hoses etc and be done. We could be putting the fuel pump assembly in the new tank, mounting the new tank, plumbing the whole fuel system to the engine bay. Swapping out the master, booster, mounting the intercooler, trans cooler and catch can, and plumbing that shit to a point. I was hoping to take it down to Miami for MLK weekend next month, but at this point I dont see that happening. After the blower is done, I need to get to an exhaust shop, need to get to Joliet for my Ford 9" install and then get it tuned.
 

Shawn1112

TCG Elite Member
TCG Premium
Aug 4, 2010
35,462
106,560
Streamwood
Good luck hope you can get it to that show.

For Brian I suggest you lock him into a deadline, none of what you need to do is hard for him and should not take a ton of time.
I shot him a text today as thats what we prefers. I politely told him, that I'm tying up someones lift and need my motor back asap. He hasnt responded yet.
 

Shawn1112

TCG Elite Member
TCG Premium
Aug 4, 2010
35,462
106,560
Streamwood
Welp, just stopped by Brian's shop (motor guy). He was showing me my rods and said they are the early style and at 550-600whp I would really be pushing the limits. Also a few of my rings werent the greatest, which explains my last 2-oil reports (high chrome) So I gave him the okay to build the bottom end (rods/pistons), there goes a nice chunk of my X Mas bonus FML. That sucks as I had no intentions of doing so, but in the same breath I guess its a blessing in disguise. I would be fucking pissed if I shot a rod thru my motor at 550-600whp. He said it woulda been almost a guarantee if I turned her up even higher. Pay once, cry once, he said even on the stock crank, I could push 1000-1200whp, which I will not be doing

Oh and the best part, he wont be done till mid January FML even more
 

Thread Info