🔧 BUILD Shawns 1971 Impala Donk

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Interior/Top
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***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

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Yeah i forgot, it was his kids communion today, and yes bob is the fab guy over there, hes a bad mofo with a welder/fabrication. Hes done a few things for me that other people that were supposedly "the best welders" couldnt do lol.

Congrats on the numbers!
He was welding on 2 different cars today and I was checking them out, looked good.
Thanks dude, she should be a lot of fun on the street
 

Jon01

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Solid numbers Shawn. I bet that thing is a riot on the street!

I bet the converter that's in it isn't meant for wot lockup, that's why they're saying you need a better one.
A circle d triple disc would be excellent in that car.
Locking it up at wot would pick you up some real power on the dyno too.
 

Shawn1112

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Solid numbers Shawn. I bet that thing is a riot on the street!

I bet the converter that's in it isn't meant for wot lockup, that's why they're saying you need a better one.
A circle d triple disc would be excellent in that car.
Locking it up at wot would pick you up some real power on the dyno too.
Yup, thats exactly what Joe said. Kinda sucks as I just had the trans out when the motor was out in December. I could have did it then, oh well. At least I'm not paying a shop to do it and double paying.
 

Shawn1112

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Awesome numbers! Did you figure out the IAT issues?
Yes the reservoir for the intercooler was low, it runs on its own reservoir and pump. One of the hoses runs thru the inner wheel well. So we are assuming the body shop had to disconnect that hose to get the wheel well out. When they reconnected it, they probably just topped off the reservoir not realizing the car needed to run to cycle it thru and you need to watch it and top it off as it cycles thru. hence the reason the last couple of pulls he went to 6400rpm
 

Shawn1112

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So I confirmed I do have the incorrect T Stat in the car. As mentioned I bought and installed a T-Stat for a LQ4.
I talked to CVF racing this morning and they said I need to have a T Stat from a 01 Camaro 5.7. So that and the one fan not turning on should solve my running hotter than normal temps. I'm going to buy a couple of 5 gallon buckets from Home Depot to catch the coolant. This is going to be the 3rd fucking time I have had to drain it smfh. The last 2 times I just drained into a sewer and bought new.
 

Shawn1112

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I remember my buddy saying the 5.7 is different I can ask him if you like.

I like the idea of running a 160, it will never run that cool ever. Some folks drill small holes around the perimeter to help with burping the air out of it.
Yeah ask him, I dug into it some more and seen nothing that indicates that. I see 2 different part numbers if you buy the housing with it, then it’s like a package deal.

I bought the 160. I always run with a cooler t stat on my boosted cars
 

Shawn1112

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do you have the pn's? You are running an f-body wp?
So you might be on to something. I started digging more into it last night. Apparently they started using a new style water pump around 01-02 that does in fact have a different water pump. I couldnt find a different brand 160 in stock anywhere, but did find a 187. They are exactly the same except the height or depth whatever you want to call it. Also the 160 which is longer, already has holes drilled out on the bottom. pics to follow
 

Shawn1112

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Was it dead?
No but would have been sooner than later. I started experiencing similar symptoms as when the o2 went bad on my Regal twice.
A/F sticks at like 34-36 when first started and you cant put the car in gear until it comes down to normal. Usually takes about 30 seconds. Also sometimes I need to start it 2-3 times before it stays running. Eventually what will happen is it will start but only stay running if your giving it gas. The minute you put in gear it will die out.

Got a majority of the big brake kit up front done today. Its actually pretty easy, but very time consuming due to all the tedious shit.
Have to mount the hat to the rotors (2 piece), each rotor to hat was like 12 bolts. Those all had to be loc-tite and torqued to spec.
Had to cut 2 ears (upper and lower) off both spindles and then make sure they are smoothed out.
Have to drill out 2 of the mounting points on the spindle and re-tap them to take the larger bolt for the caliper bracket.
Had to dry fit the caliper bracket, complete rotor and caliper 3 times to get the caliper bracket shimmed correctly. Then you have to do the same with the actual caliper. Once thats done and the spacing is right, pull it all apart again, add loc-tite and torque everything to spec. I'll post the pics tomorrow when its done, no need to post pics of it incomplete.
 

Shawn1112

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Finally read thru this thing. You built one helluva show and go car. Mad props to you. I just can't fathom spending so much money into 1 car ..I'm just too cheap lol fortunately you'll make your money back if you decide to ever sell. :)
Did you see the tabs as well. The thread kinda drags on, the tabs give the details in short form lol
 
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