Thread: 61 impala sport sedan

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Here’s my next project; it’s coming home in a few weeks. I’ve known this car for a long time. A good friend of mine bought it several years ago and drove it around with a pretty hot small block and a TH350. A lot of upgrades; it got a lowered front suspension with g-body spindles, disc bakes, frame reinforced for the dreaded X-frame, quick ratio steering box plus some other goodies.
I did some metal work on the body a long time ago but it never got past primer.
He took it off the road a few years ago when he robbed the small block for his 69 C10 and the car has been sitting since. He called and asked if I’d trade some metal work on his C-10 if he gave me the Impala. Sounds like a deal to me. Not sure what I’m going to do with it yet; thinking about just a six banger and a stick on the column. The body is really pretty good and it’d make a nice budget priced driver.

For a guy with your talents for big projects, how about a pair of donor doors from a 2-Door, weld the back 2 in place and shift the B pillar for a 2-Door Sedan! I'd love to watch the progress on that!

There’s a thought!

I do kind of like the 4dr hardtop design, though. easy to get grandkids in and out of the back seat plus you have that big open window space when they are all rolled down. I could put a Mopar engine in it as penance to the Mopar gods for putting the Chevy engine in my 48 Plymouth.

The ol' Chevy more-door! I like it. Leave it stock and enjoy the simplicity of a real cruiser.

Or....

Leave it stock on the outside with a monster 502 and scare the daylights out of every kid driving what they think are hot Japanese cars!!

Oh the possibilities.

Nothing wrong with a good old crew cab!

Chop the top, some that rear window is bigger then the bay window of my house. Never noticed how long the rear deck was. Nice to see an old dog like this one.

4.8 LS and 4L60. Cheapest LS you can buy and about the same size in cubic inches as a 283. You wouldn't even have to dress the engine up. Just keep the hood closed and cruise it. Sounds like the mods already done will make it a nice driver.

The LS should be a virtual bolt in with readily available motor mount adapters. Don't know about the 4L60. The trans might be too long, but a TH350 will bolt right up to the LS.

Send the truck harness off for a 4 wire hook up conversion and get the ECM reflashed to remove the pollution control and VATS. Should be a fairly simple swap.

I thought about keeping the outside totally stock looking with steel wheels and fender skirts but doing something unusual with the drivetrain just for the weirdness factor. Maybe a Jag or BMW straight six or an OM617 Mercedes diesel. Lots of options; plenty of space under the hood.

If you could source the drive train, 4.7 and tranny, from a 04 or so Dodge Dakota that would make cool swap.
The one I have in my 04 will light the tires and has given me zero problems over the years. Just my $.02 opinion.

Originally Posted by NTFDAY

If you could source the drive train, 4.7 and tranny, from a 04 or so Dodge Dakota that would make cool swap.
The one I have in my 04 will light the tires and has given me zero problems over the years. Just my $.02 opinion.

I heard that's a pretty good engine; is it the same basic architecture at the 5.2 and the 5.9?

Originally Posted by falconvan

I heard that's a pretty good engine; is it the same basic architecture at the 5.2 and the 5.9?

I'm not sure, but it's easy to work on. To me the major drawback is the restrictive exhaust. It averages between 19- 20 mpg on the highway and 14-15 in town if I keep my foot out of it which isn't bad considering it's about aerodynamic as a barn door.

Here's another thought. With the increase in popularity of the LS, I've noticed old SBC's have gotten pretty cheap. As an example, I currently have a line on a 383 with Edelbrock RPM heads and a Vintage Air Front Runner system. Probably has less than 30,000 miles, but has a bad wrist pin. I can get it for pennies on the dollar. Guy went with an LS and just wants it gone. I want to repower my 46 and this seems like it's a good candidate. It'll take a little work from me, but the parts are there.

My point being, you should be able to scare up a running SBC that will definitely be a bolt in. Even an old TBI 305 truck motor will get you the cruizer that you want. Biggest expense with the TBI engine is buying the intake to fit the TBI heads.

If you ever decide to sell the car for whatever reason, having a Chevy engine will make the sale much easier. Nothing wrong with being different, but not everyone that might want to buy the car may see it your way.

Just stirring the pot. No offense intended.

Definitely food for thought. The owner offered me a 283/glide combo he took out of it when he bought it years ago but I'd have to rebuild the motor. I am kind of partial to going with a manual trans so it might be a sbc or a Chevy six in front of it. A 292 might be an interesting option.

Also thought about giving the body the Biscayne treatment. Lose the side trim and one taillight on each side. I don't think they made a Biscayne 4 dr hardtop so that would be interesting.

Originally Posted by Hotrod46

If you ever decide to sell the car for whatever reason, having a Chevy engine will make the sale much easier. Nothing wrong with being different, but not everyone that might want to buy the car may see it your way.
Just stirring the pot. No offense intended.

I agree, on newer stuff it seems to be a bigger issue, at least for me. Saw a '49 Ford Shoebox at a show that had a killer look, mild chop, nosed & decked, shaved handles, perfect stance, great wheels and perfect paint but as soon as I saw the Chevy engine under the hood I turned and walked away. It just didn't work for me.

Now that said, I've always thought it would be kind of cool to have a classic '57 Chevy with a Coyote swap....