Thread: Insane for my biscayne

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Didnt know where to begin so I came here. I've not built nor owned dozens of classic cars like some of the lucky ones out there, but I have always held an interest in the classic muscle that the big three has offered. Words like "hemi", "cobra jet", and "yenko" always grab my attention.

My knowledge of the classic vehicles resides mainly in the chevy domain (just what I fell into over the years so I stuck with it) which is why I am now (finally, in my mid thirties) working on a 65 2-dr biscayne. Long story short? 454ci, TH400, and a limited budget (I will get some pics posted eventually). I have scavenged for info on this model for the past year and have come to realize that it is not one of the "cookie-cutter" cars that I dreamed of as a kid. But, I think it's a beautiful machine (in a simple and ugly sort of way).

Anyway, I dont want to put too much thought into this and ramble on incoherently. Can someone tell me where to post a question on alternator conversions? It is on a BBC although I guess the question ultimately is not BBC specific.

Big block '65 and '66 Biscaynes earned a pretty good reputation in drag racing.

Should be a neat toy, with particular appeal for those who were at the race track in the mid sixties.

...and welcome!

Here is a nice one!

Welcome to the forum. You picked a winner with that '65 Like HOTRODPAINT said, they can make a great drag car.

I've told this story before, but it seems appropriate to tell it again, given the nature of your build: In 1965 the car that was really feared in our area's street racing was the 396/425 HP vette. They were killers. One Saturday night we are at the usual street races, and as the racing was going on a white '65 Chevy pulls in. It has whitewalls, SS flipper hubcaps, fender skirts, and dummy appleton spotlights. By all appearances, just a nice mild custom cruiser.

The Chevy owner approaches one of the fastest vettes there and arranges a race for $ 100.00. Big money in 1965. The vette guy and his buddies are laughing their butts off at being able to take this lamb away from his money. As soon as the race is set, the Chevy guys get to work. One slides under and uncorks the headers, another opens the trunk and takes out the biggest set of M & H dragster slicks I had ever seen. Off come the skirts and on go the slicks. As the Chevy is going to the start line it sounds like a fuel dragster, and he is pulling the left wheel a little on his dry hops.

He lines up with the vette, and goes through all four gears in a very short time. He beat the vette soundly. When they get back, the vette guy wants to fight, so the Chevy guy offers him a 2nd race to win back his money. They line up again, and the Chevy stomps him even worse. When the CHevy comes back, off come the slicks, the headers get corked, and he opens the hood. On the chrome valve cover of the 396 engine is a little sticker that reads "built by Bill Thomas Race Cars." We also found out he was running 5:13 gears. He packs it up and leaves $ 200.00 richer, and we never saw that car again, but we all talked about it for months. It was the ultimate sleeper.


Yep, these big Chevies can be made to roll.


Don

Not everyone "gets" this kind of car............but some of us do! That being said, most of the people who've had a variety of "desirable" cars didn't usually get them by luck, they just lived long enough to make it happen.

I believe everyone has zoomed in on my car and overlooked my question (there was a question buried in there). You guy's must be car nutz or something. Thanks for the welcome!

I have a question for your question, what do you want to know about an alternator conversion? Internal regulator? single wire? Conversion from a generator?

And here's another 60's Biscayne from a kindred spirit, if I could have any of my old cars back, this would be the one!

1968 Biscayne, 427/425Hp. M-21, 12 Bolt, 4.10 Gears.

Hey Stu, how did it fare against the '69 Charger?

My Biscayne was earlier.....a 409/409 red-red '62.

Originally Posted by NTFDAY

Hey Stu, how did it fare against the '69 Charger?

Here's the next picture in sequence, do you see the Charger? Neither could I!

Stu, in regards to your question to my question, I went ahead and posted it (my question) in the BBC forum.

Originally Posted by Stu Cool

Here's the next picture in sequence, do you see the Charger? Neither could I!

Does that mean he was ahead or behind?

One of the car I have the fondest memories of is the 65 Biscane I built several years ago. I was running a dual quad 350 and 4 speed in it.

As far as your question, just post it under shop talk.

Easiest way is to just go to a single wire alternator, or any GM alternator with a built in regulator that can easily be converted to a single wire.... Friend of mine makes a very simple (and reasonably priced) conversion for them. I've seen chrome single wire alternators showing up on eBay lately for around $80.00.

C'mon, guys. The Chevy is out there all by himself 'cause the Charger is still waiting for his green! He'll go by in a second or two.
The '65 Chev is the most perfect car GM ever built. Good looks, right size, good suspension, what more do ya want?

I posted in the other thread. You can buy a $15.00 adapter that will bypass the external VR and connect to the new alternator.