Thinking Chevelle

[7B7]

Hi,

I am thinking of getting a Chevelle. I am driving a 91 Camaro RS right now, and to do any type of mod's to it would be too expensive. So, I was thinking about a classic Chevelle. I have a couple of questions I could use some help on:

What do I need to know as far as which years are more desirable, reliable, have more problems, most potential for big hp and low 1/4 mile "times."

How reliable are these cars to be everyday drivers?

Thanks for all the help.

[a1supersport]

68-72's are the most popular. They're still fairly inexpensive...especially the non-big block cars...but a rust-free version is getting harder to come by, at a decent price. Getting replacement/performance parts for 64-72 Chevelles is easy...there's so many companies that carry these parts. When it comes to good HP and 1/4 mile times...it all depends on how much you're willing to spend, and if you spent it properly. It's easy to make an 11-12 second Chevelle that sounds like it has a stock motor in it...if you're looking to make a "sleeper"...and still be a good daily driver.

[litlmustangmoody]

68-72's rock I have a 69 and I can tell you from experience restoring it that 68-69 are a lot harder to find parts for than 70-72. but those cars rule. if you are looking for originality then I would go with a 70-72 because in 68-69 a "Supersport" was a dealer only option so their is no real way to tell if it was a original supersport or not but a 70-72 you can get it off of the vin #'s and 70-72 are the last of the true vintage muscle chevelle's. you can usually find a 68-72 for 3500 if you want one that is is decent shape and a daily driver but they are all nice cars just heavy old pure american muscle.

[e3j1c1]

If you're looking to fix the car up i would suggest getting an SS. It cost the same amount to fix up a SS as it does a plain Malibu, but SS are worth quite a chunk more. I always like the 68-69 models' looks.
As far as reliability, they are all the same, depending on what shape it is in, of course.

[DGB454]

70 SS 454 LS6 is probably the most desirable but goes for big bucks. On the other hand it needs far less mods to turn out some pretty decent times on the track. With gas prices the way they are today I don't think I would make it a daily driver though.

[e3j1c1]

I don't suggest any BB as a daily driver, no matter how fast it is

[bertclick]

I have a 1957 Chevy Bel-Air and want to talk to people on the best way to fix it up. it all ready has about 550hp in. so who should i talk to

[skiman762]

Originally Posted by litlmustangmoody

68-72's rock I have a 69 and I can tell you from experience restoring it that 68-69 are a lot harder to find parts for than 70-72. but those cars rule. if you are looking for originality then I would go with a 70-72 because in 68-69 a "Supersport" was a dealer only option so their is no real way to tell if it was a original supersport or not but a 70-72 you can get it off of the vin #'s and 70-72 are the last of the true vintage muscle chevelle's. you can usually find a 68-72 for 3500 if you want one that is is decent shape and a daily driver but they are all nice cars just heavy old pure american muscle.

True for a 69 but all 1968 SS Chevelle's have an 8 as the 3rd digit of the vin number
In 1968, the SS was a separate model (the "SS-396"). Therefor, it can be identified by the VIN number. For example, a 1968 El Camino with a VIN number starting with "13880" would be a genuine SS-396 model, while a '68 El Camino with the VIN "13680" would be a non-SS "Malibu" version of the El Camino. All genuine Super Sports from 1966-1968 have an "8" as the third digit of the VIN.

[68chevelle]

skiman762, does your third didget number 8 theory work for all of the "SS" models not just the 396 engine. because to me it seems like you think that came with 396's only. and they didnt. so the third didget of an ss 396 might be 8, personaly i dont know, but there were other engines you would get with the 68 SS so your only covering a small percentage of them. witch means even if it does not have an 8 and the third diget then it could still be an original SS. im just not sure about what your talking about wether its all SS's or just the 396 SS.

[skiman762]

Originally Posted by 68chevelle

skiman762, does your third didget number 8 theory work for all of the "SS" models not just the 396 engine. because to me it seems like you think that came with 396's only. and they didnt. so the third didget of an ss 396 might be 8, personaly i dont know, but there were other engines you would get with the 68 SS so your only covering a small percentage of them. witch means even if it does not have an 8 and the third diget then it could still be an original SS. im just not sure about what your talking about wether its all SS's or just the 396 SS.

I was only referring to 1968 chevelles
I didn't know the 68 SS had other motor options, it was my understanding that in 68 the SS was treated as a separate model and not as an option and only as the SS396 I have never seen an option for any other motor besides the 396
Can you send me the reference so I can add it to my collection?
Thanks for the info Ed

This is the website I was referring to
If it's wrong maybe you can let them know as well
http://www.chevelles.com/shop/ss_ident.html

1968
In 1968, the SS was a separate model (the "SS-396"). Therefor, it can be identified by the VIN number. For example, a 1968 El Camino with a VIN number starting with "13880" would be a genuine SS-396 model, while a '68 El Camino with the VIN "13680" would be a non-SS "Malibu" version of the El Camino. All genuine Super Sports from 1966-1968 have an "8" as the third digit of the VIN.

1968 was also the first year you could get an El Camino SS, and it is the only year for a separate El Camino SS model.

Genuine '68 SS-396 Chevelles had chrome trim pieces on the lower body sides both in front of, and BEHIND the rear wheels. The non-SS versions had the same trim in front of the rear wheels, but not behind them. None of the '68 Chevelle or El Camino models came with wheel well trim.

Genuine '68 SS-396s could come with standard Chevy rally wheels, or even with plain "dog-dish" hub caps. In '68, disk brakes and tachs/gauges were NOT standard equipment on the SS - you would have to pay extra for those. In fact, the MAJORITY of '68 SS-396s have all drum brakes. In '68, the disk brake option utilized 4-piston front brake calipers. Parts for these brakes can be difficult to locate today. The "F41" suspension option (rear anti-sway bar) was not available at all in '68.

The only available engine in the '68 SS was the 396. It came as either the 325 HP "L35", the 350 HP "L34", or the 375 HP "L78". At least one '68 SS-396 Chevelle with the "L89" aluminum head option has been reported.

The '68 SS models had "SS/396" emblems on the front and back, on the door panels, above the glove box, and on the steering wheel. On early '68 SSs, the front side marker light bezels had a foil insert that said "SS/396". On later '68 SS production, The bezels simply said "396". The steering wheel emblem also said "SS/396" on early production, and simply "SS" on later production vehicles. The '68-'69 SS hoods had twin bulges, while the non-SS hoods were "flat". The two raised bulges each had a chrome grille on the top, near the rear edge of the hood.

The '68 SS stripe option was either a black, white, or red stripe which ran across the front header panel above the grille, angled downwards towards the bottom of the front fenders, and then along the lower body sides to the back.

In '68, there were some special Chevrolet dealers such as "Baldwin Motion" and "Yenko" who sold Chevelles with hopped-up 396 or even 427 motors. The 427 motors were installed at the DEALERSHIP, not the factory. These cars would usually have other dealer installed items such as emblems, hoods, stripes, etc. These cars are quite valuable today, but only if they have documentation proving their authenticity.

In Canada, GM sold a very unusual vehicle that was basically a Chevelle, but it was called a "Beaumont". It had the same chassis, engine, and sheet metal as the SS-396 Chevelle, but with a Pontiac derived front grille and dashboard. It was called the "SD-396", and even had "SD-396" decals on the lower front fenders.


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[68chevelle]

hey guess what, according to that sight i stand corected. that seems kinda odd to me that the 396 was the only engine in the 68 SS. well acctualy i guess that is posible cuz if i remember corectly GM had some strike going on in the begining of that year or something and i think they in some cases just put on what they had around and whatever they had extra stuff off so who knows. anyway as far as i know now you are correct about the 68 SS.

[skiman762]

Originally Posted by 68chevelle

hey guess what, according to that sight i stand corected. that seems kinda odd to me that the 396 was the only engine in the 68 SS. well acctualy i guess that is posible cuz if i remember corectly GM had some strike going on in the begining of that year or something and i think they in some cases just put on what they had around and whatever they had extra stuff off so who knows. anyway as far as i know now you are correct about the 68 SS.

Well you just never know there is so much info out there and I'm sure much has been lost over the years
what motor do you have in yours
I have a 427 th400 it has highway geared posi not a demon off the line
but I can pull it down to 2nd at 70 and smoke a ricer for sure

[68chevelle]

well im running a 350 with a 350. i have an open 3.08 rear. soon i will be swaping out the trans for a 2004R that im building and eventualy when i destroy this rear or when i get the money to replace it i will be swaping out the rear for a 3.73 posi rear. yeah ricers, ha, no problem. im sure if i had traction off the line i would probably be in the 12's somewhere. oh and i run my second gear from like 45-50(i cant remember cuz i usualy dont look at the speedo when im on the gas) up to about 85-90. the fastest iv ever gone is about 138. but im not running Z rated tires or anything so i dont like going to fast except for a very short time. i think some day i will be able to max out my speedo though, (autometer 160MPH).

[skiman762]

Originally Posted by 68chevelle

well im running a 350 with a 350. i have an open 3.08 rear. soon i will be swaping out the trans for a 2004R that im building and eventualy when i destroy this rear or when i get the money to replace it i will be swaping out the rear for a 3.73 posi rear. yeah ricers, ha, no problem. im sure if i had traction off the line i would probably be in the 12's somewhere. oh and i run my second gear from like 45-50(i cant remember cuz i usualy dont look at the speedo when im on the gas) up to about 85-90. the fastest iv ever gone is about 138. but im not running Z rated tires or anything so i dont like going to fast except for a very short time. i think some day i will be able to max out my speedo though, (autometer 160MPH).

I hear ya on the top end I held mine down one day and thought it was about to go airborne not sure how fast but the poles where go by mighty fast 2:56 gear sure let that big block pull for along time

[DGB454]

I think I am going to have to change the rearend gears in mine. Since the rebuild mine has unbelievable low end torque but top end has suffered. It's an automatic and can easily break em loose shifting into every gear but cruising on the e-way really makes the engine work. Top end is probably around 110 now but I seldom see those speeds because it works so hard to remain there.