Rebeldryver's '70 Caprice Granny's Luxo-Muscle-Barge

[58yeoman]

Re: Rebeldryver's '70 Caprice project

Not to hi-jack, but in the first pic, your '65 was originally Evening orchid? Thats an awesome color, especially at sunset.

[JOES66FURY]

Re: Rebeldryver's '70 Caprice project

I love Evening Orchid..I had a die cast impala when I was a kid and it was that color...was one of my favorite cars...there was a guy who owned a pontiac dealer in Pittsburgh who had a 65 Grand Prix that was painted that color...I used to drool over it all the time

[Scott Liggett]

Re: Rebeldryver's '70 Caprice project

Not to hi-jack, but in the first pic, your '65 was originally Evening orchid? Thats an awesome color, especially at sunset.

That's freaking pink! In the first pic, the paint was sanded off and the pinkish gray primer was left. It's how I got it. And, I think it's hideous.

I love Evening Orchid..I had a die cast impala when I was a kid and it was that color...was one of my favorite cars...there was a guy who owned a pontiac dealer in Pittsburgh who had a 65 Grand Prix that was painted that color...I used to drool over it all the time

That's freaking pink. My grandmother's 55 Olds was Misty Rose or some shit. Basically, the same color. She loved that car and cried when my Grand dad traded it in for a blue 69 Olds 98 Regency.

Scott, I think you're trying to monopolize the project forum *LOL* Looking forward to following along on this one. I think with those cubes and torque, the 3.08's would be a good choice. Maybe a built Turbo 350 with it's lower 1st gear and lower parasitic losses will make a difference.

The factory th400 stays unless I decide to change it to a stick. I'll put a transgo -2 kit in it.

And, I think those Michiganites monopolize the project forum. They have more hits and replies on their thread. But they have NO FREAKING PICS!!!! If I can take a pic, you guys can. Anyone can. Get to it.

[JOES66FURY]

Re: Rebeldryver's '70 Caprice project

pink or not, its one of my favorite factory colors...

I had a friend that had a 56 Savoy that was painted panther pink...now THAT is PINK...

[Scott Liggett]

Re: Rebeldryver's '70 Caprice project

Evening Orchid is supposed to be pretty rare and one year only. Although, I knew three different people with 65 Impala SS's that were that color. I had a friend in HS who had one identical to mine, color, engine, trans, interior; but in nice condition. Pontiac and Olds both used basically the same shade in '65 too. I recently ran into a guy with a 65 GTO in the that color. It's called something Mist.

There is even a Z-16 65 Malibu SS in Evening Orchid.

[yogreasygramma]

Re: Rebeldryver's '70 Caprice project

And, I think those Michiganites monopolize the project forum. They have more hits and replies on their thread. But they have NO FREAKING PICS!!!! If I can take a pic, you guys can. Anyone can. Get to it.

LOL, you tell 'em Scott!!! :D ;D ;)

I think that freakin' pink color is cool-lookin'!! Anyway, I have a Matchbox GTO in almost that exact color, with Superfast wheels, so I guess it came out in 1969...I have the original version in red that came out in 1964, which looks more like a lowrider.

[milner351]

Re: Rebeldryver's '70 Caprice project

Scott - your energy appears to be nearly boundless - that coupled with the fact that you're single without kids makes us folks who aren't envious of your freedom to spend time on projects - and photograph as you go. ;D

Evening Orchid --- what I want to know is how much acid, weed, or whatever does it take to come up with these color names? Who does this? Totally nuking futz - I can't believe how many shades of white there are to paint on your walls - and each has it's own ridiculous name.

[Scott Liggett]

Re: Rebeldryver's '70 Caprice project

Scott - your energy appears to be nearly boundless - that coupled with the fact that you're single without kids makes us folks who aren't envious of your freedom to spend time on projects - and photograph as you go. ;D

Evening Orchid --- what I want to know is how much acid, weed, or whatever does it take to come up with these color names? Who does this? Totally nuking futz - I can't believe how many shades of white there are to paint on your walls - and each has it's own ridiculous name.

My energy has limits. I don't work on cars everyday I'm off. In reality, I have bills that need paid and my limo job's pay is erradic.

My next project is continuing working on Gregg's '76 Eldo and fixing a periodic fuel delivery issue, maybe. It could be something else. I've only been able to get it do it once.

Evening Orchid and other names like that come from ladies. Ask one how many names for shades of pink. fuschia, salmon, blah, blah, blah.

I found this link. Don't tell me names like Mayfair Maze came from a straight guy.

http://ultimategto.com/65colors.htm

[Scott Liggett]

Re: Rebeldryver's '70 Caprice project

I just read an article in July's Super Chevy on rebuilding a 454 for the cheap. They did it for $2400 using a late model 454 short block. I'm sure I can do it as cheap as I don't have to buy the engine, heads, intake, carb, and dist. They used Pro Comp's aluminum heads and a Summit cam and made 562 hp with a lousy 8.25 compression.

I'm so excited, I want to start yanking the engine today. I'm formulating a plan now.


The one idiotic thing in the article was they reused the timing chain. Their excuse for it was they get accused of being spendy all the time. Of all the things not to reuse, a $40 timing chain is very high on list. Very dumb.

[cantvalve16]

Re: Rebeldryver's '70 Caprice project

So, what are you thoughts on how you will build this engine? Sounds like you are going to be doing a pretty basic rebuild. What are your goals? Just curious. I think about how I will build the 454 in my truck all the time, but I have never done a big block. I would love to get the most power per dollar... and low dollars.

Are you doing a restoration on this car or changing it's orientation a little? Street machine, restored cruiser...?

[JOES66FURY]

Re: Rebeldryver's '70 Caprice project

that doesnt seem to unreasonable to me. Hell a stock rebild on a "boat anchor" 383 could net you as much a 400hp. I should think that even a standard rebuild on a 454 with a few goodies could net decent numbers and near earth rotating torque. Cant wait to see what you do.

[Scott Liggett]

Re: Rebeldryver's '70 Caprice project

So, what are you thoughts on how you will build this engine? Sounds like you are going to be doing a pretty basic rebuild. What are your goals? Just curious. I think about how I will build the 454 in my truck all the time, but I have never done a big block. I would love to get the most power per dollar... and low dollars.

Are you doing a restoration on this car or changing it's orientation a little? Street machine, restored cruiser...?

Because of financial reasons, I'm going to do an inexpensive rebuild. New rings and bearings for sure. Maybe new pistons if I have to do an over bore. Summit cam, lifters, timing chain and valve springs, long slot rockers if necessary. I'll reuse the rest of the valvetrain. I'll just turn the crank if it's not destroyed. I'll reuse the rods as well. The 290 heads too will get a performance valve job, hardened exhaust seats, and I'll do a bit of port work with my dremel. A Felpro rebuild gasket kit. I have an Edelbrock intake, a Holley 750 vac, Pertonix converted dist.

Since the engine now has 10.25:1 compression, I will see what I can do about lowering the compression about half a point to run more timing without pinging. Right now, I run it at 10* advanced and whatever is in the dist stock. It works for now.

I've made a good contact with a local machinist who now works on his own in his shop. I'm going to ask if I can help do the machine work to learn how it's done, and save money. I think I have a line on a guy who can extrude hone. I may have that done to the exhaust ports of the heads and maybe the exhaust manifolds. The guys in the FAST series do this with good results. I want to take a ton of pics and write an article for BS on how I do this from start to finish. If not, I'll put all of it here on the thread.

I'd like to keep the engine looking somewhat stock LS5 on the outside, but I may break down and get headers. I'm keeping the AC.

The car itself is getting new poly bushings to go with the Edelbrock shocks and new coil springs. I'll get it a street machine rake and wider tires/wheels out back. I'm not too excited about keeping rally wheels on it, but I may just get 8 or 10's rallys out back and be done with it. I'm thinking about changing it to a four speed, but that won't happen soon.

First up is getting the suspension rebuilt so it'll drive better. Then in goes a locker I have and maybe up to 3.31 gears, but I doubt it. We'll see. The car pulls very hard now with the 3.08's and loafs on the highway.

[antmnte]

Re: Rebeldryver's '70 Caprice project

And, I think those Michiganites monopolize the project forum. They have more hits and replies on their thread. But they have NO FREAKING PICS!!!! If I can take a pic, you guys can. Anyone can. Get to it.

LOL, you tell 'em Scott!!! :D ;D ;)

I think that freakin' pink color is cool-lookin'!! Anyway, I have a Matchbox GTO in almost that exact color, with Superfast wheels, so I guess it came out in 1969...I have the original version in red that came out in 1964, which looks more like a lowrider.

Mike the Matchbox you have is a Grand Prix .I have one too ;D. I like evening Orchid as well.

[Scott Liggett]

Re: Rebeldryver's '70 Caprice project

oh thank god. I found a place where I m not wweirdest one in the room. You guys are weird for liking pink muscle cars. Isnt it sending mixed singles about yourselves driving a loud 500 hp pink car?

[antmnte]

Re: Rebeldryver's '70 Caprice project

I think that its just a really cool 60's color. Like those nice mint greens and light blues. I wish they still painted cars like that today instead of freakin silver and white and 14 different tan's