sredmyer Posted May 22, 2018 Share Posted May 22, 2018 Well the process to restore this SS back to its original glory has begun. Last week I pulled the motor, stripped the engine compartment and stripped the interior out of the car preparing it to go to the body shop. Will post more pictures as the body work progresses. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Peters Posted May 22, 2018 Share Posted May 22, 2018 That snowball has just barely started rolling down the hill. Keep the pictures coming rob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LS5 Posted May 22, 2018 Share Posted May 22, 2018 Hi Steve, Very nice clean car to start on....! When you say Bring her back to her original glory, is that hypothetically or as close to what a 4spd ss car would or could have been ? Also very special to note the sill plate area's inside the doors, That blacked off area is Very Specific to our cars. There are guys who are trying to replicate that area as it was forgotten to be documented and repeated during a resto, as thats a detail area.... your back seat area is very clean, and she looks to be a AC car as well. Sounds like you are going Cortez Silver rather than Placer Gold ? I will watch for pictures on this build for sure....... Darren Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
willie Posted May 23, 2018 Share Posted May 23, 2018 What a nice starting point!!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rob Peters Posted May 23, 2018 Share Posted May 23, 2018 I was thinking the same thing as Darren regarding the black painted rocker panel and sill plate areas. You are lucky you have pictures of it and are able to now tell the body/paint shop to duplicate. I don't think you could find a car with much cleaner interior floorboards. rob Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1970mcss Posted May 23, 2018 Share Posted May 23, 2018 Looks like a solid car to start with, I hope the rest of the metal looks as good as the interior and flood boards. Was. The car originally silver? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dans '70 Z20 Posted May 23, 2018 Share Posted May 23, 2018 Steve, My shocks are finding a new home in this one! Man, as others have said, what a clean rust free car to start with. This one was a great find. Dan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sredmyer Posted May 23, 2018 Author Share Posted May 23, 2018 Well the guy I bought it from said he thought it was originally Cortez silver but I have since learned it is it's original color. That said, when I am finished with it, it will be a different car. I plan to leave it as a 4 speed (even though I have the numbers matching TH400). I will also be adding a few things the car did not have originally. Although it is a decently optioned (vigilite system, tilt wheel, lighting package, cloth bucket seats with console) SS with a numbers matching 454 it is also lacking a few options I want. It does not currently have the gauge package, I will definitely be adding that. I also plan to add power door locks with the power seat back releases, power windows, rear defogger, power drivers seat. So when I say I am returning it to it's "original glory", I mean the glory it should have had Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
72 LS5 Posted May 23, 2018 Share Posted May 23, 2018 Sounds like a plan and I'm looking forward to seeing the progress! I need the inspiration.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monteman1971 Posted May 23, 2018 Share Posted May 23, 2018 Great starting point!!! Like you, I took some liberties on my numbers matching 71 SS454. I also added power windows, door locks, and the gauge cluster......oh, and about twice the horsepower....lol. Keep the pics coming!!! Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
orbit Posted May 23, 2018 Share Posted May 23, 2018 I am also making my SS into a 4 speed. Keep the pictures coming. Joe Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dans '70 Z20 Posted May 24, 2018 Share Posted May 24, 2018 Steve, Eveyone spending the money to restore these cars ultimately wants what they want in the end. Its called “artistic license”. Stock is nice & respected but not what I was looking for either. My SS454 is a complete numbers matching car, 3 build sheets etc. However, as you did, I made it mine. I built the car as a memory of my dad based on a comment he made to his oncologist before passing. It was regarding a triple black Monte I had in college and the work I did on it. I switched the color on this one to black so it reminds me of my dad every time I get in it. I modified the entire driveline but I also wanted a car that handled well. My car now sports a full top of the line pro-touring suspension from control arms, springs, body braces, Curry billet four link, Hellwig Swaybars and a complete set of Vari-shock doubles. Also added a Glasstek cowl hood, aluminum intake, headers, Hidden shift light in A/C vent, Shiftworks shifter detent and some power options etc. All of the original parts to my car that were removed blasted, powder coated and are now put away. Original Hood is also away for safe keeping. I doubt I will ever go back to stock, but I have everything to make it a full numbers matching concourse car down to matching carburetor, intake, water pump & starter should anyone have the desire in the future. We have to make these cars ours. Many have stories similar to mine as to what led us back to these cars. Modifications only reduce the price for purists. However, many a modified car can also pull in top dollar if done tastefully. We all remember the record price Steve sold his 402-4spd for. All of this has no impact on me since I have no intention of ever selling her. Make it yours. Just add options exactly as the factory would have and modify in good taste. Ultimately, your face deserves the smile. Screw the nay sayers and non-qualified spectator judges. Smiling Dan. LOL 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
orbit Posted May 24, 2018 Share Posted May 24, 2018 Well said Dan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sredmyer Posted May 25, 2018 Author Share Posted May 25, 2018 Well, I literally just found (just yesterday) the Cortez silver 1970 SS454 I have been looking for so it looks like the gold car will stay gold. I will still restore the car but I may do so at a more leisurely pace than originally planned. While I don't want to take up too much space from Goldie's (that what my wife dubbed her) build thread, I wanted to let everyone know. As you can see from the pictures below, this is a high option (power windows, power locks, AC, tilt, courtesy lights, comfort grip steering wheel) car. What you can't see is that it is a fully numbers matching original, garage stored since birth car with only a single repaint done in the late nineties. This is one nice car!! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MCfan Posted May 25, 2018 Share Posted May 25, 2018 Wow, Steve, that is an incredible find and a gorgeous '70 SS!!! How did you ever find such a gem? It will be interesting to see how you eventually compare the silver and gold versions since one is an auto and the other a 4-speed. Well done! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MC1of80 Posted May 25, 2018 Share Posted May 25, 2018 Congratulations on your find/purchase! Numbers matching! NICE!!! Beautiful example of an SS. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1970mcss Posted May 25, 2018 Share Posted May 25, 2018 Nice find, Have you got it bought? I know there is no chance you are going to pass on it but IF YOU DO send me the info... Great find Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sredmyer Posted May 25, 2018 Author Share Posted May 25, 2018 Sorry Paul, this beauty is already in my garage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1970mcss Posted May 25, 2018 Share Posted May 25, 2018 Good for you. It doesn't look like it needs much Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monteman1971 Posted May 25, 2018 Share Posted May 25, 2018 Sweet ride!!! Congrats!!! A lot of really nice options!!! Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
overdrive Posted May 27, 2018 Share Posted May 27, 2018 Congratulations on your purchase! It looks incredibly nice. You'll have alot of fun with it. Dan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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