I was cleaning up my bookmarks and came across this thread and thought I'd revisit it. Most of my time with this car since then has been thinking about what's next. Also, I apparently suck at putting on intake manifolds. I did it three or four times and threw the towel it and had a shop I trust do it. I think he did it about 8 months ago? No problems since. lol. These past few months the engine keeps driving better, and better. It's running great. It's carbed, and it fires up on the first go. It's great. Also, put some StopTech rear drum brakes since the brakes broke. Haha.
By spending time thinking of what I'll be doing, most of it has been suspension and exhaust related. I've got a new front end kit with polygraphite bushings from P-S-T that are waiting to be installed while I collect other parts. I've decided to go with upgraded solid front and rear sway bars, upgraded tubular upper control arms, and upgraded lower control arms. I'm going with upgraded control arms so I can dial in more caster, a lot more, as these B-Bodies respond very well to caster since they weren't dial in because of the old bias-ply tire suspension tuning. I'll be ordering these polygraphite body mounts by the time yall read this.
https://p-s-t.com/i-23159837-polygraphite-body-mount-kit.html#!year=1966||make=CHEVROLET||model=IMPALA
I'll be getting loweringn springs too, as the front end is WAY UP now that I've taken so much weight off such as aluminum heads, aluminum manifold, upgraded/hi-flo aluminum weiand water pump, aluminum radiator. The stance should look better, but I think it'll still be too high with the weight savings I've done, plus plan to do. The car weighs about 3580 lbs now and will likely be breaking into the 3400 lbs range soon just swapping body panels. I'm considering making my own CF hood, as I didn't realize CF fabric now exists. One of the last suspension related things I'll be doing will be adjustable trailing arms, which will be this kit.
https://p-s-t.com/i-23157929-adjustable-red-boxed-rear-trailing-arm-kit.html#!year=1966||make=CHEVROLET||model=IMPALA
After the rear lowering springs go in, it will change the suspension geometry, and in order to bring everything back in place, I'll need to be able adjust it using those. Other things needing to address will be a quicker ratio gear box, and steering rag joints. List to get and do? Body mounts, front and rear sways, springs, steering box, rag joint, rear control arm kit.Suspension should be done by that point. I don't have any interest in coil over at this point.
I also decided to get these ceramic ram horns. Ceramic to keep heat down, ram horns as they are on par with shorty headers.Long tube headers are a few hp better, but mainly at the top end. I don't plan to spend a lot of time there, and the ram horns are best low and mid, which is where I'll be.
https://www.jegs.com/i/JEGS/555/30130/10002/-1?ymm=4294829712+4294829791+4294829174
For mufflers? I think I'll be either going with SpinTechs, or Dynomax Super Turbos. The Super Turbos are only 40 a piece and sound good. SpinTechs? Sound cool, but they look cheap and look suspect to rusting. I think they are hand made? So, 2.5" ram horns to an X-Pipe, to a left and right muffler running a side exit right in front of the rear wheel and DTM tips to finish it off. One DTM style tip for the driver and the other psger side. Should sound sick bouncing off walls I'm next to since the sound is bouncing straight off the wall and to my ear. I'll have ordered the manifolds by the time you read this too.
OBX Universal 2.25"-Inlet T46 Dual Round DTM Muffler Tip With Straight Cut. OBX RACING SPORTS. OBX Racing Sports Stainless Steel Exhaust Tip. Stainless Steel. Accessories on photo are included. Products sold do not carry DOT, SAE or CARB approval.
www.ebay.com
Here are cam specs. It's got a choppy idle. Choppier than I'd like, but it apparently is well suited for my intake manifold rev range.
Lift: .454''/.454"
Duration: 268°/268°
More on wheels later. Can you guess which Work Meister wheels I want?