Just needed some opinions from you guys after I spoke with some of my close friends locally regarding my '65. As you know it is a regular '65 coupe that somebody made into an SS car years ago. My dilemma here is the amount of front and rear window rot this car has. Saturday I put my hands on the inside of the glass and was horrified that it was barely hanging on and I can lift it with my pinky!!!! Then I took the cloth off the package shelf and to my dismay it was rotted out also. The cowl is rusted where it meets the dash as well. My '70 custom coupe has none of this , just a few pin holes in the lower quarters where it meets the tires and typical front small lower fender rust. I know a '65 will always be way more popular than a '70 any day of the week though is the '65 worth the effort repairing where is I can just plop a drive train in the '70 and cruise. What are your guys opinions? Thanks, Raj.
Because of my strong bias towards the earlier models (a bias which you recognize to be quite common) I would say if the rest of the 65 is pretty nice, it's well worth fixing.
I think there is a repro available for the front channel, I'm not sure about the rear panel.
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1966 Strato Chief 2 door, 427 4 speed, 45,000 original miles
1966 Grande Parisienne, 396 1 of 23 factory air cars
There's a lot of variables there. For me it would depend on the conditiion rest of the vehicle and the amount of work that would be required in addition to welding in new glass channels. Sounds like a full body/paint job will be in order. What else?
The most important one for me would be how attached are you to the car and how much do you like it compared to something else? Once you commit to it, it will be significant work and expense IMHO.
To me it sounds like the 2 cars should be exclusive, not an either/or. For example if you decide the fix the '65, maybe pop in a cheap small block into the '70 to get it on the road so you will still have something to cruise in while you fix the other one. Plus, if you decide to sell the '70 to fund the '65, it will be easier to sell as a running/driving car.
Or, do you like the '70 better?
Or, would it me more economical to sell both cars and buy a "done" '65 (or other car of your choice).
The lower windshield channel is being reproduced, along with A pillars and trunk filler panel. If you pulled rear package tray and have found rust that far into the car you should be very concerned for more hidden rust, quarter panels, body trunk mounts, trunk mount panels, rockers, rear body to trunk seam. After removing cowl in front of windshield, now run your fingers under that one inch channel lip, do ya feel rust? No, good. Yes, means top of firewall is toast. Theres two layers of metal, top layer is dash that forms windshield channel and lip and bottom layer is the top of firewall, both form that one inch strip. The channel lip can be repaired, after you gut your dash and remove firewall and dash insulation, welding in New channel will light it all on fire, not cool. I know of two another way of replacing that channel without welding or bondo, but I'm not posting them here, sorry. bondo real bad in channels, it doesn't dry out when it gets wet and promotes even more rust.
-- Edited by Indian on Wednesday 15th of April 2015 03:18:43 PM
-- Edited by Indian on Wednesday 15th of April 2015 03:25:45 PM
That rear window piece you want is called a trunk filler panel, make sure you get one with channel, some dont come with it. Check with Dale at NOS, click on his website at the top of this page. Any more questions about GM A body, just ask. Good luck. Even the titanic can be restored
my 65 impaler had front window reust we pulled the window and removed louvered panel and there it was patched it all up glassed the welds took about 4-6 hours well worth it. back was ok carl s did his b body posted pictures somewhere here we should see some pics of yer 65 i love mine and i know dano loves hisif ya got good quarters and rockers thats a great start,check your frame tho
Throw something in the 70 and drive it, while you do the 65, this will help with motivation. If you like/love the 65 it's always worth doing. I'm with Tim can't beat the look of the 65. I've got way more time and money in my 65 than it will ever be worth, but I love it and will likely never be rid of it so who cares?
Unfortunately I sold the '65 and bought this '67 442 with rear window rust already repaired and solid everywhere else. I still have my '63 SS 4-speed 327 Impala also ;)
if ya got good quarters and rockers thats a great start,check your frame tho
I've got way more time and money in my 65 than it will ever be worth, but I love it and will likely never be rid of it so who cares?
