Well, I'm back. My friend from the London area just came and picked up my Stratochief to force me into the restoration, so I could use a few parts or some good advice. I was looking at an earlier post where the trunk pan was the subject matter however I didn't notice if anyone has actually measured the opposing chevrolet trunk to see if the dimensions are the same or at least close. My car had been stored in a barn where the trunk had sat over a dirt floor hence it needs a complete trunk. The front fenders are ok however I'm not that happy with them and would certainly buy new if available. Does anyone know if carquest or another distributor carries replacement panels for these ie, Canadian replacements. I do have NOS rear quarters and cannot decide whether to replace the ones on the car as they have no holes. They do have bondo and are very wavy hence the original body line, having no chrome to cover it, would be difficult to re-establish. In any event, the car now appears to have been moved up in my priorities of restorations and could be on the road next summer. "Could be" are the magic words as I never seem to get too much done to any of my vehicles however the drivetrain should be back in within the next 4 or 5 weeks and the body would be next. Thanks for any help you can give me. Doug.
Doug, what year is your Strato? Are you going to media blast the body? Removing the bondo may help you decide what work is needed to straighten up those original panels. Todd
Todd, the drivers side quarter is actually really good however the passenger side is really, really, really wavy. As I have NOS quarters I'm not that bothered by them however I am more concerned with the front fenders. Again, its only the bottom of these that are bubbled however I would prefer new if available. I know the trunk pans for Chevelles come as a complete unit as well as the three pieces and I would rather acquire a complete unit, even if it must come from the US. Its actually the measurements that I am worried about and I hope to have time this week to measure a Biscayne in Paris to check this out. Thanks for your input and anything further will be appreciated, Doug.
From what I've seen, a replacement pan for an Impala should fit a Canadian Pontiac. For a 69' at least, the impala pan is a little longer, as the Impala tailight header is a little further back than a Parisienne's. I think the extra length could be trimmed as it's in a horizontal flat section that runs side to side. The bend towards the tailight panel appears to be in the same spot at the top of the trunk floor kick up between both cars. They appear identical everywhere else.
I'm in the same boat, so I've been looking and comparing. I have a very good trunk pan from a parts car, but in my haste removing it, I've cut it about 1" too narrow on both sides where it runs up and around the wheel tubs and at the pan/quarter extentions. I might just fab and add sections to it, or just go for a new replacement.
Mark.
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65 Laurentian post, 67 Grande Parisienne 4 door HT.
Mark: I just found a site in Arizona called Impala Bob's and they do ship to Canada. They certainly do have a lot of full size Chev parts. One of their items is a complete one piece trunk floor however it seems fairly expensive compared with their Chevelle one. They offer free catalogues and toll free numbers. It might be a site you would be interested in. The trunk pans also come in the typical three separate pieces however I would prefer not to do the extra welding. These are very inexpensive. Doug.
I've seen their site. There seems to be two levels of quality when it comes to pans, either that, or one is just set at a higher gouge rate than the other.
What year is your Strato'. Do you have any pictures?
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65 Laurentian post, 67 Grande Parisienne 4 door HT.
Mark, my Stratochief is a 68 which I ordered in April of 1968 and I traded it in in Oct. of 68. It is one of five and I found it in a barn in Collingwood in about 1982-1984. I repurchased it in 1989 and it has sat waiting its turn at restoration. I started a body off last night and we will see how long it takes me as I don't usually accomplish a lot in a short period of time, although, I must say, I have some pressure to complete this one. The front end came off last night and the body should be off in the next couple of weeks. I have most of the parts I need however the front fenders, which I'm not overly happy with, should be replaced, although they are perfect from the centre body line and up; I just prefer new if possible. I may just have to drive my 68 Beaumont SD next year until this thing is done, however I haven't had it out since 1986 and Iv'e been saying that for a long time. Doug.
Being a one of 5 Strato makes it very special, worth doing right. Have you done a body off before? I'm on my first, and it is a major undertaking that seems never ending, but signs of progress are popping up now. Take great care to document everything you take apart with a digicam. You can't take too many pictures. Bag and label everything separately. Even if it's just one nut in a bag. Go way overboard. You'll be glad you did later. I'm sure glad I did. You shouldn't have too much trouble finding finding a good 68 Canadian fender. Or at least a pair in fair shape. How bad are yours? Are they rusted right up to the center line?
Do you have any old original pictures of the car when first owned? Scan and post them up if you do. And put up some teardown and progress shots as well. I'm very interested to see and watch someone get into what I'm doing right now. Seems nobody else on the site doing this at the moment on a B. Pictures are what everyone wants to see!
Cheers, Mark.
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65 Laurentian post, 67 Grande Parisienne 4 door HT.
I guess there being only 5 made means the story I got on the "7" 427 Strato Chiefs ordered by Sinclair Pontiac baloney. Likely was only one as I did see a photo of one!
Todd: The information I obtained on the Stratochief being 1 of 5 came directly from General Motors when I had all of my vehicles documented. There were actually some 1,100 plus 2 dr. Stratochiefs made that year however they indicated to me that only five came with this engine option. Unfortunately they did not break it down into 4spds. or automatics. I did see one of the other four in Simcoe in or about 1973 on a Texaco service station lot. I remember going back to look at it and immediately knew it was not my car; I think because it may have had a dark green interior or an automatic. The reason I lean towards the interior was that anyone could change the transmission however why go from black interior to green in a five year old car. I found the owner of the old Texaco station and they had destroyed all of their records, however he did remember the car. Last year I was at an ONDR drag race meet and met someone who indicated a gentleman in the area had one and that his name was Kennedy. I cannot for the life of me remember who told me that and maybe I was having a seniors moment. GM could have made seven and arrived at this after they gave me my documentation. Thanks a lot, Doug.
You may want to call Doug Crellin at Exeter Toyota. He is the fellow who owned the Sinclair 427 Strato Chief. If you call him , tell him Todd, the service advisor from Cadillac Hummer told you about the car. He better remember me! CLICK HERE for his contact info
Todd, does he still own the car? I will call him although it is a little late this evening. It would be great to speak to someone that actually owned one of these things; ie if it was an automatic it would make mine one of four not five. Thanks a lot for your help, Doug.
Cool story Doug. Can't wait to see the pics, sounds like yours is a fourspeed. I know of a 68 4door closeby, could be bought. 327, rear window defogger. Rusty fenders and quarters but really straight front end, hood and backend if you need parts.
