My 1964 Impala project site
Mechanical
Here I’ll be documenting my adventures modernizing the mechanics of this 60+ year old piece of engineering. From the engine to the breaks, I’ll be documenting all the changes I make.
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Exterior
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Interior
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History of the 1964 Chevrolet Impala
For Chevrolet, the big news for 1964 was the launch of the new mid-size Chevelle, and the Corvette lost its split rear window and fake intakes on the hood. Production reached 1,574,468 for the year and more than half (889,600) were 1964 Chevy Impalas.
The Impala Super Sport was now its own line and 35 percent of the 536,329 Impala two-door Hardtops were Super Sports – about 155,000 cars. Convertible Impala and Super Sport production totaled 81,897 units, with around 30,000 of those being Super Sport models. The Super Sport two-door Hardtop carried a base price of $2,947, while the Convertible began at $3,196.
- 6 Cylinder 12%
- 8 Cylinder 88%
The Project Car
A 1964 Chevrolet Impala 2 door hardtop with aproximately 150k original miles (Odometer reads 56,728).
I am the second owner of the car which was purchased new by my grandparents. Around 1984 the original TurboFire 283 blew a freeze plug and while the part sat on the dash, it became more of a storage container than a car. After years of sitting with basically an open engine block, the original engine was too far gone for what it was. If it were an original 409, I would have done everything I could to save it, but with nearly a million of these V8’s produced, I decided not to deal with the original engine.
1964 Impala Production Numbers
| Total | 889,600 |
| 6 Cylinder | 73,600 |
| 8 Cylinder | 816,000 |
| Super Sport | 185,325 |
| 409 Cars | 8,684 |
| Convertable | 81,897 |
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The Plan
There really is no complete plan at this point other than the mechanics of it. I’ll figure it out as I go
Replacing the rusted out engine will be a salvaged Chevrolet LM7 5.3L Vortec 5300 backed by a 4L60E transmission, both out of a wrecked 2004 Avalanch.
The body, while definantly not in the best of shape, has some rust holes on the hood and in the trunk. Other than those areas, decades of dirt & grime, a bit of surface rust and a few dings, the body is largly salvageable.
The interior however is torn to bits as a result of its years of service as a storage shed.
Other Projects
A colection of other projects that spark my interst, although most of them have some connection to the project car