Build Your First Chevy Project Car - Build Your First Bow Tie

When it comes to car guys, pretty much everybody has a project. It provides something to work on during the evenings, and gives us something to talk about with fellow car guys. Let's just say it's healthy to have a project car of some sort to keep your mind occupied. Of course, some folks get carried away and take on too many projects at once. This usually results in very little progress because the efforts get spread so thin. It's hard to find a happy medium, but purchasing a complete running and driving car that simply needs minor updates is a step in the right direction for a beginner. In fact, you'll probably save money with this approach, even if you're a seasoned gearhead.

Building your first Chevy will be a challenge, no matter the car's condition, but that's part of the fun. However, a car that presents too much of a challenge can quickly suck the fun right out of the equation, and give you more headaches down the road. For instance, buying a car just because it's cheap only makes sense if the car is buildable. And if you take a step backward and learn what the term "buildable" means for you, your skill level and budget, then you're more educated than most buyers in this market.

Just because it's cheap doesn't mean you should buy it. While it's still possible to find old cars for dirt cheap, they usually look like this '59 El Camino, which was abandoned in a field. Finding the right car is a large part of your first buildup, so don't ruin the fun by purchasing too difficult a project.

Just because it's cheap doesn't mean you should buy it. While it's still possible to find

Sit down and crunch the numbers to see exactly how much you want to spend, and base the build around that. Some of the cars you see in Super Chevy are extravagant and wicked fast, but you must consider the dollar amounts and man hours involved with each project. Your first Bow Tie build needs to be simple. It always helps if you can stick to a budget, so lay out the groundwork before you go all in on a project car.

If you're looking for a starting point, searching the internet on sites like www.autotraderclassics.com isn't a bad way to start. There are lots of good deals out there right now, especially on cars that are outdated, or need some work to be road worthy. Beware of deals that are too good to be true, because there are a lot of those on the Net. And don't forget about your local newspaper. It seems like an archaic way to list a car for sale these days, but plenty of people out there still use local print ads to get the word out. Finding a car locally makes for a simpler buying process, because you can physically look at the car without driving hundreds of miles or relying on cell phone pictures to determine its condition. Sometimes these cars have a bit of history among the local car guy ranks, and that's always cool.

A good way to get started in the hobby is to build a sleeper. These builds are generally affordable, because the point is to make the car look like it isn't fast. That means you don't have to spend lots of money on aftermarket wheels, slick paint, or a custom interior. A '70s Vega is a prime candidate.

A good way to get started in the hobby is to build a sleeper. These builds are generally a

Once you find the right car, it's a matter of doing what you can to make it better, whether it's complete or disassembled. If the car is a total basket case, then your best bet is to figure out the parts you need to order just to get it running. A key element to building your first Chevy is making it run and drive. This provides motivation to keep working, and certainly renews interest in a build that has fallen through the cracks over time. For any gearhead, firing an engine for the first time is a moment of many emotions, the two most prominent being excitement that it's actually running, and fear that it might fly apart. Again, challenges are part of a project car, and knowing how to handle them is a benefit of experience. Long-time car guys can give you more tips and tricks than we could ever fit in this article. Having an experienced friend to help along the way is always a good thing. Rarely does a car get built single-handedly, so don't hesitate to invite your buddies over for a garage night every once in a while. If you find it necessary, sweeten the deal with a few pizzas and plenty of cold drinks.

A great first step to keeping your Chevy on the road is a strong rear end. If you plan on any kind of performance, whether it's on the street or at the track, your rear end needs to be built to withstand the power.

A great first step to keeping your Chevy on the road is a strong rear end. If you plan on

How you choose to build your Chevy greatly affects the amount of money you'll spend. Full on pro touring builds generally cost a lot because many parts on the car need to be modified to make it handle and perform to the desired level. Drag cars are in the same boat, as enthusiasts always want to go faster and make the car perform better, for the sake of a quicker e.t. or a better launch. Building a car for any type of racing quickly gets expensive. To stay on budget, you generally need to stay on the street. Build a simple street car with the appropriate upgrades, and just have fun with it. Go to cruise nights, take it to a local car show-whatever you do, just have fun. Don't worry about the car's imperfections, and don't be afraid to point them out to fellow car guys. If you haven't noticed, part of the hobby is to talk about future plans for your car.

Wheels and tires play a large role in defining your car's purpose, and this is a good example of making an otherwise average red first-generation Camaro stand out from the crowd. Some people may not understand the mismatched wheels, but anyone with drag racing roots will love it.

Wheels and tires play a large role in defining your car's purpose, and this is a good exam

There's no specific order you need to follow when it comes to building your first Chevy. But, it definitely makes sense to get the suspension and engine worked out before the car is painted and upholstered. Some folks concentrate mainly on getting the engine dialed in, and then move to the other areas of concern-it's all about your preference, and the car's needs. Building an old vehicle isn't cheap and it isn't easy, but the process is much simpler if you're starting with something that only needs cosmetic updates, or a fresh powerplant, rather than a complete frame-up rebuild. Take the right steps, stick to the budget, and your first Chevy build will provide lots of fun, both in the garage and on the highway. From there you can update the existing setup until the final goal is met. Whether that means outrunning a new ZO6 in a friendly showdown, or toasting the field at a Super Chevy autocross event. Either way, don't forget to have fun, and enjoy the quality time with your first Bow Tie buildup.

Chevy enthusiasts have been drooling over the Rat motor since its introduction in the 1965 model year. It's a great way to make big power, but don't expect to get decent fuel mileage with it. A healthy big-block is still the ultimate Chevy mill, especially when it's mated to a four-speed transmission.

Chevy enthusiasts have been drooling over the Rat motor since its introduction in the 1965

Chassis and Suspension
Whether chassis and suspension modifications are intended for performance or looks, it's a good place to start. Detroit Speed and Engineering is a dreamer's paradise, as it produces all sorts of high-end suspension parts for Camaros, Novas, and Chevelles. For a first-time build, you may want to resist the temptation for fancy components and keep it simple with a few modest bolt-on modifications. Cutting front coil springs is an acceptable way to lower a car's ride height, and slightly increase the spring rate, offering a stiffer suspension. This doesn't cost anything but your time. For the rear, lowering springs are usually the answer, but you can get away a lot cheaper if your car rides on leaf springs by using lowering blocks. This does little to improve the handling, but you can make the car sit right for about 40 bucks-not a bad investment.

Old school Muncie and T-10/Super T-10 four-speeds are definitely fun, but low-geared muscle cars can sometimes use an overdrive to keep the engine from running hot or consuming too much fuel. Hurst Driveline Conversions modifies Tremec transmissions, like this TKO-600, to fit in classic muscle cars.

Old school Muncie and T-10/Super T-10 four-speeds are definitely fun, but low-geared muscl

For unibody cars, subframe connectors are always a good addition, especially on one that has suffered rust damage over the years. There's no doubt that stiffening the unibody structure helps with handling and overall performance, so you can't go wrong here. If your car didn't come with disc brakes, put that on your list of modifications and make it happen. Drum brakes just don't cut it for high performance cars, so this is a great place to spend a little extra money on your first project. Wheels and tires, however, have been known to drain bank accounts across the country. On that note, a bad set of wheels and tires can ruin an otherwise cool muscle car. Weigh out the pros and cons, and find a way to make your combination unique and tasteful.

Companies like CARS Inc., make reproduction interiors for all sorts of Chevy muscle cars, and that is the absolute best route to renew your car's upholstery. Custom interiors are nice, but for a first build, you should keep it simple, and a mostly stock interior is a great way to do it. Add a custom steering column or steering wheel, and maybe a new set of gauges, then hit the road!

Companies like CARS Inc., make reproduction interiors for all sorts of Chevy muscle cars,

Engine and Transmission
There's no question that the LS-family of engines is the go-to choice for power these days. Usually affordable and always powerful, the LS platform is certainly the way to go if you don't mind spending a few thousand dollars. That's if you want a brand new crate engine or even a high performance junkyard engine. However, if you want LS power with the price of a Gen I small-block Chevy, the '99-up LS-based truck engines are the answer. There are several choices for displacement, but it's common for thrifty enthusiasts to use the LQ9 (6.0-liter), which comes from the Cadillac Escalade or other large GM SUV models. You can find one of these for less than $2,000 in most cases, complete from intake to oil pan with the wiring harness also included.

Another option is to keep it simple with a Gen I small-block build, as it's still the cheapest and simplest engine to build. Big-blocks are also fairly inexpensive if you stay out of the race parts department. With all this in mind, a bone stock 6.0 Vortec engine will make around 350 hp, and a basic small block should do about the same with a mild camshaft and a decent set of iron heads-the biggest difference is the efficiency, as the late-model Vortec engine will get about 10 more mpg than an old school small-block in the same horsepower range. With the small-block, you'll save on the specialized parts needed to swap in a modern engine, like the engine-swap mounts, headers, and oil pan. It's truly a battle of pros and cons, but if your budget will allow, you'll be happier with a fuel-injected LS-style engine.

Get a budget, a plan, and stick to them. With tons of elbow grease and perhaps some help from family and friends, you can possibly end up with a finished project like this. Remember: Don't get in over your head, either financially or from a talent level.

Get a budget, a plan, and stick to them. With tons of elbow grease and perhaps some help f

Paint and Interior
Getting your project running and driving is one thing, but making it look good is also part of the fun. Bodywork isn't for everyone, but if you can do some of the work yourself, it saves a ton of money. Rust is a big issue for cars outside of Southern California and the Sun Belt, and it's impossible to combat the problem without new metal. Luckily, many companies, like Auto Metal Direct, manufacture body panels for a variety of Chevy passenger cars. Paint and bodywork are expensive, but the quality of workmanship is usually a matter of how much you want to spend. If your budget doesn't allow for a decent paint job, just leave it in primer and have fun with it until you save enough cash for the shiny stuff.

Interior is another tough deal, as custom upholstery is expensive, no matter how you go about it. Interior kits, like the ones available from CARS Inc., can restore the interior in your Chevy, and installation is user-friendly, even for a beginner. There's never a disadvantage with simply going back to stock with an interior. However, some folks resort to racing or late model OE seats if they can't find the originals, or if they want a lighter, more functional alternative that doesn't require re-covering. Add a few auxiliary gauges if you need them, install a good shifter, possibly update the stereo, and you have comfortable surroundings with a few nice details thrown in the mix.