She leaves it up to me..as long as it doesn't cost too much!!! Haha ya right She's thinking satin finish Torque Thrusts,power brakes,ditch the cowl hood,and drive the shit out of it
I would not do the poverty caps on a top of the line car. Also, while you always get the "drum brakes work just fine if you set them up right", they are not as good as discs, which I always out on my old stuff. I think that in all cases, (especially in the wet), discs stop straighter, quicker, and don't fade like drums can. I had a 61 Impala, and the least little bit of rain made wiped out the brakes. I never go with power brakes, but your wife might like it better. Nice car, get a stock hood on it, though.
X2,go to discs.Drums won't stop you from eating the car ahead of you. She's going to be hauling your KID. No shortcuts!
Wish I had a 63 Impala. Anyway chuck the hood, sell the Cragars and put chrome reverse on with thin whitewalls. Lower an inch or two. Most important improve the brakes, me I'd keep the manual and add a dual reservoir MC, but it's your wife and child, add power brakes and front discs. PS? Also add radial tires and upgrade the suspension. You have to make some compromises.
I'm going to do the front discs and a 8" or 9" power booster. I want it super safe. Any kits you guys recommend?
Check out http://www.autocityclassic.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=20&Itemid=61 I got the front discs and power dual master for my 62 there. Great value. Fits in 14" Rallye's just fine. IMO opinion the stance would be perfect with 14" wheels up front and 15's in the rear. Body color painted Rallyes with police caps can't be beat. Ask me how I know. The one thing that most disk kits do is relocate the steering arms. Screws up the ackerman and your tires will scrub at low speed. This guys systems aren't supposed to do so: http://www.ebay.com/itm/1959-1960-1961-1962-1963-1964-IMPALA-ORIG-LOCATION-DISC-BRAKES-no-offset-/190693110869?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item2c6631f455&vxp=mtr#ht_1824wt_932
[ The one thing that most disk kits do is relocate the steering arms. Screws up the ackerman and your tires will scrub at low speed. This guys systems aren't supposed to do so: http://www.ebay.com/itm/1959-1960-1...ies&hash=item2c6631f455&vxp=mtr#ht_1824wt_932[/QUOTE] I'm going to order the kit off E Bay. Thanks for the info!
I'm going to leave the 14" Cragars on it for now. It needs tires due to them being all cracked up from sitting around for years. I'd like to put a 1" or so taller tires on it to get the RPM down a bit on the highway and get the front end up some more. Not a ton of choices in 14" if you guys have any ideas? It has BFG T/A's on it now with these sizes 215/60r14 fronts 24.2" tall x 6.8" tread 235/60r14 rears 25.1" tall x 7.4" tread
I would look into what you can get in 14" first. Then do the numbers on 15",etc and compare. I think the brake conversion will work with 15s but I'm not sure all 15s will work. Nice Car! Larry
S10 or Malibu discs work with 14's as long as they aren't real wide wheels. How big a hole is under that scoop? Can you just cut it off and fix it?
I'd like to keep the 14" size so I can run my stock wheels if I want so I found a disc brake kit that will work with them so thats the route I'm going to go. I've never been a Cragar SS fan but they are growing on me. When I buy new wheels they will be 15" I think...but still undecied on what wheel I would ever buy. Maybe a set of chrome reverse?? Have any pictures of them on a lowered 63??? Yes its a pretty big hole that they cut for the cowl
Run the Cragers with some 1 inch whites and drop the rear just bit... I agree w general opinion above to loose the cowl hood too! Nice car tho man, enjoy!
That's what I'm thinking. 205/70-14 fronts and 215 or 225/70-14 rears. I'll gain some height in the rear to get the rpm down a bit but loose some width over the current 60 series on there now
Here are chrome reverse wheels. Take that hood off (springs too) and take some pic's outside to see this car in real light. Doubtful you will lower it. So it (theme) will gravitate towards Jr Stock/muscle era correct?
I sold the Cragars off my car. I'm going to run the stock wheels with spider caps. I'm having trouble finding 14" tires though. I'm thinking 205/70r14fronts and 215 or 225/70r14 rears. Not having much luck
Why not bias plys? I have the BFG 800x14s on mine and really like them. The car rides/drives great with them
I looked up 215/70/14 on tirerack.com. They listed five tires. I have not bought from them. There are probably other vendors also. Larry
I'm finally getting back to working on my wife's car. I bought a disc brake kit for the front but will need to run 15" wheels to use it. I'm thinking of just going to the wrecker and getting some 15"x7" steel wheels off a gbody or similar and run a set of tri bar hubcaps or spider caps. I'm trying to decide on tire size Current 14" size on the car are 215/60r14 and 235/60r14 but I would like to go atleast 1" tire all around. What's a common 15" tire to use anymore that I could get easily if I ever blew one in the middle of no where?
What width were the Cragars on this? Do you have any side shots of it with them? I personally love Cragar SS's on these Impalas.
This is the wheel choice I decided on. I'm going with 15" Torq Thrust D's. I wish I could get more info from the owner of the car on widths and tire sizes. It looks perfect in my opinion Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I finally got some wheels ordered up. Ended up going with Halibrand 5 spoke 15"x6" fronts and 15"x8" rears. Tire sizes are 195/65-15 and 225/70-15. It's the identical setup that Roadsir(Eric) had on his 62 Wagon. Here are a couple pictures of his car.Thank you Eric for all the info Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk