69 Chevelle SS...decisions

[Chris_69_SS]

Hi all,

1st post here (sound of bell ringing).

I have a Non numbers matching 69SS. Car now has a 454 and made 600hp on the dyno with Oval port heads and a flat tappet cam (runs 11.30`s @ 120). It is a nice cruiser and looks day 2 if you can dig it (sorry, I just couldn;t resist).

I am in the midst of doing the body work and am at the following fork in the road. Do I:

A) put in an 8 point roll cage to keep it safe (I only go to the track 1-2 times a year)

B) no cage (and hope to keep it shiny side up) and just keep it as a hot day 2 street car.

Just thought I would ask you opinions.

I am going to paint it tuxedo black and may add the ss side stripe.

for those that are interested, it was built in Canada (Oshawa)and cam as follows:
front disks, buckets, Z25 SS trim, 396/350, M21, 3.55 posi, lemans blue with dark blue vinyl top, parchment interior, PS, PB.

[TDW]

Hey Chris...Welcome to the site. If it only sees the track once or twice a year, I wouldn't put the cage in it. Black 69's. I like em.

[rat tuned]

my vote is for no cage at 1-2 times per year. black with white side stripe. torq thrust on rear with m@h cheater slicks. torq thrust on front with redline tires. i also love day 2 type cars. best of luck mike

[Charley Lillard]

Redline tires and red side stripes

[m22mike]

Ditto to what Charley said

[Donnie]

No cage
and put the LeMans Blue back on it with the side stripe.

[Jim_Becker68]

I would keep it very close to the way it looked as delivered. There are not that many cars left that retain their as delivered look and equipment. Tires and wheels are minor. Paint and equipment is another.

I have seen many cars with added on options. I have seen too many cars with options such as air conditioning with the system in pieces and hacked up because the guy had to add some fancy chrome or other mods and their was no room or way to reconnect the air.

Engines are another area where people start adding the bright and shinny stuff and chuck the original GM parts. Its getting to where I swear that less than a half of the preserved cars still have their factory intake, carb, valve covers and air cleaner.

If your car was a no engine, no trans, needs every body panel repaired car, I would say do what you want. But, you have an original SS that is pretty original and its getting hard to find original cars. Keep it original, for down the road if circumstances ever force its sale, it may be worth more and an easier sale.

[Chris_69_SS]

Thanks for all of the replies.

As for color, I am not CRAZY about lemans blue and at any rate, when I bought the car it was black and I loved it...always regretted going to the current blue.

I understand the opinion that has been echoed regarding resale value down the line but this has never, nor will it ever, be a deciding factor in any automible decision. I strongly beleive in enjoying what I own for me and not the next guy. I do undersatnd what you are trying to say though, and appreciate your input.

I like the idea of torque thrusts & red lines with the red side stripe. Wonder how that stripe would look though with a parchment interior?

I`d say wheels are gonna be cragars or TT`s...we`ll have to wait until spring. Tried a set of S/S`s on my buddy had and here is how they looked...


As fopr bolt on stuff, I have the following Sun Super Tach, bouyght NOS with chrome cup and orig bracket. It is going to look killer...

[TDW]

Chris...There are a couple of pictures of my Black 69 with the TT wheels on it somewhere in the members section, if you want to see what it would look like with them.

[jeff morocco]

heres the link

69 L78 SS w/ TT