The Chevelle project is ticking along nicely, and we’re getting closer to the pointy end of the build. Plenty of hours have gone into the finer details lately, from sorting the interior to making sure everything fits just right under the bonnet. Here's a quick look at what we've been up to over the past few weeks.
Modern Seats, Classic Shell
The electric BMW seats are now mounted and ready to be trimmed in black leather to match the rest of the interior. They're a nice balance of comfort and function, and should lift the cabin once the rest of the trim is in place.
Manifold Mission
Getting the blower manifold and injectors working with the Proline race heads took a bit of figuring out. Big thanks to the Landon Bros for cracking on with this part — they’ve done a tidy job. The engine itself is finished, so it’s now down to wrapping up the manifold, injection and blower install.
Exhaust Nearly Buttoned Up
The exhaust system is pretty much done now, just a bit of work left around the independent rear suspension. It’s been a bit fiddly in places, but everything’s fitting up well.
Rear Seat Sorted
The rear seat frame has been modified to clear the larger wheel tubs and is now ready for trimming in black leather. We’ve added new 3-point seatbelts all round the car to keep everyone safe at the speeds this car will be capable of.
Wheel Clearance Check
We’ve been checking wheel-to-guard clearances (following a wheel alignment) with the wheels at full lock & bump — near things like the AC lines — and everything's clearing nicely. A bit of guard reshaping was reqd due to the 315-18 front & 345-19 rear tyres, once again, Shane from Pyes Pa Panel Shop has done an awesome job.
Plumbing All Finished
All the plumbing down the left-hand side — AC and water — is now finished. It’s come together cleanly and should make future servicing straightforward.
Blower Drive Finalised
The blower drive is finished and in place. We’ve also got the twin throttle body adapter sorted — it’s currently 3D printed but will be machined from billet alloy to match the final design.
Panel Fit-Up Complete
Most of the panel work is now complete. Bumpers, lights, and guards have all been fitted and adjusted to make sure everything clears under load or full steering lock. It's sitting pretty now.
Interior Work Next
There’s still a bit to go on the inside. With the roof being chopped by an inch, there’s some extra work to do around the trim and glass. We’re also building a full custom dash to house the new digital cluster, AC controls and stereo gear.
Door Mods Underway
We’re mid-way through modifying the doors and latch mechanisms to suit the late-model handles we’re fitting. Once that’s sorted, we’re getting close to a dyno session — then it’s off to Taupo for a proper shakedown.
