Impala in my driveway

Hoofer B

Well-known Member
Well I ended up trading my 96 Volvo semi tractor even for that 66 Impala SS I told you all about earlier. I am happy, he is happy. The wife thinks we should keep the car. Its in better shape than what I thought it would be.
 
When I was in high school, A kid had a black 66 SS 4 speed, think it was a 327 with some unheard of hp. It would pass everything except a gas station. But back then gas was very cheap.
 
The 327 was actually quite economical. Indeed, 327s routinely returned better MPG than did 283s in similar sized cars.

The highest HP 327 available in a full sized Chevrolet in 66 was the 327/300 (might have been derated to 275 by 66). Higher HP versions were either the 396 or 427, both of which were much less economical.

Dean
 
back in spring 73 , I was 16 ,,shop teacher had a red 66 SS Impala White Interior , 327 - 4 v with power glide tranny , buckets seats and console with snow grips and spoke spinner hub caps,,48 thou miles ,,he was asking 700 ,it was a beautiful car,, I asked if he would take 6hundred cash after another kid backeddown ,,from You Jim ,. Sure , He said ,,I was overjoyed and went to the safe to get my money .. My Dad said NO !,he wasn't letting a chevy in the drive . besides . We got enuf vehicles in the driveway , and I was welcome to drive anything he had if I needed to go someplace ...I listened and yielded to Dad,and turned it down ,,..20 yrs ago that car appraised for 25 K ..don't know where it is now...
 
When the wife and I got married she had a 64 Chev. four door sedan with a 283. I had a 64 Chev. 2 door hard top with a 327 four barrel. Both were Impalas. Mine got better gas milage then hers.
 
Congratulations. You made the trade, investment, never regret it. Yesterday I happened across a young lady out and about in her fathers '65 390 Ford Fairlane GT 4 speed convertible with era correct chrome reversals and red wall Delta wide ovals. Was always a Chevy guy when it came to muscle cars, but always respected anyone that honestly tried whether I was partial to their brand or not. This car was mint, and mint muscle cars from the real muscle car era still exist. They are out there, and you have one. Congrats, and get her in good shape for those enjoyable and memorable Sunday cruises with your better half.

Mark
 
Dean,
Don't remember if it was a 327/427 or the hp. Just remember it was a sleeper car. Looked like a family car, would out run most cars, put down some rubber, it was a real sweet hot rod.

My old memory isn't what it once was. Want to say it had 12:1 compression, I THINK. If that was the case, lead gas back then, may be an issue with keeping the chip munks out of the engine with today's gas.

I had an old 62 XKE with the gold head, 9.5:1, I THINK. It required minimum 97 octane or it had pre-ingnition.

That said, they are still real nice cars.
George
 

In '67 two guys in our town of 3000 had fairly hot Chevys. A 65 SS 427 Chevy and a 66 SS 396 Chevelle. One night they went out to race. I was in the Chevelle which was overhauling the Chevy near the end of the 1/2 mile straightaway, but the 427 won. i have lusted after one of those Chevelles ever since.
 
Not being critical...but my 1970 Motors manual does not list a 427 as being available in 1965. It was available in 1966. The most powerful 327 in 1965 is listed as 375 hp, the 409 had 400 hp.
 
(quoted from post at 05:31:58 06/24/13) Not being critical...but my 1970 Motors manual does not list a 427 as being available in 1965. It was available in 1966. The most powerful 327 in 1965 is listed as 375 hp, the 409 had 400 hp.

It is my recollection that my impression at the time was that the 427 was not original to the car but was in it when he bought it two years old.
 
(quoted from post at 08:31:58 06/24/13) Not being critical...but my 1970 Motors manual does not list a 427 as being available in 1965. It was available in 1966. The most powerful 327 in 1965 is listed as 375 hp, the 409 had 400 hp.
A special 427 cubic inches (7.00 L) version of the 409 engine was used in the 1963 Chevrolet Impala Sport Coupe ordered under Chevrolet Regular Production Option (RPO) Z11."
 
True but they have always been extremely rare..

No RPO Z11 409/427s were sold for street use.

GM pulled the plug on factory sponsored racing efforts as it was being developed. Fewer than 50 cars were built with the engine and sold to drag racing teams. Another 200 or so engines were sold across the parts counter.

In 1968 I bought a Z11 camshaft throught he parts department at the Chevrolet dealer where I worked for a friend of mine who put it in his 409/425. IIRC, it cost $24.**.

Dean
 
The 327/375 FI engine was always a Corvette only engine.

The highest HP 327 engine available in full sized Chevrolets in 65 was the 327/300, itself a sleeper as it was underrated.

Higher HP 327 engines produced HP at higher RPMs and were cammed to do so. Manifold vacuum was deemed unsuitable for vacuum accessories and low/mid range engine torque was unsuitable for automatic transmissions, most common in Impalas.

The 409 was sold in 1965 Chevrolets until January (February?) when the 396 became available. The 400 HP rating was the same as the HP (big head) 64 version with a single 650 CFM Carter AVS (AFB) carburetor. GM dropped the 2X4 (425 HP) option in 1964, though quite a few were retrofitted.

Dean
 
I had my 62 E for about 30 years. Went over the engine once. I was saving it for my retirement project to do a total off the frame, what there is of it. The doctor told me to get rid of cars and go to a truck, a SUV or have spinal fusion. That's when I realized I was too old to get in and out of the Jag. Plus in it's day regular gas was 97 octane. Jag liked the good stuff. I was looking for another head with lower compression. Couldn't find one. Had to retard the spark to quiet the chip munks in the engine.

That's when I ran across a guy from Chicago that restores Jags for a living. I sold it to him for 4x what I paid for it. No regrets. I hope he got it restored and it makes someone as happy as I was.

It's a wonder I didn't get killed in it. After the rebuild, I went for a test drive. Went to pass a person. Punched the gas and almost rear ended him. That's when I decided to turn before hitting the pedal. There weren't too many cars that could keep up with it. Perhaps the GTX might on top end.
George
 
OK, '66. I must have heard wrong, or maybe she did and told me wrong. Beats me, but being 48 years old it was nice.

Mark
 

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