Black 1996 Impala SS

S

ssmokn

New member
OK, first the disclaimers.... I'm an amateur detailer only working on my own vehicles and an occasional family member (or helping a friend with labor to do their car -- they have to sweat with me to get an appreciation for what is involved). My hat is off to you guys that do this for a living. I can't believe how you take some peoples disgusting vehicle and bring them back to life. This is back breaking, tedious work. I learn a lot here mostly reading and very occasionally posting.



Here are some pictures of my 11 year old Impala SS. I'm getting ready to sell it (time to move on to other projects) so I'm going through the car top to bottom to get it sale ready. It is factory original paint.



My goal has always been to keep the car looking near stock. Walk softly and carry a big stick. The drivetrain is a 396 cubic inch LT1 mated to a very well built stage 3 vacuum modulated 4L60e. Dyno verified 440HP at 6K RPM and 525 lb. ft. torque @ 2.5K RPM at the crank. Runs mid 12's (12.5 repeatedly pretty much any day at the track) in full street trim (only change is Nitto drag radials on steel rims -- and the tires do 180 degree rotation on the rim on launch :) they need to be screwed but I don't race much so I never bothered).



Anyway, to the prep...:waxing:



  • Washed twice using Meguiar's Gold Glass (two bucket method using a Costco microfiber mitt)
  • Clayed entire car using 3M clay and GC and water as the lube
  • Presta Chroma Ultra Cutting Creme, wool pad, Makita circular
  • Presta Chroma Swirl Remover, Ardex yellow foam (medium cut), Makita circular
  • Presta Chroma 1500 Polish, Ardex blue (soft polish) pad, UDM orbital
  • Washed twice using Meguiar's Gold Glass (two bucket method using a Costco microfiber mitt)
  • Jeff's Workstat Prime Acrylic applied with foam pad
  • Jeff's Workstat Acrylic Jett applied with foam pad
  • Waited 2 days and washed with P21S bodywork (two bucket method using a Costco microfiber mitt). The car was uncovered in the garage and pretty dusty
  • Second coat Jeff's Workstat - this time I went with Acrylic Jett Trigger (I like the non-Trigger better. I find it easier to work with) applied with a foam pad
  • All exterior glass and rubber around the glass cleaned with KAIO
  • Rubber trim treated with 303 Aerospace Protector
  • Tires cleaned with Maxi-Clean APC (CAR Products) and dressed with

    Eagle One Wet Tire shine applied with a foam tire wipe

CIMG0429.JPG




CIMG0430.JPG




CIMG0431.JPG




Hood shot looking down at the top of the hood

CIMG0432.JPG




CIMG0434.JPG




CIMG0435.JPG




CIMG0436.JPG




CIMG0437.JPG




This is a shot into the rear left door.

CIMG0438.JPG




Similar to above but included the rear door handle as a reference.

CIMG0439.JPG




Gratuitous engine shot :chuckle:

CIMG0457.JPG
 
The older mid ninties Impalas are awesome cars. I think you do amazing work man, very nice job. Thank God your not a pro or somepeople in your area might be getting nervous. Very very nice work!
 
That is a fantastic job man!!! I dont really care for older impallas, but I would drive yours any day of the week!
 
Great work and a pure sexy car.......



Just out of curiosity, where are you and what will you be asking? What's the mileage? I've got a friend who's in the market for a black 1996 model. Although I shouldn't tell him, I don't want him to have a faster car than my 1995 Z28:chuckle:
 
ncsu602 said:
Great work and a pure sexy car.......



Just out of curiosity, where are you and what will you be asking? What's the mileage? I've got a friend who's in the market for a black 1996 model. Although I shouldn't tell him, I don't want him to have a faster car than my 1995 Z28:chuckle:
Click to expand...



Actually I wasn't trying to turn this into a sale thread. The car is 99% sold already. A local Impala guy that I've know for a few years should be buying next week. There is a ton other stuff going with the car including the original motor and trans which are untouched. If you want more detail PM me and I'll fill you in but like I said it is pretty much sold barring this individual changing his mind.



I do love pulling up next to Corvette's and Mustangs at the track. They give me a funny look when I put the helmet on. They laugh me off at first. Then after the first round they come up to me and say "darn what did you do to that thing". After that they line up with someone else.



There are lots of faster Impala's these days but mine is a nice combination of subtle, streetable and fast.



Thanks guys for all the nice complements. It is nice to share with people that can appreciate the hard work that goes into detailing.



I'm really in awe of you professionals that do this for a living (especially the top notch ones that many of you are). This really is hard work and to do it fast and efficiently so you can make a buck takes talent.
 
ssmokn said:
Actually I wasn't trying to turn this into a sale thread. The car is 99% sold already. A local Impala guy that I've know for a few years should be buying next week. There is a ton other stuff going with the car including the original motor and trans which are untouched. If you want more detail PM me and I'll fill you in but like I said it is pretty much sold barring this individual changing his mind.



I do love pulling up next to Corvette's and Mustangs at the track. They give me a funny look when I put the helmet on. They laugh me off at first. Then after the first round they come up to me and say "darn what did you do to that thing". After that they line up with someone else.



There are lots of faster Impala's these days but mine is a nice combination of subtle, streetable and fast.



Thanks guys for all the nice complements. It is nice to share with people that can appreciate the hard work that goes into detailing.



I'm really in awe of you professionals that do this for a living (especially the top notch ones that many of you are). This really is hard work and to do it fast and efficiently so you can make a buck takes talent.
Click to expand...



Nice SS. I have drooled over those since 1995.
 
PrinzII said:
Nice SS. I have drooled over those since 1995.
Click to expand...



I hear you. I remember seeing the first prototype Impala at the NYC auto show (was either Easter weekend in '93 or '94) whenever they had the prototype there I can't remember.



I stopped and took one look at it and said I'm getting one of those some day. Back in '87 I wanted a Buick Grand National (or a T-Type) so bad. I was still in school and I could barely afford the car but the insurance was the nail in the coffin. That was a big reason why I bought my Impala in '96 -- if I didn't I'd still be kicking myself like I am with the Grand National -- man do I love the GN's. That was (is) one mean six :)
 
ssmokn- Wow, great job on a great car :xyxthumbs Nice to see original paint in such good shape too.



I'm a bit of a '94-'96 b-body fanatic myself, and that's one *VERY* cool setup! I really go for your understated approach with solid mechanicals. Heh heh, black caliper Wilwoods, huh, that's what I went with too...you get 'em from TCE?
 
Accumlator: They are not TCE brakes (but similar). The hub and mounting bracket was custom made. You probably know the guys from MBA (Mallory Billet Aluminum) since you are a B-body fanatic. They are very good friends of mine and they made the hub and bracket. They modified a rotor hat (re-drilled for the Impala patter). The remaining parts (Calipers, pads, rotors are off the shelf components) and the new hub uses a stock bearing. There are only two sets of these brakes ever made (these particular hubs and brackets). One set is on Paul Roswell's car and the other set is on my car. At one point Mallory was thinking of offering a brake kit but then decided against it. The six piston Wilwoods are nice. I've got a street pad in there now but with the Coleman rotors I'm using they like to be heated up before they really bite.



Dave1: Not going to replace it with anything for now. I've got too many cars already. Looking forward to having one less vehicle to care for for a while. I've got a Z06 in my sites for some day but right now I'm not going to buy anything.



Thanks again to all for all the complements. It is really nice to share the pics with people that can appreciate the hard work that goes into trying to keep our cars looking nice.
 
I was thinking. I'm surprised that some of you B-body afficianados haven't commented on the coil-on plug conversion. That is probably one of the most unique mods to this car and overall pretty rare relatively speaking in the '94 to' 96 Impala scene. Uses LS1 coils (they are actually truck coils but interchangable). Bob Bailey's (GM engineer) LTCC box performing the electronics work (and has very trick built in function for timing retard adjustment which is great for nitrous or blown applications). My favorite part of the conversion is the custom anodized aluminum mounting hardware (again from MBA) and one of my good buddies (Scott Peitzsch -- electrical engineering genius and another long time Impala guy) did the wiring which totally integrated the LTCC wiring into the factory harness using factory Packard connectors. The install is extremely clean.



I better sell this car quick before I change my mind :). My buddies have all been trying to talk me out of it but I have gotten to the point where I'm just not interested in the car anymore. I like it a lot but I've done all I want to do and now I'm looking on to other projects.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top