[toonwarrior]

This build is a loose interpretation of what I would have wanted the car to come out with factory with. Which means upgrading it to be a fun car but within the boundaries of staying stock somewhat.

I picked up the car on July 11th of 2019, single owner, had 63000 km on it equivalent to 39000 miles for about 12000 CAD which in USD at the time was 9k.

Unfortunately the owner kept the plates and any custom plate I tried involving SS did not go through.

 

[toonwarrior]

The first mod I did came in October of that year which was a 2.5 inch catback.

Had a local shop install it for me, I think if I was in that position again I'd have gone a CIA setup so I could upgrade to their headers easily but what's done is done. Solo performance mufflers.

Kinda liked the tips hidden.

Impala SS Exhaust

1994 Impala SSStock CatsStock Exhaust ManifoldSolo Performance MufflerInstalled by Zoro Muffler

www.youtube.com

 

[toonwarrior]

Big fan of the clear corners so I had to get those, bought the from rob perez.

Brake flush done in december of that year. Nasty looking.

 

[toonwarrior]

The car essentially stayed stocked for sometime after that and did a ton of road trips throughout the year with it.

All the way until October of 2020 where things started to get more out of hand.

I scored a set of cannuck lowering springs for around 150 CAD which is like a 100 bucks USD.
I decided with the change of the springs I'll address the car with new shocks, a powerstop brake kit, sway bar end links and inner/outer tie rods (had the center link done initially when I bought the car).

 

[toonwarrior]

Oh man when I finally lowered the car I knew it was just perfect.

 

[toonwarrior]

I then scored a K&N setup for 30 bucks and threw it on.

I ended up removing it due to the car running rough like a month later however the issue wasn't really the CAI, I just had a bunch of vacuum leaks I addressed that will be addressed in later posts.

So back to the stock.

 

[toonwarrior]

In december of 2020 I started messing with LEDs.

Kinda wish I never went down that route now haha. Just a pain in the arse if don't know what you're doing like me.

Current state is side marker disabled so inner switch back signal works. LED headlight I'd recommend but not the signals.

I do plan on putting the turn signal regular bulbs back and stock flashers back I think, I personally like the side marker and sequential functionality.

 

[toonwarrior]

I scored a BMR front sway bar and boxed UMI control arms for 200 CAD total.

Then I did something dumb which was buy a used belltech rear for 200 CAD. I don't know why I just didn't buy a BMR rear as sway bars should be used in sets.

Went and installed everything.

Somehow managed to install the front sway bar just using a box wrench through the frame holes. Took sometime to do

The BMR rear sway will be something I plan on fixing sometime next year of 2022

 

[toonwarrior]

Fast forward to february of 2021, I notice the WP leaking, probably has been for sometime.

New seals and WP pump in, replaced the harmonic balancer also, probably not needed but wanted it to look nicer.

I noticed one of the o rings on the waterpump I pulled off missing so probably the culprit to the whole thing.

 

[toonwarrior]

In April decided to upgrade the interior lights to LEDs, no idea why but I did like the outcome of it.

 

[toonwarrior]

During this time I was chasing down vacuum leaks.

Culprits were actually a few hoses, but the main one being the intake manifold was only addressed months later.

 

[toonwarrior]

With a ton of play in the steering now I replaced the steering shaft with this

Also new tires, liked the fat walls of the 255/50/r17 tires so went with a set of nittos.

 

[toonwarrior]

Serviced the evap canister and hoses

 

[toonwarrior]

With the car so low the stock bump stops were making it really rough to ride around on.

I trimmed the ZQ8 bump stops improperly, however they provided a much better ride anytime it hit the bump stops (i.e over rough roads)

Will address that later on also.

 

[toonwarrior]

I do like how the red badge contrasts with the rest of the car so ended up buying that from Rob perez.

 

[toonwarrior]

Long story short: I manual swapped the car.

After having the urge to drive a muscle car with a stick the thought of the SS with a manual trans was so cool. I would have done somethings differently had I do it again.

Had a shop install the 4.10s.

Upgraded to a tick short throw shifter, note that without a custom made relocation bracket you will end up hitting the side of the center console. And I stupidly cut that part of the console.

Will get that addressed

 

[toonwarrior]

Body bushings, do them if you haven't. Made a huge difference in the car feeling tighter for me atleast.

Finally addressed the intake manifold leak. Reshaped the harness, and installed an SLP intake that I picked up for a 100 CAD. Definitely needed the CAI with the manual swap, didn't like the K&N one so will re-sell that.

 

[toonwarrior]

Picked up a z28 canadian cluster and got the harness from Jim downum.

Still need to connect the tach, just missing the tool that allows you to easily install the pin.

Upcoming items:
Aluminum driveshaft
A center console cover to hide that nasty cut
Boxing the frame
Re-alignment
Front balljoints

And whatever is needed to autocross this car reliably

 

[toonwarrior]

Thank you.

Really after the upcoming mods I've listed above the car will just be maintained. The only addition maybe being CIA headers and 1.6 roller rockers but definitely not any time soon.

My goal is to start try some autocrossing next year with it. I realize it is a big car in the end so I have my expectations set.

I see many people upgrade and upgrade then eventually sell the car for something faster in the end anyways. Aslong as I can beat on it reliably I'll be happy.

 

[toonwarrior]

You need to find yourself a 1996 Impala SS center console.

View attachment 201539

Unfortunately it costs about 500 USD now from threepedals, and probably another 100 more just for shipping so that's out of the question.

I went to a shop recently to get a custom console overlay, still waiting to receive it but once I get it we'll see how it looks. Just hoping I can make it look as stock as possible.