[Danny Rossa]

I’m sharing my 1995 Impala SS Junkyard Rescue Restoration Project. I bought this car over a year ago bombed around in it and, I decided to do a body off frame restoration. I am not a Pro I am doing this project to learn new skills and actually complete a project of this magnitude. I gained a lot of knowledge and gotten a lot of accurate info from this site and would like to document my restoration here. Here is a video of the car when I first went to look at it. I’m broadcasting from Hartford Connecticut USA. I’ll be updating as I make progress.

 

[MWP]

Hey, Danny--that's fantastic. I took a look at the second "rest stop" video on Youtube, and see you have a couple of others. It's great that you saved it from being parted out and crushed. This'll be a fun project to watch. Thanks for adding it to the forum.

 

[Danny Rossa]

Hey, Danny--that's fantastic. I took a look at the second "rest stop" video on Youtube, and see you have a couple of others. It's great that you saved it from being parted out and crushed. This'll be a fun project to watch. Thanks for adding it to the forum.

Yes I started making a whole series on YouTube in order to document my progress.
Here is the video that you mentioned. Thanks for watching!

 

[Danny Rossa]

Some pics of when I started:

 

[96SOLM]

Oh wow. You are going all in. I’ll check out the tube n sub

 

[Danny Rossa]

Getting ready to separate body from frame

 

[96SOLM]

Have to admit I got stuck binge watching your channel. I’ll have to clean up my grill too, lol.
I appreciate your take on tackling projects and just life in general, a git r dun kinda fella.
Looking forward to seeing this build through.

 

[1lowss]

Nice work, good thing you saved it from crusher, we gotta keep them whales on the road.

 

[Marky Dissod]

While the body is off the frame is THE best time to:

1. BOX THE FRAME! Cannot stress this enough (pun intended).
2. Body Bushings (especially the ones you'll notice GM intentionally left missing).
PolyGRAPHITE has all of the advantages of polyurethane, and none of the drawbacks. I've heard of some wacky creative solutions based on the fact that our frames basically date all the way back to 1977.
3. Either a tow hitch, or anything that ties the rear frame horns together in the same manner as a tow hitch.
It's about frame rigidity, towing is strictly optional.
4. Dick Miller Racing Rear Triangulation Braces. Removes stress from the rear upper control arm connection points.
5. Front Swaybar Reinforcement Plate. Functions like a 'wonderbar' by tying the front frame horns together.
6. (Something else to add more rigidity to the front frame / suspension that I apologize for forgetting).

 

[Danny Rossa]

Have to admit I got stuck binge watching your channel. I’ll have to clean up my grill too, lol.
I appreciate your take on tackling projects and just life in general, a git r dun kinda fella.
Looking forward to seeing this build through.

Thanks for watching!

 

[Danny Rossa]

While the body is off the frame is THE best time to:

1. BOX THE FRAME! Cannot stress this enough (pun intended).
2. Body Bushings (especially the ones you'll notice GM intentionally left missing).
PolyGRAPHITE has all of the advantages of polyurethane, and none of the drawbacks. I've heard of some wacky creative solutions based on the fact that our frames basically date all the way back to 1977.
3. Either a tow hitch, or anything that ties the rear frame horns together in the same manner as a tow hitch.
It's about frame rigidity, towing is strictly optional.
4. Dick Miller Racing Rear Triangulation Braces. Removes stress from the rear upper control arm connection points.
5. Front Swaybar Reinforcement Plate. Functions like a 'wonderbar' by tying the front frame horns together.
6. (Something else to add more rigidity to the front frame / suspension that I apologize for forgetting).

This is exactly the reason I joined this forum. For real sensible information on upgrading these cars. Yes I am looking into all of these options. I am looking to improve the handling of these cars. I live here in Connecticut and we have many winding roads that I find myself on. I would greatly benefit from the handling upgrades. Thanks for the input.

 

[Danny Rossa]

 

[Marky Dissod]

I am looking to improve the handling of these cars. I live here in Connecticut and we have many winding roads that I find myself on.

More than enough data about springs shock dampers and swaybars here.
That said, if you compare other GM frames to ours, it becomes clear that GM left out several things that Aunt Cester and Aunt Tique would not notice or care about.
Come to think of it, how many Caprices Roadmasters and Fleetwoods are still driving around with stress cracks in the frames hidden by the body holding the frame together?

 

[1lowss]

I love to binge watch try to make longer more detailed videos of your build.

 

[Toms9C1]

Save the Wales Danny ! lol Watch most of your vids. Fixed the brakes in my 94 9C1 yesterday and tackling a no start issue with the 96 RMW tommorow. Keep the updates coming !

 

[Danny Rossa]

I’m getting closer to separating the body from the frame. Everything is disconnected including body mounts. Got my engine hoist out of storage. Now begins the precarious task of pulling lifting the body off frame. Things have been very busy at work and been hot rodding my kids power wheels (dewalt battery upgrades) makes them super fast for power wheels. I am going to attempt to pull the body with out removing the engine from the frame. I haven’t quit yet!

 

[Danny Rossa]

 

[1lowss]

Great job Rossa, keep them videos coming.

 

[angelo]

Hi Danny, nice thread and vids ! If you haven't got a plan for body dolly maybe check the C3 section of the vette forums, as i've seen tons of threads talking about home-made ones. CorvetteForum - Chevrolet Corvette News and Rumors

So how many miles does it have ? Is the plan to just restore so runs like a car with 30K miles on it or you hot rodding it a little ?

BTW i'm in CT too.
-ALF out...

P.S. Nice play on words with the "Finestra" sign. ;-)

 

[Danny Rossa]

Great job Rossa, keep them videos coming.

More coming for sure! Thanks for watching.