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Classic Cars Classic Cars - Archived Discussions '64 Chevrolet Impala 
58 messages, Last post on Jun 09, 2000 at 1:34 PM
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| Didn't I read in one of the posts that you should take proper precautions before starting an engine that hasn't been run for awile? Aren't you supposed to remove the intake mainfold, and spray some kind of lubricant on the cylinder walls, to minimize the chances of cracking a piston ring (or worse) during start-up? I would appreciate a reply, because my brother-in-law hasn't started his '68 Olds 442 for about 2 years (it's been sitting in my mother-in-laws' garage). | |
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hi jp, Yes, you do have to be a bit careful with an engine that hasn't run in a long time, but I think if you just removed the spark plugs and squirted some light oil in there ( a few teaspoons) and let it sit for a while, then turned the engine by hand for a few turns (grunt!) and then with the starter with the coil disconnected (so it won't start right away), until you have a little oil pressure---then you'd be okay. I'd start it up and once it smoothes out, run it ad idle for 1/2 hour and then change the oil and flush the radiator. An oil ring can break if it's rusted to the cylinder wall, and if it's rusted hard enough, you're kinda screwed no matter what you do...but that would be unusual unless maybe the car was outdoors with the hood up and the air cleaner off (people do this, for some reason!). But I don't think you have to take the manifold off unless it was some very rare and delicate aluminum engined car, in which case you'd probably pull the engine anyway. |
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As I remember, those full-size Chevys of the '60s were in general descending order Impala, Bel-Air, and Biscayne. The differences were in body-styles and trim levels. For example, you'd never find the entry-level Biscayne in the no-pillar hard-top or convertible configurations, only post sedans. The Bel-Air used to be the top dog until the Impala line. Biscaynes were devoid of chrome trim along the belt-line and body edges, came with the small hubcaps (no full wheel covers), and did not offer the "big" motors. Very plain-Jane. The Bel-Air was the "tweener" model. Impalas had one distinctive feature in those '60s models: triple tail lamps (two stop, one reverse) on both left and right vs. double lamps on the others. My favorite Impalas in that era were the '60 and '62 models, 2-dr hard-tops. Convertibles are cool, but it rained too much in my area (140" annual rainfall). |
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prophet2.... thanks a bunch. reading your info helped me to remember a lot anout my dad's old 63... you are exactly right.. it did have 3 lights on each side. i wish he still had that car, i think he had the 327 in it becuase he always told us that he had the V8 in the impala and my mom had the 6 in her biscayne. thanks again - oscar a wiggy |
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They also had the "V" insignia on the side of both front fenders to indicate V-8 motors. A plain "V" stood for the 283 cid "small block," the "V" with the checkered flags for the 327. I don't recall if there was anything additional for the 348, 396, or 409 engines beyond the flags. I got to see a lot of them since I was a part-time gas jockey in my student days. Just talking about them brings back warm memories about cheap gas and when Chevy really was the "spirit of America." |
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Prophet, these were, indeed, available in the lowly Biscaynes. Back in those days, you could order any engine/transmission in any full sized Chevy. Above the "V" emblem with the crossed flags, the numbers "409" appeared. When I worked in the Mobil Station, we had an old lady customer who drove a yellow '64 Impala SS. It had A/C which was rare in a Chevy at that time, in our coastal area. But, alas, it also had the six cyl engine with powerglide. Later, she traded it in to the local Chevy dealer on a 68 Malibu. The Chevy dealer sold it to a Mexican guy who promptly lowered it to the ground, etc. Usually, people ordered the SS Impalas with the 250 HP 327 engine although the 195 H.P. 283's were also popular. The 300 H.P. 327 with a four speed was my favorite. Years later, I owned a 400 H.P. 409. |
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I worked at Union 76 (UNOCAL) in the mid-'60s and our minister drove a Biscayne. I suppose that it makes sense that Biscayne buyers (the church board in this case) wouldn't be likely to spend the extra $$$ on the big motors on a budget-buy car, especially for a man-of-the-cloth. Never saw any Biscaynes with anything bigger than the 283. A co-worker raced his '60 Impala (348 w/trips, 4-speed Hurst). He had a '66 Nova SS (???) for a brief spell, then ended up with a GTO (389 w/trips and the close-ratio 4-speed), after which he got married and his racing days were H-I-S-T-O-R-Y. Regarding that Impala SS with the six-banger: what a waste! :>) A lot changed when Chrysler offered the Roadrunner and its 383 in what was basically a stripped-down Satellite 2-dr hard-top. I had a Sport Satellite hard-top (318, white vinyl-top) and yearned for the "beep-beep" muscle-car version. |
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I once saw a 1962 Biscayne Station Wagon with a 409 engine from the factory. I don't know what horsepower version it was, but it had a three speed stick on the column. I seem to recall the guy telling me that he had ordered it that way because he planned to pull a trailer or something. The Roadrunners were a hell of a lot of bang for the buck! The 383 torqueflight was no slouch. But...you brought back a memory... Back in around 1970, I was a very young guy working for Sears. a co-worker sold me a VERY wierd Pontiac that had been special ordered from the factory by his best friend who sold it to him when he was sent on an all expense paid trip to Vietnam. It was a 1964 Catalina 2 door hardtop. It had the 421 engine, with (what a waste) a 3 speed on the column. It took forever to shift, but MAN, could that Pontiac haul!! And, it looked like such a sleeper! Only the "421" emblems gave it away. One night, on my way home from work, a cocky young guy from our sporting goods dept pulled up along side me in his 1969 Roadrunner and smirked at me. Well...Even with some 90,000 miles on it, that old Poncho SMOKED the Roadrunner! He never spoke to me again... |
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Served him right! He deserved every smoke he got being dusted. A tour company had some '64 Catalinas in service (non-stretchout versions), but with the normal V-8s and 3-speed automatic. They had nice lines for those days and were very roomy. By the way, was it the Malibu (Chevelle) that was like the Roadrunner (stripped muscle-car) when GM put out the "Heavy Chevy" back in the early '70s? |
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As I recall, the "Heavy Chevy" was a very basic Chevelle with the bigger engine. But, I think it came out around 1971 or 1972, after the smog regulations gelded all of the power away. Mr. S, do you remember? |
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