1968 cheap Impala purchase for kid?

[tacit fern]

I know my way in and around a classic engine, but nothing hands on, I keep wanting to find something to work on to get hands on, but it’s usually bought before I get to it, this went up this morning, 1968 Impala for 1.5k and is only a roller, but comes with BOTH a big block and small block 350, the description is unclear whether its put together, would an engine build be a good way to start? Have watched many videos on them, this is extremely far fetched for me seeing as I have no engine hoist or stand or anything of the sort, but I have friends who work in garages and am potentially going to work in one myself here soon.

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/177216628714151/

[lost star]

Taking it apart an engine is a good start, but putting it back together; I wouldn’t do.

That’s machine shop work

I would just take it apart the best u can and give it to a machine shop with the modifications you want on the block or head or what u want refurbished

Engine work is very precise and not for beginners. Tolerance is way too tight for DIY unless u got the equipment

And that is a lot of expensive equipment

[tacit fern]

Issue is is it nearly as expensive as shop?

[lost star]

Some equipment can be 40k

So no lol

What is your engine rebuild budget

[tacit fern]

What exactly is 40k, its not like I’m doing anything professionally, do I need more than my parts and seals? And engine hoist and stand

[lost star]

$40,000

[tacit fern]

I know LOL, I was meaning what equipment

[lost star]

I wanted my rb26 cam caps redone and no shop had the money for the machine. Needs to be really long for i6 cam caps and is diamond encrusted on the drill

[lost star]

Just what is ur engine rebuild budget, u will spend more on equipment than giving it to a shop

[tacit fern]

I have about 1.3k in my account, should be getting another couple hundred in my pay check, my mom owes me 640$, potentially find a loan from my brother, not nearly enough for a shop

[lost star]

Ya, ur gonna need to save up. How old are u? I would just keep on saving before doing something like this

My engine rebuild is gonna run me 20k

[tacit fern]

I have about 21k in sleds I was gonna sell this winter and finish flipping them, but have family coming this Christmas

[lost star]

Well wait till u have the money before going into this

Don’t wanna get pinched

[tacit fern]

Not like I have bills or anything

Am 16

[lost star]

Ya, u still want savings though

Not good to have a low savings

Even waiting a few years for more cash on hand is a viable option I would consider

Cause labour and shop cost alone on my cylinder head is 3k

So I would save up and get a nice bank account going. U won’t regret that.

[tacit fern]

How much would you estimate it would be to put together the engine and then change the bay to fit a big block and drop it in

Also probably need to buy a trans if its a roller 🤔

[tacit fern]

Is 21k enough?

[lost star]

Even less would probably be enough. I am completely redoing the entire engine. So I am spending the big buck. Also a more expensive engine to mod. I feel like u could get away with 10-15k for a proper engine rebuild

[tacit fern]

An engine rebuild is 2-5k though no?

Ive a yukon suburban with a heavy knock they said would be like 3-5k to rebuild

V8 5.7L or something

[lost star]

Well what do u want done. I am talking in general with parts + shop expenses

[tacit fern]

Drop a working engine in it, Ill do trans and stuff myself

If I find a trans before engine drop, Ill have them do that too ig

But AC and stuff really isn’t hard to figure out

Before AC I need body work done

Cant tell in the foggy morning pictures, but its not in the greatest of conditions

Its 150 miles away in the closest city unfortunately

[lost star]

So ur just gonna drop a stock engine into it. Like a swap?

[lost star]

I would just delete ac, that is what I did. Easier that way

[lost star]

Make sure I do it right. Metal working is key. What is the damage. Just a repaint or some rust?

[lost star]

Shouldn’t be too bad to tow

Sorry for getting back late; was in a convo

[tacit fern]

Yeah, it comes with both a big and small block 350

[tacit fern]

True, windows exist, heating is a must however where I live

[tacit fern]

Unsure, if you look at the pictures on the post, it was taken before dawn this morning, I think he’s expecting it sold by tonight judging from his “Probably will change mind tomorrow, better hurry.” Which probably will happen ngl with the value of classic impalas

Its just normal that it happens, he did weather protection and stuff however

Tarped up trunk and covered door and window seals

[lost star]

was talking about both heating and cooling, ac in general. just got heated fans instaled for defrosters. Also i would only reccomend a full resto as a 'summer car'

as salt and slush on the road will ruin ur body work over time; same with gravel chips

[lost star]

i would like to know what he mean by weather protection. if it is rubberized, u gotta remove it. its garbage and will let corrosion build faster.

[lost star]

ohh i see

not much weather protection though

[lost star]

1 in or both out

[tacit fern]

Both out

Empty bay

Look at the fbm post on my original paragraph

[lost star]

Srry mb

Ya that is quite a bit of work

With body and everything gonna be a good piece of dough

[tacit fern]

And it has no mention of a trans, where should/could I find one btw?

[lost star]

Fb marketplace

[tacit fern]

Someone bought, I knew it was gonna happen, parents refused to listen

[flint blade]

GG @tacit fern, you just advanced to level 9! Chat more to level up and earn top roles!

[lost star]

I mean dude u are quite young, that is a full time project. Don’t know if you know how deep and long stuff like that takes.

[tacit fern]

I understand, I have plenty of time on my schedule when you have an underfunded school that doesn’t care

[lost star]

Better to research more and grow ur skills and tool box; just see it as extra time to grow ur skills rather than wasted

[tacit fern]

I work on engines all the time too, just not car engines

[lost star]

Automotive engines are quite different; especially brand v brand engines.

Swapping a cylinder head on a car alone changes a engine a shit ton