1968 Chevelle SS 396 Nut & Bolt Frame-Off Restoration 138 Vin 4 Speed Beautiful

1968 SS396 Chevelle

138 VIN, Clear Title Barn Find

Frame-Off Complete Nut & Bolt Restoration. Has been driven about 100 miles since completed earlier this summer. Was originally a 396/325 Horsepower 4 speed car. I have returned it to a Muncie M-20 car and upgraded the horsepower with cam and headers to about 365 hp. Returned to original Butternut Yellow, ordered without the Stripes common on the Super Sports (Stripe Kit from OPGI is included with the car though).

Car is all original sheet metal except for passenger quarter...replaced due to several bumps and creases that were filled instead of fixed properly by previous owner. Professional body work by 45 year veteran body man. Car is laser straight with no bondo or rust.

Car was stored in a dry barn 20+ years according to previous owner. Frame and floors are spotless and solid. Zero rust. Car was purchased new in Montana. At some point the engine was replaced with a 69 engine and a turbo 400. When found 5 years ago (or so) the guy I bought it from put in a non-numbers matching 68 396 completely professionally rebuilt and drove the car about 5000 miles before selling it to me.

I pulled the engine since I was doing a restoration and checked the build. It was quality. Crank has been turned 10 over and the block bored 30 over. I replaced all the gaskets, installed a Summit Racing 1301 mild hydraulic cam, a newly rebuilt 750 CFM QuadraJet carburetor, new HEI Blueprint distributor, MSD wires, high volume Melling oil pump, high volume water pump, new fuel pump, new 4 core aluminum radiator and shroud, new alternator and starter, rebuilt power steering pump, upgraded Comp Cams springs on the heads which were also professionally rebuilt (these are 396/427 heads) with new seals, seats, valves, rocker arms, and retainers (Comp Cams). Runs great on 91 octane. Hot idle oil pressure is 30 lbs and 55 to 65 lbs cruising speed.

As noted, complete frame-off restoration. Less than 100 miles since completed earlier this Summer. I've probably forgotten a few things, but here's the overview of the car:

Originally Butternut Yellow, the new paint matches the original but is base-coat/clear-coat. One gallon of each on the car. Body was prepped by a retired autobody pro; a hammer and dolly guy. Has numerous primer coats (epoxy and polyester) and was repeatedly block sanded before being painted. The gaps are excellent. Doors close like new. I did the color sanding starting with 1000 and finished with 2000. You could still sand it again...there's plenty of clear on it. Buffed with 3 grades of compound and finished with a hand glaze. Will need to be waxed and perhaps buffed once more after curing.

Right quarter panel was replaced due to a crease that was filled with bondo. Floors are immaculate. New hood and hinges. All new SofSeal weatherstripping. All new window fuzzies.

Interior was originally black and has been updated with new seat covers, console top and lid, carpets, door panels, package tray, headliner (a couple minor wrinkles), glove box insert and light, dome light, etc. Has new instrument panel with original gauges. All work. New Bosch Retro Tach and Gauges (Oil, Volts, Water). Gas gauge is not as accurate as I'd like, but the sender is new, as is the gas tank. New ignition and headlight switches. Original AM radio (doesn't work, but I am diagnosing now); new dash speaker and antenna. Dash pad is Original and Perfect! Visors are Original! Rear lower door panels are Original! (minor scuff if you look hard, but no one has noticed yet). The car was always garaged so no sun damage to plastics. Could have probably re-used the seat covers but they just weren't quite good enough. Seats were rebuilt with new foam and padding underneath the new seat covers. New rear view interior and exterior mirrors. All windows go up and down; new windshield.

As mentioned, car was originally a 396 4 speed. I rebuilt the console (when they converted it to an automatic they broke the console mounts)....it's solidly installed now with new 4 speed components (boot, tunnel, etc.). M-20 Muncie is a 1968 vintage (not matching numbers) that was rebuilt with new synchros, bearings and seals. I rebuilt the Hurst Shifter. Car goes thru the gears perfectly with new Clutch and original 396 168-tooth flywheel that was turned by my machinist. Car has power steering, power front disc brakes (In-Line Tube 14 inch wheel conversion kit). I rebuilt the frame and suspension using mostly Moog parts including a-arm bushings, tie rod ends, idler arm, ball joints, etc. Rear 4 link was rebuilt using polyurethane bushings. New Monroe shocks all around. I went thru the 12-bolt (non-posi) 3.42 ratio rear-end and added new bearings and seals. Has QA1 coilover shocks up front so you can corner carve and also adjust the ride height of the car.

Trunk is freshly painted, has a non-original bumper jack and spare tire, plus trunk pad.

Body side molding is new. Bumpers are new from Ground-Up (I don't think the quality is what I expect...but they look fine). New Tail light bezels. Original lenses. Rear trim is original and shows a little wear but still looks good. I repainted the original grille and added a new SS396 emblem on the tail. There is not a nut or bolt on the car that wasn't inspected, refurbished or replaced. I have the receipts. You could not have this car built for what I am asking.

The frame was cleaned and painted. Rear brakes were rebuilt with new wheel cylinders and shoes. Underside of car body was cleaned on the rotisserie, but I left the spot undercoating they shoot on cars on the assembly line to dull road noise. I just cleaned and painted it with satin black. Frame is straight. I had the front end aligned, added new front brake lines, and of course new master cylinder, power brake booster, and proportioning valve. The previous owner installed the exhaust so he could drive the car, so the 2.5-inch turbo muffler system has 5,000 miles on it. I added the correct, factory optional, chrome exhaust tips.

All lights work. New headlights. Engine harness and Dash Harness are new from MH Electric.

Most replacement, refurbished or new parts came from Ground-Up, OPGI, Summit Racing, and/or General Motors/Delco. I have the receipts; over $10,000 in new parts! I did the mechanical and electrical work. Runs great (I haven't opened it up yet); starts great.

New heater core and new 4 core aluminum radiator with shroud. Car runs a constant 190 degrees even with 95 degree temps outside. Heater/defroster/fan all work perfectly. Heater box was restored.

Driveshaft was rebuilt with new heavy duty u-joints, balanced and painted.

Car comes with buyer's choice of wheel tire combos. The SS factory Wheels with Cooper Cobra Tires (these from the previous owner so they have about 5,000 miles on them), Cragar SS wheels with 4 very good/new tires (Cooper Cobras on front), or a new set of TA Radials with original Torq Thrust wheels.

I'm sure I've forgotten a few things. Though there are a couple things that could be improved, this is basically a brand new car. I have a ton of pictures for the buyer, along with the receipts. I am asking less than most would ask for a Chevelle of this quality. Luckily I can do most of the work myself which cuts down on labor costs significantly. Use the eBay system to request more information or pics.

I have been selling on eBay since it began and maintain a 100% Positive Feedback Score. Car is sold as is and buyer is responsible for a Paypal Deposit (or full payment). I can store the car for up to 30 days and will help with loading. Transport of car is buyer's responsibility. We are only 20 miles from Interstate 90 just south of Missoula. Trucks can turn around here. Thanks for bidding! (Please don't ask what the Reserve Price is...it's quite fair).

On Aug-13-18 at 06:42:39 PDT, seller added the following information:

Heads are 290's (396/427), pro-rebuilt with Comp Cams springs and retainers to match the cam. Also, all body mounts are new polypro; bolts were so good I was able to clean them and re-use...that's how clean the car was.