Hi from Minnesota

by boysatt Mon Mar 12, 2012 10:17 am

Well I'm building my first 73 Chevelle, so I figured I would join the forum to share my progress and get tips and information.

My project started out with a 73 Laguna, 1 owner car, lived its whole life south of Chicago, looked fairly clean until I took it apart. Interior was almost perfect except needing carpet. Unfortunately during disassembly the car got worse and worse. Complete rear window frame rusted out, tail light panel rusted, quarters rusted, fenders rusted, doors rusted, and frame and suspension were rusted pretty thin. Brake and fuel lines rusted, etc...

I spent 6 months trying to find a doner car so I could still build a 73. In my area these chevelle's are non-existent and if you do find one just as rusted. I wasn't into spending 5k on another 73 to tear apart. I ended up finding a 100% rust free 75 chevelle that the owner recently relocated from Las Vegas with. Body was the cleanest I have ever seen and engine was a recent rebuild. So for a Grand I had a doner car. Wasn't quite the same as a 73 but close enough to modify it to be.

Currently I have welded in the parts to use the 73 quarter windows and working on welding in the 73 tail light section. Big issue is I cannot fint a tail light panel that isn't full of holes.

Here's some pics of my project

The 73
Hi from Minnesota Img_0610

The 75 Doner
Hi from Minnesota Img_0612

Mods to windows
Hi from Minnesota Img_0614

by Joe73 Mon Mar 12, 2012 10:40 am

Cool project !!! Just fyi, the 73 frame and tail panel is a one year deal. 74-77 use the same. The difference is how the rear bumper bolts on. The 73 bolts to the sides of the frame while the 74-77 bolt straight on. Also the 74-77 have removable tail panels while the 73 is all metal and part of the body. Just FYI. Good luck with it and post up progress pics.

by Wallyuph Mon Mar 12, 2012 10:45 am

Welcome from another MN person. Where abouts are you located?
Looks good keep up the good work.

by Mcarlo77 Mon Mar 12, 2012 12:03 pm

Welcome to the site from yet another MN member! Hey, I may have what you're looking for. Got a '73 tail light panel. It's not from a rust-free car...but, doesn't have any holes in it. Live in Eagan if you want to come take a look.

Hi from Minnesota 73tail11

by 74MonteCarlo Mon Mar 12, 2012 12:13 pm

Cool cah! Love the 73 Laguna.

by 77mali Mon Mar 12, 2012 5:17 pm

Welcome aboard. Looks like you guys have enough for a MN Chapter!

by 1973 454 MONTE Mon Mar 12, 2012 5:23 pm

welcome aboard

by ant7377 Mon Mar 12, 2012 11:22 pm

Welcome ,have fun welding ! You'll get it done!

by boysatt Wed Mar 14, 2012 2:44 pm

Thanks guys for the welcome. I'm in Moorhead, MN on the ND border. I restore cars for fun, and after finding the 73 laguna I thought it would be fund to rebuild one. So far its been a easy job except finding that rear clip section. I will post more progress pictures as I go. I just finished up blasting, painting and rebuilding the front and rear suspension, firewall, and frame.

by Graham Perkins Sun Mar 25, 2012 10:30 am

Welcome to G3GM, I know what it is like to deal with rusty cars, I live in Ontario Canada. Unless the cars weren't driven in the winter from new or almost new they are just totally rotten. I have had to get my cars from the southern USA ,because I can't weld to save my life lol.

Graham

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