Words: Tommy Parry
Billy started this build filled with frustration. His previous attempt at building a four-door Chevy had ended when he'd realized the G-body’s frame wasn’t going to end without some serious modification. Rather than throw in the towel completely, he figured he could salvage a few parts and start anew. With plenty of vigor but lots of time constraints as well, Billy took an S-10 chassis he’d grabbed in Northern Georgia and started tinkering.
The S-10 Chassis is c-notched with a cantilever four-link in the rear, tubular a-arms and 2" drop spindles. Though the chassis was in decent shape, Billy broke out the pressure washer and doused the chassis before grinding down a few rough spots on the frame. After the advice of a friendly chassis builder, he boxed the frame at the shackle mounts for a little more integrity. Finally, Billy installed a set of airbags at each corner.
As Billy was mocking the new frame up with wheels and fenders for fitment, he had something cooking on the side. The original ‘40 body was then braced and cut loose from the old frame. Once the body was sat down on the frame, it looked just about right. At this point, he decided to give it a name: “Eli.”
Instead of stretching the frame to fit, Billy opted to shorten the body by 5”; he wanted a coupe. First, Billy relocated the door post 6” ahead of its original position, then moved the lower window channel and tweaked the a-pillars to match the 10” windshield on both sides. Finally, he added a few relief cuts to the rear so he could bring the roof down and remove the rear hump.
Then disaster struck. Billy’s projects, and much of his life, were put on hold when a drunken driver pulled out in front of him and caused him to total his truck and break his fibula. Set back and unable to get much done, Billy had to funnel his funds towards getting better, as well as wait until his leg healed.
Unwilling to sit idle for long, Billy bought himself a knee scooter to stay semi-mobile, though things had been reduced to a crawl. However, he was still able to pick up a new arc welder, which he painted; he also added a new axle and a new set of wheels. You just can’t keep some guys down.
Three months later, he found himself a dash from a ‘59 Impala, and then he had to start determining his powerplant. His options are either a 1969 381, sourced from a Corvette and making somewhere around 400 horsepower, or an LT1 with all its computer controlled drivability.
The choice won’t be an easy one to make, but with a stiffened chassis, a compact and sporty body and supple ride from the air suspension, whichever motor he chooses will help tie up a tasty machine. Billy isn’t the kind of guy who’ll roll over when confronted with a setback, and when he gets the time to finish ol’ Eli, no doubt it’ll turn heads wherever it goes.