We're Back to Work

We're back to work on the Chevelle after a long summer break. After finishing an absolutely flawless paint job, Jamie Davis of Jamie Davis Restorations bolted the body onto the chassis, and returned the brilliant red Chevy back to the ATC.
We have 4 classes of anxious new students, along with a few familiar faces returning from last school year. One of last year's students, Adam Lee, has already started installing the Painless wiring harness. Adam's really been impressed with how every circuit is clearly labeled for a seamless installation. He says he feels like a pro already!

The students of 1st block

The students of 2nd block

The students of 3rd block

The students of 4th block

Representatives from Hot Rod, Somernites Cruise, PUI Interiors, the instructor and students. The door panel is part of the interior kit donated by PUI Interiors.

Meanwhile...in the paint booth...Jamie Davis works his magic.

The engine, blower, and transmission in place for the first Somernites Cruise of 2009.

Installing the headers

Bolting up the blower

Preparing to bolt the engine into the frame.

Jim Harris and Gib Gosser, from the Somernites Cruise team, talk to a few of the Automotive Technology students about the "Classics in the Classroom" project, and the Hot Rod magazine Power Tour.

This is a photo of the right front air spring and control arms we installed. Everything bolted right up, and other than cutting the frame to accomodate the larger diameter springs, no modifications had to be made.

Here are a few of the guys preparing to bolt up the differential housing.

This is a group of students working on mounting the air springs to the rear end. Only the students that maintain an A average can work on the project car. That's a great motivator!

Installing the motor mount brackets.

This is a better view of the frame after being boxed, repaired, sand-blasted and powder-coated. What an improvement!

Here's a shot of the frame, fresh from the powder-coater.

Powdercoating the frame.

The sandblasted frame.

Welding the frame.

The frame is ready to be repaired, reinforced, and then sent out to be sandblasted and powder-coated.

Stripping parts down to the bare frame.

Carrying the old body outside to the scrap pile.

Lifting the junker body off the frame.

Preparing to remove the body from the frame.

Getting Started

After we removed the body from the frame, some of the Welding students boxed parts of the frame, and made a few repairs. Then, we sent it out to be sandblasted and powder-coated. When the frame got back, the first component we installed was the air suspension from Air Ride Technologies. We had to cut the frame's upper coil spring mounts in order for the new air springs to clear. Even though the installation manual gave instructions on the procedure, we were pretty nervous about slicing on our freshly powder-coated frame! But it turned out to be fairly painless. Next on the list is our disc brake conversion kit.

The Chevelle as the students first saw it.