Found a car to buy

Damn that looks nice

That car is going to be sweet!

I'm know I'm really lucky to have found this '63 but I still wished I were doing this with a '60 (or a '59). But it is what it is. I could not pass up the car. SOOO. It be a gasser soon. Mark L

Just thought of a good personal license for this thing. "1OFNONE" . Mark L

Latest updates. Still waiting to get the car into the chassis guy. He figured Sunday but said it may be sooner if he gets projects done. Looks like Sunday still. Good news is I got my GRP aluminum rods in. Shure is purddy!


Mark L

Damn! Are you going to have to do some grinding on that 60 block?

Should not have to. My 455 had BME aluminums with no grinding. The shorter 3.75 stroke should be fine. Mark L

Damn, I know for a 4.25" crank in a 389 you have to do some slight grindage

It is one thing that needs to be check regardless that my 455 cleared. But all should be fine. There is a spot I believe the front passenger corner that may interfer with the front counterweight. But with a 3.75 stroke it should be good. Mark L

Dropped off the Cat at the chassis guys place today. Should not take too long. Then I can get my mock up motor and trans in place to see how far back I want to place the motor, and start cutting the firewall. Then plan out the new firewall/doghouse and possibly a custom dash. If I can swing the added cost of an airconditioning system I may add that in too, so I can really enjoy this thing all year long. Have to look real close at that. Also got a used posi unit today for the '63's original rear end in case I use that for the build. Mark L

I'll take that posi if you don't want it...

You have first dibs if I sell it. I paid $250 for it out of Oklahoma and 26 shipping. MArk l

Called Speedway today and ordered a full drum to disc brake conversion for the '57 beam front axle. It also gets me back to a 4 3/4 bolt pattern. Mark L

Progress!!!! Must be nice

Received all the parts to the Front disc brake kit for the beam axle today. The chassis guy cut off the old frame and had 60% of the front end done. The plan is to pick up the car Wednesday. Pics to come. Mark L

Hell yeah!

Found a pic of a '62 Chevy gasser that is very close to right on what my vision of a '63 Catalina would look like. With the exception of the blower mine would be twin turbochaged with the down pipe coming right down just like the headers on the Chevy.
Mark L

Damn that will be sweet

Well I went and done did it. No turning back now.







Well what ya think??? Mark L

I like! that is going to be sweet!

Added most of the disc brake conversion today. Have to finish that tomorrow. I also sanded and wire brushed as much of the original front frame as I could and treated it with a rust preventative. Then I sprayed a little paint on some of the new frame rails. The cross bar was a little rusty so that got treated as well. Hopefully I'll get a chance to paint everything up front tomorrow.


Mark L

Damn that's bad ass!

I got the front disc conversion done today except the brake lines. They have to wait until I know where everything is going to fall into place. I also painted everything up front to finish it off.




I'm now debating cutting and moving the engine back. It adds cost and time ot the project but more importantly it may paint me into a corner on any future engine changes like a blower or tunnel ram/fuel injection system etc. Something that would not fit under the dash firewall cut out. I think I've already talked myself out of it. That allows me to step right into cleaning up and doing the firewall instead of cutting and all the rebuilding work/time.
Mark L

With the big ass tires youre going to run you won't need any engine set back so it would just be more trouble than it's worth


Damn that's lookin good

Received my stainless steel headers today. Now I'm commited to a single turbo. But that will make things a heck of alot easier.



And placed the slots and 28X10.5X15 slicks in their proper location. With the Catalina at a level stance.




Once all the engine and metal parts are all installed on the car it will probably drop a little in the front. Then to stay level the rear will drop just a little also. That will be the look.
I'm waiting fo rthe splayed 4 bolt caps to come in. Then I can take all my parts down to Tucson (Paul Carter) so they can continue to work on the block. I set up a starter adaptor on the midplate that I'm using for an engine/trans adaptor. I have to take it to the actual block down in Tucson to make sure everything is the same. Once all is acceptable I can put together a mock up block trans front/midplate assembly to drop into the engine bay for engine fitment and header fitment. I should have all kinds of room. I'll have more pics when I get that far. Mark L