Issue
June 2020
Owner
David fravel
Ride
White Lightning
(1963 chevrolet impala ss)
(1963 chevrolet impala ss)
Meaning Behind the Name
It just fit the car, really no meaning behind it.
Photographer
nick
Ride Details
Original Cost
2500 in 1963
Build Cost
45,000
What was the inspiration?
I always loved the lowrider style of cars but never had the extra funds to where I could build one the way I wanted. Got myself financially stable and knew it was time to start the build. My late grandfather was a huge old school car guy, he had passed before I got the vehicle but he is the one inherented the love for cars from.
How long did it take you to build?
3 years
How long have you been building?
I got into the autobody trade at 18 and painted my first car at 19. When I was a child I used to paint all my die-cast hot wheels and was always building models cars and entering them in competitions at local car shows. Currently have 21 years in the autobody trade and a fulltime painter for a company named Crash Champions collision repair team out of Columbus Ohio.
Club Affiliations
COLLECTIVE C.C.
Your future plans?
would love to build another old school impala, ranging from the years 1960 to 1966
Vehicle history
vehicle was owned by an older gentleman for the last 30 years and originally came out of south Carolina when I purchased it in 2017.
Thanks to
wife Christina fravel and James ronnie nutter for helping with the inspiration.
Previous Rides
1987 box chevy, 1998 trans am ws6, buick gran sport, multiple bikes including 1998 Honda cbr, 2006 kawasaki zx-12, 2008 Hayabusa, 2008 softail deluxe and 2016 road glide special
Engine Details
Make
327 small block chevy 1963
Cylinders
8
Displacement
327
Engine Mods
bored block to a 331, comp cam xe274 cam, dart heads, weiand intake, holley sniper fuel injection system, magnaflow exhaust
Engine Add Ons
Update full engine and body wiring harness from American autowire, 24kt gold exterior trim accents and 24kt gold plated 100 spoke tru wire wheels from tru spoke in California.
Chrome or polish
OG stock look, no chrome on the engine
Driveline Details
Torque Converter
2500 Hughes converter
Axle
moser
Gears
3.36
Chassis Details
Chassis
stock x frame
Mods to Frame
Stock frame
Drop or lift inches
Adjustable Air ride
Front Shocks
ridetech
Rear Shocks
ridetech
Spindles
stock
Springs
no springs just airbags
Compressor Info
Dual Viair 444c
Airbag Info
bc fab air ride kit with airlift 3p management system
Other Mods
Ridetech tubular rear control arms, cool car y-bone
Chrome, Paint, or Polish
paint
Wheels Details
Front Wheel Type
tru wire 24kt gold
Rear Wheel Type
tru wire 24kt gold
Front Wheel Size
13x7
Rear Wheel Size
13x7
Front Tire Size
155/80/13
Rear Tire Size
155/80/13
Paint Details
Color
factory ermine white
Paint Type
ppg water-based basecoat clearcoat
Painted By
david fravel
Graphics By
Body Details
Body Mods by
david fravel
Interior Details
Dashboard
stock original
Gauges
stock original
Steering Wheel
stock
Console
stock ss console
Head Unit
retro sounds
Amps
alpine pdx on subs and NVX monoblock on subs
Speakers
polk db mids and highs, kicker l7 Solobaric subwoofers
Stereo Installed by
david fravel
Shifter
stock original
Seats
stock original
Trunk or Bed
trunk
Upholstery Description
all original survivor interior with recently installed new carpet. Everything in the interior is original from 1963.
1963 Chevrolet Impala SS Custom
Owned by: David Fravel
Photos by: Nick Means
