Modifications to 1965 Chevelle conv

[Stovebolt]

Greetings. I’m new to forum. Question about my 1965 Chevelle Malibu convertible. Not numbers matching. It is a survivor. Good: all cabin and trunk floors are rust free with no patches at all. Sheet metal very good condition. Small rust repair from wheel well to bumper on lower rear quarter panels. Original bench seats, upholstery has been redone. Nice but not high dollar. New manual top. 350 sbc engine & 700r trans professionally built. Exhaust, cooling, brakes, fuel system etc all redone. My question do I keep updating with buckets and console, power top, A/C , or just enjoy as is. I know Malibu’s do not sell like SS but my children aren’t interested so I’m close to having to sell due to age and life.

 

[JohnC]

Nice looking car. I too have a manual top. I’ve seen used power top frames going for $1000 on classifieds. If you already have a new top on your car I don’t think it would be financially wise to get a power top frame. I’d be afraid your new top might need to be redone and you wouldn’t get your money out of the upgrade when you sell.
I can’t comment on adding Vintage Air. Might depend where you live. In the south it’s almost mandatory, in the north it’s more of a luxury. I like the upgrades you’ve done so far including the OD transmission.

I too converted a bench to buckets and regret it. I just like the bench. Nothing wrong with buckets. A pair of original buckets that need to be redone completely will push $1000 plus cost to completely redo them. A console that needs work will be $600 plus. In my experience repop consoles are pretty shitty.

 

[kmakar]

Let it ride and enjoy it. Looks good just like it is.

 

[cheveslakr]

That's a gorgeous 65, can't remember if I've ever seen that color combo but it works.

 

[cage2592]

I say drive it and enjoy the way it is. Id only worry about changing or upgrading when its time to replace something. It ends up being a snowball though.

 

[spinshop]

As said, color combo is nice and, I would just enjoy it the way it is.
I see you have power steering. THAT is a big upgrade right there for these cars. IMO.
I did mine last year and it is the best thing I did.

 

[Nashville Cat]

I prefer buckets and a console, but it's a very expensive mod ! $2500 ?
If you can find a deal on those parts, go for it. But only if you like that look.
I think it dramatically changes the sportiness of any interior. Not a fan of a bench seat.

 

[cheveslakr]

I sold my last '65 floor shift console for $800 and that was several years ago.....probably a $1000 piece today.
The repops are plastic, but some may not care? Myself, I prefer the bench/4speed look but being 6-3", a bench does sit you higher and that's a concern no matter if it's convertible or hardtop.

 

[Nashville Cat]

I sold my last '65 floor shift console for $800 and that was several years ago.....probably a $1000 piece today.
The repops are plastic, but some may not care? Myself, I prefer the bench/4speed look but being 6-3", a bench does sit you higher and that's a concern no matter if it's convertible or hardtop.

He would also have to change the steering column to a floor shift model. Changing to buckets is EXPENSIVE !

 

[cheveslakr]

.......and it wouldn't be correct. Had to order the SS in '65 to get the buckets.

 

[Shovelrick]

Changing to buckets, console, steering column and shifter would look nice but be expensive

 

[Stovebolt]

Nice looking car. I too have a manual top. I’ve seen used power top frames going for $1000 on classifieds. If you already have a new top on your car I don’t think it would be financially wise to get a power top frame. I’d be afraid your new top might need to be redone and you wouldn’t get your money out of the upgrade when you sell.
I can’t comment on adding Vintage Air. Might depend where you live. In the south it’s almost mandatory, in the north it’s more of a luxury. I like the upgrades you’ve done so far including the OD transmission.

I too converted a bench to buckets and regret it. I just like the bench. Nothing wrong with buckets. A pair of original buckets that need to be redone completely will push $1000 plus cost to completely redo them. A console that needs work will be $600 plus. In my experience repop consoles are pretty shitty.

Thank you for info. New top cans on frame I had to buy new front bow. I didn’t know power and manual frames were different. My manual top does not pop-up like when new. So I’ll keep what I have-works well. Buckets I have a very nice with low back no head rest but not 65 chevelle buckets. Console I have is a 1966 Gto. So my bench needs new everything but is in good condition except old. Thank you for info.

 

[Nashville Cat]

In my experience repop consoles are pretty shitty.

Aren't they the only choice we have ? The chrome is almost always gone on original consoles and most were plastic and difficult to get rechromed.
I bought a 2nd hand repop and painted it. It had some misalignment problems (I think that's why the guy sold it to me).
I hogged out some screw holes and realigned the hinges on the lid. Took me about one hour.
It came out good for about $550.
I see people buying old corroded unrepairable consoles for $500.

 

[JohnC]

Alwhite sold a 67 console on the OCS and I was kicking myself for having not noticed the ad because he sold it for a song and I would have paid more than he was asking.

I bought a repop console kit and was really displeased with the quality so I put it on a shelf to deal with later. I did find someone who was selling a console base in good shape for a decent price. It also had one of the top chromed pot metal trim pieces that would need to be redone ($$$) so for now I plan to use the original base and cobble together other used and new pieces to complete the console.
Couple years ago a guy was selling a restored console for a thousand on eBay but not sure how well it was done. Seems like $800 has been the price I’ve seen for consoles that need work. Even at that price pot metal is almost certainly pitted.

 

[Nashville Cat]

Alwhite sold a 67 console on the OCS and I was kicking myself for having not noticed the ad because he sold it for a song and I would have paid more than he was asking.

I bought a repop console kit and was really displeased with the quality so I put it on a shelf to deal with later. I did find someone who was selling a console base in good shape for a decent price. It also had one of the top chromed pot metal trim pieces that would need to be redone ($$$) so for now I plan to use the original base and cobble together other used and new pieces to complete the console.
Couple years ago a guy was selling a restored console for a thousand on eBay but not sure how well it was done. Seems like $800 has been the price I’ve seen for consoles that need work. Even at that price pot metal is almost certainly pitted.

I think the chrome along the outer edge is plastic. The square piece around the shifter is probably pot metal.
I've never seen an original that's salvageable. All are corroded.

 

[cheveslakr]

I've had a couple of the '65 consoles and the '66 versions as well. Both are hovering around $800 for a good, but not great manual version. Restoring the chrome is very expensive, really not worth the cost imo, so finding the best oem chrome is the most important. The entire top is pot metal on a '66-'67 console and the only difference in the two is the seat belt clip mounted to the top plate on a '67.

 

[Nashville Cat]

I've had a couple of the '65 consoles and the '66 versions as well. Both are hovering around $800 for a good, but not great manual version. Restoring the chrome is very expensive, really not worth the cost imo, so finding the best oem chrome is the most important. The entire top is pot metal on a '66-'67 console and the only difference in the two is the seat belt clip mounted to the top plate on a '67.

Someday I will buy and mount a couple of seat belt plates on my console.