Unfortunately this is where my restoration work stopped for a few years. I had other things that needed doing, moved a lot, and time seemed to just pass me and my Chevy by. I knew the next upgrade I wanted for my muscle car was to install some form of upgraded posi-traction differential for the rear-end, but I lost contact with the local Chevy guru who was helping me out with parts and advice, and didn't feel comfortable tackling this project on my own just yet. My "diamond in the rough" Chevy got mistaken for abandoned a few times and towed from my apartment complexes, and even sat alone in the desert for months :(
Finally everything came together when I came across a GM 12 Bolt rear-end for sale in the paper, and I decided I'd waited long enough to get back to my Chevy. This is exactly what I wanted for the car and had a local shop put it in for me, along with new axle bearings and an Eaton posi-traction unit with a 3:55 gear ratio, perfect for low-end torque and fast launches, yet decent highway cruising in 4th gear.
After I made a few minor tuneups, new spark plugs, cleaned the carburetor, and had the gas tank acid washed to clean out 40 years of crud, my muscle car was drivin' smooth and finally ready for the body shop for some minor body work and a fresh coat of paint. But what color?...