2xwvr9c10og magzus.org by Thomas Swift

All Chevy Performance ISSN 2767-5068 (print) ISSN 2767-5076 (online) Issue 26 is published monthly by In the Garage Media 370 E Orangethorpe Avenue, Placentia, CA 92870-6502 Postage paid at Placentia, CA POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: All Chevy Performance c/o In the Garage Media, 1350 E Chapman Ave #6550, Fullerton, CA 92834-6550 or email ITGM at subscription@ inthegaragemedia com Copyright (c) 2022 IN THE

DEPARTMENTS 8 F I R I N G U P 10 PA RT S B I N 14 C H E V Y C O N C E P T S FEATURES 16 E XT R E M E ST R E E T Jason Stills’ ’56 Chevy 150 32 O L D S C H O O L I S WAY C O O L Garr y Gallo’s ’55 Chevy 50 S M O OT H Brad Mrstik’s ’57 Chevy 150 64 S PA R E C H A N G E Paul Coppola’s ’02 Z28 C amaro 78 S P L I T W I N D OW Sam Smith’s ’63 Cor vette Sting Ray Restomod TECH 24 L S U P G R A D E I N A B OX We Put FiTech’s Ultimate LS System to the Test on the Dyno 40 O I L S L I N G E R Replacing the Axle Seals in an Early 10-Bolt Rearend 58 B R I N G U P T H E R E A R A Simple Over view of Rear Suspension Design, From Leaf Springs to IRS 70 G R E AT G U N S High-Zoot Paint From Affordable Equipment EVENT 84 2022 M U S C L E C A R A N D C O RV E T T E N AT I O N A L S Rare GM Muscle C ars Show in Rosemont , Illinois [ 3 ] ALL CHEVY PERFORMANCE VOLUME 3 • ISSUE 26 • 2023 InTheGarageMedia .c om ACP TOC ON THE COVER We s p o tte d J a s o n S t i lls ’ go rge o u s ’ 5 6 C h e v y 1 5 0 a t la s t s u m m e r ’s N S RA S t re e t Ro d N a t i o n a ls i n Lo u i sv i lle, Ke n t u c ky T h e s o u n d o f t h e ca r a t c r u i s i n g s p e e d g ra b b e d o u r a tte n t i o n , s o we k n e w i t wa s a n a b s o lu te b a d a s s w i t h o u t e ve n li f t i n g

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P h o to s by To m my Le e

DIRECTOR BRIAN BRENNAN bbrennan@inthegaragemedia com

NICK LICATA nlicata@inthegaragemedia com

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TIM FOSS tfoss@inthegaragemedia com ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER & OPERATIONS MANAGER YASMIN FAJATIN yfajatin@inthegaragemedia com MANAGING EDITOR & AD COORDINATOR SARAH GONZALES sgonzales@inthegaragemedia com ART DIRECTOR R O B M U N OZ rmunoz@inthegaragemedia com ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT PAT R I C I A LU D I p l u d i @inthegaragemedia com EDITORIAL TEAM Wes Allison, Rotten Rodney Bauman, Shawn Brereton, Tommy Lee Byrd, Ron Ceridono, Grant Cox, John Gilbert, Tavis Highlander, Jeff Huneycutt, Barry Kluczyk, Scotty Lachenauer, Jason Lubken, Ryan Manson, Jason Matthew, Josh Mishler, Evan Perkins Richard Prince Todd Ryden Jason Scudellari Jeff Smith Tim Sutton, and Chuck Vranas – Writers and Photographers ADVERTISING Travis Weeks Advertising Sales Manager Mark Dewey National Sales Manager Patrick Walsh Sales Representative John Viscardo Sales Representative ads@inthegaragemedia com IN THE GARAGE MEDIA ON THE WEB AllChevyPerformance com ClassicTruckPerformance com ModernRodding com InTheGarageMedia com SUBSCRIPTIONS subscription@inthegaragemedia com (833) 985-9171 BACK ISSUES inthegaragemedia com “Online Store” For bulk back issues of 10 copies or more, contact store@inthegaragemedia com EDITORIAL CONTRIBUTIONS info@inthegaragemedia com Editorial contributions are welcomed but editors recommend that contributors query first Contribution inquiries should first be emailed to info@inthegaragemedia com Do not mail via USPS as we assume no responsibility for loss or damage thereto IN THE GARAGE MEDIA reserves the right to use material at its discretion, and we reserve the right to edit material to meet our requirements Upon publication, payment will be made at our current rate and that said payment will cover author ’s and contributor ’s rights of the contribution Contributors’ act of emailing contribution shall constitute and express warranty that material is original and no infringement on the rights of others Copyright (c) 2023 IN THE GARAGE MEDIA PRINTED IN U.S.A. The All Chevy Performance trademark is a registered trademark of In The Garage Media

EDITORIAL

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

SENIOR

PUBLISHER

ACP RESELLERS LIST

M i s s i n g a n i s s u e? P le a s e co n t a c t o n e o f o u r re s e lle r s li s te d b e low. Wa n t to s e ll o n e o f o u r t i t le s i n yo u r s to re o r s h o p? Co n t a c t u s a t s u b s c r i p t i o n @ i n t h e ga ra ge m e d i a .co m

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Re a d e r ’s Wo r ld ( 6 1 6 ) 3 9 6 - 4 6 0 0 re a d e r swo r ld b o o ks to re.co m

H o r to n H o t Ro d Pa r t s O n ta r i o, Ca n a d a ( 9 0 5 ) 87 6 -2 124 h o r to n h o t ro d ca

G ra f f i t i Pu b li ca t i o n s Vi c to r i a 3 45 0 A u s t ra li a g ra f f i t i p u b co m a u

After recently returning from the 2022 SEMA show I have a lot of unpacking to do (mentally, not physically). With so much going on at that show my brain immediately goes into overdrive, so it’s going to take a while for me to assess, reassess, and attempt to soak it all in.

As usual, friends who didn’t make it to the show ask what I noticed as being the latest build trends. This year I have to say the most noticeable trend at SEMA was that there was no trend

Let me explain: The Ringbrothers brought a truck they called “Enyo”—one of the wildest pickups I’ve ever seen. It’s a ’48 Chevy-based truck with F-1 influence via the independent cantilever suspension and big-fat racing slicks on all four corners, tricked-out aero, and relies on a 1,000hp marine engine for motivation. On the other hand, Ringbrothers also brought a ’69 Camaro called “Strode,” which is insanely customized with an extended chassis and wider-than-stock all-carbonfiber body panels but appeared relatively mild in comparison to the truck, which not only stole the show but won the prestigious SEMA Battle of the Builders award

The Roadster Shop (RS) gang debuted a kick-ass Buick Grand National with the usual stellar custom bits RS is known for, and it rides on one of their kick-asshandling chassis, which all adds up to quite possibly the most badass Grand National on the planet. They also brought a ’70 Chevelle that, at first glance, has all the makings of a mild restoration, but a deeper dive revealed a plethora of amazing custom fabrication you’d expect from RS, yet compared to two of their previous SEMA showstopping second-gen Camaros Rampage and Road Rage this Chevelle came across as fairly mild, but we know better Steve Strope and his crew at Pure Vision have been known to bring some pretty wild rides to SEMA, and this time around Strope introduced us to a 511ci bigblock–powered ’67 Chevelle that from a distance appeared somewhat straightforward, but as usual it carried all the stealthy, unparalleled custom refinements that Pure Vision is known for.

If there was anything from the 2022 SEMA show I might consider as a “trend,” it would be the fact that there were quite a few C1 and C2 Corvettes on display—a standout being the C2 built by Eddie’s Rod and Custom. They pulled no punches when it came to the ’63, as it features an abundance of stunning custom fabrication, amazing design and fit and finish, and is topped off with a 1,000hp supercharged LS3. I’m personally not big on Corvettes, but this car changed my view on what can be done to take an early Vette to the next level.

By just skimming the surface on all the great Chevys in attendance at the 2022 SEMA show, I’d say it was one of the best in years, as the presentation of cars was nothing short of remarkable and one of the most diverse collections ever assembled in one venue. It’s SEMA; the show that brings out the best of the best and the place to expect the unexpected.

A p p a r e n t l y, I j u s t u n p a c k e d w i t h o u t e v e n r e a l i z i n g i t . L e t ’s d o i t a l l o v e r a g a i n n ex t y e a r.

Yo u i n ?

1967 Chevy Nova Builders/O wners: S cott & Brian Hughes

1. LIFTING IN STYLE

A l l A m e r i c a n B i l l e t h i n g e s a r e a g r e a t w a y t o l i f t y o u r h o o d i n s t y l e T h e y a r e m a c h i n e d f r o m 6 0 6 1 - T 6 a l u m i n u m a n d e n g i n e e r e d t o o p e ra t e s m o o t h l y. T h e y c o m e w i t h l a r g e b e a r i n g s , s t a i n l e s s s t e e l g a s s t r u t s , a n d a l l s t a i n l e s s s t e e l h a r d w a r e. T h e h i n g e s a r e s o l d i n p a i r s a n d c o m e i n m a c h i n e d , p o l i s h e d , o r b l a c k a n o d i z e d f i n i s h e s a n d a r e a v a i l a b l e f o r m u l t i p l e v i n t a g e d o m e s t i c m u s c l e c a r s

F o r m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n , c o n t a c t A l l A m e r i c a n B i l l e t b y c a l l i n g ( 8 4 4 ) 2 4 5 - 5 3 8 1 o r v i s i t a l l a m e r i c a n b i l l e t . c o m .

2. LIGHT HOUSINGS

C l a s s i c I n d u s t r i e s a n n o u n c e s n e w O E R r e p r od u c t i o n t a i l l a m p h o u s i n g s d e s i g n e d f o r u s e w i t h ’ 7 8 - 8 1 C h e v r o l e t C a m a r o m o d e l s T h e s e h o u s i n g s a r e m a n u f a c t u r e d i n i n j e c t i o n - m o l d e d A B S t o o r i g i n a l f a c t o r y s p e c i f i c a t i o n s f o r a p r e c i s e f i t a n d a n a u t h e n t i c O E a p p e a r a n c e T h e o r i g i n a l h o u s i n g t a b s a r e p r o n e t o b r e a k o f f a n d t h e o r i g i n a l h o u s i n g s s i m p l y d i s i n t e g r a t e o r c a n f a l l a p a r t d u r i n g d i s a s s e m b l y T h e s e a u t h e n t i c r e p r od u c t i o n h o u s i n g s a r e t h e s o l u t i o n t o y o u r t a i l l a m p h o u s i n g p r o b l e m

F o r m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n , c o n t a c t C l a s s i c I n d u s t r i e s b y c a l l i n g ( 8 8 8 ) 8 1 6 - 2 8 9 7 o r v i s i t cl a s s i c i n d u s t r i e s . c o m .

3. SHORT THROW SHIFTER

B o w l e r P e r f o r m a n c e Tr a n s m i s s i o n s a n n o u n ce s t h e r e l e a s e o f t h e i r n e w N i g h t S t i c k s h o r t t h r o w s h i f t e r f o r t h e T R E M E C M a g n u m F s i xs p e e d s T h e n e w s h i f t e r c r e a t e s a 3 5 p e r c e n t r e d u c t i o n i n s h i f t t h r o w l e n g t h f o r a c r i s p a n d q u i c k s h i f t w i t h v e r y l i t t l e e f f o r t T h e n e w N i g h t S t i c k s h o r t t h r o w c o m b i n e s a b a l l a n d s o c k e t s h i f t s t u b w i t h a B o w l e r P e r f o r m a n c e –d e s i g n e d b a s e p l a t e t h a t e l i m i n a t e s a n y p o ss i b l e o i l l e a k a g e a r o u n d t h e s h i f t s t u b s o c k e t . T h i s n e w d e s i g n u t i l i z e s a w a v e r i n g w i t h s n a p - r i n g r e t e n t i o n t o k e e p c o n s t a n t p r e s s u r e o n t h e b a l l s o c k e t e n c l o s u r e f o r a s m o o t h s h i f t f e e l w i t h n o r a t t l e s

F o r m o re i n f o r m a t i o n , c o n t a c t B ow l e r Tra n s m i s s i o n s by c a l l i n g (948) 943-3690 o r v i s i t bowlertransmissions.com.

[ 1 0 ] ALL CHEVY PERFORMANCE VOLUME 3 • ISSUE 26 • 2023 ACP PARTS BIN InTheGarageMedia .c om

4. SLIM LOUVER PANEL

V i n t a g e A i r ’s a l l - n e w U n d e r D a s h S l i m l i n e U n i v e r s a l L o u v e r P a n e l w i t h B r u s h e d A l u m i n u m Tr i m K i t i n c l u d e s a t w o - p i e c e l o u v e r p a n e l , a l l f o u r l o u v e r s , a n d 2 . 5 - i n c h h o s e a d a p t o r s . T h i s k i t p r o v i d e s c u s t o m i z e r s a n d r e s t o r e r s a l i k e a s t y l i s h o p t i o n t o a d d A / C v e n t s w i t h o u t c u t t i n g i n t o t h e o r i g i n a l d a s h T h e l o u v e r p a n e l c o m e s w i t h b r u s h e d a l u m i n u m t r i m t o h a n d s o m e l y b l e n d i n w i t h t h e i n t e r i o r d e s i g n s o f c o u n t l e s s c l a s s i c s a n d c a n b e p a i n t e d t o m a t c h t h e d a s h a n d i n t er i o r. E n g i n e e r e d f o r i n s t a l l a t i o n o n a n y v e h i c l e w i t h a f l a t u n d e r d a s h a r e a , t h e k i t i n c l u d e s f o u r l o u v e r s w i t h 2 5 - i n c h h o s e a d a p t o r s t o e a s i l y p a i r w i t h G e n I V o r G e n I I e v a p o r a t o r s y s t e m s .

F o r m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n , c o n t a c t V i n t a g e A i r b y c a l l i n g ( 8 0 0 ) 7 3 3 - 5 2 0 6 o r v i s i t v i n t a g e a i r c o m

5. STREET/STRIP CLUTCH

T h i s H o l l e y C l u t c h I n s t a l l a t i o n K i t i n c l u d e s a l l t h e h a r d w a r e a n d c o m p o n e n t s n e e d e d f o r a c o m p l e t e c l u t c h i n s t a l l o n a s i x - b o l t c r a n k s h a f t G M L S e ng i n e u s i n g a T 5 6 t r a n s m i s s i o n A 1 2 - i n c h o r g a n i c d i s c w i t h a s i x - s p r i n g h e l i x - s p r u n g h u b p r o v i d e s s u p e r i o r g r i p n e e d e d f o r t h e s t r i p, w h i l e t h e m a t c h e d d i a p h r a g m - s t y l e p r e s s u r e p l a t e p r o v i d e s a p e d a l f e e l c o m f o r t a b l e e n o u g h f o r t h e s t r e e t .

T h i s p r o v i d e s 3 0 p e r c e n t m o r e c l a m p i n g p r e s s u r e t r a n s m i t t e d t h r o u g h a b i l l e t s t e e l f l y w h e e l .

F o r m o r e i n f o r m a t i o n , c o n t a c t H o l l e y b y c a l l i n g ( 8 8 6 ) 4 6 4 - 6 5 5 3 o r v i s i t h o l l e y. c o m .

6. POA VALVE UPDATE KIT

O l d A i r P r o d u c t s i n t r o d u c e s t h e i r n e w D e l u x e P OA Va l v e U p d a t e K i t . T h i s u n i q u e k i t m a i n t a i n s a n o r i g i n a l a p p e a r a n c e w i t h a c u s t o m - m a c h i n e d b i l l e t a l u m i n u m a s s e m b l y t o r e p l a c e t h e o r i g i n a l v a l v e t h a t w i l l c o n n e c t t o t h e o r i g i n a l o i l b l e e d l i n e a n d e q u a l i z e r t u b e f r o m t h e e x p a n s i o n v a l v e T h e k i t i n c l u d e s 1 3 4 a a n d R 1 2 s e r v i c e p o r t s , p r es e t t h e r m o s t a t , a n d w i r e h a r n e s s t o c o n v e r t t h e f a c t o r y A / C u n i t t o cy c l i n g c l u t c h - t y p e s y s t e m F i t s m a n y ’ 6 5 - 7 3 G M v e h i c l e a p p l i c a t i o n s .

F o r m o re i n f o r m a t i o n c o n t a c t O l d A i r P r o d u c t s by c a l l i n g (817) 531-2665 or visit oldairproducts.com.

InTheGarageMedia .c om ACP PARTS BIN

[ 1 2 ] ALL CHEVY PERFORMANCE VOLUME 3 • ISSUE 26 • 2023 5 6 4

Not only will a Morrison chassis add superior handling, ride comfort and a contemporary stance to your car or truck, it’s also a rock-solid investment Check out the sales data from leading auction houses like BarrettJackson you’ll see that cars and trucks equipped with a Morrison chassis are bringing top dollar

That’s because AME has established a reputation for excellence in design, engineering and craftsmanship going back over 50 years. Many of the nation’s top professional builders rely on Morrison chassis, and they’re also well suited to Do-It-Yourselfers. AME’s GT Sport chassis are bolt-in and require no welding Check out our website!

Jeff Hayes and American Speed Shop in Indiana has established a reputation for building exemplar y machines, and this stunning restomod 1967 Cor vette, based on an AME GT Sport chassis, sold for an astounding $808,000 at Barrett-Jackson’s 2022 Scottsdale auction

C a l l : 8 6 6 - 8 0 8 - 4 7 5 9 w w w. A r t M o r r i s o n . c o m e m a i l : s a l e s @ a r t m o r r i s o n . c o m

Invest Wisely! A Morrison Chassis Will Add Value To Your Build D o w n l o a d t h e 2 0 2 2 c a t a l o g a t w w w. A r t M o r r i s o n . c o m o r r e q u e s t a f r e e p r i n t e d c o p y.

AME’s bolt-in GT Sport chassis for the C2 Vette is one of a dozen popular applications

As o l i d s t a r t i n g p o i n t h e l p s p u s h a n y p r o j e c t f o r w a r d q u i c k e r L u c k i l y, o w n e r A n d y V e r z u r a w a s a b l e t o s n a g a r u s t - f r e e b o d y i n Te x a s t o g e t h i s ’ 5 5 b u i l d o f f t o a g o o d s t a r t Ta k i n g c a r e o f t h e b u i l d i s Ty r e e S m i t h o f Ty Te c h P e r f o r m a n c e Ty Te c h h a s l o a d s o f e x p e r i e n c e i n m a k i n g c a r s g o f a s t d o w n t h e t r a c k a n d t h i s B e l A i r w i l l d o t h a t a s w e l l a s b e a b l e t o d r i v e c r o s s - c o u n t r y.

P o w e r w i l l b e c o m i n g f r o m a M a g n u s o n s u p e r c h a r g e d L S X 4 5 4 b a c k e d u p b y a p a d d l e - s h i f t e d T C I 6 L 8 0 E . A f u l l T C I c h a s s i s w i t h a F o r d 9 - i n c h

w i l l m a n a g e a l l t h e t o r q u e a n d h a n d l e t h e b u m p s B i g 1 4 - / 1 3 - i n c h r o t o r s a n d 6 / 4 p i s t o n c a l i p e r s f r o m W i l w o o d s h o u l d b e u p t o t h e t a s k o f b r i n g i n g e v e r y t h i n g t o a s t o p

O n t h e o u t s i d e e v e r y t h i n g i s c l e a n e d u p a n d f i t t e d n i c e l y, b u t n o r a d i c a l b o d y m o d s a r e i n s t o r e . T h e m a i n p o r t i o n o f t h e b o d y w i l l b e A s t o n M a r t i n X e n o n G r a y w h i l e t h e r e a r q u a r t e r s a n d r o o f w i l l b e m e t a l l i c b l a c k . F o r g e l i n e C V 3 C w h e e l s w i t h g l o s s b l a c k h o o p s a n d s a t i n b l a c k c e n t e r s r o u n d o u t t h e l o o k .

TEXT & RENDERING BY TAVIS HIGHLANDER Vehicle Owner : Andy Verzura

[ 1 4 ] ALL CHEVY PERFORMANCE VOLUME 3 • ISSUE 26 • 2023 ACP CHEVY CONCEPTS

@TavisHighlander TavisHighlander com

InTheGarageMedia .c om [ 1 5 ] ALL CHEVY PERFORMANCE VOLUME 3 • ISSUE 26 • 2023

ACP FEATURE [ 1 6 ] ALL CHEVY PERFORMANCE VOLUME 3 • ISSUE 26 • 2023

Ge a r h e a d s a r e k n o w n f o r p u s h i n g b o u n d a r i e s a n d o f t e n s t r u g g l e w i t h k n o w i n g w h e n t o q u i t J u s t 1 m o r e p o u n d o f b o o s t , o r j u s t o n e s i z e l a r g e r n i t r o u s j e t c a n g e t e v e n t h e m o s t s e a s o n e d g e a r h e a d i n t o t r o u b l e B u t w h e n i t c o m e s t o r a w, n a t u r a l l y a s p i r a t e d h o r s e p o w e r, b i g g e r i s a l w a y s b e t t e r. S u c h i s t h e c a s e w i t h t h i s ’ 5 6 C h e v y 1 5 0 , a c a r t h a t h a s s h o w - w i n n i n g q u a l i t i e s , c o m b i n e d w i t h b i g - t i m e h o r s e p o w e r f r o m a S c o t t S h a f i r o f f 6 1 5 c i b i g - b l o c k J a s o n S t i l l s o w n s t h e r o w d y Tr i - Fi v e , a n d h e i s n ’ t a f r a i d t o c r u i s e i t a r o u n d t o w n o r m a k e a 9 - s e c o n d p a s s I t ’s c e r t a i n l y o n t h e e x t r e m e s i d e o f t h e s t r e e t c a r s p e c t r u m , w i t h a n e x t e n s i v e r o l l c a g e a n d p l e n t y o f r a c e - r e a d y d e t a i l s , b u t i t r u n s o n p u m p g a s , s o t h a t c o u n t s a s a s t r e e t c a r, r i g h t ?

J a s o n h a s a r a c i n g b a c k g r o u n d , b u t m o s t o f t h a t t i m e h a s b e e n s p e n t o n t w o w h e e l s I n a d d i t i o n t o h i s m o t o r c y c l e o b s e s s i o n , h e a n d h i s f a t h e r, G e n e , s h a r e a n i n t e r e s t i n f a s t c a r s J a s o n h a d a n i c e l y d e t a i l e d G - b o d y s t r e e t / s t r i p c a r b u t h e s o l d i t o n a w h i m t o a f e l l o w c a r g u y w h o “ w a n t e d i t w o r s e t h a n h i m , ”

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A f t e r b u y i n g t h e c a r, J a s o n l e a r n e d m o r e a b o u t i t s h i s t o r y. H e f o u n d t h a t i t w a s o r i g i n a l l y b u i l t b y To n y F e r g u s o n o f C a s p e r, W y o m i n g , a n d i t f e a t u r e d a n i t r o u s - a s s i s t e d b i g - b l o c k C h e v y T h e c a r r a n m o s t l y o n t h e W e s t C o a s t a n d c o m p e t e d o n t h e P S C A c i r c u i t i n t h e L i m i t e d 2 3 5 h e a d s - u p c l a s s A f t e r F e r g u s o n m o v e d o n t o a n o t h e r p r o j e c t , t h e n i t r o u s c o m b i n a t i o n w a s d i s m a n t l e d a n d t h e c a r w a s s o l d a s a r o l l e r. I t c a m e u p f o r s a l e a g a i n , s o J a s o n d r o v e t o Te x a s a n d h a u l e d t h e c a r h o m e t o I n d i a n a H e i m m e d i a t e l y s t a r t e d p i c k i n g a w a y a t i t w i t h p l e n t y o f h e l p f r o m h i s f a t h e r, w i t h h o p e s o f b u i l d i n g a n a t t e n t i o n - g e t t i n g s t r e e t c a r J a s o n a n d G e n e w o r k e d o u t t h e d e t a i l s a n d g o t t h e c a r b a c k i n t o r a c i n g f o r m w h i l e a l s o g i v i n g i t s o m e e x t r a d e t a i l w o r k t o b r i n g t h e c o m b i n a t i o n t o t h e n e x t l e v e l .

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T h e c a r ’s “ w o w ” f a c t o r c o m e s f r o m a b e a u t i f u l t w o - t o n e p a i n t j o b a n d a k i l l e r s t a n c e w i t h a g g r e s s i v e , b l a c k - a c c e n t e d w h e e l s a n d r a c e - r e a d y r u b b e r. T h e m i n i m a l 1 5 0 t r i m i s t h e p e r f e c t b r e a k i n g p o i n t f o r t h e m i n t g r e e n a n d b l a c k c o l o r s , a p p l i e d b y J a s o n F e r g u s o n a t Tu b b y ’s C u s t o m s A l t h o u g h i t l o o k s l i k e i t c o u l d ’ v e r o l l e d o f f t h e a s s e m b l y l i n e i n t h i s c o l o r c o n f i g u r a t i o n , t h e m i n t g r e e n i s a c u s t o m m i x t h a t f i t s t h e c a r p e r f e c t l y T h e b o d y i s s t e e l , w i t h t h e e x c e p t i o n o f t h e f i b e r g l a s s h o o d , a n d t h e c a r s t i l l h a s r e a l g l a s s w i n d o w s i n s t e a d o f L e x a n . H o r s e p o w e r c o m e s f r o m a n a t u r a l l y a s p i r a t e d b i g - b l o c k b u i l t b y S h a f i r o f f R a c i n g I t ’s a p u m p g a s c r a t e e n g i n e , c o m i n g i n a t 6 1 5 c i , b u t d o n ’ t l e t t h e b i g d i s p l a c e m e n t c o n v i n c e y o u t h a t t h i s b i g - b l o c k i s n ’ t s t r e e t f r i e n d l y I t ’s b u i l t w i t h a c o n s e r v a t i v e c o m p r e s s i o n r a t i o t h a t c a n r u n o n 9 2 - o c t a n e , a n d i t b r e a t h e s d e e p l y t h r o u g h a s e t o f B r o d i x B B 3 X c y l i n d e r h e a d s A c u s t o m - g r i n d C o m p C a m s s o l i d r o l l e r w a s a d d e d t o t h e m i x , b r i n g i n g h o r s e p o w e r u p a l i t t l e m o r e t h a n t h e a d v e r t i s e d 9 2 5 h p T h i s c o m b i n a t i o n c r a n k e d o u t 9 8 4 h p a n d 8 7 4 l b - f t o f t o r q u e a t t h e f l y w h e e l , a n d J a s o n ’s p l a n s f o r n i t r o u s w i l l s e n d t h e b i g - b l o c k i n t o f o u r- d i g i t r e a r- w h e e l h o r s e p o w e r t e r r i t o r y.

InTheGarageMedia .c om [ 1 9 ] ALL CHEVY PERFORMANCE VOLUME 3 • ISSUE 26 • 2023

F u e l s u p p l y i s h a n d l e d b y a n A e r o m o t i v e A 1 0 0 0 f u e l p u m p , f e e d i n g i n t o a n A D P b i l l e t c a r b u r e t o r, r a t e d a t 1 , 1 5 0 c f m . A n M S D i g n i t i o n s y s t e m l i g h t s t h e f i r e a n d s p e n t f u m e s f l o w t h r o u g h H o o k e r S u p e r C o m p h e a d e r s , 3 5 - i n c h p i p e s , a n d D y n o m a x b u l l e t m u f f l e r s T h e c o o l i n g s y s t e m c o n s i s t s o f a M e z i e r e e l e c t r i c w a t e r p u m p a n d a B e C o o l Tr i - F i v e m o d u l e s y s t e m , w h i c h i n c l u d e s a n a l u m i n u m r a d i a t o r s u p p o r t , c r o s s f l o w a l u m i n u m r a d i a t o r, a n d d u a l e l e c t r i c f a n s U n d e r h o o d i s a n a l l - b l a c k t r e a t m e n t w i t h s u b t l e d e t a i l s t h a t r e a l l y m a k e t h e r a w a l u m i n u m c o m p o n e n t s g r a b y o u r a t t e n t i o n

B e h i n d t h e b i g - b l o c k i s a H u g h e s - p r e p a r e d T H 4 0 0 , c o m p l e t e w i t h a R e e d c a s e , t r a n s b r a k e , a n d 3 , 8 0 0 - r p m H u g h e s t o r q u e c o n v e r t e r M o v i n g f u r t h e r b a c k i s a Q u i c k P e r f o r m a n c e 9 - i n c h r e a r e n d h o u s i n g , p a c k e d w i t h a Yu k o n a l u m i n u m c e n t e r s e c t i o n , 3 7 3 : 1 g e a r s , a n d M o s e r 3 5 - s p l i n e a x l e s w i t h s t a r f l a n g e s . T h e n a r r o w e d h o u s i n g a l l o w s f o r f i t m e n t o f 1 5 x 1 0 R C C o m p o n e n t s To r x w h e e l s , w h i c h f e a t u r e 5 i n c h e s o f b a c k s p a c i n g R e a r s u s p e n s i o n c o n s i s t s o f m o n o l e a f s p r i n g s , w i t h C a l - Tr a c b a r s a n d M e n s c e r d o u b l e - a d j u s t a b l e s h o c k s U p f r o n t i s a t r a d i t i o n a l s e t u p w i t h t u b u l a r c o n t r o l a r m s , M o r o s o t r i c k s p r i n g s , a n d a n o t h e r p a i r o f M e n s c e r d o u b l e - a d j u s t a b l e s h o c k s t o h e l p d i a l i n t h e w e i g h t t r a n s f e r S o f a r t h e c a r h a s r u n a b e s t o f 9 9 5 a t 1 3 4 m p h i n s t r e e t t r i m , a n d J a s o n p l a n s t o d i p i n t o t h e 8 s w i t h o u t t a k i n g a w a y t h e c a r ’s s t r e e t m a n n e r s . A d o s e o f n i t r o u s o x i d e s h o u l d g e t h i m t h e r e w i t h o u t a n y d r a s t i c c h a n g e s

[ 2 0 ] ALL CHEVY PERFORMANCE VOLUME 3 • ISSUE 26 • 2023 ACP FEATURE

[ 2 1 ] ALL CHEVY PERFORMANCE VOLUME 3 • ISSUE 26 • 2023 InTheGarageMedia .c om

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F i Te c h F u e l I n j e c t i o n i s p r o b a b l y m o s t c o m m o n l y k n o w n f o r t h e i r f u e l - i n j e c t e d t h r o t t l e b o d i e s t h a t a l l o w c a r g u y s ( a n d g i r l s ) t o e a s i l y r e p l a c e t h e i r c a r b u r e t e d s e t u p w i t h f u e l i n j e c t i o n . B u t t h e c o m p a n y h a s a l s o d e v e l o p e d a w i d e r a n g e o f p o r t f u e l - i n j e c t e d i n t a k e s e t u p s f o r L S e n g i n e s t h a t n e v e r c a m e w i t h c a r b s A n d i t ’s t u r n e d o u t t o b e a p r e t t y c o m p r e h e n s i v e k i t a s w e l l a s a g r e a t w a y t o i m p r o v e p e r f o r m a n c e . I t s e e m s l i k e F i Te c h ’s U l t i m a t e L S k i t s w i l l b e a b e s t b e t b o t h f o r a n y o n e d o i n g a n L S X s w a p i n t o a c a r o r b u i l d i n g a n e w e n g i n e f r o m s c r a t c h . T h a t ’s b e c a u s e i t i n cl u d e s F i Te c h ’s s e l f - c o n t a i n e d e n g i n e c o n t r o l u n i t t h a t i s s e l f - l e a r n i n g a n d a l s o q u i t e c u s t o m i z a b l e . F i Te c h a l s o p a c k s i n a c u s t o m w i r i n g h a r n e s s t h a t i n c l u d e s a l l t h e f i t t i n g s y o u n e e d a n d n o n e o f w h a t y o u d o n ’ t . T h a t ’s a c t u a l l y a b i g d e a l b e c a u s e i n o u r e x p e r i e n c e i t ’s n o t t h e m e c h a n i c a l s t h a t t r i p s u p m o s t p e o p l e d o i n g L S e n g i n e s w a p s , i t ’s t h e c o n f u s i n g t a s k o f m o d i f y i n g a s t o c k w i r i n g h a r n e s s t h a t c a n l e a v e y o u p u l l i n g y o u r h a i r o u t .

I n a d d i t i o n t o t h e E C U a n d w i r i n g h a r n e s s , t h e r e a r e a n u m b e r o f o p t i o n s t o c h o o s e f r o m d e p e n d i n g o n w h a t y o u n e e d . F o r a s t r o k e r L S 1 b u i l d w e h a v e g o i n g t o g e t h e r, w e w e n t w i t h a n e a r l y c o m p l e t e k i t t h a t a l s o i n cl u d e s a l o n g - r u n n e r fa b r i c a t e d i n t a k e , b i g 1 0 2 m m t h r o t t l e b o d y, f u e l

i n j e c t o r s , f u e l r a i l s , f u e l p r e s s u r e r e g u l a t o r, h a n d h e l d c o n t r o l l e r, f u e l p u m p , c o i l s , a n d a t o n o f s e n s o r s , c o n n e c t o r s , f i t t i n g s , a n d e v e r y t h i n g e l s e n e e d e d t o g e t i t a l l w o r k i n g . A s a s y s t e m , o u r k i t i s d e s i g n e d t o b e a b l e t o h a n d l e u p t o 7 5 0 h p .

Of course, a one-size-fits-all solution never works for ever yone, so FiTech has several different part numbers with variations on the kit For example, we chose the long-runner intake to help generate lots of low-end torque, but if hood fitment is an issue you can go with a short-runner intake that’s just 6.5 inches tall. You can drop the coils if you already have your own; go with a kit designed for a maximum of 500 hp, which should work better with a stock 4.8or 5 3L engine, or even add in an integrated electronic transmission controller

W h a t w e r e a l l y l i k e d i s a l l t h e c o m p o n e n t s h a v e a l r e a d y b e e n s c i e n c e d o u t a s a p a c k a g e s o y o u c a n b e c o n f i d e n t e v e r y t h i n g f i t s a n d w o r k s w e l l t o g e t h e r. T h a t e l i m i n a t e s a l l t h e h e a d - s c r a t c h i n g t h a t o f t e n c o m e s f r o m m i x i n g a n d m a t c h i n g c o m p o n e n t s f r o m d i f f e r e n t m a n u f a c t u r e r s . P l u s , t h a t f a b r i c a t e d a l u m i n u m i n t a k e m a n i f o l d j u s t l o o k s s w e e t . O b v i o u s l y, l o o k s a r e n o t a p r i m a r y c o n s i d e r a t i o n w h e n i t c o m e s t o a n e n g i n e b u i l d , b u t l e t ’s n o t p r e t e n d t h a t l o o k s d o n ’ t m a t t e r a t l e a s t a l i t t l e b i t A f t e r a l l , e v e r y b o d y w a n t s a l i t t l e e y e c a n d y w h e n t h e y p o p t h e h o o d w i t h y o u r f r i e n d s s t a n d i n g a r o u n d . W e ’ r e s u r e y o u a r e r e a d y t o g e t t o i t , s o w e w o n ’ t w a s t e m o r e t i m e y a p p i n g F o l l o w a l o n g a s w e a s s e m b l e o n e o f F i Te c h ’s U l t i m a t e L S k i t s o n a b i g - i n c h s t r o k e r b u i l d a n d t h e n

t t o t h e t e s t o n a n e n g i n e d y n o . WE PUT FITECH’S ULTIMATE LS SYSTEM TO THE TEST ON THE DYNO BY J E F F H U N E YC U T T P H OTO G R A P H Y B Y T H E A U T H O R LET’S GET RIGHT TO STRAIGHT FACTS: [ 2 4 ] ALL CHEVY PERFORMANCE VOLUME 3 • ISSUE 26 • 2023 ACP TECH

p u t i

1 . F i Te c h ’ s U l t i m a t e L S k i t i n c l u d e s e v e r y t h i n g y o u n e e d o n t h e i n d u c t i o n s i d e t o f i n i s h p r a c t i c a l l y a n y ( f r o m a s t o c k 4 8 t o o u r b i g - i n c h s t r o k e r ) L S X l o n g - b l o c k T h i s k i t d e f i n i t e l y p a s s e s t h e e y e b a l l t e s t w i t h i t s g o o d l o o k s , b u t w e p l a n t o p u t i t t o t h e t e s t o n t h e d y n o . T h i s i s a f r e s h b u i l d , b u t w e ’ r e b e t t i n g t h e U l t i m a t e L S k i t w i l l a l s o b e a b i g h e l p f o r a n y o n e l o o k i n g t o s w a p a n L S X e n g i n e i n t o a c a r t h a t n e v e r c a m e w i t h o n e

[ 2 5 ] ALL CHEVY PERFORMANCE VOLUME 3 • ISSUE 26 • 2023 InTheGarageMedia .c om

2 . H e r e ’s t h e s p e c i f i c F i Te c h U l t i m a te L S k i t w e a r e u s i n g A s y o u c a n s e e , i t ’s p r e t t y co m p r e h e n s i v e w i t h a n i n t a ke , b i g 1 0 2 m m t h r o t t le b o d y, co m p u te r, h a n d h e ld to u c h - s c r e e n co n t r o l le r, f u e l p r e s s u r e r e g u l a to r, i n j e c to r s , f u e l ra i l s , b ra i d e d c r o s s o v e r l i n e , f u e l p u m p, co i l s , a n d a w i r i n g h a r n e s s N o t p i c t u r e d a r e s e v e ra l i n c l u de d s e n s o r s a n d a lo t o f b ra c ke t s a n d o t h e r a s s o r te d h a r d w a r e

3 . We d e c i d e d t o p u t t h e 7 5 0 h p k i t t o t h e t e s t o n a b i g - i n c h s t r o k e r L S b u i l d , a l t h o u g h w e e x p e c t m o s t u s e r s o f t h e F i Te c h U l t i m a t e L S k i t w i l l b e u s i n g i t t o h e l p s i m p l i f y L S s w a p s T h e b l o c k i s a 6 0 L i r o n LQ 9 w e p u l l e d o u t o f a C a d i l l a c E s c a l a d e i n a j u n k y a r d , b u t i t h a s b e e n f u l l y m a c h i n e d a t A

i a li s t s w i t h t h e b o r e s p u n c h e d o u t t o 4 . 0 7 0

4 . Fo r t h e p i s to n s a n d ro d s , we’ re u s i n g a s e t o f Wi s e co 4 07 0 - i n c h fo rge d p i s to n s w i t h a b i t o f a d i s h to ke e p t h e co m p re s s i o n ra t i o r i g h t a t 1 0 : 1 s o we ca n u s e p u m p ga s T h e co n n e c t i n g ro d s a re K 1 H - b ea m fo rg i n gs t h a t a re 6 12 5 i n c h e s f ro m ce n te r to ce n te r

5 . A K 1 f o r g e d c r a n k r o u n d s o u t t h e r o t a t i n g a s s e m b l y s p e c ’ d t o b e a b l e t o h a n d l e p l e n t y o f p o w e r T h e c r a n k h a s a 4 0 0 - i n c h s t r o k e , s o c o m b i n e d w i t h t h e 4 . 0 7 0 - i n c h b o r e t h a t m a k e s t o t a l d i s p l a c e m e n t 4 1 6 c i ( 6 8 l i t e r s ) T h i s i s a n L S 1 b u i l d w i t h a 2 4 X r e l u c t o r a t t h e b a c k o f t h e c r a n k , b u t t h e F i Te c h E C U c a n w o r k w i t h 2 4 X a n d 5 8 X s y s t e m s e q u a l l y w e l l

6 . T h e c a m s h a f t i s a h y d r a u l i c r o l l e r f r o m C o m p C a m s I t h a s b e e n g r o u n d w i t h a n e y e t o w a r d o v e r a l l s t r e e t p e r f o r m a n c e a n d n o t j u s t p e a k h o r s e p o w e r D u r a t i o n i s 2 4 7 d e g r e e s f o r t h e i n t a k e s a n d 2 5 5 f o r t h e e x h a u s t s a t 0 0 5 0 - i n c h t a p p e t l i f t T h e l o b e s e p a r a t i o n i s 1 1 3 d e g r e e s a n d w i t h s t o c k r a t i o r o c k e r s g r o s s v a l v e l i f t w i l l b e 0 6 3 7 i n c h f o r b o t h t h e i n t a k e s a n d e x h a u s t s

7. F o r c y l i n d e r h e a d s , w e w a n t e d s o m e t h i n g t h a t w a s c a p a b l e o f m o v i n g p l e n t y o f a i r a n d m a k i n g p o w e r S o , w e w e n t w i t h a p a i r o f f u l l y C N C - p o r t e d h e a d s f r o m B r o d i x T h e y c a m e f u l l y a s s e m b l e d , b u t h e r e w e ’ v e d i s a s s e m b l e d t h e m f o r a f u l l i n s p e c t i o n T h e v a l v e s a r e s i z e d a t 2 1 0 0/ 1 6 0 0 w i t h a 7 0 c c c o m b u s t i o n c h a m b e r t o h e l p k e e p t h e c o m b u s t i o n r a t i o m a n a g e a b l e w i t h t h e b i g 4 0 0 - i n c h s t r o k e

[ 2 6 ] ALL CHEVY PERFORMANCE VOLUME 3 • ISSUE 26 • 2023 ACP TECH

u o m o t v e S p e c i n c h e s .

2. 3. 4 . 5. 6. 7.

8 . W h e n t r y i n g t o m a k e b i g p o w e r, i t ’ s j u s t e a s i e r i f y o u g o w i t h t h e L S 3 - s t y l e s q u a r e - p o r t h e a d s B u t w e w a n t e d t o s t i c k w i t h L S 1 - s t y l e c a t h e d r a l p o r t s b e c a u s e a l o t o f p e o p l e a r e s t i l l u s i n g t h e G e n I I I 5 . 3 a n d 4 . 8 e n g i n e s w i t h t h e c a t h e d r a l p o r t s f o r e n g i n e s w a p s b e c a u s e t h e y a r e c h e a p a n d p l e n t i f u l ( F i Te c h m a k e s i n t a k e s t h a t f i t b o t h c a t h e d r a l- a n d s q u a r e - p o r t h e a d s ) A n y h o w, i t i s c o o l t o s e e t h a t B r o d i x i s s t i l l d e v e l o p i n g c a t h ed r a l- p o r t p r o g r a m s f o r i t s c u s t o m e r s T h e s e 2 4 5 c c i n t a k e p o r t s a r e a c t u a l l y a n e w d e s i g n t h a t f l o w s a h e a l t h y 3 7 0 - p l u s c f m !

9. T h e F i Te c h E C U c a n u s e t h e s t o c k k n o c k s e n s o r s S o m e l i k e t h i s , b u t s i n c e w e ’ v e m a d e s o m a n y c h a n g e s ( c a m , v a l v e t r a i n c o m p o n e n t s , d i s p l a c e m e n t , r p m o p e r a t i n g r a n g e ) w e f e e l t h e s t o c k k n o c k s e n s o r s w o n ’ t b e m u c h u s e T h e F i Te c h E C U w i l l w o r k j u s t f i n e w i t h o u t t h e k n o c k s e n s o r s , s o w e a l s o t o o k t h e o p p o r t u n i t y t o s w a p o u t t h e s t o c k v a l l e y c o v e r w i t h t h e t w o l a r g e d e p r e s s i o n s t h a t t e n d t o c o l l e c t o i l , m o i s t u r e , a n d d i r t a n d r e p l a c e d i t w i t h a s u p e r s a n i t a r y v a l l e y c o v e r f r o m I C T B i l l e t

1 0 . T h e i n t a k e m a n i f o l d t h a t F i Te c h h a s d e s i g n e d i n c l u d e s n i c e , t h i c k f l a n g e s O - r i n g s r e p l a c e i n t a k e g a s k e t s l i k e o n m o s t o t h e r L S s y s t e m s a n d m a k e s i n s t a l l a t i o n a b r e e z e

1 1 . T h e f a b r i c a t e d i n t a k e i s d e f i n i t e l y a b e a u t i f u l p i e c e w i t h r ea l l y n i c e b l a c k a n o d i z i n g E v e n t h o u g h t h e s h e e t m e t a l i s 3 m mt h i c k a l u m i n u m , F i Te c h s a y s i t i s g o o d f o r u p t o 3 0 p s i o f b o o s t . 1 2 . H e r e ’ s a l o o k a t t h e i n s i d e o f t h e i n t a k e T h e p l e n u m v o l u m e s e e m s a b i t s m a l l , b u t e a c h r u n n e r i s b e l l- m o u t h e d t o h e l p i m p r o v e a i r f l o w i n t o t h e c o m b u s t i o n c h a m b e r s 1 3 . T h e t h r o t t l e b o d y b o l t s u p w i t h p l e n t y o f c l e a r a n c e f o r t h e H o l l e y m i d - m o u n t f r o n t d r i v e s y s t e m w e ’ r e u s i n g T h e i d l e a i r c o n t r o l ( I A C ) a n d t h r o t t l e p o s i t i o n s e n s o r ( T P S ) a r e i n c l u d e d i n t h e k i t a n d a l r e a d y i n s t a l l e d o n t h e t h r o t t l e b o d y f o r s i m p l i c i t y. 1 4 . F i Te c h p a c k s i n a s e t o f 5 5 - l b / h r i n j e c t o r s f o r t h e 7 5 0 h p k i t t o f i t i n t o t h e b i l l e t f u e l r a i l s F o r t h e 5 0 0 h p k i t t h e y a r e m o r e a p p r o p r i a t e l y s i z e d a t 3 6 l b / h r. A r e a l l y n i c e t o u c h i s t h e A N f i t t i n g s a r e a l r e a d y i n s t a l l e d o n t h e b r a i d e d h o s e f o r t h e f u e l c r o s s o v e r, s a v i n g t i m e a n d t r o u b l e

[ 2 7 ] ALL CHEVY PERFORMANCE VOLUME 3 • ISSUE 26 • 2023 InTheGarageMedia .c om

8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14 .

1 9. T h e E C U i s a s e l f - c o n t a i n e d u n i t t h a t ’ s s m a l l e n o u g h t h a t i t c a n b e m o u n t e d j u s t a b o u t a n y w h e r e D o w n l o a d i n g c h a n g e s f r o m t h e h a n d h e l d c o n t r o l l e r w e r e s i m p l e a n d e a s y

2 0 . S p e a k i n g o f t h e h a n d h e ld co n t r o l le r, h e r e i t i s We u s e d i t e xc l u s i v e l y f o r t h e d y n o t u n i n g s e ss i o n a n d i t w o r ke d p e r f e c t l y. H e r e , w e ’ r e s e t t i n g u p t h e e n g i n e p a ra m e te r s s o t h e s e l f - le a r n i n g E C U c a n d o i t s t h i n g o n f i r s t f i r e - u p N o t i ce t h a t t h e e n g i n e d i s p l a ce m e n t i s n ’ t r i g h t y e t ( i t ’s 4 1 6 ) T h e E C U m a d e i t a p i e ce o f c a ke to a d j u s t t h e r e v l i m i te r a s w e s lo w l y w o r ke d o u r w ay u p t h e ra n g e A n e n g i n e d y n o c a u s e s to o m u c h d ra g f o r a n e n g i n e to i d le c le a n l y a t lo w e r r p m le v e l s , b u t t h e co n t r o l le r m a d e i t e a s y to b u m p u p t h e i d le r p m s o t h e e n g i n e w i l l b e h a p p y. B r i n g i n g i t b a c k d o w n o n ce t h e e n g i n e i s i n a c a r w i l l b e a t a s k o f a b o u t 1 0 s e co n d s

1 5 . H e r e , w e ’ r e i n s t a l l i n g t h e f u e l c r o

c a n a l s o g e t a g o o d l o o k a t t h e b i g 1 0 2

e r l

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t h r o t t l e b o d y, w h i c h c a n m o v e a t o n o f a i r

o r t h

k i t t h e t h r o t t l e b o d y i s a b i t s m a l l e r a t 9 2 m m

1 6 . T h e i n c l u d e d m a n i f o l d a b s o l u t e p r e s s u r e ( M A P ) s e n s o r m o u n t s u p c o n v e n i e n t l y o u t o f s i g h t a t t h e b a c k o f t h e m a n i f o l d T h e i n c l u d e d u n i t c a n h a n d l e u p t o t h r e e b a r, w h i c h i s n i c e

1 7 At t h i s p o i n t we’ ve m ove d o n to t h e e n g i n e d y n o, a n d A u tom o t i ve S p e c i a li s t s ’ J ef f D o r to n i s h o o k i n g u p t h e w i r i n g h a r n e s s a n d t h e f u e l li n e s S i n ce t h e d y n o u s e s i t s ow n f u e l p u m p a n d f u e l p re s s u re re g u la to r, we we re n ’ t a b le to te s t t h e u n i t s i n t h e F i Te c h k i t . T h a t w i ll h ave to wa i t u n t i l we’ re a b le to p u t e ve r y t h i n g i n to a ca r F i Te c h d o e s , h owe ve r, re co m m e n d yo u b e a b le to p rov i d e a s tea d y 5 8 p s i o f f u e l p re s s u re to t h e i n j e c to r s 1 8 . A n o t h e r g r e a t f e a t u r e w e a p p r e c i a t e d i s t h e F i Te c h E C U c a n r e a d w i d e b a n d O 2 m e a s u r e m e n t s f r o m b o t h b a n k s o f t h e e x h a u s t a n d n o t j u s t o n e T h i s h e l p s p r o v i d e b e t t e r f u e l m a n a g e m e n t u n d e r a v a r i e t y o f c o n d i t i o n s T h e w i d e b a n d O 2 s e n s o r s a r e p a r t o f t h e k i t

[ 2 8 ] ALL CHEVY PERFORMANCE VOLUME 3 • ISSUE 26 • 2023 ACP TECH InTheGarageMedia .c om

s s o v i n , b u t y o u m m e - o p e r a t e d F e 5 0 h p

15. 16. 17. 19.

20. 18.

Manufacturing Quality Steering Components since 1914 Components Find out more!!! Visit us at... www.borgeson.com ww.borgeson.com Borgeson Universal Company 9 Krieger Drive Travelers Rest, SC 29690 860•482•8283 Quick Ratio Steering Solutions GM Quick Ratio A,F,G,X Bod y Car s 63-87 C10 Tr ucks 55-64 Chevy Car s 63-82 Cor vette Part #800130, GM A,F,G,X Body Part #800132, 67-87 C10 Trucks For d & Mer cur y 65-70 Mustang 60-65 Falcon 49-64 Full-Size 62-77 Mid-Size Mopar 60-71 A-Bod y 62-79 B-Bod y 62-78 C-Bod y 70-74 E-Bod y Tr ue Moder n Steering Feel with a Quick 12:1 Ratio Moder n Feel without the Slave Cylinder / Contr ol Valve and a Quick 14:1 Ratio Part #800115, 52-64 Full-Size Part #999020, 65-66 Mustang Part #999065, 62-72 Big Block 383/440 Factory vs Borgeson Comparison Moder n Steering Feel with Compact Size and a Quick 14:1 Ratio Full Line of Steering Components Availa ble

2 1 . H e r e , y o u c a n s e e t h e e a s y - t or e a d l a b e l i n g f o r e v e r y c o n n e c t o r o n t h e w i r i n g h a r n e s s O n c e e v e r y t h i n g i s i n y o u r c a r y o u c a n r i p o f f t h e l a b e l s t o c l e a n u p t h e l o o k , b u t t h e y d e f i n i t e l y m a k e l i f e a l o t e a s i e r w h e n y o u a r e t r y i n g t o m a k e h e a d s o r t a i l s o f a n e w w i r i n g h a r n e s s A l s o n o t i c e t h a t t h e o i l p r e s s u r e s e n s o r ( b e s i d e t h e c a m s e n s o r ) i s n ’ t u s e d b y F i Te c h Yo u w i l l n e e d t o h o o k u p y o u r o w n g a u g e t o b e a b l e t o m o n i t o r o i l p r e s s u r e

2 2 . T h e F i Te c h co i l s h av e a n i n te re s t i n g f e a t u r e : A n L E D t h a t l i g h t s u p w h e n t h e co i l i s f i r i n g I n t h i s s h o t t h e e n g i n e i s a t i d le a n d y o u c a n s e e t h a t w h i le t h e s h u t te r w a s o p e n , t h e co i l s f o r c y l i n d e r s 1 , 5 , a n d 7 a l l f i r e d , b u t 3 h a s n o t I f y o u r e n g i n e i s r u n n i n g r o u g h , t h i s i s a q u i c k- a n de a s y w ay to m a ke s u r e a l l y o u r co i l s a r e o p e ra t i n g co r r e c t l y

2 3 . T h e h a n d h e l d c o n t r o l l e r i s n ’ t m e a n t t o b e a r e p l a c e m e n t f o r a g a u g e c l u s t e r, b u t i t d o e s h a v e t h e a b i l i t y t o m o n i t o r a f e w f u n c t i o n s i n r e a l t i m e Yo u c a n c h o o s e w h a t s h o w s u p o n t h e s c r e e n , b u t w e t h i n k b e i n g a b l e t o w a t c h a c t u a l v e r s u s t a r g e t a i r/ f u e l l e v e l s i n r e a l t i m e , a l o n g w i t h t h e r p m , w i l l p r o v e r e a l l y u s e f u l

2 4 . O n t h e d y n o , t h e F i Te c h s y s t e m h a d t h e e n g i n e f i r e d u p a n d r u n n i n g s m o o t h l y s u r p r i s i n g l y q u i c k l y We t r i e d a f e w d i f f e r e n t c h a n g e s w i t h t h e a i r/ f u e l r a t i o a n d s o m e o t h e r t h i n g s , b u t , g e n e r a l l y, w e a l l o w e d t h e s e l f - l e a r n i n g E C U t o r u n t h e s h o w A s y o u c a n s e e , w e h a d t h e s e r p e n t i n e b e l t o f f a n d a n e l e c t r i c w a t e r p u m p m o v i n g c o o l a n t t h r o u g h t h e e n g i n e . We a l s o d i d n ’ t u s e a v e l o c i t y s t a c k o n t h e i n t a k e , b u t w e d i d h a v e a h o o d ( n o t s h o w n i n t h i s p h o t o ) b l o w i n g f r e s h a i r i n t o t h e i n t a k e We s a w p e a k s o f 5 2 1 2 l b - f t o f t o r q u e a t 5 , 3 0 0 r p m a n d 5 9 7 3 h p a t 6 ,7 0 0 We w e r e d y i n g t o b r e a k t h e 6 0 0 h p m a r k , b u t t h e e n g i n e j u s t d i d n ’ t w a n t t o d o i t a n d w e w e r e n ’ t w i l l i n g t o g e t i n t o c h e e s y m a g a z i n e f a k e r y t o g e t t h e r e P e a k n u m b e r s a r e n i c e f o r b r a g g i n g r i g h t s , b u t t h e y r e a l l y d o n ’ t t e l l y o u h o w m u c h f u n a c a r i s g o i n g t o b e t o d r i v e W h a t w e a r e r e a l l y s t o k e d a b o u t i s t h e p o w e r a c r o s s t h e r a n g e F r o m 4 , 5 0 0 t o 7, 3 0 0 r p m w e a v e r a g e d a v e r y i mp r e s s i v e 4 8 6 .4 l b - f t o f t o r q u e a n d 4 8 6 3 9 h p w h i l e b u r n i n g p u m p g a s !

[ 3 0 ] ALL CHEVY PERFORMANCE VOLUME 3 • ISSUE 26 • 2023 ACP TECH InTheGarageMedia .c om SOURCES A U T O M O T I V E S P E C I A L I S T S ( 7 0 4 ) 7 8 6 - 0 1 8 7 a u t o m o t i v e s p e c i a l i s t s . c o m B R O D I X ( 4 7 9 ) 3 9 4 - 1 0 7 5 b r o d i x c o m C O M P C A M S ( 8 0 0 ) 9 9 9 - 0 8 5 3 c o m p c a m s . c o m F I T E C H F U E L I N J E C T I O N ( 9 5 1 ) 3 4 0 - 2 6 2 4 f i t e c h e f i c o m I C T B I L L E T ( 3 1 6 ) 3 0 0 - 0 8 3 3 i c t b i l l e t . c o m K 1 T E C H N O L O G I E S ( 4 4 0 ) 4 9 7 - 3 1 0 0 k 1 t e c h n o l o g i e s . c o m W I S E C O ( 4 4 0 ) 9 5 1 - 6 6 0 0 w i s e c o c o m

21. 22. 24

23.

OLD SCHOOL IS WAY COOL

BY JOHN MACHAQUEIRO PHOTOGRAPHY BY THE AUTHOR

Af e w y e a r s a g o , G a r r y G a l l o w a s t r i g g e r e d b y h i s b u d d y M i k e K r a e m e r ’s p u r c h a s e o f a g r e e n ’ 5 5 C h e v y g a s s e r. N o w, w h e n y o u l o o k a t t h e d e f i n i t i o n o f t h e w o r d t r i g g e r e d , i t u s u a l l y m e a n s t h a t i t ’s a r e s p o n s e t o s o m e t h i n g t h a t i s o f t e n p e r c e i v e d a s b e i n g n e g a t i v e o r h a r m f u l . F o r G a r r y, t h e r e w a s n o t h i n g n e f a r i o u s i n K r a e m e r ’s p u r c h a s e, b u t i t d i d b r i n g b a c k s o m e v i v i d m e m o r i e s f r o m h i s y o u t h . H e r e c a l l s , “ W h e n I w a s a b o u t 1 2 o r 1 3 y e a r s o l d , I u s e d t o h a n g o u t a t a n e i g h b o r ’s h o u s e a n d h e h a d f o u r d a u g h t e r s , w i t h t h e o l d e s t o n e b e i n g r e g u l a r l y p i c k e d u p b y a g u y i n t h i s l o u d a n d o b n o x i o u s c a r t h a t w a s j a c k e d u p i n t h e f r o n t . T h e m i n u t e I s a w i t , I t h o u g h t i t w a s t h e m o s t b a d a s s c a r t h a t I h a d e v e r s e e n ” A s y o u c a n p r o b a b l y g u e s s i t w a s a g r e e n ’ 5 5 C h e v y

GARRY GALLO’S ’55 CHEVY IS INSPIRED BY A TEENAGE MEMORY [ 3 2 ] ALL CHEVY PERFORMANCE VOLUME 3 • ISSUE 26 • 2023 ACP FEATURE

[ 3 3 ] ALL CHEVY PERFORMANCE VOLUME 3 • ISSUE 26 • 2023 InTheGarageMedia .c om

ACP FEATURE [ 3 4 ] ALL CHEVY PERFORMANCE VOLUME 3 • ISSUE 26 • 2023

A s h e e a s e d i n t o a d u l t h o o d , t h e r e l a t i o

w a s a l w a y s a c o n s t a n t H e c o v e r e d m o s t o f t h e

m a n u f a c t u r e r s p e c t r u m w i t h a t l e a s t

m u s c l e c a r s o v e r t h e y e a r s , b u t a s h e p o i n t s o u t , “

m i n u t e I s a w K r a e m e r ’s g a s s e r I h a d t o h a v

G a r r y, g e t t i n g o n e e n d e d u p b e i n g j u s t a m o u s e c l i c k a w a y. B a c k i n 2 0 1 6 w h i l e l o o k i n g t h r o u g h a Tr i - F i v e F a c e b o o k g r o u p h e c a m e a c r o s s a ’ 5 5 C h e v y f o r s a l e i n K e n t u c k y. I t l o o k e d t h e p a r t , w e a r i n g r e d w i t h a r e d m e t a l l i c v i n y l t u c k ’ n ’ r o l l i n t e r i o r, a l a t e’ 6 0 s 3 2 7 c i m i l l m a t e d t o a M u n c i e f o u r- s p e e d , a n d a s e t o f C r a g a r w h e e l s a t a l l f o u r c o r n e r s . G a r r y c u t t h e d e a l o v e r t h e p h o n e a n d e n d e d u p d r i v i n g d o w n w i t h K r a e m e r t o p i c k i t u p .

T h e b a c k s t o r y o n t h e c a r w a s t h a t i t h a d b e e n p a r k e d i n t h e l a t e ’ 7 0 s i n a w a r e h o u s e a n d w a s p u l l e d o u t i n 2 0 1 5 a s a r o l l e r I t d i d n ’ t h a v e a n e n g i n e a n d t r a n s m i s s i o n , b u t t h e c u r r e n t i n t e r i o r w a s a l r e a d y i n p l a c e. S h o r t l y a f t e r s e e i n g t h e l i g h t o f d a y, i t w a s t a k e n t o t h e Tr i - F i v e N a t i o n a l s w h e r e i t w a s p u r c h a s e d i n “ a s - f o u n d ” c o n d i t i o n b y t h e p r e v i o u s o w n e r. B y t h e t i m e G a r r y s e t e y e s o n i t o n F a c e b o o k i t w a s a f u l l y s t r e e t a b l e c a r

n s h i p w i t h c a r s d o m e s t i c a d o z e n d i f f e r e n t T h e e o n e ” F o r

InTheGarageMedia .c om [ 3 5 ] ALL CHEVY PERFORMANCE VOLUME 3 • ISSUE 26 • 2023

O n c e t h e ’ 5 5 m a d e i t s w a y u p t o t h e K e y s t o n e s t a t e t h e r e w a s n o a m b i g u i t y o n w h a t w a s g o i n g t o h a p p e n t o i t “ I k n e w e x a c t l y w h a t I w a n t e d t o d o , ” G a r r y e x p l a i n s . “ M y g o a l w a s t o b u i l d a p e r i o d - c o r r e c t , l a t e’ 6 0 s o r e a r l y’ 7 0 s g a s s e r I w a n t e d t o s t a y w i t h a p e r i o d - c o r r e c t e n g i n e c o n f i g u r a t i o n a n d a s e t u p l i k e a t u n n e l r a m w i t h d u a l q u a d s , w h e e l w e l l h e a d e r s , s t r a i g h t a x l e , a n d F o r d 9 - i n c h r e a r e n d ” T h a t w a s t h e g r a n d p l a n , h o w e v e r, G a r r y s t a r t e d o f f w i t h t h e l o w - h a n g i n g f r u i t : T h e 4 0 - p l u s - y e a r- o l d p a i n t w a s s t i l l i n r e a l l y g o o d c o n d i t i o n , a n d a l e g i t g a s s e r n e e d s s o m e c r e a t i v e a r t w o r k a n d a c l e v e r n a m e , s o t h a t w a s t h e f i r s t b o x c h e c k e d G a r r y e x p l a i n s , “ T h e n a m e ‘ C o n c r e t e A l i b i ’ c a m e a b o u t w h e n I w a s b a c k i n g t h e c a r o u t o f t h e g a r a g e t o g e t i t l e t t e r e d I h a d o r i g i n a l l y p i c k e d t h e n a m e R e d R y d e r a f t e r t h e B B g u n , b u t a s I p u l l e d a w a y, I s a w a b u g s c r e e n f r o m a t r u c k I o n c e d r o v e w i t h C o n c r e t e A l i b i w r i t t e n o n i t . A t t h a t p o i n t I k n e w t h a t w a s t h e r i g h t n a m e f o r

t h e c a r ” I t s o u n d e d s o g o o d t h a t h e h a d i t h a n d - p a i n t e d b y K B L e t t e r i n i n L a n g h o r n e , P e n n s y l v a n i a

A s 2 0 1 8 r o l l e d i n t h e n e x t p l a n w a s t o g i v e i t a p r o p e r g a s s e r s t a n c e w i t h t h e a d d i t i o n o f a N i c k e y G a s s e r Tr i - F i v e s t r a i g h t a x l e s u b f r a m e k i t , a l o n g w i t h s o m e l a d d e r b a r s , a r o l l b a r, a n d t h e o b l i g a t o r y M o o n e y e s g a s t a n k a n d i t a l s o l o s t t h e f r o n t b u m p e r

I n a n e f f o r t t o k e e p i t l o c a l a n d c l o s e t o h o m e , G a r r y e n t r u s t e d t h a t w o r k t o M D R a c i n g i n I v y l a n d , P e n n s y l v a n i a T h e y w o u l d e v e n t u a l l y d o m o s t o f t h e f a b r i c a t i o n a n d t u n i n g w o r k o n t h e c a r A f t e r t h e f r o n t w a s j a c k e d u p , i t s t a r t e d t o l o o k t h e g a s s e r p a r t , h o w e v e r G a r r y d i d n ’ t h a v e a b o t t o m l e s s p i t o f m o n e y, s o t h e n e x t i n s t a l l m e n t t o o k p l a c e t h e f o l l o w i n g y e a r.

[ 3 6 ] ALL CHEVY PERFORMANCE VOLUME 3 • ISSUE 26 • 2023 ACP FEATURE

InTheGarageMedia .c om [ 3 7 ] ALL CHEVY PERFORMANCE VOLUME 3 • ISSUE 26 • 2023

I n 2 0 1 9 i t r e c e i v e d s o m e p e r f o r m a n c e u p g r a d e s i n t h e f o r m o f a n e n g i n e r e f r e s h , w h i c h i n c l u d e d t h e i n s t a l l a t i o n o f a C o m p C a m s B a d M u t h a T h u m p r c a m s h a f t , a n E d e l b r o c k t u n n e l r a m i n t a k e , a n d a p a i r o f H o l l e y 6 0 0 - c f m c a r b s A t t h e r e a r, a F o r d 9 - i n c h w i t h 4 . 8 6 g e a r s w a s i n s t a l l e d a n d t h e c r e w a t M D a l s o r e w o r k e d t h e r e a r w h e e l w e l l s a n d o p e n i n g s t o a c c o m m o d a t e t h e s h i n y n e w R o c k e t R a c i n g w h e e l s a n d M i c k e y T h o m p s o n r u b b e r T h o s e e n h a n c e m e n t s o n c e a g a i n a l m o s t t a p p e d t h e c a s h s t a s h d r y, b u t h e s t i l l h a d a s m a l l r e s e r v e l e f t o v e r t o f i n a n c e r a c i n g i t a t t h e Tr i - F i v e N a t i o n a l s t h a t y e a r

B y 2 0 2 0 m o s t o f t h e h e a v y l i f t i n g o n t h e t r a n s f o r m a t i o n w a s c o m p l e t e d , b u t t h e 4 . 8 6 g e a r i n g w a s a h a n d f u l t o d r i v e o n t h e s t r e e t w i t h t h e M u n c i e , s o h e d e c i d e d i t w a s i n n e e d o f a f r i e n d l i e r s o l u t i o n i n t h e f o r m o f a T R E M E C f i v e - s p e e d a n d a H u r s t L i n e / L o c T h e e x h a u s t w a s a l s o b u t t o n e d u p w i t h t h e a d d i t i o n o f s o m e p l u m b i n g r u n n i n g b a c k t o a s e t o f C h e r r y B o m b m u f f l e r s t o p u t c l o s u r e o n t h e t r a n s f o r m a t i o n B u i l d i n g t h i s c a r t o G a r r y ’s t a s t e s p a n n e d f o u r y e a r s . “ I s e t o u t t o b u i l d a s t r e e t a b l e g a s s e r b e c a u s e I w a n t e d t o d r i v e i t , r a c e i t , a n d s h o w i t , ” h e s t a t e s “ T h i s c a r i s e x a c t l y h o w I w a n t e d i t t o b e , a n d t h e r e i s n ’ t a n y t h i n g t h a t I w o u l d d o d i f f e r e n t l y ”

[ 3 8 ] ALL CHEVY PERFORMANCE VOLUME 3 • ISSUE 26 • 2023 ACP FEATURE

D r ive t ra i n T R A N S M I S S I O N : T R E M E C T K X f i v e - s p e e d ; M c L e o d cl u t c h , f l y w h e e l , a n d S u p e r S t r e e t P r o D i s c ; H u r s t L i n e / L o c R E A R A X L E : Fo r d 9 - i n c h , 4 8 6 g e a r s , M o s e r 3 3 - s p l i n e a x l e s , R i c h m o n d G e a r r i n g - a n d - p i n i o n p o s i

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W he e l s & T i re s W H E E L S : R o c k e t R a c i n g L a u n c h e r 1 5 x 4 ( f r o n t ) , R o c k e t R a c i n g S t r i k e 1 5 x 8 ( r e a r )

T I R E S : M i c k e y T h o m p s o n S p o r t s m a n 2 6 x 7 5 0 - 1 5 LT ( f r o n t ) , M i c k e y T h o m p s o n E T S t r e e t 2 7 5 / 5 0 R 1 5 ( r e a r )

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C A R P E T: R e d l o o p S E AT S : R e d m e t a l l i c v i n y l t u c k ’ n ’ r o l l D O O R PA N E L S : R e d M e t a l l i c v i n y l t u c k ’ n ’ r o l l S T E E R I N G : I d i d i t c o l u m n , S u p e r i o r s t e e r i n g w h e e l , B o r g e s o n s t e e r i n g b o x S H I F T E R : H u r s t I N S T R U M E N TAT I O N : S t o c k i n s t r u m e n t s , A u t o M e t e r S p o r t C o m p I I t a c h , S t e w a r t - Wa r n e r g a u g e s R O L L B A R : C u s t o m b y M D R a c i n g ( I v y l a n d , PA ) E x t e r io r B O DY W O R K : R a d i u s e d w h e e l o p e n i n g s PA I N T: R e d , u n k n o w n b r a n d G L A S S : S t o c k w i t h r e d t i n t G R A P H I C S : K B L e t t e r i n ( L a n g h o r n e , PA ) P L AT I N G : B o n e h e a d Pe r f o r m a n c e C o a t i n g s ( Fe a s t e r v i l l e , PA )

T E C H OW N E R : G a r r y G a l l o , H o l l a n d , Pe n n s y l v a n i a V E H I C L E : ’ 5 5 C h e v y E ng i ne T Y P E : ’ 6 8 C h e v r o l e t 3 2 7 c i D I S P L AC E M E N T: 3 3 3 c i C O M P R E S S I O N R AT I O : 1 0 5 : 1 B O R E : 4 0 0 4 i n c h S T R O K E : 3 2 5 i n c h C Y L I N D E R H E A D S : G M c a s t - i r o n R OTAT I N G A S S E M B LY: G M f o r g e d c r a n k , G M s t o c k m e t a l r o d s , c a s t - a l u m i n u m a l l o y p i s t o n s C A M S H A F T: C o m p C a m s B a d M u t h a T h u m p r I G N I T I O N : M S D 6 A L I N D U C T I O N : E d e l b r o c k T R 1 Tu n n e l R a

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rotors with four-piston Dynalite calipers (front), Currie 11-inch drums (rear), stock master cylinder

[ 3 9 ] ALL CHEVY PERFORMANCE VOLUME 3 • ISSUE 26 • 2023 InTheGarageMedia .c om

If y o u d r i v e a n o l d c a r e n o u g h , y o u ’ l l r u n i n t o s o m e r e g u l a r m a i n t e n a n c e i s s u e s t h a t c a n b e q u i t e a p a i n S u c h i s t h e c a s e w i t h o u r ’ 6 4 C h e v e l l e d a i l y d r i v e r. T h i s i s a r e l a t i v e l y l o w - m i l e a g e c a r, j u s t r e c e n t l y t u r n i n g o v e r t h e 1 0 0 , 0 0 0 - m i l e m a r k E v e n w i t h l o w m i l e a g e a n d a v e r y e a s y l i f e , c o m p a r e d t o m o s t c a r s f r o m t h e m u s c l e c a r e r a , t h i s c r u i s e r n e e d e d s o m e a t t e n t i o n . W e ’ v e l o g g e d a p p r o x i m a t e l y 4 0 , 0 0 0 m i l e s i n t h i s c a r, a n d i t ’s a l w a y s b e e n f a i t h f u l w i t h i t s 2 8 3 a n d P o w e r g l i d e T h e o r i g i n a l 1 0 - b o l t r e a r e n d i s s t i l l i n p l a c e a s w e l l

D e s p i t e t h e c a r ’s d e p e n d a b i l i t y, w e n o t i c e d a n i s s u e o n a r e c e n t r o a d t r i p t h a t f a s tt r a c k e d t h i s l o n g - f o r g o t t e n m a i n t e n a n c e i t e m t o t h e t o p o f o u r t o - d o l i s t T h e a x l e s e a l o n t h e p a s s e n g e r s i d e w a s s l i n g i n g g e a r o i l a l l o v e r t h e i n s i d e o f t h e t i r e , w h e e l , a n d d r u m b r a k e a s s e m b l y U n f o r t u n a t e l y, i t l o o k e d l i k e i t h a d b e e n l e a k i n g f o r q u i t e s o m e t i m e , b u t i t w a s a n “ o u t o f s i g h t , o u t o f m i n d ” s i t u a t i o n . We d i d n ’ t r u n t h e r e a r e n d d r y o n g e a r o i l , b u t o n c e t h e s e s e a l s s t a r t l e a k i n g , i t ’ l l o n l y g e t w o r s e

W e w e n t t o S u m m i t R a c i n g t o s e e w h a t k i n d o f p a r t s w e r e a v a i l a b l e . L u c k y f o r u s , S u m m i t h a d t h e s e a l s i n s t o c k f o r l e s s t h a n $ 5 p e r p i e c e R e p l a c i n g t h e a x l e s e a l s i s a r e l a t i v e l y e x t e n s i v e j o b , c o n s i d e r i n g t h a t t h e p a r t s t o f i x i t c o m e i n a t l e s s t h a n $ 1 0 H o w e v e r, t h e r e a r e a f e w o t h e r e x p e n s e s i n v o l v e d S i n c e w e h a d t h e r e a r e n d p u l l e d a p a r t w e w a n t e d t o r e p l a c e t h e b e a r i n g s W e u s e d h i g h - q u a l i t y T i m k e n s e a l s a n d b e a r i n g s a n d a Fe l - P r o r e a r e n d c o v e r g a s k e t , a n d t h e n g r a b b e d 2 q u a r t s o f 8 0 W - 9 0 g e a r o i l .

A l l t o g e t h e r w e s p e n t l e s s t h a n $ 1 0 0 , a n d t h a t i n c l u d e d a b e a r i n g a n d s e a l i n s t a l l e r t o o l f r o m S u m m i t R a c i n g Yo u ’ l l n e e d t o d e d i c a t e a f e w h o u r s t o t h i s p r o c e s s , a n d h i c c u p s c o u l d a l w a y s c o m p l i c a t e t h i n g s F o r t u n a t e l y, o u r ’ 6 4 C h e v e l l e w a s a b r e e z e a n d w e w e r e b a c k o n t h e r o a d w i t h o u t a n y d r a m a , a n d w i t h o u t s l i n g i n g g e a r o i l e v e r y w h e r e .

1 . E v e n t h o u g h a x l e s e a l s a r e d i r t c h e a p ( l e s s t h a n $ 5 e a c h ) , i t r e q u i r e s a n e x t e n s i v e i n s t a l l p r o c e s s . We ’ l l w a l k y o u t h r o u g h i t a n d p r o v i d e a d d i t i o n a l p a r t s a n d t i p s a l o n g t h e w a y

REPLACING THE AXLE SEALS IN AN EARLY 10-BOLT REAREND BY TO M M Y L E E BY R D P H OTO G R A P H Y B Y T H E A U T H O R ACP TECH [4 0 ] ALL CHEVY PERFORMANCE VOLUME 3 • ISSUE 26 • 2023

InTheGarageMedia .c om [ 4 1 ] ALL CHEVY PERFORMANCE VOLUME 3 • ISSUE 26 • 2023

6 . W i t h t h e c o v e r o u t o f t h e w a y, w e c a n s e e t h e r i n g - a n d - p i n i o n a s w e l l a s t h e c a r r i e r. O u r ’ 6 4 C h e v e l l e i s a l l s t o c k u n d e r n e a t h w i t h a n o p e n d i f f e r e n t i a l , b u t t h e s a m e p r i n c i p l e s a p p l y t o m o s t 1 0 - b o l t r e a r e n d s

7. We r o t a t e d t h e c a r r i e r t o a c c e s s t h e s i n g l e b o l t t h a t h o l d s t h e c r o s s - s h a f t p i n i n p l a c e T h e r e i s n o t e n o u g h r o o m t o u s e a r e g u l a r s o c k e t a n d r a t c he t . Yo u c a n u s e a ½ - i n c h o p e n - e n d w r e n c h , o r i n o u r c a s e , w e u s e d a s o c k e t c o m b i n a t i o n w r e n c h a n d t a p p e d i t w i t h a h a m m e r t o b r e a k i t l o o s e

2 . T h e f i r s t c l u e o f a l e a k y a x l e s e a l i s t h e i n s i d e o f y o u r t i r e b e c o m i n g s h

I n o u r c a s e , w e n o t i c e d a s m a l l s p o t o f o i l o n t h e g a r a g e f l o o r ( u n d e r n e a

t h e t i r e ) a f t e r t h e c a r s a t f o r a f e w d a y s

3 . T h e f i r s t s t e p i n t h e p r o c e s s i s l i f t i n g t h e b a c k o f t h e c a r a n d s u p p o r t i n g i t w i t h j a c k s t a n d s u n d e r t h e f r a m e r a i l s . T h e n , w e r e m o v e t h e j a c k a n d l e t t h e r e a r e n d h o u s i n g d r o p

4 . We re m ove d t h e rea r t i re s a n d w h e e ls a n d t h e n re m ove d t h e b ra ke d r u m s N o t i ce t h e s a t u ra te d b ra ke s h o e s , b a c k i n g p la te s , a n d h a rd wa re. Yo u ca n c lea n t h e p a r t s w i t h b ra ke c lea n e r, b u t i t ’s a ls o a go o d i d ea to re p la ce t h e s h o e s

5 . O n a 1 0 - b o l t r e a r e n d , t h e c o v e r m u s t b e r e m o v e d t o p u l l t h e a x l e s We r e m o v e d t h e 1 0 b o l t s a n d u s e d a s t r a i g h t s c r e w d r i v e r t o g e n t l y p r y t h e c o v e r a w a y f r o m t h e h o u s i n g

[4 2 ] ALL CHEVY PERFORMANCE VOLUME 3 • ISSUE 26 • 2023 ACP TECH

i n y t h

6. 7.

8 . T h e b o l t w i l l n o t c o m e a l l t h e w a y o u t , b u t i t ’ s o u t f a r e n o u g h t o r e m o v e t h e c r o s s - s h a f t p i n b y h a n d T h e p i n c a n b e s t u b b o r n o n s o m e a p p l i c a t i o n s , b u t i t m o v e d f r e e l y o n o u r C h e v e l l e

9. If the cross-shaft pin gets tight (like ours did), you can wrap the pin in a shop towel and then use a good pair of pliers to grab it and pull outward Just be careful not to damage the pin or use excessive force on it

1 0 . W i t h t h e p i n c o m p l e t e l y r e m o v e d , t h e a x l e s s h o u l d b e a b l e t o m o v e i n w a r d w i t h o u t i n t e r f e r e n c e

1 1 . N o w w e c a n s l i d e i t o u t f r o m u n d e r t h e c a r a n d p u s h t h e a x l e s i n w a r d I t s h o u l d o n l y m o v e a b o u t a 1 / 2 i n c h , s o i t m a y n o t f e e l l i k e i t m a d e a b i g d i f f e re n c e , b u t w e ’ l l t a k e a l o o k u n d e r t h e c a r t o s e e i f t h e C - c l i p i s e x p o s e d .

InTheGarageMedia .c om

8. 9. 10. 11.

1 2 . T h e r e i t i s , o u r

C- c l i p i s n o w a cce ss i b le a n d s h o u ld s p i n f r e e l y. Yo u c a n u s e a m a g n e t to r e m o v e i t o r r e a c h i n a n d r e m o v e i t b y h a n d

1 3 T h i s C - c l i p i s t h e o n l y t h i n g k e e p i n g t h e a x l e a t t a c h e d t o t h e r e a r e n d , s o i f y o u ’ r e d o i n g a n y s p i r i t e d d r i v i n g ( e sp e c i a l l y w i t h s t i c k y t i r e s ) , y o u s h o u l d c o n s i d e r i n s t a l l i n g a C - c l i p e l i m i n a t o r k i t

1 4 . With the C-clip out of the way, the axle is free to slide completely out of the rearend

1 5 . Now we have a clear view of the axle seal, and we can see how badly it has been leaking The bearings look fine, but we already ordered a new pair of bearings so we’ll install them as well

1 6 . Special tools are available to remove the axle seal, but we used the end of the axle to pry out the old seal It worked like a charm

1 7. We h a d t o u s e a s p e c i a l b e a r i n g p u l l e r t o o l t o r e m o v e t h e b e a r i n g s A f e w b u m p s w i t h t h e s l i d e h a m m e r a n d i t c a m e r i g h t o u t , b u t t h e s e c a n s o m e t i m e s b e s t u b b o r n

1 8 . B ra ke c lea n e r i s u s e d to c lea n t h e h o u s i n g , b a c k i n g p la te, a n d b ra ke co m p o n e n t s b efo re we s ta r t t h e rea s s e m b ly p ro ce s s

1 9. A bearing installer from Summit Racing (PN WMR-W83020) is used to make sure the bearing is seated properly without damaging it There will be a distinct tone difference when the bearing cannot go any further

[4 4 ] ALL CHEVY PERFORMANCE VOLUME 3 • ISSUE 26 • 2023 ACP TECH InTheGarageMedia .c om

12. 13. 14

16.

18.

. 15.

17.

19.

VISION REALIZED A m e r i c a ’s F i r s t C h o i c e i n R e s t o r a t i o n a n d P e r f o r m a n c e P a r t s a n d A c c e s s o r i e s FREE CATALOG 1 - 8 8 8 - 8 1 6 - 2 8 9 7 c l a s s i c i n d u s t r i e s . c o m / c a t a l o g s 1 8 4 6 0 G o t h a r d S t H u n t i n g t o n B e a c h , C a 9 2 6 4 8

2 0 T h e n e w b e a r i n g s a r e T i m k e n u n i t s f r o m S u m m i t R a c i n g ( P N T M K- 5 7 0 7 ) We p o u r e d s o m e g e a r o i l o n t h e b e a r i n g s , b u t t h e y d o n ’ t n e e d m u c h s i n c e t h e y a r e p a r t i a l l y s u b m e r g e d i n o i l

2 1 . N o w t h e n e w s e a l c a n b e i n s t a l l e d w i t h t h e i n s t a l l e r t o o l We u s e d T i m k e n a x l e s e a l s f r o m S u m m i t R a c i n g ( P N T M K- 8 6 6 0 S ) . T h e s e s e a l s a r e l e s s t h a n $ 5 p e r p i e c e a n d s h o u l d s t o p t h e g e a r o i l f r o m s l i n g i n g o u t

2 2 . T h e a x l e g o e s b a c k i n e a s i l y, a n d w e p u s h e d i t i n w a r d o n c e t h e a x l e s p l i n e s l i n e d u p w i t h t h e c a r r i e r

2 3 . B a c k u n d e r t h e c a r, t h e r e c e i v e r g r o o v e f o r t h e C - c l i p i s v i s i b l e , s o w e i n s t a l l t h e C - c l i p b y h a n d

2 4 . O n c e t h e C - c l i p i s i n p l a c e , w e c a n p u l l t h e a x l e o u t w a r d u nt i l i t s t o p s We c a n t h e n r e p e a t t h i s s a m e p r o c e s s o n t h e o t h e r a x l e t o r e p l a c e t h e s e a l a n d b e a r i n g

2 5 . W i t h t h e o t h e r a x l e s e a l a n d b e a r i n g r e p l a c e d , w e a r e r e a d y t o r e a s s e m b l e t h e c a r r i e r w i t h t h e c r o s s - s h a f t p i n E x c e s s i v e f o r c e i s n o t n e e d e d t h e p i n s h o u l d s l i d e i n e a s i l y, a s l o n g a s t h e a x l e s a r e p u l l e d o u t w a r d

[4 6 ] ALL CHEVY PERFORMANCE VOLUME 3 • ISSUE 26 • 2023 ACP TECH InTheGarageMedia .c om

20. 22. 24

21. 23 25.

AutoMetalDirect.com toMetalDirect.com 1.888.255.3895 88.255.3895 @autometaldirect #autometaldirect Follow us 68-72 Chevelle Coupe Package Tray PT# 640-3468 68-72 Chevelle Coupe DECK FILLER PT# 650-3468 68-72 Chevelle Coupe DECK LID PT# 850-3468

2 6 . T h e r e t a i n i n g b o l t c a n b e t i g h t e n e d w i t h e i t h e r a ½ - i n c h w r e n c h o r a s o c k e t c o m b i n a t i o n w r e n c h . A d a b o f r e d L o c t i t e o n t h e t h r e a d s i s a g o o d i d e a

2 7. We c l e a n e d t h e o l d g a s k e t o f f t h e r e a r e n d c o v e r w i t h a p u t t y k n i f e a n d c l e a n e d i t w i t h b r a k e c l e a n e r We l a i d a b e a d o f R T V o n t h e c o v e r a n d t h e n i n s t a l l e d t h e F e l- P r o g a s k e t t h a t w e s o u r c e d f r o m S u m m i t R a c i n g ( P N F E L- R D S 5 5 0 2 8 1 )

2 8 . A l t h o u g h n o t c o m p l e t e l y n e c e s s a r y, w e b l a s t e d a q u i c k c o a t o f r a t t l e - c a n b l a c k o n t h e r e a r e n d c o v e r T h e n , w e i n s t a l l e d t h e 1 0 o r i gi n a l b o l t s i n a c r i s s c r o s s p a t t e r n t o e n s u r e p r o p e r s e a l i n g

2 9. F i n a l l y, w e c a n r e m o v e t h e f i l l p l u g a n d s q u e e z e s o m e 8 0 W - 9 0 g e a r o i l i n t o t h e r e a r e n d u n t i l i t s t a r t s r u n n i n g o u t o f t h e h o l e

3 0 . T h e f i l l p l u g i s t i g h te n e d a n d w e c a n n o w t a k e t h e c a r o f f t h e j a c k s t a n d s a n d g o f o r a t e s t d r i v e

[4 8 ] ALL CHEVY PERFORMANCE VOLUME 3 • ISSUE 26 • 2023 ACP TECH InTheGarageMedia .c om

SOURCE S U M M I T R A C I N G P R O D U C T S ( 8 0 0 ) 2 3 0 - 3 0 3 0 s u m m i t r a c i n g c o m 26. 27. 28. 29. 30.

April 28th, 29th & 30th ..................Bakersfield, CA May 5th, 6th & 7th ............................Knoxville, TN May 26th, 27th & 28th ..................Springfield, MO June 2nd, 3rd & 4th ................................York, PA June 23rd, 24th & 25th ........................Pueblo, CO August 3rd, 4th, 5th & 6th ................Louisville, KY September 8th, 9th & 10th ............Kalamazoo, MI September 15th, 16th & 17th ..........Burlington, VT October 13th, 14th & 15th ........Oklahoma City, OK 2023 SCHEDULE Your Membership & Event Entry Makes You Eligible to Win: • 1977 Chevrolet C-10 Pickup built by Harrison’s Rod and Custom and given away at the Street Rod Nationals® on Saturday, August 5th, 2023 in Louisville, Kentucky * MUST QUALIFY TO WIN • Three $2,000 Prizes at Each Divisional Event to registered participants • In excess $50,000 in Super Prize Drawings at Each Event PLUS! Here’s What Else You Will Receive: • 12 Issues of StreetScene® Magazine – 54th Year of Reporting the Street Rodding News • FREE Online Fellow Pages – The National Directory for Rodders Needing Assistance • FREE Safety Inspections by Our All Volunteer – Vehicle Safety Inspection Teams NSRA Street Rod Nationals Giveaway Truck Join Today at www.nsra-usa.com

BRAD MRSTIK’S ’57 CHEVY 150 ACP FEATURE [ 5 0 ] ALL CHEVY PERFORMANCE VOLUME 3 • ISSUE 26 • 2023

H N JAC K

I m p a l a ” i n h i s h i g h s c h o o l d a y s b a c k i n t h e m i d ’ 7 0 s . “

Popular Hot Rodding m a g a z i n e ’s ‘ P r o j e c t X ’ a n d s e e i

m o v i e The Hollywood Knights t h a t k e p t m y i n t e r e s t i n ’

c h e r r y ’ 6 4

a G r e e n M a c h i n e ’ — t h a t i n f l u e n c e d m e t o b u y m y f i r s t ’ 5 7 C h e v y B e l A i r, w h i c h I o w n e d f o r s i x y e a r s b e f o r e s e l l i n g i t t o b u y t h e 1 5 0 I h a v e n o w.” I n M a r c h 2 0 0 1 B r a d f o u n d t h e c a r i n a n o n l i n e s e a r c h a t a s m a l l d e a l e r s h i p i n R o c h e s t e r, M i n n e s o t a . I t a p p e a r e d t o b e i n g o o d s h a p e a n d h a d a p u n c h e d - o u t 3 5 0 c i e n g i n e w i t h a d u a l q u a d s e t u p a n d a M u n c i e f o u r- s p e e d t r a n s m i s s i o n . I t a l s o h a d 1 2 - b o l t r e a r e n d a n d a s e t o f t r a c t i o n b a r s , w h i c h l e d t h e n o t i o n t h e p r e v i o u s o w n e r d a b b l e d i n s o m e l o c a l d r a g r a c i n g

c a r s T h a t wa s t h e c a t a l y s t t o o w i n g w h a t h e d e s c r i b e s a s a “ InTheGarageMedia .c om [ 5 1 ] ALL CHEVY PERFORMANCE VOLUME 3 • ISSUE 26 • 2023

B r a d r e c a l l s . “ B u t i t wa s t h e Hot Rod m a g a z i n e p r o j e c t c a r ‘

BY N I C K L I C ATA P H OTO G R A P

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Tr i - F i v e s a r e c o o l T h e ’ 5 5 , ’ 5 6 , a n d ’ 5 7 C h e v y s h a v e r e m a i n e d p o p u l a r f o r v a r i o u s r e a s o n s , b u t w e ’ l l g i v e a g o o d a m o u n t o f c r e d i t t o t h e v i n t a g e b o d y s t y l e t h a t l o o k s j u s t a s s e x y t o d a y a s i t d i d i n C h e v r o l e t s h o w r o o m s n e a r l y 7 0 y e a r s a g o B r a d M r s t i k f i r s t t o o k n o t i c e o f a ’ 5 7 2 1 0 p a r k e d i n a d r i v e w a y j u s t a f e w d o o r s d o w n f r o m h i s h o u s e. I t w a s o w n e d b y a c o u p l e h i g h - s c h o o l a g e b r o t h e r s w h o s e e m e d t o h a v e t h e i r h e a d s u n d e r t h e h o o d m o r e o f t e n t h a n t h e i r b u t t s i n t h e s e a t s A t o n l y 6 y e a r s o f a g e t h e i m a g e a n d s h a p e o f t h a t ’ 5 7 s o m e h o w b e c a m e e m b l a z e d i n B r a d ’s y o u n g m i n d a n d p l a y e d a b i g p a r t o n w h i c h m o d e l c a r s t o b u i l d a f e w y e a r s l a t e r I n h i s t e e n a g e y e a r s B r a d ’s s t e p d a d e n c o u r a g e d h i m t o l e a r n t h e b a s i c a u t o m o t i v e m a i n t e n a n c e s k i l l s , w h i c h a l s o i n c l u d e d wa s h i n g a n d d e t a i l i n g N

F r o m t h e r e i t wa s n g t h a t c a r i n t h e 5 7 C h e v y s g o i n g,” S o n o f H

“ I d r o v e t h e c a r a n d d i d m i n o r f i x e s a n d u p g r a d e s f o r a f e w y e a r s , b u t l i f e s t e p p e d i n a n d I f o c u s e d o n r a i s i n g t w o b o y s B e i n g a s i n g l e d a d l e f t m e l i m i t e d t i m e t o f o c u s o n t h e c a r s o i t s a t s t a g n a n t f o r m a n y y e a r s , ” B r a d s a y s “ B u t I w o u l d n ’ t c h a n g e i t f o r t h e w o r l d , a s I e n j o y e d c o a c h i n g m y b o y s i n b a s e b a l l a n d j u s t d o i n g d a d s t u f f.”

O n c e t h e b o y s g o t o l d e r, B r a d o n c e a g a i n s e t f o c u s o n h i s h o t r o d H e ’d a l w a y s h a d a v i s i o n o f a ’ 5 7 1 5 0 d o n e w i t h o u t a l l t h e s t a i n l e s s t r i m – a t o t a l l y s m o o t h c a r H e w e n t s o f a r a s t o h a v e s o m e d i g i t a l r e n d i t i o n s c r e a t e d t o g e t a n i d e a o f h o w i t w o u l d l o o k . N o w i t w a s j u s t a m a t t e r o f s a v i n g m o n e y a n d f i n d i n g t h e r i g h t s h o p t o t a k e h i s v i s i o n t o r e a l i t y.

I t wa s S e p t e m b e r 6 , 2 0 1 8 w h e n h e d r o v e t h e c a r t o Va l l e y R o d & C u s t o m i n N o r t h E n g l i s h , I o wa , f o r t h e t r a n s i t i o n O w n e r B r a d M i l l e r u n d e r s t o o d w h a t wa s c o o k i n g i n B r a d ’s h e a d r e g a r d i n g a s m o o t h - b o d i e d ’ 5 7 . M i l l e r t o o k t h e q u a r t e r b a c k p o s i t i o n o n t h e b u i l d a n d t h e Va l l e y c r e w g o t b u s y s h a v i n g t h e h o o d , t r u n k , f e n d e r s , d o o r p a n e l s , f i n t r i m , a n d q u a r t e r- p a n e l s T h e m e n u a l s o i n c l u d e d f r e n c h e d h e a d l i g h t s , a C a r r i a g e Wo r k s b l a c k p o w e d e r c o a t e d c u s t o m g r i l l e w i t h h i d d e n t u r n s i g n a l s , a n d J & P C y c l e s 7 - i n c h m o t o r cy c l e h e a d l i g h t s

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o f o r a n g e p e e l i n t h e p a i n t b e c o m e s m a g n i f i e , l M i l l e r a n d h i s c r e w s t e p p e d u p t o t h e c h a l l e n g e, l i o f c l e a r, t h e n s a n d e d , s a n d e d s o m e m o r e, t h e n w e t - s a n d e d , t h e s h e e t m e t a l t o a f l a w l e s s f i n i s h . M i l l e r r e c e s s e d a n d s m o o t h e d t h e f i r e w a l l , f a b r i c a t f e n d e r s , t h e n s p r a y e d m a t c h i n g p a i n t p r i o r t o b o l t i n g i n L S 3 “ I ’ m e m b r a c i n g t h e b o r i n g L S 3 l o o k f o r n o B I ’ m l o o k i n g f o r w a r d t o t o p p i n g t h e e n g i n e i t h a i n j e c t i o n s y s t e m v e r y s o o n . ” A s o f n o w t h e e n i a c c e s s o r y d r i v e s y s t e m a n d i n h a l e s t h r o u g h a c u s t o i n t a d w i t h a K & N e l e m e n t a n d e x h a l e s t h r o u g h c e r a m i c - c o a t e a n d a 3 - i n c h c u s t o m e x h a u s t w i t h a n X - p i p e b y R o s s M i H a k e r t h a t s t e a l t h i l y d u m p s a t t h e r e a r c o r n e r s s e e k i n g l i t t l e a t t i R e a r t u b s w e r e i n s t a l l e d t o a c c e p t t h e f a t w h e e l s a n d t i r e s , t h e n t h e b o d y w a s d r o p p e d o n a f u l l y p o w d e r c o a t e d S c h w a r t z P e r f o r m a n c e G - M a c h i n e c h a s s i s t h a t f e a t u r e s a t r i a n g u l a t e d f o u r- l i n k o u t b a c k w i t h R i d e t e c h s i n g l ea d j u s t a b l e s h o c k s o n a l l f o u r c o r n e r s a l o n g w i t h s p l i n e d s w a y b a r s f r o n t a n d r e a r. T h a t r a c k - a n d - p i n i o n s t e e r i n g c o m e s i n h a n d y w h e n B r a d h i t s t h e c o r n e r s w i t h c o n v i c t i o n W i l w o o d d i s c b r a k e s t a k e o r d e r s f r o m t h e S u m m i t R a c i n g m a s t e r c y l i n d e r a n d b o o s t e r f o r e x c e l l e n t s t o p p i n g p r o w e s s .

InTheGarageMedia .c om [ 5 3 ] ALL CHEVY PERFORMANCE VOLUME 3 • ISSUE 26 • 2023

M a n y Tr i - F i v e p u r i s t s i n s i s t o n l y v i n t a g e w h e e l s b e u s e d o n t h i s s a c r e d b o d y, a n d a l t h o u g h B r a d c o m p l i e d , h e f o r w e n t t h e 1 5 - i n c h e r s o f t h e d a y a n d b o l t e d o n a s e t o f 1 8 - i n c h A m e r i c a n R a c i n g To r q T h r u s t w h e e l s a p p r o p r i a t e l y s i z e d t o c l e a r t h e l a r g e r- t h a n - s t o c k b r a k e s

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P o w e r m a k e s i t s w a y t o a T R E M E C T K O 5 0 0 f i v e - s p e e d t r a n s m i s s i o n , C e n t e r f o r c e c l u t c h , a n d o n t o a 9 - i n c h r e a r e n d s t u f f e d w i t h a l i m i t e d - s l i p p o s i , 3 . 3 6 g e a r s , a n d 3 1 - s p l i n e a x l e s . T h e c o m b i n a t i o n a l l o w s B r a d a l o wr p m , h i g h - q u a l i t y d r i v i n g e x p e r i e n c e e s p e c i a l l y w h e n h e l e t s t h a t L S 3 s i n g o n t h e h i g h w a y. T h e i n t e r i o r i s a f u s i o n o f o l d - s c h o o l c u s t o m m e e t s m o d e r n f u n c t i o n . I n a n e a r l y i n c a r n a t i o n o f t h e c a r, M i k e F r i e d e n o f C h a m p i o n C h a s s i s i n C e d a r R a p i d s , I o w a , c o l l a b o r a t e d w i t h B r a d a n d t h e c u s t o m - f a b r i c a t e d d a s h t h a t e c h o e s t h e w o r k o f c u s t o m i z i n g l e g e n d s D a r r y l S t a r b i r d a n d G e n e W i n f i e l d . P o p u l a t e d w i t h A u t o M e t e r i n f o r m a n t s , t h e d a s h a r t f u l l y p r e s e n t s t h e m o d e r n g a u g e s D i v i n g i n f u r t h e r r e v e a l s c l a s s i c b l a c k c a r p e t w i t h b l a c k ACP FEATURE [ 5 4 ] ALL CHEVY PERFORMANCE VOLUME 3 • ISSUE 26 • 2023

o u t o f W a s h i n g t o n , I o w a . T h e C l a s s i c o f f a b i t o f m o d e r n f l a i r, a n d b e c a u s e S t a r b u c k s a i n ’ t c h c u p h o l d e r s t h w a r t u n w a n t e d s p i l l a g e T h e P r o c a r b c o m b i n a t i o n o f c o m f o r t a n d s e c u r i t y w h i l e f i t t i n g i n i t h t h e r t h e m e c a r r i e d o n b y t h e B i l l e t S p e c i a l t i e s s t e e r i n a p p r o p r i a t e l y t o p p e d w i t h t h e c l a s s i c w h i t e b a l l . A V i n t a g e A i r A / C s y s t e m p r o v i d e s a n i d e a l c l i m a t s y s t e m i s b a c k e d u p b y a n a r m y o f K i c n e x t - l e v e l d r i v i n g e x p e r i e n c e I t ’s t h a t o l d t u r n i t u p a n o t c h o r t h r e e a n d p u s h t h e

“A f t e r 1 , 2 8 4 d a y s ( y e s , I wa s c o u n t i n g ) I t o o k h o m e o n e o f t h e c o o l e s t ’ 5 7 C h e v y 1 5 0 s o n t h e p l a n e t a n d c o u l d n ’ t b e m o r e i m p r e s s e d w i t h h o w t h e c a r c a m e o u t , ” B r a d s a y s . “ T h e t i r e l e s s a n d a m a z i n g w o r k o f B r a d M i l l e r a n d h i s t a l e n t e d c r e w a t Va l l e y R o d & C u s t o m a r e t h e r o c k s t a r s w h o m a d e i t h a p p e n A n d w i t h o u t t h e h e l p o f m y g o o d f r i e n d D a v e B a l i k e a r l y o n , t h i s c a r w o u l d n o t b e w h e r e i t i s t o d a y I a l s o wa n t t o t h a n k H e c t o r a t R i c k ’s Ta n k s f o r t e l l i n g m e t o ‘ j u s t g o f o r i t ’ w h e n i t c a m e t o t h e c h a s s i s a n d s u s p e n s i o n . “ W o r k i n g a t J & P C y c l e s i n A n a m o s a , I o w a , a n d b e i n g t h e o w n e r o f a n o l d c a r, I w a s c h o s e n t o c o o r d i n a t e a m o n t h l y c r u i s e n i g h t f o r b i k e r s a n d h o t r o d d e r s A m a z i n g l y, t h e c r u i s e b r o u g h t b i k e r s a n d h o t r o d d e r s t o g e t h e r t h e b i k e r s c h e c k o u t t h e c a r s a n d t h e h o t r o d d e r s c h e c k o u t t h e b i k e s , ”

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InTheGarageMedia .c om [ 5 5 ] ALL CHEVY PERFORMANCE VOLUME 3 • ISSUE 26 • 2023

f c o o l e s t . “ T h i s c a r h a s t u r e i n m y a r e a , ” B r a d a n o n e.”

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a d j u s t a b l e s h o c k s , R i d e t e c h s p r i n g s , S c h w a r t z s p l i n e

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W H E E L S : A m e r i c a n R a c i n g To r q T h r u s t ( 1 8 x 8 f r o n t , 1 8 x 1 1 r e a r )

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I N S TA L L AT I O N : B a c k R o a d s I n t e r i o r s ( Wa s h i n g t o n , I A )

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S T E E R I N G : F l a m i n g R i v e r s t e e r i n g c o l u m n , B i l l e t S p e c i a l t i e s s t e e r i n g w h e e l

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I N S T R U M E N TAT I O N : A u t o M e t e r

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E x t e r io r B O DY W O R K A N D PA I N T: Va l l e y R o d & C u s t o m ( N o r t h E n g l i s h , I A ) PA I N T: A x a l t a C u s t o m M e t a l l i c , K a n d y, Pe a r l , R e d G R I L L E : C a r r i a g e Wo r k s b l a c k p o w d e r c o a t e d F R O N T B U M P E R : C a l i f o r n i a o n e p i e c e w i t h s h a v e d b o l t s R E A R B U M P E R : C u s t o m f i t t e d s t a t i o n w a g o n w i t h s h a v e d b o l t s H E A D L I G H T S : J & P C y cl e s 7 - i n c h m o t o r cy cl e t r i - b a r TA I L L I G H T S : S t o c k S I D E M I R R O R : S p e e d w a y M o t o r s Pe e p P L AT I N G : P r e c i s i o n P l a t i n g ( Q u i n cy, I L )

InTheGarageMedia .c om ACP FEATURE [ 5 6 ] ALL CHEVY PERFORMANCE VOLUME 3 • ISSUE 26 • 2023 T E C H OW N E R : B r a d M r s t i k , C e d a r R a p i d s , I o w a V E H I C L E : ’ 5 7 C h e v y 1 5 0 E ng i ne T Y P E : C h e v r o l e t Pe r f o r m a n c e L S 3 D I S P L AC E M E N T: 3 7 6 c i C O M P R E S S I O N R AT I O : 1 0 7 : 1 B O R E : 4 0 6 5 i n c h e s S T R O K E : 3 6 2 2 i n c h e s C Y L I N D E R H E A D S : A l u m i n u m L 9 2 - s t y l e p o r t R OTAT I N G A S S E M B LY: N o d u l a r i r o n c r a n k s h a f t , p o w d e r e d m e t a l c o n n e c t i n g r o d s , h y p e r e u t e c t i c a l u m i n u m p i s t o n s

R E A R S U S P E N S n k s u s p e n s i o n , R i d e t e c h s i n g l e d s w a y b a r f , W i l w o o d 1 2 - i n c h r o t o r s , f o u r- b

h e i d t s . c o m | 8 0 0 - 8 4 1 - 8 1 8 8 | 8 0 0 O a k w o o d R d , L a k e Z u r i c h , I L 6 0 0 4 7 C a l l o r C l i c k f o r y o u r F R E E H E I D T S C a t a l o g ! ©2022 HEIDTS Products are pa nted for advertising purposes only 1967-69 & 1970-81 C amaro/ Firebird • W ilwood Brakes • P ro-G S pindles • Motor Mount s • C oil-Over S hocks • P ower R ack & P inion Unbelievable Handling! PRO-G ® IFS BOLT-IN REAR 4-LINKS BOLT-IN IRS IRS 58-1⁄2” TRACK WIDTH 1967-69 & 1970-81 C amaro/Firebird 1982-92 & 1993-02 C amaro/Firebird 1967-69 & 1970-73 C amaro/Firebird * Shown P ainted *Requires Welding MINI STARTER T h e P o w e r m a x P l u s S t a r t e r d e l i v e r s t h e t o r q u e a n d r e l i a b i l i t y y o u e x p e c t f r o m a h i g h p e r f o r m a n c e s t a r t e r , b u t a t a n a f f o r d a b l e p r i c e ! # 9 1 1 2 S B C A n g l e M o u n t G i v e U s A C a l l 6 3 0 - 9 5 7 - 4 0 1 9 PowermasterPerformance.com # 9 1 0 0 S B C S t r a i g h t M o u n t Adjustable billet mount to clear exhaust & suspension Compact design weighs only 7.5 pounds High torque easily cranks engines up to 11:1 compression Eliminates hot soak starting issues Each starter is dyno tested for performance # 9 1 0 9 L S e n g i n e s

Wh e n i t c o m e s t o b a d a c t o r c a r s , m o s t g e a r h e a d s a r e a l l a b o u t m a k i n g p o w e r a n d g o i n g q u i c k e r a n d f a s t e r T h a t p l a c e s m a j o r e m p h a s i s o n h o r s e p o w e r a n d t o r q u e b u t t h i s a l s o l e a d s t o t h e m o r e c h a l l e n g i n g q u e s t i o n o f h o w t o m a n a g e a l l t h a t p o w e r a n d c o n v e r t i t i n t o t r a c t i o n . T h i s s t o r y w i l l o u t l i n e a b a s i c u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f t h e v a r i o u s r e a r s u s p e n s i o n d e s i g n s M a n y e n t h u s i a s t s g l o s s o v e r t h e s e s y s t e m s o r m e r e l y f o l l o w w h i c h e v e r s y s t e m s e e m s t o b e c u r r e n t l y p o p u l a r

A s a t r u e e n t h u s i a s t , i t ’s i m p o r t a n t t o u n d e r s t a n d h o w e a c h o f t h e s e s y s t e m s f u n c t i o n , w h a t m a k e s t h e m d i f f e r e n t , a n d w h i c h o n e o f f e r s t h e b e s t a p p r o a c h b a s e d o n t h e p e r f o r m a n c e g o a l A n o p t i m a l d r a g r a c e r e a r s u s p e n s i o n w o u l d b e a c r i p p l i n g d i s a d v a n t a g e t r y i n g t o f i n d b i t e c o m i n g o f f a n a u t o c r o s s t u r n o r o n a r o a d c o u r s e

We w i l l l o o k a t t h e p o p u l a r r e a r s u s p e n s i o n d e s i g n s w i t h a s i m p l e o v e r v i e w o f e a c h . B e c a u s e w e m u s t c r a m a l l t h e s e s y s t e m s i n t o a s i n g l e s t o r y, t h i s m e a n s w e a r e f o r c e d t o l e a v e o u t a m o u n t a i n o f d e t a i l s T h i n k o f t h i s s t o r y a s a s m o r g a s b o r d o r a n i c e c r e a m t a s t e t e s t w h e r e y o u c a n q u i c k l y s a m p l e a l l t h e d i f f e r e n t f l a v o r s a n d t h e n d e c i d e w h i c h o f f e r s t h e b e s t o n e t h a t s u i t s y o u r p a r t i c u l a r t a s t e Yo u c a n t h e n l a u n c h i n t o a m o r e d e t a i l e d s e a r c h i n t o t h e s y s t e m t h a t b e s t m e e t s y o u r g o a l s

U R E R S

SIMPLE OVERVIEW OF REAR SUSPENSION DESIGN, FROM LEAF SPRINGS TO IRS [ 5 8 ] ALL CHEVY PERFORMANCE VOLUME 3 • ISSUE 26 • 2023 ACP TECH

BY J E F F S M I T H P H OTO G R A P H Y BY T H E AU T H O R & T H E M A N

U FACT

1 . T h e s i m p le s t rea r s u s p e ns i o n co n f i g u ra t i o n u s e s t h e rea r ax le lo ca t i n g d e v i ce a s t h e s p r i n g i t s e l f M o s t lea f s p r i n gs a re a n g le d s li g h t ly i nb o a rd a t t h e f ro n t to i m p rove la te ra l s t i f f n e s s . T h i s i s a ’ 7 0 Ca m a ro rea r s u s p e n s i o n w i t h a n a n t i sway b a r a tta c h e d

2 . T h e C a l Tr a c s b a r a n d o t h e r s i m i l a r d e v i c e s s t r e n g t h e n s t h e l e a d i n g e n d o f t h e l e a f s p r i n g t o p r e v e n t s p r i n g w r a p u p w h i l e a l s o c h a n g i n g t h e r e a r s u s p e ns i o n ’ s i n s t a n t c e n t e r

L E A F S P R I N G S

W e ’ l l s t a r t w i t h t h e s i m p l e s t r e a r s u s p e n s i o n t h a t l i t e r a l l y c a n b e t r a c e d b a c k t o t h e 1 7 0 0 s w h e n F r e n c h c a r r i a g e m a k e r s e m p l o y e d a f l e x i b l e m e t a l p l a t e t o c u s h i o n t h e r i d e t h a t e v e n t u a l l y e v o l v e d i n t o t h e l e a f s p r i n g T h e m o d e r n a u t o m o t i v e l e a f s p r i n g i s m o s t o f t e n a m u l t i - l e a f c o n f i g u r a t i o n , b u t m o n o l e a f s p r i n g s a r e u s e d , a s w i t h t h e ’ 6 7 C a m a r o

3 . A l a d d e r b a r i s r e a l l y j u s t a p a r a l l e l f o u r - l i n k w i t h t h e u p p e r a n d l o w e r l i n k s p h y s i c a l l y c o n n e c te d a t a s i n g l e p o i n t T h i s m a k e s f o r a v e r y s i m p l e , e a s y - t o - u s e d r a g r a c i n g r e a r s u s p e n s i o n b u t l i m i t s r e a r s u s p e n s i o n a d j u s t a b i l i t y

4 . Parallel four-link systems are a slightly more sophisticated version of the ladder bar This streetable version of the parallel four-link uses a Panhard bar to laterally locate the housing This is an Art Morrison Enterprises (AME) rear clip

5 . Ea r ly C h e ve lle s a n d G - b o d i e s u s e d a s p laye d fo u r- li n k rea r s u s p e n s i o n w h e re t h e u p p e r co n t ro l a r m s fo r m a t r i a n g le t h a t la te ra lly p o s i t i o n s t h e rea r ax le u n d e r t h e ca r T h i s i s a n ea r ly C h e ve lle ve r s i o n w i t h s to c k u p p e r co n t ro l a r m s a n d t u b u la r lowe r b a r s A ls o n o te t h e A ld a n co i love r s h o c ks re p la c i n g t h e o r i g i n a l co i l s p r i n gs

W h e n p o w e r i s a p p l i e d t o a l e a f s p r i n g , t h e p i n i o n g e a r a t t e m p t s t o c l i m b t h e r i n g g e a r b u t i s r e s i s t e d b e c a u s e t h e r e a r a x l e t u b e s a r e a t t a c h e d t o t h e s p r i n g To r q u e i s a p p l i e d t h r o u g h t h e l e a d i n g h a l f o f t h e m a i n l e a f s p r i n g , w h i c h c a n d e f l e c t i t j u s t b e h i n d w h e r e t h e s p r i n g e y e a t t a c h e s t o t h e b o d y W i t h h a r d a c c e l e r a t i o n f r o m a s t a n d i n g s t a r t , t h i s f o r c e c a n c a u s e t h e m a i n l e a f t o d e f o r m i n t o a n S s h a p e . I f e n o u g h t o r q u e i s a p p l i e d , t h e S s h a p e e v e n t u a l l y b i n d s t h e s p r i n g , w h i c h v i o l e n t l y f o r c e s i t s e l f b a c k t o i t s o r i g i n a l s h a p e , c a u s i n g t h e r e a r t i r e t o l e a v e t h e r o a d s u r f a c e T h i s c r e a t e s w h a t i s c a l l e d w h e e l h o p

T h e r e a r e s e v e r a l t i m e - h o n o r e d s o l u t i o n s t o p r e v e n t w h e e l h o p C h r y s l e r l o n g a g o m o v e d t h e m o u n t i n g p o s i t i o n o f t h e r e a r a x l e o n t h e s p r i n g t o s h o r t e n t h e d i s t a n c e f r o m t h e a x l e t u b e t o t h e f r o n t s p r i n g e y e T h i s e f f e c t i v e l y s t r e n g t h e n s t h e l e a d i n g s i d e o f t h e s p r i n g , w h i c h m i n i m i z e s s p r i n g w r a p a n d w h e e l h o p T h e s e c a r s a r e o f t e n a l s o e q u i p p e d w i t h a p i n i o n s n u b b e r t h a t l i m i t s p i n i o n t r a v e l a n d i m p r o v e s t r a c t i o n

T h e cl a s s i c t r a c t i o n b a r s o l u t i o n f o r G M l e a f s p r i n g c a r s w a s t o b o l t a r e c t a n g u l a r s t e e l t u b e t o t h e l e a f s p r i n g m o u n t f i t t e d w i t h a r u b b e r s n u b b e r d e s i g n e d t o c o n t a c t t h e f o r w a r d p a r t o f t h e s p r i n g T h e t r a c t i o n b a r p r e v e n t s s p r i n g w r a p u p b u t a l s o b i n d s t h e s p r i n g T h i s w o r k s a d e q u a t e l y f o r s t r a i g h t l i n e d r a g r a c i n g b u t c r e a t e s e s s e n t i a l l y a n i n f i n i t e s p r i n g r a t e , w h i c h c a u s e s m a s s i v e o v e r s t e e r w h e n p o w e r i s a p p l i e d w h e n e x i t i n g a c o r n e r.

A f a r b e t t e r s o l u t i o n i s t h e C a l Tr a c s b a r a n d i t s m a n y v a r i a n t s T h i s d e s i g n m o u n t s a r o u n d t u b e l i n k d i r e c t l y u n d e r t h e r e a r a x l e s p r i n g p a d t h a t e x t e n d s f o r w a r d t o a m o u n t d i r e c t l y b e l o w t h e f r o n t s p r i n g e y e T h i s f r o n t m o u n t i n cl u d e s t h r e e d i f f e r e n t m o u n t i n g l o c a t i o n s f o r t h e l e a d i n g e n d o f t h e b a r. T h i s d e v i c e m i n i m i z e s s p r i n g w r a p w h i l e n o t b i n d i n g s o t h e s p r i n g f u n c t i o n s n o r m a l l y w h e n l o a d i s a p p l i e d

I N S TA N T C E N T E R

T h i s i s a g o o d p l a c e t o b r i n g u p t h e c o n c e p t o f t h e r e a r s u s p e n s i o n ’s i n s t a n t c e n t e r ( I C ) . T h i s i s a n i m a g i n a r y p o i n t i n s p a c e t h a t f u n c t i o n s a s t h e l o c a t i o n o f t h e f o r c e d r i v i n g t h e v e h i cl e f o r w a r d d u r i n g a c c e l e r a t i o n T h i s i s a c o m p l e x a r r a n g e m e n t t h a t w e w i l l m e n t i o n s e v e r a l t i m e s t h r o u g h o u t t h i s s t o r y, b u t i t i s b e y o n d t h e s c o p e o f t h i s s t o r y t o d e l v e i n t o i t s m a n y d e t a i l s . We s u g g e s t y o u r e a d o t h e r t e c h n i c a l p i e c e s t o b e c o m e m o r e f a m i l i a r w i t h h o w t h e I C a f f e c t s t r a c t i o n d u r i n g a c c e l e r a t i o n

The modern leaf spring combines multiple tasks into one component The spring loca tes the rear axle housing in the vehicle, supports the weight of the rear half of the vehicle, while also providing suspension freedom of movement

[ 5 9 ] ALL CHEVY PERFORMANCE VOLUME 3 • ISSUE 26 • 2023 InTheGarageMedia .c om 1. 3. 2. 4 . 5.

I n a t y p i c a l l e a f s p r i n g a p p l i c a t i o n , t h e I C i s o f t e n f o u n d a t t h e f r o n t s p r i n g e y e , a l t h o u g h n o t i n a l l c a s e s W h e n a t r a c t i o n d e v i c e l i k e t h e C a l Tr a c s b a r i s a p p l i e d , t h e t o r q u e i s a p p l i e d t h r o u g h t h e l o w e r b a r s o t h a t t h e I C i s f o r m e d b y e x t e n d i n g i m a g i n a r y l i n e s f o r w a r d t h a t t r a c e t h e p o s i t i o n o f t h e m a i n l e a f s p r i n g a n d t h e C a l Tr a c s l o w e r b a r. T h e I C c a n b e c h a n g e d b y r e l o c a t i n g t h e f r o n t m o u n t i n g p o s i t i o n o f t h e l o w e r b a r T h i s o f f e r s t u n i n g o p t i o n s t h a t a f f e c t t r a c t i o n

C O I L S P R I N G S

C o i l s p r i n g s w e r e a n a t u r a l e v o l u t i o n o f l e a f s p r i n g s , o f f e r i n g s u p p o r t f o r v e h i c l e w e i g h t i n a s m a l l e r, l i g h t e r p a c k a g e c o m p a r e d t o b u l k y l e a f s p r i n g s W h i l e s m a l l e r a n d l i g h t e r, c o i l s p r i n g s d o n o t l o c a t e t h e r e a r a x l e h o u s i n g l i k e l e a f s p r i n g s T h i s t a s k m u s t b e p e r f o r m e d b y s e p a r a t e l o c a t i n g d e v i c e s c a l l e d t r a i l i n g a r m s T h e o r i e n t a t i o n o f t h e s e t r a i l i n g a r m s l e a d s u s i n t o a v a r i e t y o f d i f f e r e n t r e a r s u s p e n s i o n c o n f i g u r a t i o n s .

L A D D E R B A R S

F r o m a s i m p l i s t i c v i e w p o i n t , t h e n e x t r e a r s u s p e n s i o n c o n f i g u r a t i o n i s t h e s i m p l e l a d d e r b a r T h i s d e s i g n h a s b e e n p o p u l a r i z e d i n d r a g r a c i n g r e a r s u s p e n s i o n u s i n g a p a i r o f t r i a n g l e - s h a p e d b a r s m o u n t e d b e t w e e n t h e r e a r a x l e a n d a f r a m e c r o s s m e m b e r T h e a d v a n t a g e o f a l a d d e r b a r s u s p e n s i o n i s t h e f o r w a r d l o c a t i n g p o i n t i n t h e r e a r s u s p e n s i o n ’s I C T h i s c a n b e r e p o s i t i o n e d v e r t i c a l l y t o a d j u s t t h e a p p l i c a t i o n o f t o r q u e d u r i n g t h e l a u n c h H o w e v e r, a m a j o r d i s a d v a n t a g e i s t h a t t h e I C p o i n t c a n n o t b e a d j u s t e d f o r w a r d o r b a c k w a r d i n t h e c a r w i t h o u t p h y s i c a l l y c h a n g i n g t h e l e n g t h o f t h e l a d d e r b a r

A p a i r o f l a d d e r b a r s c r e a t e s t w o s e t s o f p a r a l l e l b a r s t h a t f o r m a b a s i c r e c t a n g l e a r o u n d t h e r e a r s u s p e n s i o n U n f o r t u n a t e l y, t h i s c o n f i g u r a t i o n o f f e r s n o l a t e r a l ( s i d e t o s i d e ) c o n t r o l o v e r r e a r a x l e m o v e m e n t T h i s m e a n s l a d d e r b a r s ( a n d o t h e r s y s t e m s w e ’ l l a d d r e s s n e x t ) r e q u i r e s o m e t y p e o f s e p a r a t e c o n t r o l m e c h a n i s m t h a t w i l l m i n i m i z e l a t e r a l m o v e m e n t

T h e r e a r e m u l t i p l e s o l u t i o n s t o s o l v e t h i s i s s u e b u t t h e s i m p l e s t i s a t r a c k b a r t h a t l a t e r a l l y c o n n e c t s t h e f r o n t o f o n e l o w e r a r m w i t h t h e r e a r l i n k o f t h e o p p o s i t e l o w e r b a r T h i s f o r m s a r i g h t t r i a n g l e i n b e t w e e n t h e t w o p a r a l l e l l o w e r a r m s T h i s t r i a n g l e p r e v e n t s u n w a n t e d l a t e r a l m o v e m e n t b y v i r t u e o f t h e r i g h t - a n g l e c o n n e c t i o n s . Tr a c k b a r s a r e f i n e f o r s t r a i g h t a h e a d d r a g c a r s b u t p l a c e e x t r e m e l y h i g h l o a d s o n t h e s p h e r i c a l j o i n t s d u r i n g c o r n e r i n g s o t h e s e t r a c k b a r s s h o u l d n o t b e u s e d i n s t r e e t o r h i g h - f o r c e c o r n e r i n g a p p l i c a t i o n s l i k e r o a d r a c i n g o r a u t o c r o s s A b e t t e r s o l u t i o n i s e i t h e r a P a n h a r d b a r o r W a t t ’s l i n k a g e t h a t w i l l b e d e t a i l e d l a t e r.

PA R A L L E L F O U R - L I N K

T h e p a r a l l e l f o u r- l i n k r e a r s u s p e n s i o n i s g e n e r a l l y c o n s i d e r e d a s a n u p g r a d e t o t h e s i m p l e l a d d e r b a r T h e p a r a l l e l f o u r- l i n k u s e s l o w e r c o n t r o l a r m s t o p o s i t i o n t h e r e a r a x l e i n t h e c a r a n d a r e c o n n e c t e d t o t h e l o w e r p o r t i o n o f t h e r e a r a x l e T h e u p p e r a r m s a r e c o n n e c t e d o v e r t h e t o p o f t h e r e a r a x l e a n d a l s o c o n n e c t t o t h e f r a m e w i t h s h o r t e r t u b e s T h e s h o r t e r t u b e s a r e u s e d t o h e l p i n p a c k a g i n g t h e s y s t e m u n d e r t h e e x i s t i n g f l o o r T h e u p p e r a r m s a r e u s e d t o m a i n t a i n t h e p i n i o n p o s i t i o n d u r i n g a c c e l e r a t i o n a n d d e c e l e r a t i o n .

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P e r f o r m a n c e s h o w s a c u s t o m r e a r s u s p e n s i o n d e s i g n t h a t u s e s u p p e r c o n t r o l a r m s t h a t a r e o r ie n t e d t o w a r d t h e r e a r T h e s e a r m s a l s o f o r m a t r i a ng l e s i m i l a r t o C h e v e l l e - t y p e r e a r s u s p e ns i o n T h i s i s o f t e n d o n e f o r p a c k a g i n g p u r p o s e s t o a l l o w r o o m f o r r e a r s e a t p a s s e n g e r s

7. T h i s t h r e el i n k s y s t e m i m a g e a l s o c o m e s f r o m A M E O n e a d v a n t a g e t o a t h r e e - l i n k s y s t e m i s i t a l l o w s t h e r e a r s u s p e n s i o n t o a r t i c u l a t e m o r e f r e e l y I t d o e s r e q u i r e e i t h e r a P a nh a r d b a r o r a Wa t t ’ s l i n k a g e t o p o s i t i o n t h e r e a r a x l e l a t e r a l l y

8 - 9. A to rq u e a r m ca n b e co n s i d e re d a va r i a t i o n o f a t h re e - li n k t h a t u s e s two p a ra lle l t ra i li n g a r m s b e twe e n t h e f ra m e a n d t h e rea r ax le w i t h a s i n g le m o u n t i n g p o i n t exte n d e d f ro m t h e rea r ax le fo r wa rd to a c ro s s m e mb e r T h i s sys te m wa s p o p u la r i ze d w i t h t h e t h i rd - a n d fo u r t h - ge n e rat i o n Ca m a ro s

[ 6 0 ] ALL CHEVY PERFORMANCE VOLUME 3 • ISSUE 26 • 2023 ACP TECH 6.

8. 9.

1 0 . CA Chassisworks supplied this image of a rear suspension using an adjustable Watt’s linkage located behind the rear axle housing It’s important that both lateral links be parallel to the ground at ride height

1 1 . Wi t h a p a ra lle l t h re e - o r fo u rli n k rea r s u s p e n s i o n , a la te ra l o r Pa n h a rd b a r i s o f te n e m p loye d to p o s i t i o n t h e rea r ax le u n d e r t h e ca r

1 2 A fully independent rear suspension isolates bumps for each rear tire, and more importantly allows more tuner control over rear wheel motion with regard to caster, camber, and toe changes This Heidts system is a complete bolt-in conversion for an early Camaro using an aluminum 9-inch centersection and inboard Wilwood disc brakes

I t ’s a l s o i m p o r t a n t t o u n d e r s t a n d t h e d y n a m i c s o f w h a t h a p p e n s t o t h e s e a r m s u n d e r a c c e l e r a t i o n A s t o r q u e i s a p p l i e d t o t h e r e a r a x l e , t h e p i n i o n t r i e s t o c l i m b t h e r i n g g e a r, t h i s i m p a r t s t e n s i o n o n t h e u p p e r c o n t r o l a r m s w h i l e s i m u l t a n e o u s l y p u s h i n g f o r w a r d o n t h e l o w e r t r a i l i n g a r m s T h e m o t i v e f o r c e t o d r i v e t h e c a r f o r w a r d i s t h r o u g h t h e l o w e r t r a i l i n g a r m s

A s m e n t i o n e d , t h i s f o u r- l i n k o r i e n t a t i o n i s s i m i l a r t o t h e l a d d e r b a r i n t h a t i t a l s o r e q u i r e s s o m e w a y t o l a t e r a l l y l o c a t e t h e r e a r a x l e . Va r i o u s s o l u t i o n s h a v e b e e n o f f e r e d t o p r o v i d e t h i s c o n t r o l , i n cl u d i n g t h e Pa n h a r d b a r a n d t h e Wa t t ’s l i n k a g e

A s l i g h t v a r i a t i o n o f t h e p a r a l l e l f o u r- l i n k i s a p o p u l a r O E a p p l i c a t i o n c a l l e d t h e n o n - p a r a l l e l f o u r- l i n k T h i s s y s t e m u s e s a p a i r o f p a r a l l e l l o w e r t r a i l i n g a r m s b u t s p l a y s t h e u p p e r a r m s o u t w a r d f r o m t h e r e a r a x l e t o c r e a t e a t r i a n g l e . T h i s t r i a n g l e l a t e r a l l y l o c a t e s t h e r e a r a x l e a n d e l i m i n a t e s t h e n e e d f o r a t r a c k b a r, Pa n h a r d , o r Wa t t ’s l i n k a g e Yo u c a n f i n d a n O E e x a m p l e o f t h i s s u s p e n s i o n i n ’ 6 4 - 7 2 C h e v e l l e s a n d m a n y s u b s e q u e n t G M c a r s

O n e d i f f i c u l t y o r l i m i t a t i o n o f t h e n o n - p a r a l l e l f o u r- l i n k s y s t e m i s t h a t i f t h e c a r i s d r a m a t i c a l l y l o w e r e d o r r a i s e d , t h e s h o r t u p p e r l e n g t h s c a n e a s i l y g o i n t o b i n d , w h i c h w e d g e s t h e r e a r s u s p e n s i o n i n p l a c e I n s e v e r e c a s e s t h i s c a n c a u s e t h e u p p e r f a c t o r y t r a i l i n g a r m s t o b u c k l e a n d f a i l H o w e v e r, a p r o p e r l y d e s i g n e d a f t e r m a r k e t n o n - p a r a l l e l f o u r- l i n k u s i n g s p h e r i c a l j o i n t s i n s t e a d o f b u s h i n g s o f f e r s m u l t i p l e a d v a n t a g e s w h i l e m a i n t a i n i n g a v e r y s i m p l e c o n f i g u r a t i o n .

T H R E E - L I N K

O n e v a r i a t i o n o f t h e p a r a l l e l f o u r- l i n k i s t h e t h r e e - l i n k s y s t e m t h a t e l i m i n a t e s o n e o f t h e u p p e r c o n t r o l a r m s , l e a v i n g a s i n g l e t r a i l i n g a r m u s u a l l y e i t h e r i n t h e c e n t e r o r o n o n e s i d e o f t h e a x l e h o u s i n g . A n e a r l y e x a m p l e o f t h i s i s t h e X - f r a m e ’ 5 8 - 6 4 B - b o d y C h e v r o l e t I n a r a c i n g s i t u a t i o n , t h r e e - l i n k r e a r s u s p e n s i o n s a r e f a v o r e d i n s o m e h i g h - p o w e r e d d i r t t r a c k a p p l i c a t i o n s b e c a u s e t h i s a r r a n g e m e n t a l l o w s t h e r e a r a x l e t o a r t i c u l a t e u n d e r a h u g e r a n g e o f s u s p e n s i o n t r a v e l A g a i n , t h i s s t y l e o f s u s p e n s i o n d e m a n d s s o m e t y p e o f l a t e r a l c o n t r o l m e c h a n i s m , s u c h a s a Pa n h a r d b a r o r Wa t t ’s l i n k a g e .

T O R Q U E A R M

1 3 F a m e d P r o

S t r e e t b u i l d e r R i c k D o b b e r t i n h a s c r ea t e d a n I R S s u s p e ns i o n c o n v e r s i o n k i t t h a t u s e s C o r v e t t e c o m p o n e n t s a d a p te d t o a w i d e v a r i e t y o f r e a r t r a c k w i d t h s . T h i s p h o t o s h o w s h i s I R S p a c k a g e i n a m i d - e n g i n e c o n v e rs i o n f o r a n S - 1 0 T h e f i n n e d a l u m i n u m p l a t e s a r e p a r t o f h i s c o n v e r s i o n T h i s p a rt i c u l a r p a c k a g e u s e s a M e n d e o l a f i v es p e e d t r a n s a x l e

T h i s i s a l a t e - m o d e l v a r i a t i o n o f t h e t h r e e - l i n k s y s t e m f i r s t p o p u l a r i z e d i n G M c a r s w i t h t h e B u i c k G N X a n d a l s o i n t h e t h i r d - a n d f o u r t h - g e n e r a t i o n F - b o d y C a m a r o / F i r e b i r d . T h e t o r q u e a r m i s s i m i l a r t o a f o u r- l i n k u s i n g t w i n p a r a l l e l l o w e r t r a i l i n g a r m s c o n n e c t i n g t h e r e a r a x l e t o t h e f r a m e o f t h e v e h i c l e B u t t h a t ’s w h e r e t h e s i m i l a r i t y e n d s I n p r o d u c t i o n c a r s l i k e t h e C a m a r o , t h e u p p e r t r a i l i n g a r m s a r e r e p l a c e d w i t h a l o n g , s t a m p e d a r m t h a t c o n n e c t s t h e p i n i o n o f t h e r e a r a x l e t o a m i d - m o u n t e d c r o s s m e m b e r u s u a l l y l o c a t e d n e a r t h e t a i l s h a f t o f t h e t r a n s m i s s i o n .

T h i s t y p e o f s u s p e n s i o n i s u s e f u l w h e n f a c e d w i t h s p a c e l i m i t a t i o n s w h e r e t h e r e i s m i n i m a l r o o m f o r b o t h u p p e r c o n t r o l a r m s a n d a f u l l e x h a u s t s y s t e m A f t e r m a r k e t t o r q u e a r m s o f f e r t h e a d v a n t a g e o f c h a n g i n g t h e m o u n t i n g p o s i t i o n f o r t h e t o r q u e a r m , b u t t h i s i s u s u a l l y l i m i t e d t o v e r t i c a l o p t i o n s . T h e l o c a t i o n f o r t h e I C f o r t h e s e s u s p e n s i o n s i s f o u n d b y e x t e n d i n g a n i m a g i n a r y l i n e f r o m t h e r e a r l o w e r c o n t r o l a r m m o u n t i n g p o i n t t h r o u g h i t s f r o n t m o u n t i n g p o i n t t o w h e r e i t i n t e r s e c t s w i t h a p e r p e n d i c u l a r l i n e t h a t c r o s s e s t h e f r o n t m o u n t l o c a t i o n o f t h e t o r q u e a r m T h i s c a n b e a l t e r e d b y c h a n g i n g t h e l o w e r c o n t r o l a r m r e a r l o c a t i n g p o i n t .

[ 6 1 ] ALL CHEVY PERFORMANCE VOLUME 3 • ISSUE 26 • 2023 InTheGarageMedia .c om 10. 11. 12. 13.

E a r l i e r w e p r o m i s e d t o e x p l a i n t h e u s e o f b o t h a x l e l o c a t i n g d e v i c e s W h e n a p a r a l l e l f o u r- l i n k s u s p e n s i o n i s e m p l o y e d f o r a s t r e e t - d r i v e n v e h i c l e , s u b s t a n t i a l c o m p o n e n t s a r e n e e d e d t o l o c a t e l a t e r a l o r s i d e w a y s m o v e m e n t o f t h e s o l i d r e a r a x l e a s s e m b l y T h e s i m p l e r o f t h e s e t w o d e v i c e s i s t h e P a n h a r d b a r t h a t u s e s o n e l o c a t i o n p o i n t m o u n t e d o n t h e r e a r a x l e a n d t h e o t h e r p o s i t i o n e d o n t h e o p p o s i t e s i d e o f t h e r e a r a x l e b o l t e d t o t h e f r a m e

A s t h e r e a r a x l e m o v e s u p a n d d o w n i n s u s p e n s i o n t r a v e l , t h e P a n h a r d b a r w i l l p r o d u c e l a t e r a l m o v e m e n t i n t h e s h a p e o f a n a r c I t ’s i m p o r t a n t t h a t t h e P a n h a r d b a r b e a s l o n g a s p o s s i b l e i n o r d e r t o s c r i b e t h e w i d e s t a r c d u r i n g r e a r s u s p e n s i o n t r a v e l T h i s w i l l m i n i m i z e t h i s l a t e r a l m o v e m e n t o f t h e h o u s i n g u n d e r t h e f r a m e d u r i n g r e a r s u s p e n s i o n t r a v e l .

A Watt’s linkage accomplishes the same task of limiting rear axle lateral movement but employs a slightly more complex arrangement to do so The Watt’s linkage uses a pair of parallel rods with one end connected to the frame and connected to a central pivot point often located behind the differential. The system should be designed so that the two links are parallel to the ground with the vehicle at ride height This allows rear suspension travel with a minimum of lateral movement The negative to this arrangement is its complexity and additional weight, much of which is added to the unsprung weight of the rear axle assembly

I N D E P E N D E N T R E A R S U S P E N S I O N ( I R S )

Fo r y e a r s e n t h u s i a s t s h a v e a r g u e d t h e r e l a t i v e a d v a n t a g e s o f a n i n d e p e n d e n t r e a r s u s p e n s i o n ( I R S ) c o m p a r e d t o a s o l i d r e a r a x l e a s s e m b l y R a t h e r t h a n a d d t o t h i s c a c o p h o n y, w e w i l l m e r e l y a d d r e s s t h e b a s i c f u n c t i o n o f a n I R S A s w i t h a n i n d e p e n d e n t f r o n t s u s p e n s i o n , t h e r e a r e i n h e r e n t a d v a n t a g e s t o a l l o w i n g e a c h r e a r t i r e t o m o v e i n d e p e n d e n t l y o f i t s p a r t n e r E a r l y a t t e m p t s a t c r e a t i n g i n d e p e n d e n t r e a r s y s t e m s w e r e c a l l e d s w i n g a r m s u s p e n s i o n s t h a t p i v o t e d o n l y f r o m t h e i n b o a r d m o u n t e d s i d e o f t h e s y s t e m a s w i t h e a r l y V W s o r e a r l y C o r v a i r s D u r i n g h i g h - s p e e d c o r n e r i n g , m a j o r s u s p e n s i o n m o v e m e n t c r e a t e d h u g e c a m b e r c h a n g e s t o t h e r e a r w h e e l s a n d t i r e s .

A t r u e I R S a l l o w s t h e a x l e s h a f t s t o p i v o t a t b o t h t h e i n n e r a n d o u t e r p o i n t s w i t h s p i n d l e s l o c a t i n g t h e o u t e r h u b w i t h l a t e r a l c o n t r o l a r m s T h e e a r l i e s t C h e v y I R S w a s f i r s t u s e d i n t h e ’ 6 3 C o r v e t t e a n d h a s b e e n i m p r o v e d o v e r t h e y e a r s i n t o a h i g h l y r e f i n e d s y s t e m . E v e n t h e c u r r e n t - g e n e r a t i o n C a m a r o n o w e n j o y s a n I R S T h e m a j o r a d v a n t a g e t o I R S i s m u c h m o r e c o n t r o l o v e r w h e e l m o t i o n , w h i c h i s a s h o r t h a n d d e s c r i p t i o n o f t h e c o m b i n a t i o n o f c h a n g e s t o c a s t e r, c a m b e r, a n d t o e f o r e a c h r e a r t i r e a s i t t r a v e l s t h r o u g h s u s p e n s i o n m o t i o n A n o p t i m a l l y t u n e d I R S c a n c r e a t e i d e a l w h e e l m o t i o n f o r i m p r o v e d h a n d l i n g . A n e x a m p l e o f t h i s i s t h e a b i l i t y t o e a s i l y s e t r e a r c a m b e r a n d t o e a n g l e s t h a t c a n n o t b e e a s i l y a c c o m p l i s h e d w i t h a s o l i d r e a r a x l e

T h e r e a r e m a n y m o r e c o n s i d e r a t i o n s t o I R S a d v a n t a g e s t h a t g o m u c h f u r t h e r t h a n t h i s a b b r e v i a t e d l o o k c a n a l l o w T h e o n l y m a j o r d i s a d v a n t a g e t o c o n v e r t i n g a s o l i d r e a r a x l e c a r o v e r t o I R S i s t h e c o s t .

A s p e r f o r m a n c e c a r s b e c o m e m o r e s o p h i s t i c a t e d a n d t o r q u e a n d h o r s e p o w e r c o n t i n u e s t o i n c r e a s e a t a p h e n o m e n a l r a t e , t h i s o n l y i n c r e a s e s t h e n e e d f o r a w a r e n e s s a s t o t h e r e a r s u s p e n s i o n n e e d e d t o h e l p m a n a g e a l l t h i s n e w f o u n d p o w e r.

1 4 O n e o f t h e p e r f o r m a n c e o p t i o n s f o r a l e a f s p r i n g c a r i s D e t r o i t S p e e d Q u a d r a - L i n k r e a r s u s p e n s i o n , w h i c h i s a p a r a ll e l f o u r - l i n k w i t h a P a n h a r d b a r d e s i g n e d i n t h i s c a s e t o w o r k u n d e r a ’ 6 9 C a m a r o

w i x s i t e c o m / d o b b e r t i n p e r f o r m a n c e

H E I D T S H O T R O D A N D M U S C L E C A R S ( 8 0 0 ) 8 4 1 - 8 1 8 8 h e i d t s . c o m

R O A D S T E R S H O P ( 8 4 7 ) 9 4 9 - 7 6 3 7 r o a d s t e r s h o p . c o m

S C O T T ’ S H O T R O D S ’ N C U S T O M S ( 8 0 0 ) 2 7 3 - 5 1 5 9 s c o t t s h o t r o d s . c o m

S C H WA R T Z P E R F O R M A N C E ( 8 1 5 ) 7 7 0 - 0 7 5 1 s c h w a r t z p e r f o r m a n c e c o m

U M I P E R F O R M A N C E ( 8 1 4 ) 3 4 3 - 6 3 1 5 u m i p e r f o r m a n c e c o m

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[ 6 2 ] ALL CHEVY PERFORMANCE VOLUME 3 • ISSUE 26 • 2023 ACP TECH InTheGarageMedia .c om

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. c o m C H R I S A L S T O N ’ S C H A S S I S W O R K S ( 8 8 8 ) 3 8 8 - 0 2 9 7 c a c h a s s i s w o r k s . c o m D E T R O I T S P E E D ( 7 0 4 ) 6 6 2 - 3 2 7 2 d e t r o i t s p e e d . c o m D O B B E R T I N P E R F O R M A N C E ( 3 1 5 ) 6 8 3 - 0 0 2 2 h t t p : / / r i c k 4 8 6

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BY S C OT T Y L AC H E N A U E R P H OTO G R A P H Y B Y T H E A U T H O R

SPARE CHANGE PAUL COPPOLA’S ’02 Z28 CAMARO

[ 6 4 ] ALL CHEVY PERFORMANCE VOLUME 3 • ISSUE 26 • 2023 ACP FEATURE

Pa u l C o p p o l a o f R o t t e r d a m , N e w Yo r k , d o e s n ’ t r e m e m b e r n o t b e i n g i n f a t u a t e d w i t h c a r s “ A s a l i t t l e k i d , t h e y w e r e m y f a v o r i t e t h i n g . E v e r y t o y I e v e r g o t w a s s o m e h o w r e l a t e d t o t h e m ; P o w e r W h e e l s , H o t W h e e l s , a n d m o d e l s w e r e a l l p a r t o f m y s t a s h I w o u l d e v e n w a s h a n d d e t a i l m y m o m ’s c a r w h e n I w a s a k i d I t w a s t h e w o r l d t o m e , ” P a u l s t a t e s

S a d l y, t r a g e d y s t r u c k t h e f a m i l y. “ M y d a d [ d i e d ] w h e n I w a s 5 . H e r a n a s m a l l b o d y s h o p a n d u s e d c a r l o t H e s o l d a l l m o d e l s o f c a r s , b u t h e o n l y o w n e d C h e v y t r u c k s a n d a f e w C o r v e t t e s , w h i c h h e s a v e d f o r s u m m e r f u n H e t o o k m e t o w o r k e v e r y d a y w h i l e m y m o m w a s i n n u r s i n g s c h o o l I w o u l d s i t i n t h e b o d y s h o p a l l d a y a s a 3 - y e a r- o l d , h a n d i n g h i m t o o l s a n d b e i n g v e r y c o n t e n t I a l s o v i v i d l y r e m e m b e r r i d i n g i n h i s V e t t e i n m y c a r s e a t a n d l o v i n g e v e r y m i n u t e o f i t , ” P a u l t e l l s

A f t e r h i s f a t h e r ’s d e a t h , P a u l c o n t i n u e d p l a y i n g w i t h h i s t o y c a r s a n d t h e n s o o n g r a d u a t e d t o “ a n y t h i n g w i t h a n e n g i n e ; ” t h i n g s l i k e f o u r- w h e e l e r s a n d e v e n s n o w m o b i l e s , w h i c h a r e p o p u l a r u p i n h i s l o c a l e d u r i n g t h e w i n t e r. H o w e v e r, a l l t h a t c h a n g e d w h e n h e b e c a m e o f l e g a l d r i v i n g a g e , a s t h e p u s h w a s o n t o f i n d a d a i l y d r i v e r t o w o r k o n “ W h i l e I w a s y o u n g , m y d a d s t a r t e d

s a v i n g f o r m e H e h a d a h u g e j a r t h a t h e p u t a l l h i s s p a r e c h a n g e i n a t t h e e n d o f e a c h d a y I t w a s l i t e r a l l y a 4 - f o o t - t a l l C o k e b o t t l e r e p l i c a M y m o m c o n t i n u e d a d d i n g t o t h e s t a s h a f t e r h i s d e a t h , ” P a u l f o n d l y r e m e m b e r s .

I n h i s t e e n y e a r s , P a u l p i c k e d u p w o r k a n d a d d e d t o t h e b o t t l e “ I w a s p u t t i n g t h a t m o n e y a w a y t o b u y a h o t r o d j u s t l i k e m y f a t h e r h a d S o , n a t u r a l l y, I b o u g h t a V e t t e a s m y f i r s t r i d e I l o v e d d r i v i n g i t a n d I l o v e d b e i n g l i k e h i m ”

T h a t C o r v e t t e l e d t o m o r e C o r v e t t e s H e k e p t f l i p p i n g t h e m f o r b e t t e r o n e s a s t h e y c a m e a v a i l a b l e H o w e v e r, s o m e t h i n g s t r a n g e h a p p e n e d o v e r t h e y e a r s : “ I l o v e d t h e V e t t e s , I r e a l l y d i d , b u t I j u s t s t a r t e d l i k i n g C a m a r o s b e t t e r, s o I s o l d m y l a s t V e t t e a n d b o u g h t a ’ 9 4 C a m a r o , ” P a u l c o n f e s s e s B u t i t d i d n ’ t e n d t h e r e J u s t l i k e w i t h t h e C o r v e t t e s , P a u l w a s a l w a y s l o o k i n g f o r b i g g e r a n d b e t t e r “ I w e n t t h r o u g h f o u r m o r e C a m a r o s , a l w a y s u p g r a d i n g , f i x i n g , t h e n f l i p p i n g t h e m , ” P a u l c o n v e y s “ H o w e v e r, o n e d a y i t j u s t e n d e d A f t e r f i n i s h i n g s c h o o l a n d s t a r t i n g m y c a r e e r, I d e c i d e d t o s e l l a l l m y c a r s a n d p u t t h e m o n e y t o w a r d a h o u s e B u t q u i t t i n g t h e h o b b y c o l d t u r k e y d i d n ’ t h a v e a l a s t i n g e f f e c t o n h i m H e n e e d e d a n e w m u s c l e c a r i n h i s l i f e

[ 6 5 ] ALL CHEVY PERFORMANCE VOLUME 3 • ISSUE 26 • 2023 InTheGarageMedia .c om

“ F o u r y e a r s l a t e r I w a s s e a r c h i n g f o r a n e w r i d e o n C r a i g s l i s t a n d s a w a C a m a r o t h a t p i q u e d m y i n t e r e s t j u s t a f e w m i l e s f r o m m y h o u s e I b o u g h t i t f r o m t h e o r i g i n a l o w n e r ; a 6 5 , 0 0 0 - m i l e , r e a l - d e a l , ’ 0 2 Z 2 8 3 5 t h a n n i v e r s a r y C a m a r o i n e x c e l l e n t s h a p e , ” P a u l r e p o r t s “ M y o r i g i n a l p l a n w a s t o p u t o n s o m e n i c e w h e e l s a n d m a y b e a c a m a n d e x h a u s t u p g r a d e t o c r u i s e i t a r o u n d a n d s m o k e t h e t i r e s a t s t o p l i g h t s T h a t s l o w l y t r a n s i t i o n e d t o w h e r e w e a r e t o d a y ”

It’s been a long road, but Paul’s learned a lot along the way. There ha ve been five different engine s wa ps, with him no w settling on a 434ci LS built by RPE in Hartford, Connecticut It’s pushed by a GT55 94 Turbo by Jose a t Forced Inductions in Hazel Green, Alabama A Holley Domina tor EFI setup with Pro Dash is fed by an Aeromotive fuel system A Shearer Fabrica tions A2A 2,000hp intercooler was installed to bring up the po wer numbers. The po werplant was tuned to peak performance of over 1,400 hp to the tires by Derek Burton a t Bootleg Tuned in Wallingford, Connecticut

O n c e y o u a d d t h a t m u c h p o w e r, e v e r y t h i n g n e e d s t o b e s t e p p e d u p a f e w n o t c h e s T h e s u s p e n s i o n w a s u p g r a d e d w i t h R a c e c r a f t , M o t i o n R a c e w o r k s , a n d M i d w e s t C h a s s i s i n g r e d i e n t s f r o m f r o n t t o r e a r. M e n s c e r s u p p l i e d t h e q u a r t e t o f s h o c k s t h i s b e a s t r i d e s o n a n d t h e r e a r e S t r a n g e d r a g b r a k e s i n a l l f o u r c o r n e r s S h i f t i n g i s d o n e b y a T H 4 0 0 b u i l t b y A c c u r a t e Tr a n s m i s s i o n i n N e w H a v e n , C o n n e c t i c u t , b a c k e d b y a P T C t o r q u e c o n v e r t e r w i t h p o w e r s e n t t o a b u l l e t p r o o f S t r a n g e E n g i n e e r i n g D a n a 6 0 s t u f f e d w i t h 4 : 1 0 g e a r s . T h e 3 5 - s p l i n e a x l e s t w i s t a p a i r o f 1 5 x 1 0 B i l l e t S p e c i a l t i e s s i n g l e - b e a d l o c k S t r e e t L i t e w h e e l s s h o d i n M i c k e y T h o m p s o n D r a g R a d i a l s i n 2 7 5 / 6 5 R 1 5 U p f r o n t , 1 7 x 6 B i l l e t S p e c i a l t i e s S t r e e t L i t e s a r e w r a p p e d i n M i c k e y T h o m p s o n E T t i r e s i n s i z e 2 6 / 4 0 - 1 7

[ 6 6 ] ALL CHEVY PERFORMANCE VOLUME 3 • ISSUE 26 • 2023 ACP FEATURE

[ 6 7 ] ALL CHEVY PERFORMANCE VOLUME 3 • ISSUE 26 • 2023 InTheGarageMedia .c om

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l a m i n g R i v e r r a c k - a n d - p i n i o n , M e n s c e r M o t o r s p o r t s c o i l o v e r d o u b l e - a d

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S H I F T E R : H u r s t P i s t o l G r i p Q u a r t e r S t i c k

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h o c k s w i t h c u s t o m v a l v i n g R E A R S U S P E N S I O N : Midwest Chassis rear suspension

R E A R W I N G : C u s t o m - m a d e a l u m i n u m s t r u t l e s s D r a g W i n g b y N o r t h w a y Fa b r i c a t i o n

PA R AC H U T E : M o t i o n R a c e w o r k s Pa r a c h u t e M o u n t a n d S t r o u d 4 3 0 C h u t e

T E C H OW N E R : Pa u l A C o p p o l a V E H I C L E : ’ 0 2 C h e v r o l e t C a m a r o Z 2 8 E ng i ne T Y P E : G M L S X B L O C K : A l u m i n u m D a r t o n s l e e v e d D I S P L AC E M E N T: 4 3 4 c i C O M P R E S S I O N R AT I O : 1 0 5 : 1 B O R E : 4 1 5 5 i n c h e s S T R O K E : 4 0 0 i n c h e s C Y L I N D E R H E A D S : A F R 2 4 5 c c M o n g o o s e R OTAT I N G A S S E M B LY: C a l l i e s D r a g o n S l a y e r Fo r g e d c r a n k s h a f t , M a n l e y Tu r b o Tu f f I - b e a m Fo r g e d R o d s , W i s e c o Fo r g e d a l u m i n u m p i s t o n s VA LV E T R A I N : Comp short-travel link bar hydraulic roller lifters, PAC 0 750-inch dual polished valvesprings with titanium retainers, factor y rocker arms with Comp trunion upgrade C A M S H A F T: T K M B l a c k S h e e p c u s t o m g r o u n d t u r b o c a m I N D U C T I O N : 102mm Icon throttle bod y, Edelbrock Super Victor intake manifold, A2A ShearerFab 2,000hp intercooler, twin TurboSmart blo w-off valves I G N I T I O N : H o l l e y

t w i n Tu r b o s m a r t w a s t e g a t e s C O 2 c o n t r o l l e d w i t h 2 - i n c h w a s t e g a t e d r i v e r-

t A N C I L L A R I E S : 9 4 m m G T 5 5 Tu r b o f r o m Fo r c e d I n d u c t i o n

E F I D o m i n a t o r E C U w i t h H o l l e y E F I S m a r t C o i l S y s t e m

X H AU S T: H u r o n S p e e d T 6 F - b o d y H o t s i d e w i t h 5 - i n c h d o w n p i p e p a s s e n g e r- s i d e f e n d e re x i t e x h a u s t ,

s i d e f e n d e r- e x i t e x h a u s

TA N : o n , c u s t o m - b u i l t a l u m i n u m c e l l b y B e h i n d B a r s R a c e C a r s P u m p / R E G U L ATO R / F I LT E R S : Aeromotive 5 0 brushless pump with Aeromotive regulator and filters L I N E S / R A I L S / I N J E C TO R S : - 1 2 P T F E l i n e t o p u m p , - 1 0 P T F E f e e d , - 1 0 r a i l s , - 1 0 P T F E r e t u r n , B o s c h 2 1 0 - l b / h r i n j e c t o r s D r ive t ra i n

: A c c u r a t e Tr a n s m i s s i o n T H 4 0 0 , P T C t o r q u e c o n v e r t e r R E A R A X L E : S t r a n g e D a n a S 6 0 , 3 5 - s p l i n e a x l e s , s p o o l , 4 1 0 g e a r s

F R O N T S U S P E N S I O N : R a c e C r

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j s t b l e s components, Menscer doubleadjustable coilover remote canister shocks with custom valving B R A K E S : Strange Drag Brakes, two-piece rotors and four-piston calipers front and rear, line lock R O L L C AG E : 2 5 5 c e r t i f i e d N H R A a l l c h r o m o l y c h a s s i s b y J e r e m y a n d To m m y a t N o r t h w a y Fa t L i t e r e a r 1 5 x 1 0 , B i l l e t S p e c i a l t i e s S Thompson Radial rear 275/65R15 front Mickey Thompson ET Front 26/4 0-17

ACP FEATURE [ 6 8 ] ALL CHEVY PERFORMANCE VOLUME 3 • ISSUE 26 • 2023

O f c o u r s e , t h e r e i s a s a f e t y f a c t o r w h e n y o u ’ r e p i l o t i n g a C h e v y - b r a n d e d “ r o c k e t s h i p ” a r o u n d t o w n , s o P a u l h a d a 2 5 . 5 N H R A c e r t i f i e d c h a s s i s / c a g e i n s t a l l e d b y J e r e m y a n d To m m y a t N o r t h w a y F a b r i c a t i o n M u c h o f t h e i n t e r i o r i s o r i g i n a l , i n c l u d i n g t h e c a r p e t , h e a d l i n e r, a n d d o o r p a n e l s K i r k e y R a c e S e a t s w i t h R a c e C r a f t f a c t o r y - l o c a t i o n b r a c k e t s w e r e a d d e d a s a n e c e s s i t y A G r a n t R a c i n g r e m o v a b l e s t e e r i n g w h e e l w i t h S t r a n g e H u b a n d M o t i o n R a c e w o r k s b u t t o n s w a s a d d e d t o h e l p w i t h e n t e r i n g a n d e x i t i n g t h i s w i l d r i d e P a u l s h i f t s g e a r s v i a a H u r s t P i s t o l G r i p Q u a r t e r S t i c k , a n d a H o l l e y E F I P r o D a s h h e l p s h i m c h e c k o n t h e v i t a l s

“ I ’ v e d e v e l o p e d a n i n t e r e s t i n d r a g r a c i n g o v e r t h e y e a r s , b u t I m a d e s u r e t o k e e p i t s o m e w h a t s t r e e t a b l e s o I c o u l d s t i l l t a k e i t o n a c r u i s e , d r i v e i t t o w o r k , o r t a k e i t t o a c a r s h o w,” Pa u l r e v e a l s “ M y w i f e a n d I t a k e i t t o g e t i c e c r e a m a l l t h e t i m e , b u t a t a m o m e n t ’s n o t i c e I c a n t h e n t a k e i t t o t h e t r a c k a n d r u n a 7 - s e c o n d q u a r t e r- m i l e l a p T h a t ’s w h e r e I a m t o d a y w i t h i t ”

Pa u l s u m s u p t h e b u i l d : “ B e s i d e s t h e a c t u a l a s s e m b l y o f t h e e n g i n e , t r a n s m i s s i o n , r e a r e n d , a n d t h e w e l d i n g w o r k , e v e r y t h i n g o n t h e c a r w a s b u i l t a n d s p e c ’ d b y m e I p i c k e d u p t h e e n g i n e , t r a n s m i s s i o n , a n d r e a r e n d a n d i n s t a l l e d t h e m a l l m y s e l f W h a t s t a r t e d a s a c o m p l e t e l y s t o c k c a r n o w h a s a t o n o f m o n e y, a l o n g w i t h m y b l o o d a n d s w e a t i n t o i t a s w e l l . B u t I w o u l d n ’ t h a v e i t a n y o t h e r w a y. ”

[ 6 9 ] ALL CHEVY PERFORMANCE VOLUME 3 • ISSUE 26 • 2023 InTheGarageMedia .c om

Li k e s o m a n y o t h e r s m y a g e , I t e n d t o r e s i s t c h a n g e A s a n a u t o m o t i v e p a i n t e r I w a s a m o n g t h e l a s t t o r e l i n q u i s h t h e l a c q u e r T h a t w a s i n m y o w n o r i g i n a l h o m e t o w n o f R i v e r s i d e , C a l i f o r n i a

T h e r e , i n t h e ’ 7 0 s ( t o w a r d t h e t a i l e n d o f t h e v a n c r a z e ) , M c P e a k P a i n t i n g & P i n s t r i p i n g w a s c r a n k i n g o u t t h e c u s t o m p a i n t w o r k . To h e l p m a i n t a i n t h e f l o w, M c P e a k e m p l o y e d a v a r y i n g n u m b e r o f f u l l - t i m e p a i n t e r s a n d f o r a p e r i o d I w a s o n e o f t h e m

L o o k i n g b a c k , o u r c u s t o m p a i n t p i o n e e r s d i d n ’ t h a v e s o m u c h t o w o r k w i t h . A s l a t e a s t h e ’ 7 0 s , w e u s e d l a c q u e r f o r m u l t i c o l o r b a s e c o a t a p p l i c a t i o n s F o r u r e t h a n e c l e a r c o a t s , D i t z l e r o f f e r e d D A U 7 5 , a n d t h a t w a s p r e t t y m u c h w h a t w e u s e d

HIGH-ZOOT PAINT FROM AFFORDABLE EQUIPMENT

[ 7 0 ] ALL CHEVY PERFORMANCE VOLUME 3 • ISSUE 26 • 2023 ACP TECH

BY “ R OT T E N ” R O D N E Y B A U M A N P H OTO G R A P H Y B Y T H E A U T H O R

1 . T h e f i r s t w a s p u r c h a s e d y e a r s a g o . R e b u i l d p a r t s w e r e a v a i l a b l e , b u t f o r $ 9 9 9 a p i e c e , I t h o u g h t , w h y n o t s t o c k b a c k u p s p r a y g u n s f o r p a r t s ?

2 . N o w l e t ’ s p u t a n e w p a r t s s p r a y g u n i n t o s e rv i c e . T h i s m o d e l f e a t u r e s a v e r s a t i l e 1 4 f l u i d t i p , w h i c h w o r k s w e l l f o r m o s t s i n g l e - s t a g e c o l o r c o a t i n g s , b a s e c o a t s , a n d c l e a r s

3 . S e e t h e g r e a s e ? L i k e s o m e o t h e r b r a n d o f s p r a y g u n s t h a t w e ’ d p a y a l o t m o r e f o r, t h i s i s h o w i t c a m e W i t h o u t p r o p e r s t e r i l i z a t i o n w e ’ d b e a l l s e t f o r a f i s h e y e d f a i l u r e .

4 . A c o t t o n s w a b w o n ’ t d o t h e j o b T h e m a n u f a ct u r e r ’ s l i t e r a t u r e s t r e s s e s t h a t w e s h o u l d n ’ t s u b m e r g e t h e s p r a y g u n i n s o l v e n t , b u t w e t h i n k m o s t p a i n t e r s w o u l d s t i l l f e e l t h e n e e d

2.

5 . T h i s f a r d i s a s s e m b l e d , w i t h t h e m o s t v u l n e r a b l e p a r t s ( l i k e t h e a i r v a l v e a s s e m b l y ) c l e a n e d s e p ar a t e l y t o t h e s i d e , w e ’ r e s o a k i n g i n c o m p l i a n t s p r a y g u n w a s h t o s t a r t

6 . T h e b o d y ’ s p a s s a g e s a r e b r u s h e d w i t h s o l v e n t a n d b l o w n o u t w i t h c l e a n , c o m p r e s s e d a i r. W i t h f r e s h s o l v e n t t h e e n t i r e p r o c e d u r e w i l l b e r e p e a t e d p r i o r t o r e a s s e m b l y

6.

4 .

[ 7 1 ] ALL CHEVY PERFORMANCE VOLUME 3 • ISSUE 26 • 2023 InTheGarageMedia .c om

7. L i k e o u r o t he r s p r a y g u n s , w e i n t e n d t o o p e r a t e t h i s o n e d r y I f a p a i n t e r - f r i e n dl y s p r a y g u n l u b e i s n e e d e d f o r p a c k i n g b r e a k- i n , w e ’ l l a p p l y a d r o p , b u t n o m o r e t h a n t h a t .

. T h e r e ’ l l s t i l l b e s o m e m i n o r s e t u p to d o, b u t o n a h o b b y i s t le v e l o u r p u r p le p i s to l co u ld b e co n s i d e r e d ra ce r e a d y. Fo r s h o p u s e , h o w e v e r, w e m i g h t t h i n k i t t h r o u g h f u r t h e r

1 0 . W i t h r e a s s e m b l y n o w c o m p l e t e w e ’ r e s a t i s f i e d t h a t i t ’ s f r e e o f i n t e r n a l i m p u r i t i e s S i n c e w e h a v e a l i t t l e j o b t o d o , l e t ’ s l o a d u p s o m e s i n g l e - s t a g e u r e t h a n e

1 1 . A d j u s t m e n t s a r e p r e t t y s t r a i g h t f o r w a r d

T h e l e f t - s i d e k n o b c o n t r o l s t h e s p r a y p a t t e r n , t h e r e a r w a r d k n o b i s f l u i d c o n t r o l , a n d t h e k n o b a t t h e b o t t o m c o n t r o l s a i r p r e s s u r e .

S a m e - e r a s p r a y e q u i p m e n t w a s n ’ t r a p i d l y e v o l v i n g P r i o r t o s e l e c t - s t a t e s ’ H V L P ( h i g h - v o l u m e l o w - p r e s s u r e ) m a n d a t e s , s i p h o n - f e e d s p r a y g u n s f r o m B i n k s , D e V i l b i s s , a n d S h a r p e w e r e t h e s t a n d a r d s B y t h e e a r l y ’ 9 0 s t i m e s w e r e c h a n g i n g F o r s h o p s i n o u r a r e a , t h e e x c l u s i v e u s e o f H V L P s p r a y e q u i p m e n t h a d b e c o m e r e q u i r e d b y l a w.

T h e e a r l i e s t o f H V L P s p r a y g u n s w e r e n ’ t e x a c t l y r e f i n e d I w o n ’ t m e n t i o n t h e b r a n d o f t h e o n e I f i r s t e x p e r i e n c e d , b u t I ’ l l t e l l y o u i t w a s r a t h e r e x p e n s i v e , a n d a r a t h e r p o o r p e r f o r m e r t o ( l i t e r a l l y ) b o o t B y d e s i g n , t h a t s p r a y g u n s e e p e d a i r c o n s t a n t l y, a l l t h e w a y t h r o u g h i t s c a p t h e e n t i r e t i m e i t w a s c o u p l e d t o a h o s e

I f y o u ’ v e o p e r a t e d b o t h e a r l y - a n d l a t e - m o d e l H V L P s p r a y g u n s , y o u k n o w t h a t t h i n g s g o t b e t t e r A c r o s s t h e b o a r d , q u a l i t y i s w a y u p I n c e r t a i n i n s t a n c e s , p r i c e s a r e w a y d o w n a n d i f w e g i v e t h a t s o m e t h o u g h t w e ’ l l l i k e l y p u l l o u t a n e x a m p l e

H a s a n y b o d y b e e n t o H a r b o r Fr e i g h t l a t e l y ? W h e n w e w e r e t h e r e t h e o t h e r d a y w e c o u n t e d 1 6 d i f f e r e n t s p r a y g u n m o d e l s o n d i s p l a y Fo r t h e t e c h n i c a l p o r t i o n o f o u r s t o r y w e ’ l l f o c u s m a i n l y o n a l o w - e n d o f f e r i n g L e t ’s h a v e a h a n d s - o n l o o k a t a C e n t r a l P n e u m a t i c g r a v i t y - f e e d H V L P ( P N 6 7 1 8 1 ) B a c k w h e n w e p u r c h a s e d o u r s , t h e y w e r e o n s a l e f o r o n l y $ 9 . 9 9 . T h a t , w e t h i n k , m a k e s t h e l i t t l e p u r p l e p i s t o l a g r e a t b a n g f o r t h e b u c k

[ 7 2 ] ALL CHEVY PERFORMANCE VOLUME 3 • ISSUE 26 • 2023 ACP TECH InTheGarageMedia .c om

9. D e p e n d i n g o n o u r lo ca li ty ’s le ga li t i e s , we m i g h t a d d a p ro p e rly f u n c t i o n i n g a i r p re s s u re ga u ge I n ce r ta i n a rea s t h a t ’s re q u i re d (o f s h o p s ) by law

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F I T A N D F I N I S H H a r o l d C l a y ’ s f o c u s f o r H a r o l d ’ s H o t R o d S h o p i s t o c o n t i n u e t o p r o v i d e s h o w q u a l i t y f i t a n d f i n i s h f o r p r o f e s s i o n a l b u i l d e r s a n d p r i v a t e c o l l e c t o r s a l i k e . P a i n t a n d b o d y w o r k b y H a r o l d ’ s H o t R o d S h o p h a s g a r n e r e d 1 s t P l a c e w i n s a t A m e l i a I s l a n d , G r a n d N a t i o n a l R o a d s t e r S h o w, a n d t h e S a n M a r i n o M o t o r C l a s s i c t o n a m e a f e w.

H a r o l d ’ s H o t R o d S h o p w i l l w o r k d i r e c t l y w i t h y o u r i n s u r a n c e c o m p a n y t o p r o c e s s y o u r c l a i m , k e e p i n g y o u i n f o r m e d e v e r y s t e p o f t h e w a y. W h e t h e r y o u r c a r r i e r i s H a g e r t y, G r u n d y o r a n o t h e r r e c o g n i z e d c l a s s i c c a r i n s u r a n c e c o m p a n y, H a r o l d C l a y w i l l p e r s o n a l l y h a n d l e y o u r c o l l i s i o n r e p a i r c l a i m f r o m s t a r t t o f i t a n d f i n i s h

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1 4 . H e re o u r te s t p a n e ls a re ge n u i n e C h e v ro le t p a r t s t h a t j u s t h a p p e n to b e rea d y to s p ray a nyway Ye s , we’ re te s t i n g t h i s s p ray g u n o n a n a c t u a l c u s to m e r j o b

1 5 . With the earlier adjustments and air pressure set near 25 pounds, the purple pistol has obviously performed well We’ve applied two coats and we’re done

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1 7. N o d o u b t , w e ’ l l u s e o u r n e w t o y s p r a y g u n a g a i n s o m ed a y T i l l t h e n , w e ’ l l k e e p i t h a n d y r i g h t h e r e a m o n g o u r f a r - l e s s - a f f o r d a b l e s t a n d b y s

12. 13. [ 74 ] ALL CHEVY PERFORMANCE VOLUME 3 • ISSUE 26 • 2023 ACP TECH InTheGarageMedia .c om 14 . 15. 16. 17.

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To d a y, I c a n t h i n k o f a n u m b e r o f y o u n g e r ( a n d a f e w b e t t e r ) c u s t o m p a i n t e r s w h o u s e C e n t r a l P n e u m a t i c s p r a y g u n s e x c l u s i v e l y To i l l u s t r a t e t h e p o i n t , l e t ’s p a y a v i s i t t o s e c o n dg e n e r a t i o n c u s t o m p a i n t e r, Z e a k

B a s e d i n R i v e r s i d e, C a l i f o r n i a , Z e a k i s a n a c c o m p l i s h e d a r t i s t A l t h o u g h o u r t r a i n i n g g r o u n d ( l e a r n i n g f r o m h i s f a t h e r ) w a s t h e s a m e, Z e a k h a s e x c e l l e d f a r b e y o n d m y o w n c o m p a r a t i v e l y l i m i t e d a b i l i t i e s a n d h e t e n d s t o f a v o r C e n t r a l P n e u m a t i c H V L P s p r a y g u n s f r o m H a r b o r F r e i g h t .

1 8 . C o n s i d e r i n g a l l t h e y ’ v e d o n e , a n d t h e f a c t t h e y ’ d h a v e c o s t a r o u n d $ 9 9 9 a p i e c e , t h i s f l e e t o f r e t i r e d w o r k h o r s e s d o e s n ’ t o w e Ze a k a d i m e

1 9. O n t h i s C h e v y t e s t p a n e l , Ze a k d e m o ns t r a t e s a C e n t r a l P n e u m a t i c H V L P ( P N 6 8 8 4 3 ) W i t h i t s f u l l s i z e a c c e s s o r y c u p , t h i s m o d e l c o s t s a l i t t l e m o r e , b u t i t ’ l l d o a l i t t l e m o r e , t o o

2 0 . A l s o , w i t h a 1 4 f l u i d t i p , t h i s i s a v e r s a t i l e g u n I t w o n ’ t r e p l a c e Ze a k ’ s a i r b r u s h , b u t a t l o w p r e s s u r e w i t h i t s p a t t e r n s c r e w e d d o w n t o a p i n p o i n t , i t c a n f i l l i n

2 1 . F o r t h i s o t h e r C h e v y t e s t p a n e l , t h e p a t t e r n i s f a n n e d f o r u r e t h a n e c l e a r c o a t . M o s t p r o s d o u s e d i f f e r e n t s p r a y g u n s f o r d i f f e r e n t j o b s , b u t l o o k w h a t c a n b e d o n e w i t h o n l y o n e

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I t w a s a n u n u s u a l c i r c u m s t a n c e t h a t p r o m p t e d m y o w n f i r s t C e n t r a l P n e u m a t i c H V L P p u r c h a s e I ’ d b e e n p l a n n i n g t o t r a v e l t o h e l p a n o t h e r s h o p p r o p r i e t o r ( m y f r i e n d , D o n D i l l a r d o f H i g h w a y 9 9 H o t R o d s ) w i t h a f l a m e j o b f o r a n o l ’ F o r d h e w a s b u i l d i n g I ’ m p r e t t y s p o i l e d b y m y a u t o m a t i c s p r a y g u n w a s h e r S i n c e m y f r i e n d ’s s h o p d i d n ’ t h a v e o n e I f e l t t h a t I n e e d e d a o n e - t i m e - u s e s p r a y g u n t h a t I c o u l d j u s t t o s s a t t h e e n d o f t h e j o b A s i t w o r k e d o u t , t h a t l i t t l e s p r a y g u n d i d m e r i g h t I c o u l d n ’ t j u s t t o s s i t Ye a r s l a t e r, i t s t i l l s e e s o c c a s i o n a l u s e

N o w i f y o u ’ r e t h i n k i n g o f b u y i n g a n d t r y i n g s u c h a s p r a y g u n f r o m H a r b o r F r e i g h t , t h e r e ’s s o m e t h i n g y o u s h o u l d k n o w L i k e a n u m b e r o f o t h e r- b r a n d s p r a y g u n s , t h i s l i t t l e C e n t r a l P n e u m a t i c c o m e s o u t o f i t s b o x g r e a s y.

A s s u m i n g w e w a n t f i s h e y e - f r e e r e s u l t s , n e w s p r a y g u n s s h o u l d b e d i s a s s e m b l e d a n d d e g r e a s e d b e f o r e u s e T h a t ’s a l l i n t h e C e n t r a l P n e u m a t i c i n s t r u c t i o n b o o k l e t . S i n c e w e ’ r e a b o u t t o p u t a n e w s p r a y g u n i n t o s e r v i c e a n y w a y, w e m i g h t a s w e l l i l l u s t r a t e k e y s t e p s o f t h e p r o c e d u r e

O n c e w e ’ r e s a t i s f i e d t h a t t h e g r e a s y g u n g u t s a r e s u r g i c a l l y c l e a n , w e ’ l l r e a s s e m b l e , d i a l i t i n , a n d s h o o t w h a t e v e r m i g h t b e r e a d y W h e n t h a t g e t s b o r i n g I ’ d l i k e t o i n t r o d u c e y o u t o a c u s t o m - p a i n t i n g f r i e n d o f m i n e I n h i s h a n d s a s y o u ’ l l s e e , a C e n t r a l P n e u m a t i c s p r a y g u n i s l i k e a m a g i c w a n d .

r, o u r s u b j e c t s p r a y g u l d b e t h e i d e a l d e a l S o , w h a t f o r D o w e r e a l l y u s e C e n t r a l P n e u m a t i c s p r a y g u n s i n o u r p a i n t d e p a r t m e n t ? D o w e a c t u a l l y u s e t h e m f o r c u s t o m e r j o b s ? W e l l , a s a m a t t e o t a l l t h e t i m e

[ 7 6 ] ALL CHEVY PERFORMANCE VOLUME 3 • ISSUE 26 • 2023 ACP TECH InTheGarageMedia .c om SOURCES H A R B O R F R E I G H T T O O L S ( 8 0 0 ) 4 2 3 - 2 5 6 7 h a r b o r f r e i g h t c o m Z E A K ( 9 5 1 ) 3 4 5 - 0 0 4 0 GREATER SPRAY GUNS 18. 21. 20. 19.

SAM SMITH’S ’63 CORVETTE STING RAY RESTOMOD

Th e ’ 6 3 C o r v e t t e S t i n g R a y c o u p e, w i t h i t s s l e e k b o d y l i n e s a n d s i g n a t u r e s p l i t r e a r w i n d o w, m a k e i t t h e p i n n a c l e o f s t y l i n g f o r m u s c l e c a r s a n d c o m p a r a b l e s p o r t s c a r s o f t h e e r a . W i t h m u c h o f i t s d e s i g n i n s p i r a t i o n b o r r o w e d f r o m m a r i n e l i f e, i t wa s G M ’s B i l l M i t c h e l l ’s c u r i o s i t y w i t h t h e s t i n g r a y a n d m a k o s h a r k s t h a t b r o u g h t t h o s e e l e m e n t s i n t o t h e C o r v e t t e T h e g i l l s b e h i n d t h e f r o n t w h e e l s a n d t h e s p i n e - l i k e e l e m e n t t h a t d i v i d e d t h e r e a r w i n d o w g l a s s a r e b o t h b o r r o w e d f r o m a c o u p l e o f i n t i m i d a t i n g s e a c r e a t u r e s , w h i c h t r a n s l a t e d e x c e p t i o n a l l y w e l l o n t h e ’ 6 3 C o r v e t t e ’s f i b e r g l a s s b o d y O t h e r n o t a b l e ’ 6 3 C o r v e t t e i n t r o d u c t i o n s w e r e t h e i n d e p e n d e n t r e a r s u s p e n s i o n f o r i m p r o v e d h a n d l i n g, h i d e a wa y h e a d l i g h t s , a n d t h e s p l i t f r o n t b u m p e r, m a k i n g t h e c a r m o r e u n i q u e a n d f u t u r i s t i c t h a n t h e p r e v i o u s C o r v e t t e m o d e l .

A l t h o u g h r e v o l u t i o n a r y a n d t o t a l l y c o o l , t h e s p l i t r e a r w i n d o

t h e r e a r v i e w m i r r o r b a s i c a l l y u s e l e s s a s i t i m p e d e d t h e v i e w d i r

b e h i n d t h e c a r. T h i s e n t i c e d s o m e o w n e r s t o h a v e G M r e p l a c e t h e i c o

d e s i g n w i t h a o n e - p i e c e w i n d o w To d a y t h i s s o r t o f b e h a v i o r i s c o n s i d e r e d s a c r i l e g e a n d o n e m i g h t b e p e r s e c u t e d f o r d o i n g s o . S o h o w d i d t h i s A m e r i c a n g e m g e t i n t h e h a n d s o f S a m S m i t h ? W h i l e a t t e n d i n g t h e B a r r e t t - J a c k s o n a u t o a u c t i o n i n J a n u a r y 2 0 1 7 h e w a s i n t e r e s t e d i n a ’ 5 7 C h e v y B e l A i r t h a t w a s u p f o r a u c t i o n – a c a r w h e r e h e s u c c e s s f u l l y b e c a m e h i g h b i d d e r. H a p p y w i t h h i s p u r c h a s e, a n d q u i t e p o s s i b l y c e l e b r a t i n g a b i t , h e s t u c k a r o u n d l o n g e n o u g h f o r a b e a u t i f u l l y r e s t o r e d ’ 6 3 C o r v e t t e t o c a t c h h i s a t t e n t i o n a s i t t o o c a m e a c r o s s t h e a u c t i o n b l o c k . W e ’ l l l e a v e o u t a l l t h e d e t a i l s , b u t t h e C o r v e t t e a n d t h e B e l A i r b o t h m a d e i t t o S a m ’s h o m e i n L a s V e g a s , p o s t a u c t i o n

[ 7 9 ] ALL CHEVY PERFORMANCE VOLUME 3 • ISSUE 26 • 2023 InTheGarageMedia .c om

w r e n d e r e d e c t l y n c

S a m , e c s t a t i c w i t h h i s p u r c h a s e s , d r o v e t h e C o r v e t t e f o r a c o u p l e o f y e a r s , a n d a l t h o u g h t h e n o s t a l g i a a s p e c t o f d r i v i n g t h e v i n t a g e V e t t e w a s c e r t a i n l y a t t r a c t i v e, t h e r i d e q u a l i t y w a s r a t h e r c r u d e d u e t o t h e n e a r l y 6 0 - y e a r- o l d s u s p e n s i o n a n d b r a k e t e c h n o l o g y.

S a m h a s s i n c e s o l d t h e ’ 5 7 C h e v y a n d g i v e n f u l l a t t e n t i o n t o t h e S t i n g R a y A l t h o u g h t h e C 2 ’s i n d e p e n d e n t r e a r s u s p e n s i o n w a s i n n o v a t i v e b a c k t h e n , t o d a y ’s s u s p e n s i o n a n d b r a k e c o m p o n e n t s a r e l i g h t - y e a r s a h e a d o f e v e n t h e m o s t e x o t i c o f f e r i n g s o f 1 9 6 3 S a m , b e i n g f u l l y c o m m i t t e d t o t h e c a r, w a n t e d t o g e t t h e C o r v e t t e ’s c h a s s i s , b r a k e s , a n d e n g i n e u p d a t e d w i t h m o d e r n c o m p o n e n t s t o m a k e t h e c a r m u c h m o r e d r i v e a b l e T h i s l e d S a m t o t h e c r e w a t M e t a l W o r k s C l a s s i c A u t o R e s t o r a t i o n i n E u g e n e, O r e g o n , f o r g r o u n d - u p r e s t o r a t i o n w h e r e t h e C o r v e t t e w o u l d r e c e i v e a n a l l - n e w c h a s s i s , b r a k e s , a n d a n LT 1 e n g i n e t o o f f e r S a m ’s c l a s s i c C o r v e t t e a d r i v i n g e x p e r i e n c e r e l a t i v e t o a m o d e r n m u s c l e c a r

[ 8 0 ] ALL CHEVY PERFORMANCE VOLUME 3 • ISSUE 26 • 2023 ACP FEATURE

[ 8 1 ] ALL CHEVY PERFORMANCE VOLUME 3 • ISSUE 26 • 2023 InTheGarageMedia .c om

T h e M e t a l W o r k s c r e w g o t s t a r t e d u n d e r n e a t h b y r e m o v i n g t h e s t o c k c h a s s i s a n d r e p l a c e d i t w i t h a n A r t M o r r i s o n E n t e r p r i s e s ( A M E ) G T S p o r t c h a s s i s c o m p l e t e w i t h A M E t u b u l a r c o n t r o l a r m s , W i l w o o d P r o I I s p i n d l e s , a n d A M E r a c k - a n d - p i n i o n s t e e r i n g u p f r o n t w i t h a n A M E M u l t i l i n k I R S o u t b a c k T h e t o ps h e l f c h a s s i s e m p l o y s W i l w o o d 1 4 - i n c h r o t o r s a n d s i x - p i s t o n c a l i p e r s o n a l l f o u r c o r n e r s a l o n g w i t h S t r a n g e U l t r a S e r i e s d a m p e r s T h e A M E c h a s s i s d e s i g n i n v i t e d t h e C o r v e t t e t o r u n l a r g e r- t h a n - s t o c k t i r e s a n d w h e e l s i n w h i c h S a m t o o k f u l l a d v a n t a g e b y w r a p p i n g H a n k o o k r u b b e r ( 2 3 5 / 4 0 R 1 8 f r o n t , 2 5 5 / 4 0 R 1 8 ) a r o u n d a s e t o f p o l i s h e d S c h o t t C 7 C o v e r- L o c w h e e l s I t ’s a c o m b i n a t i o n t h a t o f f e r s i m p r o v e d f u n c t i o n a l i t y a n d p e r f o r m a n c e w h i l e h o l d i n g o n t o t h e V e t t e ’s ’ 6 0 s v i b e

R e l i a b i l i t y a n d a g o o d d o s e o f h o r s e p o w e r c o m e b y w a y o f a m o s t l y s t o c k C h e v r o l e t Pe r f o r m a n c e LT 1 c r a t e e n g i n e t h a t i n h a l e s t h r o u g h a K & N a i r f i l t e r a n d c u s t o m i n t a k e t u b e a n d b l o w s t h r o u g h a s e t o f s t o c k e x h a u s t m a n i f o l d s o n t o a s e t o f n o s t a l g i c - i n s p i r e d E c k l e r ’s s i d e p i p e s U p f r o n t , t h e m o d e r n m i l l i s d r e s s e d u p w i t h a H o l l e y a c c e s s o r y d r i v e s y s t e m j u s t b e h i n d t h e R o n D a v i s a l u m i n u m r a d i a t o r A t 4 6 0 h p , t h e LT m i l l g i v e s t h e v i n t a g e Ve t t e p l e n t y o f p u n c h c o m p a r e d t o t h e s t o c k 3 2 7 i t c a m e w i t h .

With continued focus on driveability, MetalWorks employed a Bowler Transmissions TKX five-speed transmission armed with a McLeod twin-disc clutch, which feeds to a Dana 60 rearend stuffed with a limited slip and 3 70 gears The combination contributes to vibration-free highway cruising speed or a little beyond “cruising speed ”

The interior is a combination of OEM and refurbished parts that keep the car in its original ’63 vintage. The upholstery consists of fresh blue loop carpet and redone seats, door panels, and center console in Admiral Blue leather by Jon Lind Interiors out of Marcola, Oregon The steering wheel and column are stock equipment, and the factory dash plays home to Dakota Digital RTX gauges that take on a remarkable stock appearance doing little to deviate from the period-correct vibe

Outside, the C2 shines, literally and figuratively, thanks to the immaculate bodywork and attention to detail performed by the MetalWorks gang when they replaced the driver side quarter-panel, then color-matched the paint to the existing hue for a flawless transition using BASF Daytona Blue

With Sam’s sights initially set on a Bel Air, the sexy lines and limitless style of the C2 won him over, and with the Corvette now possessing modern performance components it conforms with all the attitude of a 460hp hot rod, yet adapts to the road like a modern sports car, which underneath the skin is exactly that

[ 8 2 ] ALL CHEVY PERFORMANCE VOLUME 3 • ISSUE 26 • 2023 ACP FEATURE

t o c k m a n i f o l d s , E c k l e r ’s s i d e p i p e s A N C I L L A R I E S : H o l l e y a c c e s s o r y d r i v e k i t , Z L 1 f u e l p u m p , R o n D a v i s a l u m i n u m r a d i a t o r, R i c k ’s Ta n k s E F I f u e l t a n k O U T P U T: 4 6 0 h p a n d 4 6 5 l b - f t

D r ive t ra i n T R A N S M I S S I O N : T R E M E C / B o w l e r T K X f i v e - s p e e d C L U T C H : M c L e o d t w i n d i s c R E A R A X L E : D a n a 6 0 , E a t o n Tr u e t r a c l i m i t e d - s l i p d i f f e r e n t i a l , 3 : 7 0 g e a r s e t

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R E A R S U S P E N S I O N : A M E M u l t i l i n k I R S , ¾ - i n c h s w a y b a r B R A K E S : W i l w o o d 1 4 - i n c h r o t o r s , s i x - p i s t o n c a l i p e r s f r o n t a n d r e a r, W i l w o o d m a s t e r cy l i n d e r, W i l w o o d p r o p o r t i o n v a l v e

W he e l s & T i re s W H E E L S : S c h o t t p o l i s h e d C 7 C o v e r- L o c w h e e l s ( 1 8 x 8 f r o n t , 1 8 x 1 0 r e a r ) T I R E S : H a n k o o k ; 2 3 5 / 4 0 R 1 8 f r o n t , 2 5 5 / 4 0 R 1 8 r e a r

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I N S TA L L AT I O N : J o n L i n d I n t e r i o r s ( S p r i n g f i e l d , O R )

S T E E R I N G : S t o c k c o l u m n a n d s t e e r i n g w h e e l

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W I R I N G : A m e r i c a n A u t o w i r e C l a s s i c U p d a t e k i t , b y To n y a t M e t a l Wo r k s C l a s s i c A u t o R e s t o r a t i o n ( E u g e n e , O R )

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[ 8 3 ] ALL CHEVY PERFORMANCE VOLUME 3 • ISSUE 26 • 2023 InTheGarageMedia .c om T E C H OW N E R : S a m S m i t h , L a s Ve g a s , N e v a d a V E H I C L E : ’ 6 3 C h e v y C o r v e t t e S t i n g R a y E ng i ne T Y P E : G M LT 1 D I S P L AC E M E N T: 3 7 6 c i ( 6 2 L ) C O M P R E S S I O N R AT I O : 1 1 5 : 1 B O R E : 4 0 6 5 i n c h e s S T R O K E : 3 6 2 2 i n c h e s C Y L I N D E R H E A D S : A l u m i n u m r e c t a n g u l a r p o r t , d i r e c t i n j e c t i o n R OTAT I N G A S S E M B LY: Fo r g e d s t e e l c r a n k s h a f t , f o r g e d p o w d e r e d m e t a l c o n n e c t i n g r o d s , h y p e r e u t e c t i c a l u m i n u m p i s t o n s C A M S H A F T: B i l l e t s t e e l r o l l e r 0 . 5 6 1 / 0 . 5 3 1 l i f t , 2 4 2 / 2 4 4 d e g r e e s d u r a t i o n a t 0 . 0 5 0 I N D U C T I O N : S t o c k , K & N f i l t e r e l e m e n t E X H AU S T: S

2022 MUSCLE CAR AND CORVETTE NATIONALS THE MCACN SHOW OFFERS UP ANOTHER BATCH OF RARE GM MUSCLE CARS [ 8 4 ] ALL CHEVY PERFORMANCE VOLUME 3 • ISSUE 26 • 2023 ACP EVENT

Th e M u s c l e C a r a n d C o r v e t t e N a t i o n a l s ( M C A C N ) s e r v e s u p a h e a l t h y p l a t e o f m u s c l e c a r g o o d n e s s a t t h e D o n a l d E S t e p h e n s C o n v e n t i o n C e n t e r i n R o s e m o n t , I l l i n o i s . U s u a l l y h e l d o n t h e t h i r d w e e k e n d o f N o v e m b e r, t h e M C A C N s h o w h a s b e c o m e m o r e t h a n t h a t – i t ’s n o w a n a n n u a l e v e n t –o n e t h a t i n c r e a s i n g l y s h o w c a s e s r a r e m u s c l e c a r u n v e i l i n g s f r o m s o m e o f t h e t o p r e s t o r a t i o n s h o p s

E v e r y y e a r t h e o r g a n i z e r s k e e p t h e s h o w f r e s h b y c r e a t i n g i n v i t a t i o n a l d i s p l a y s t h a t h i g h l i g h t a s p e c i f i c m i l e s t o n e i n t h e m u s cl e c a r e r a T h e s h o w i s b r a n d a g n o s t i c a n d u n i q u e l y A m e r i c a n i n f l a v o r w i t h s o m e o f t h e f i n e s t a n d r a r e s t m u s cl e c a r s t h a t a r e s t i l l w i t h u s

F o r t h e G M f a i t h f u l , a s y o u e n t e r e d t h e s h o w, g r e e t i n g y o u w a s o n e s u c h e x a m p l e O n d i s p l a y w a s t h e N o 3 1 9 6 0 C u n n i n g h a m L e M a n s C o r v e t t e c l a s s w i n n e r c u r r e n t l y o w n e d b y I r w i n K r o i z . A s y o u w a l k d e e p e r i n t o t h e h a l l , o n d i s p l a y w a s a ’ 6 7 C h e v e l l e S S s t i l l w e a r i n g i t s o r i g i n a l p a i n t , v i n y l t o p , a n d i n t e r i o r – a n d o n l y 4 8 2 m i l e s o n t h e o d o m e t e r –a l l l o g g e d i n q u a r t e r- m i l e i n c r e m e n t s O t h e r r a c e - p r e p p e d c a r s , s o m e w i t h Ye n k o p e d i g r e e , c o u l d b e f o u n d o n d i s p l a y a s w e l l

O n e o f t h e m o r e i n t r i g u i n g – a n d c o u r a g e o u s d i s p l a y s t h i s y e a r w a s t h e “ M a l a i s e E r a I n v i t a t i o n a l ” a c k n o w l e d g i n g t h e e x i s t e n c e o f D e t r o i t ’s p e r f o r m a n c e e f f o r t s f r o m t h e m i d ’ 7 0 s t o t h e l a t e ’ 8 0 s P e r h a p s t h e m o s t i n t r i g u i n g w a s a t r i o o f ’ 7 7 C a m a r o Z 2 8 s , w i t h o n e b o a s t i n g o n l y 1 6 3 m i l e s o n t h e o d o m e t e r

A n o t h e r f a n t a s t i c C h e v y - f l a v o r e d d i s p l a y w a s t h e “ G M M G l e g e n d s I n v i t a t i o n a l , ” w h i c h b r o u g h t 9 o f t h e 3 0 w i d e b o d y f o u r t hg e n B e r g e r S u p e r c a r D i c k H a r r e l l E d i t i o n ’ 0 2 C a m a r o s t o g e t h e r. A u t h o r a n d C a m a r o h i s t o r i a n M a t t A v e r y o r g a n i z e d t h i s e v e n t Pa r t o f t h e s h o w ’s i n c r e a s i n g p o p u l a r i t y i s a l s o t h e n u m b e r o f r a r e u n r e s t o r e d o r i g i n a l c a r s t h a t a r e o n d i s p l a y e v e r y y e a r. A s p a r t o f t h a t s e g m e n t , o w n e r s c a n h a v e t h e i r c a r s u n d e r g o a “ V i n t a g e C e r t i f i c a t i o n ” p r o c e s s p e r f o r m e d b y e x p e r t s i n t h e i r r e s p e c t i v e b r a n d s

[ 8 5 ] ALL CHEVY PERFORMANCE VOLUME 3 • ISSUE 26 • 2023 InTheGarageMedia .c om BY J O H N M AC H AQ U E I RO

[ 8 6 ] ALL CHEVY PERFORMANCE VOLUME 3 • ISSUE 26 • 2023 ACP EVENT

[ 8 7 ] ALL CHEVY PERFORMANCE VOLUME 3 • ISSUE 26 • 2023 InTheGarageMedia .c om

[ 8 8 ] ALL CHEVY PERFORMANCE VOLUME 3 • ISSUE 26 • 2023 ACP EVENT InTheGarageMedia .c om

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10885 MAY CHAPEL ROAD L AWRENCE VILLE , IL 624 39 (6 1 8 ) 9 4 3 - 4 8 5 6 I N F O @ B O W L E R T R A N S M I S S I O N S C O M MAGNUM SI X SPEED / TK X FIVE SPEED 5- AND 6-SPEED FE ATURE S W W W. B O W L E R T R A N S M I S S I O N S .C O M Improved Shift Feel & Durabili t y REM Finished Gear Set REM Finished Shift Rails Updated Aerospace Polymer Fork Pads Updated Carbon Blocker Rings Cerakoted Case (Optional upgrade) Average of 10 Decibels lower gear noise THE SIX SPEED AL SO OFFERS: • Updated 2nd Gear • Upgraded 1-2 Synchronizer Hub • Night stick Bille t Shifter Internal Pump Upgrade (Optional Upgrade) Smooth Shift s BENEFITS OF THE BOWLER CARBON EDITION • Improved Shift Feel • Eliminated Break-In/Run-In Increased L ife of Gears & bearings Reduced Lubrication Req • Increased Bearing L ife • Reduced Torque Loss & Improved Rotating Eff iciency Reduced Operating Temps Reduced Vibration / Noise • Dyno Tested A m e r i ca n A u tow i re 9 A r t M o r r i s o n E n te r p r i s e s 13 A u to M e ta l D i re c

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A r g u a b l y t h e m o s t p o p u l a r d i s p l a y i s o f c o u r s e t h e “ B a r n Fi n d s a n d R a r e G e m s ” g a t h e r i n g c u r a t e d b y t h e A u t o A r c h e o l o g i s t , R y a n B r u t t .

E v e r y y e a r h e m a n a g e s t o p u l l i n s o m e i n s a n e l y r a r e c a r s t h a t l o o k p a s t t h e i r p r i m e

T h i s y e a r ’s C h e v y o f f e r i n g s c a m e i n t h e f o r m o f a Z 1 6 o p t i o n e d 3 9 6 ’ 6 5 C h e v e l l e S S , a n d a w e l l - h a m m e r e d ’ 6 9 Ye n k o S C N o v a .

T h e C o r v e t t e p a r t o f t h e s h o w w a s a l s o w e l l r e p r e s e n t e d w i t h a l a r g e s e l e c t i o n o f C 1 t h r o u g h C 8 m o d e l s

D a t e s f o r t h e 2 0 2 3 e d i t i o n h a v e b e e n s e t i n s t o n e f o r N o v e m b e r 1 8 - 1 9 , 2 0 2 3 , s o m a k e y o u r p l a n s f o r a n o t h e r r a r e m u s c l e c a r g a t h e r i n g

[ 9 0 ] ALL CHEVY PERFORMANCE VOLUME 3 • ISSUE 26 • 2023 ACP EVENT InTheGarageMedia .c om

www.DakotaDigital.com/AC See Retrotech in ac tion! YouTube com/DakotaDigitalT V CALL TOLL FREE 1 .888.881 .0532 • De signed with OEM ae sthetic s • App for conf iguration on phone or tablet • • 30+ selec table lighting colors • Simulated tumbler odometer on screen • The new tradi t ional he tional