My Chevelle - I'm no Smokey, but ...

[58Apache]

Here's my Chevelle making it's debut at the NSRA Nats. I have over 8 years of my life invested in this with hundreds of man hours. While I didn't do everything, I did most of it myself, learning as I went.

I sanded and sanded and sanded some more, then got the door gaps just gnats rear right on using Enjenjo's advice.

I hired an air brush artist, guided by my wife and daughter's directions,  to put those realistic flames over my first paint job ever on a car ....black with a small blue metal flake.

Nobody notices anything but those damned flames ...and I didn't do them!

                             Steve

[58Apache]

While I am no Smokey, this thing has more modifications than I can remember.

Starting with tall spindles and 12 inch disc brakes ....factory OEM style that were made for a limited production of Camaros (1LE).

The front drive is a serpentine system from a modern 454 truck engine. ALL lights on this are LED's except the headlights and they are on relays.

A 1978 Truck new radiator, a fan shroud from another truck and an 18 inch fan on a clutch. I have about 1/4 inch clearance in the shroud..maybe less.

I used a Haywire E series wiring harness, a Vintage Air will keep it cool, and the 396 Enjenjo sold me is now riding at 410 cubes with some moderate performance items.

Ceramic coated headers, feed into an x pipe ...all 3 inch until a reduction to 2 1/2 to go into Flowmaster 70 series mufflers.

GM 12 bolt posi with 3:73 gears ... Centerforce clutch

The tranny ...well you wouldn't believe me so better ask Enjenjo... he sold it to me.

[enjenjo]

The tranny ...well you wouldn't believe me so better ask Enjenjo... he sold it to me.

The trans is a New Process 4 speed out of a Chevy truck, with 4th gear being an overdrive gear.

[58Apache]

It seems to do fine! With the torque I have I can take off in second without much of a problem. The 3:73 rear gears work well with it to keep highway RPMS down and give me enough gears for take off.

Oh yeah I forgot that the main piece of re-engineering I did was to add a pulley to the serpentine system to allow the water pump to turn in the normal direction. The car stayed at 180 just fine at Louisville.

I replaced all factory gauges with Autometer Cobalt series. The Speedo and Tach went in the same position as the factory units.

Working on a custom console now, but my wife made these door panels for me.

[57larry]

very nice looking car. can your wife do my door panels?

[tom36]

I'd be proud if it was mine.  Tom...

[jaybee]

Nice car!  Feels great to have it on the road I'll bet.

[reborn55]

Very nice car--looks like a real fun car to drive );b(

[348tripower]

That is one nice car. .  

[40]

Very nice car! What modifications were done to the rear to accommodate the rear tires/wheels?

[Mac]

Nice, nice car! I wouldn't mind seeing a few more pics from different angles.
A buddy of mine had a `69 Vel back in 74-75. Built 396, forcefeed, AR daiseys, in dark, dark blue. It's what I picture in my mental scrapbook when I think musclecar.  

[UGLY OLDS]

Neat car ....   NICE door panels .... :b-d:

My only problem with " the Muscle car era"  is that I remember doing warranty repairs on them...... :cry:      


Bob........

[58Apache]

57 Larry: I'll ask her if you are serious?

40: I did a LOT of research and viewing what other guys did to make double danged sure I had the correct backspacing and knew the limits of what the stock fender wells could handle. I did leave the fender wells at stock width, but the lip on the quarter panel was bent up after I found it cutting into the back tires when I hit a bump. That gave me more room, but I can tell if I hit a bump hard enough it may still hit the quarter wheel edge. I also took what the guys said was the max you could get in there and dropped it down just a tad to be safe and still ran into those issues. I am working on the air shocks now. Those back tires are 295/60 R15 if I remember right. Supposedly I could have went to 305/60 R15 but I wanted to "be safe".

Here's a pic from the rear angle as I was coming through the gates in Louisville. Per request.

[_Drewfus_]

your paintjob (both the flames and the black) look great (at least from where I'm sitting   ), ditto on the panel work, any engine bay shots?

And after 8 years, are you happy with the outcome? looks like fun to me, credit to you.

Cheers,

Drewfus

[rumrumm]

Nice ride, Steve. Perhaps I can see it in person next year. Kudos to your wife on those door panels. Nice work!