All Chevy Performance Volume 2, Issue 24 - December 2022

As we head into the heart of the holiday season and get ready for the upcoming new year, hopefully you’ve spent time with family and friends, or are looking forward to doing so. It’s also a good time to reflect on how much improved this year was over the last. A disastrous 2020 and 2021 really made me appreciate 2022 and being able to get back out to some shows to check out the latest muscle car builds while also appreciating a few that have been around for some time. While out and about I noticed a few fresh builds showing some diversity and old-school personality taking a road less traveled—more like a road not driven on since the ’70s. As I was taking a lengthy walk around the NSRA…

1. MOCK BLOCK LS engine swaps show up in everything from vintage Chevy V-8 applications to Porsche 911s and more. While those first-gen Chevy V-8 fitments are the easiest, Speedway Motors’ Chevy LS Mock Up Engine Swap Dummy Block Kit makes it even easier to confirm driveline, engine placement for clearance issues, custom header fabrication, and more. At 18 pounds for the short-block and 35 for the long-block, this LS mock-up block can be lifted in and out of the vehicle by one person with no engine hoist necessary. For more information, contact Speedway Motors by calling (855) 313-9173 or visit speedwaymotors.com/allchevyperformance. 2. GOOD ADVISE The Summit Racing Connecting Rod Vise is designed to hold steel and aluminum connecting rods to make removing and installing rod bolts, beam polishing, or beam machining easier. The…

Owner Terry Davlin and I worked together to determine the visual battle plan for his ’66 C2 project. His intent was to maintain as much of the stock look as possible while taking every step to upgrade the performance of the vehicle to his liking. That foundation of performance would center around a Roadster Shop chassis equipped with big Baer brakes. Power is coming from an LMEbuilt aluminum 427ci LSR putting out 685 hp at 7,200 rpm. With all that performance handled, the attention was then put on how to make the car look the part. The interior would remain stock-looking but quite modified. Sculpted bolsters hold you in place while a reworked dash houses modern A/C vents and controls for comfort. On the outside, the wheels demanded some big choices. Several…

Patina [puh-tee-nuh]. A surface calcification of implements, usually indicating great age. That’s one definition found on dictionary.com, although when it comes to vintage cars we’d likely include the word “cool” to said definition. It would make that interpretation a more accurate description regarding the finish on Mike Everett’s ’67 Chevy Nova. There’s been quite a bit of hoopla regarding patina cars these days, and although it’s nothing new, many car guys have gone through great lengths to emulate the aging process via unauthentic means. Although we appreciate those efforts, Mike’s ’67 scored its natural finish by sitting in the previous owner’s Moreno Valley backyard for the past 30 or so years. The Southern California town sits about 60 miles east of Los Angeles and is known for its relatively dry, desert climate,…

When it comes to upgrading the drivetrain on a vintage Chevy, it doesn’t come much easier than using a crate engine from Chevrolet Performance, especially when it comes to their Connect & Cruise systems. Complete from pan to throttle body, these offerings come equipped with a factory-tuned ECU that makes for a literal plug-andplay situation, with a few caveats. Being car guys at heart, when it came time to dress their LS crate engines they knew that fitment would be an issue, depending on accessory location and installation configuration. Put simply, some vehicles have more room than others, especially when it comes to the lower-mounted accessories, namely the power steering and A/C compressor. Additionally, not every installation would require all three accessories, with some opting for a simple alternator mount…

G-bodies are becoming quite popular within the muscle car world–and compared to a ’60s-era muscle car they are relatively affordable. But if you have a hankerin’ to get into one of these boxy late-’70s to mid-’80s Malibus and El Caminos, it’s best to make a move soon as they are starting to spike in value. Typically, they were born with a 231ci V-6 and 305 and 350ci V-8s–all of which perform better as paperweights than powerplants by today’s standards. The good news is these cars readily accept a robust small-block or LS engine for a wake-up call. Now that these onceignored family commuters are gaining popularity within the muscle car world, the aftermarket has begun stepping up their G-body game. G-body fans have a few choices to go with: a “Malibu…