Table of contents for Volume 3, Issue 33 - September 2023 in All Chevy Performance

High school kid wants a car. Friend introduces kid to car. Deal is made and the car comes home. Forty-two years later the car achieves current “perfection,” with the crowning touch: a celebratory champagne paintjob. AFTER 42 YEARS OF OWNERSHIP, THIS PRO STREET–STYLE CHEVY NOVA SS IS JUST ABOUT PERFECT… FOR NOW Most movies are made from less engaging plots. But in all seriousness, Mark Krzystofczyk’s “relationship” with his ’64 Chevy Nova SS has been a constant in his life. The little Chevy was purchased way back in 1981 when he was in high school in Simi Valley, California. The Chevy Nova SS served as a great “classroom” back then, teaching him about automotive mechanics, horsepower, driving, and much more. From there he went to Universal Technical Institute (UTI) where…

POWER STEERING FOR TRI-FIVE CHEVYS When it comes to upgrading and modernizing a classic Chevy, one of the most popular modifications would have to be the addition of a power steering system. An option that’s as old as the automobile, traditional power steering assist didn’t really become a standard option until the early ’60s as technology and vehicle size collided. Premium lines like Lincoln, Cadillac, and Chrysler had offered power steering systems for decades, before the Big Three started offering the option as standard in the lesser, more affordable lines. By the ’70s, steering wheel sizes had decreased and power steering had become almost standard fare. Today, adding a power steering system to most classic Chevys is as simple as swapping out that manual box for a power unit and…

https://youtu.be/oHv_lwMS4lk The life of a race car starts with an owner’s vision to compete successfully in a particular class at a dragstrip. From there, it’s built to the highest level for optimum performance and safety to prepare for a life of hard-core use. As these cars evolve to squeeze out every ounce of performance, sometimes they change hands to new owners who continue to personalize them, with some even seeing occasional street duty. The immaculate ’69 Camaro SS laid out across these pages, owned by Dave and Connie Gagnon of Bristol, Connecticut, is a perfect example of its breed. There’s something to be said about a high-performance power couple who share seat time in a radical street ’n’ strip terror. For Dave, it all started alongside his dad with his…

1. AFFORDABLE AIRFLOW No need to spend a lot of money for power-building airflow. Summit Racing Precision Cast Cylinder Heads are cast from A356 aluminum using Permanent Mold “as-cast” technology that precisely locates runners and combustion chambers for airflow that rivals CNC-ported cylinder heads. These cylinder heads are finish-assembled in the USA with top-quality components like PAC Racing Springs, ARP fasteners, one-piece 21 4N stainless steel valves, machined locks, Viton seals, and chromoly steel retainers. You won’t find a better big-block, small-block, or LS Cathedral Port cylinder head for the price. For more information, contact Summit Racing by calling (800) 230-3030 or visit summitracing.com. 2. MONOBLOCK BEADLOCKS From the road course to the dragstrip, Forgeline introduces the new forged monoblock SS1R Beadlock. Unlike most traditional drag racing wheels, Forgeline’s forged…

https://youtu.be/B2GCYhbjKn8 You’ve probably seen the memes on social media that show a ludicrously gigantic, locomotive sized blower or turbo mounted up to an engine on some car with a caption that reads something like, “After a week, John decides he needs more power.” And it’s funny because, by and large, it’s true. If being a car guy or gal is a disease, then symptom number one is a constant, unslacking thirst for power. After all, what’s more fun than a hard hit off the line, or turning a set of perfectly good tires into smoke? It’s addictive, right? That’s where Vortech Superchargers has made its mark on the industry, both among hard-core racers and hobbyists. Their rock-solid centrifugal blower designs and mounting kits are one of the easiest ways to…

The ’60s marked an important time in drag racing history, as the “gasser wars” raged at backwoods dragstrips, national events, and match races across the country. Enthusiastic youngsters ran to the fence to watch their local heroes blast down the track. Back then, track prep was non-existent and race tire manufacturers hadn’t perfected compounds or sidewall construction, so the cars were unpredictable. As the years went on, drag cars became more civilized and much faster, but through the process, they lost the excitement that brought people to their feet. Now, more than 50 years later, the Southeast Gassers Association is bringing excitement back to drag racing with old-school, heads-up action. Quain Stott and his crew that operates the Southeast Gassers Association puts a strong emphasis on authenticity when it comes…

@TavisHighlander TavisHighlander.com Vehicle Owner: Brandon Roeber Vehicle Builder: Controlled Khaos Customs, Friendswood, Texas Controlled Khaos Customs will be transforming this big cruiser into a modernized four-door grand touring machine. With beautifully uninterrupted hardtop lines, this Impala will be able to accommodate four passengers with style to spare. The entire outside will be blacked out with a little bit of bronze accent, making the Vossen HF-8 wheels pop. C7 Corvette door poppers will make entering the vehicle smooth while also keeping the sides of the vehicle looking clean. Underneath the car is a custom Art Morrison chassis with airbags to get the whole thing sitting low. Pushing that chassis around is a Chevrolet Performance LT4. All around the engine will be custom sheetmetal to make the engine bay look as slick…

Ahhh, the ’80s; day-glow clothes, synthesized new wave music, freaky sunglasses, leg warmers, Members Only jackets, the Energizer Bunny, and Pro Street muscle cars were all part of the culture, most of which were not to be heard from or seen again. Although, Members Only jackets are apparently back (Amazon.com starting at $98 on up to $448), the Energizer Bunny is “still going,” and Pro Street muscle cars are making a huge comeback, although some say the movement never went away. Steve Hofferber was infatuated with the Pro Street scene, and in 1982 he set his sights on building the baddest street machine Hooker, Oklahoma, had ever seen. He started with a ’70 Chevelle that he found in The Oklahoman classified section. “I had a friend, Verlan Raines, go look…

Stance is everything. It’s a tricky subject, too. Suspension isn’t easy on your knuckles and if you get it wrong it’ll drain the bank fast. After you finally dial in your ride height the wheel/tire combo has to jive, too. The right wheel tucked inside the fender with a safe amount of clearance is like fine art. The nice part is a quick disc brake conversion is small potatoes compared to what most pros have to do. You can expect a fully custom-designed car to sit on a surgically precise wheel and tire package—you even see custom wheeltubs, one-off wheels, you name it. You won’t always get the perfect backspace option on a mass-produced wheel. That’s where Classic Performance Products’ (CPP) minimum offset kit comes in clutch. There are a…

Material things come and go in life, but the memories you share with friends last forever. Frank Ward’s ’72 Camaro bounced around his friend group before winding up back in his hands, as he’s loved the second-gen Camaro since his senior year of high school. Like many car enthusiasts, Frank learned many of his skills at a young age from his father and uncles. He took that knowledge and traveled up the ranks from tire changer to part owner at a local auto shop called Mock Tire & Auto. Originally Frank bought the 454ci crate engine out of the premiered ’72 shell from his neighbor Jonathan Annas; Frank thought to buy everything together but had too many other projects going on and changed his mind. It wasn’t until some years…