Table of contents for Volume 5, Issue 49 - January 2025 in All Chevy Performance

JR & CELESTE VILLARREAL’S 1969 CAMARO “Illicit” is defined as “something forbidden by law, rules, or customs.” It also describes activities or behaviors that are illegal or disapproved on a social level. JR and Celeste Villarreal’s incredible 1969 Camaro carries the moniker Illicit, but it’s a car we approve of on every level. So how did this incredible Camaro come to be? Well, it started when JR was on the hunt for a first-gen Camaro. He was torn between buying a fully completed car or starting with a solid base to build from scratch. “I heard about a 1969 Camaro for sale in San Diego [California] that was listed in good condition, so he decided to drive down to check out. It appeared to be in decent shape,” JR recalls.…

There’s nothing worse than hitting the road in your high-performance Chevy and being assaulted by excess heat and vibration as you lay down the miles. Between adding an upgraded driveline and high-flow exhaust, the amount of heat generated has a direct connection through the floorpan. This moves straight into your interior and there’s no way the factory jute-style padding will suffice to handle the job. Regardless of whether you’re taking on a full build or simply making updates, it’s a solid idea to think about upgrading your insulation complemented by sound deadening to help tame all that rattle ’n’ roll generated by the road. We’re here to tell you that there’s a simple solution to the problem, one that you won’t even break a sweat over, when installing products direct…

In the classic car hobby, there are two typical scenarios that revolve around project cars. It’s either “I got the money but not the time,” or the even more familiar classic “I got the time now, but ain’t got the money.” For Kevin Sensi of Springfield, New Jersey, it was the latter situation that set the tone for his latest Camaro build. So, let’s set the record straight, since there are always two sides to every story. Kevin doesn’t see his current employment situation as a crutch in any way, shape, or form. “The good news is I’ve been a stay-at-home dad for the last 15 years, so I get to spend plenty of quality time with the kids. Conversely, the bad news is that I’m a stay-at-home dad, and…

If you’ve been around cars for any length of time, you’ve probably heard the well-worn aphorism “The camshaft is the brain of the engine,” or some version of it. There is a bit of truth to that since the cam does determine when the valves in the cylinder heads open and close and how quickly, but unlike us smarter individuals—you know, those of us who prefer Chevrolet power over … well, let’s just say another brand—cams really can’t make decisions. Variable valve timing is helpful, but once the cam is stabbed in the engine, duration and valve lift really won’t change. So, the lesson here is not a matter of how advanced the technology may be in your engine, the cam still needs to be ground correctly for your application.…

In the performance industry, there are very few products that can claim to have changed the lives of four generations of enthusiastic hot rodders. That’s the impact that the small-block Chevy has had on the automotive performance game. The term “pervasive” does not even begin to explain it all. Along the way, the small-block Chevy has been the powerful backbone of racing sanctioning bodies and made many engine builders and racers more than famous. The small-block’s impact on millions of street performance enthusiasts is immeasurable. It all started in 1955 with the first year of the small-block Chevy bolted into both the Corvette as well as pedestrian 1955 Chevy sedans and coupes. Some say the small-block saved the Corvette, and likely this is true. The engine with the funny stamped…

Hot rodders can be a fickle bunch. We build a car with plenty of horsepower, drive them for a while, then crave more power—a never-ending pursuit for most. Such is the case with lifelong hot rodder John Woods and his 1970 Chevelle. “I bought the car in 2000, and being it was from Arizona the sheetmetal was in good condition,” John explains. “It had a warmed-over 468ci engine, which I swapped in a 540 roller engine built by Bob Snyder. I drove it in that configuration for about 10 years. In 2013, I upgraded the suspension, did some interior work, and swapped in another engine, this time a Lingenfelter 548 big-block, because, of course, I was always chasing horsepower.” In the summer of 2018, the engine suffered a needle bearing…

When the team at Eddie Motorsports set out to build a 1972 Chevy Nova to display at the SEMA show they knew it had to be something special. To that end, they called on Heidts for a suspension update and Wilwood to supply state-of-the-art brakes. To compete with the Ford Falcon, Chevrolet introduced the Chevy II in 1962. It was available in three trim levels: the 100 series, 300 series, and Nova 400 series. By 1964 the legendary 283 V-8 was offered and when the 327 V-8 became available the following year the little Chevy became a formidable performer. For the 1966 model year, a restyled second generation of the Chevy II appeared, then in 1968 the third generation that would continue through 1974 was introduced (in 1969 the Chevy…

The amount of detail and craftsmanship being poured into the fabrication of this project is truly next level. Starting on the exterior, the rear of the roof has been slightly pancaked to give it a thinner appearance. All the bumpers are modified so they can be tucked in tight to the body. On the hood you can see it has been shaved of the twin gunsights. Custom roof trim allows for a vent window delete and one-piece glass. Most of the trim is handmade or custom machined. Add a 2.5-inch body drop to that mix and you get a super custom 1957. BUILT BY: Born Vintage Hot Rods (Bakersfield, CA) @TavisHighlander TavisHighlander.com…

When it comes to the timeless, muscle-minded aesthetic that is known as “gasser” style, there are quite a few “OGs” still building them properly to this day. Bill Shepherd of Ridgeley, West Virginia, is one of those guys who has been into custom cars for just over 60 years now, and he still can’t seem to get enough of them. Bill has been part of multiple car clubs in his time and is never not looking for cars in desperate need of an overhaul. As a member of The Clockers Car Club in Cumberland, Maryland, from 1957-1972, and now a proud member of The Right Coast Gassers, Bill has remained active in the scene he loves for decades with no signs of slowing down. “In the past 10 years, gassers…

Aluminized exhaust tubing. While it has its place (motorhomes, rat rods, demolition derby cars, and so on), it’s not under any self-respecting muscle car, street machine, or restomod build. Back when the only option was to drag your car to the local muffler shop, it made sense to have them whip up a dual-exhaust setup out of aluminized tubing. That was simply the way things were. Today, however, with the availability of affordable welding machines and exhaust kits designed for the DIY guy, it’s a lot easier to justify fabricating a custom exhaust system from a more exotic material, like stainless steel. There are drawbacks, however, to this line of thinking. Many guys don’t have the equipment to fabricate such a system or the ability to do so. But if…

Going from vision to execution doesn’t always work as planned. When building a car, you have a vision of how it’s going to look, feel, sound, and perform. When it all comes together though, sometimes it’s a home run and other times it’s back to the drawing board. Jason Norman had his 1971 Chevelle built, and after getting it back, it wasn’t what he had envisioned. The transmission needed to be upgraded and the big-block under the hood wasn’t running right. He brought the car down to Epic Rod & Custom in Calgary, Canada, to set things straight. Sam Hutchins and his crew got busy reworking the transmission tunnel to accept a TREMEC T-56 six-speed and replacing the floorpans. They fixed the electronic fuel injection on the 396 and worked out…