Table of contents for Volume 5, Issue 58 - October 2025 in All Chevy Performance

When you hear the term “dream car,” what do you envision? While many of us would aimlessly shuffle through our top 10 makes and models when asked this question, someone like Chris Deppe of Orange, California, could respond right away with zero hesitation. The car of his dreams has always been a 1967 Chevy Nova SS. Chris’ love of cars started back in the 1980s when he was in high school. He has owned some incredible classics over the years, but it wasn’t until recently that he was able to secure his holy grail—thanks to his awesome wife, Erin. Chris and Erin had a 1957 Chevy Task Force truck they would drive to local Orange County, California–based car shows. Erin began to pick up on the cars Chris would talk…

We have been following this unique 1968 Camaro build at Roadster Shop for a couple of installments. This time we’ll look at the tasteful modifications made to the rear of the car. The first step was filling the gas cap opening and the hole for the decklid key. All the joints on the rear corners were finish-welded and smoothed at this time. The fit of the rear bumper was tightened up against the body, and the holes for the original bumper bolts were filled. All the bumper surfaces were metalfinished at this stage. There will be twin exhaust pipes exiting in the center of the car. The original license plate mount was removed and a new panel was formed with the cutout for the exhaust tips. The license plate was…

Ahh, the 1969 Camaro. It’s a car that features a sleek design and bold body lines that make it timeless well over 50 years after it first rolled off the assembly line. The car looks fast even while sitting still. That’s quite an achievement five decades later. There is no other vintage vehicle quite like it. The 1969 Camaro remains unsusceptible to trends and has the personality that makes it conducive to just about every build style—Pro Touring, Pro Street, Day Two, drag racers, street machine, lowrider, and even going gasser style should one want to go that route. We’ve even seen a ’69 Camaro built as an off-road vehicle with four-wheel drive and big, gnarly trail-ready tires. Charlie Beis’ love for the first-gen Camaro started back in 1998 when…

If you’re a fan of nostalgia drag racing, you’re likely already familiar with the Wally Parks NHRA Nostalgia Nationals, formerly known as the Hot Rod Reunion. The idea for this event was born in the early ’90s, as the first California Hot Rod Reunion took place in 1992. Eleven years later, the NHRA took the event east of the Mississippi, choosing Beech Bend Raceway to honor the legends of drag racing. Now, more than 20 years after its inception, the event continues to take over Bowling Green, Kentucky, every Father’s Day weekend. The month of June offers unpredictable weather in Kentucky, and it seems the low-lying Beech Bend facility has a weather pattern all its own. The one certainty is humid conditions that make an 80-degree day feel like 95.…

1. EXHAUST FREEDOM Summit Racing Freedom ST Series Mufflers offer durable, high-flow performance without the typical issues of rusted baffles or blown-out packing. Their straight-through design delivers near straight-pipe flow—just 3-cfm less—while producing a bold, muscular tone. Constructed in the USA from quality 409 stainless steel, they’re built for long-lasting reliability. Available in 2.25-, 2.5-, and 3-inch sizes with multiple configurations, they’re a solid upgrade for performance and longevity. For more information, contact Summit Racing by calling (800) 230-3030 or visit summitracing.com. 2. WIN LITE Billet Specialties Win Lite Steering Wheels bring performance and style to your interior. Precision-machined from forged 6061-T6 billet aluminum, they feature a half-wrap design with milled finger grips and are available in 14 - or 15.5-inch diameters. Choose a polished or black hardcoat anodized finish…

Rocker arms are one of those component topics that don’t get their share of attention. For performance engines, there are some important considerations that might alter your perception of these simple devices. For this story we will focus on the small - and big-block Chevys as well as the LS powerplants. Over the years, the design of a basic rocker arm has evolved and, as you will see, for the better. From the beginning in 1955, the small-block Chevy fell under scrutiny for its unusual stud-mounted stamped steel rocker arms. Until that point, most production engines with overhead valves relied on shaft-mounted rockers. An individual rocker mounted on a stud was less expensive to build and eventually spawned an industry. Chevy’s original stamped steel rocker is still a reasonable budget…

The cool factor of an old-school gasser is hard to ignore, and there are many ways to accomplish the look. You can go rough and rowdy, you can go full-on show car, or you can find a nice spot in-between. That’s where this 1955 Chevy Bel Air lands—it has all the old-school features you want, while still being highway friendly and capable of cruising the boulevard without fouling plugs, running hot, or getting too much attention from law enforcement. The car has some history as a hot rod, but you’ll find out that some of its most recent builds brought on much of the car’s current personality. Rick Rusk from Lanesville, Indiana, built this car a few years ago with the help of a few friends (Darrell Underwood, Clay Leak,…

Pat Musi made his bones building top-flight engines for drag racing. Drivers running Musi engines have won championships in numerous classes, but the engine builder is most famous for his nitrous-huffing big-blocks. Musi has been in business since 1970, and almost exclusively building ultra-competitive competition engines the whole time. But that’s changed recently. Thanks to a partnership with Edelbrock you can now purchase a genuine Pat Musi Racing Engines big-block Chevrolet, perfect for hot street performance or even drag racing. Maybe best of all, because of the partnership, the engines can be had for a real steal. There are currently three versions, and as this went to press the lowest cost carbureted engine could be had for less than $19,000, while the most expensive EFI big-block comes in for just…

Chevelles are hot these days. More and more of them keep finding their way into my project roster in the last few years. This one being built by Mountain Home Street Rods is keeping everything pretty straightforward and geared toward driveability. Mini-tubs allow for some wider tires mounted up to Forgeline AL307 wheels. Dirty gold centers and polished stepped lips flow with the rest of the body’s chrome trim. Dodge DelMonico Red will be the main color for the body with graphite stripes and gold pinstripe around those stripes to tie in with the wheels. @TavisHighlander TavisHighlander.com Builder: Mountain Home Street Rods (Mountain Home, Arkansas)…

Finding rare and desirable cars often comes down to being in the right place at the right time. Knowing the right folks can also occasionally help move the needle forward in that quest. Over the years, John Fardone has been blessed with a combination of those elements in his pursuit to find desirable cars that help him score even better cars. “I’m always looking for the upgrade,” he points out. For him it has been a circular process that often yields true gems like his 1968 Camaro RS. His story with this Camaro began back in 2019 thanks to his buddy, Joe, and his contacts, however the car’s history can be traced back to November 27, 1967, when the original owner, Keith Kettler, placed an order at O’Fallon Motor Company…

If you have not been studying the progression of alternator technologies, you may not realize that since 2010 GM has been using PWM-controlled alternators in many vehicles, and all 2014-up Gen V LT-series engines use them. This is not much of an issue if you have a factory-stock vehicle, but for LT swaps and modified factory Gen V–powered Chevys it can become a big issue. This all started back in the mid 1990s when GM started using ECM controlled alternators. The idea was to reduce engine load when it was not needed to increase fuel economy. By the time we got LS engines they were all ECM controlled. This is why you use a separate trigger wire and resistor on the alternator for Gen III LS swaps. Gen IV/V alternators…

Muscle car lovers find their dream rides in all sorts of ways. Maybe it was through an online want ad or Internet site (which has now become the norm). It was possibly discovered by attending an auction, estate sale, or even by passing it parked along the roadside or at a car cruise with a For Sale sign in the window. There’s also the hand-me-down scenario—a family possession that somehow made its way to a friend or relative’s garage. That’s always a plus. Joe Horne of Glen Mills, Pennsylvania, found his special ride in a much different way. “This 1965 Nova SS was owned by my good friend Kevin Gildea. For years I stored the car in my garage for him because he didn’t have the room at his place,”…