Table of contents for Volume 5, Issue 50 - February 2025 in All Chevy Performance

Tim Buck’s venture into muscle cars began in his teenage years. It all started with his first build, a 1956 Chevy, which gradually led to a number of street rods, customs, and various muscle cars. His last car was a 1970 Chevelle Super Sport, which was impressive but wasn’t the pinnacle of his ambition. Though it had a few modifications, it was just a typical muscle car by his standards. The Chevelle had run its course, and besides, Tim had always wanted a 1967 Nova. He caught wind of a nice-looking red one for sale at a dealership in Ohio. The car had a 283 paired with a Powerglide transmission, but the drivetrain didn’t concern Tim, as his goal wasn’t to preserve it but to transform it into a powerful street…

So much of life is about being at the right place at the right time. The same is also true about ignition timing for internal combustion engines. For an engine to make great power it must have all the right parts, including camshaft, cylinder heads, compression, induction, and exhaust. But if the ignition timing is too late or too early, the engine will run poorly and there’s the potential for catastrophic damage. There is also the time-honored tuner’s advice that we’ve seen played out a hundred times that proclaims, “Ninety percent of carburetion problems are ignition related.” That may be overstating the case slightly, but it’s true enough to take to heart. This story will outline the three components of ignition timing for engines with distributors and how they all…

It’s not uncommon for guys who grew up in the late 1960s and 1970s to gravitate toward building the muscle car they’ve always wanted—typically one from back in their high school days but they just didn’t have the cash to do so at the time. Fast-forward 30-or-so years and decades of service in the workforce has enabled many the financial freedom to finally build that classic muscle car they’ve always wanted. Brian Myers is one of those guys who harkens back to his high school days when many of his friends were driving cool hot rods, and one friend who owned a distinctive 1970 Chevelle. “That car was just so cool to me, and I’ve wanted it ever since,” Brian recalls. At the time, Brian had a 1967 C-J-5 his…

The 1955 Chevy holds iconic status for so many reasons, boasting striking aesthetics with clean lines and classic chrome accents, a distinctive front grille offering a sporty appearance, drawing the attention of consumers. But it wasn’t just the look—the car marked the introduction of Chevrolet’s first small-block V-8 appearing underhood. The 265ci engine was a powerhouse at the time and set the foundation for Chevy’s long-standing reputation for delivering reliable horsepower in affordable vehicles. Today, that design and performance make the 1955 Chevy a harvestable piece for customizers and hot rodders looking to infuse their own style and options to this timeless-looking hot rod. High accolades for sure, but what got Ted Stoneburner hooked on the car was seeing Bob Falfa’s souped-up 1955 on the big screen in the 1973…

When Domenick “Dom” Genise of Oceanside, New York, started his latest Camaro project, there was no question as how this F-body was going to be built. “I always wanted to build a first-gen Camaro that I could just jump in and hit the highway. The car was going to be a restomod, set up with a modern drivetrain and suspension, so I would have no worries regarding reliability while out on the road,” Dom states. Now, Dom is no rookie to the Chevy ponycar platform. “I grew up in Maspeth, Queens, and my dad owned a motorcycle shop in nearby Woodside. We always worked on our cars and bikes outside in our yard. My brother was a Ford enthusiast, so we were always in competition since I was a diehard…

This Chevelle is getting all the right goodies to make it a great driver. An LS1 backed by a T56 will send power to a 12-bolt rearend. Detroit Speed suspension will make it handle the turns and big Wilwood six- and four-piston caliper disc brakes will bring it to a stop. The 3030 Series G wheels, in 18x9.5 and 18x12, allow for some wider rubber and capitalize on the aggressive stance. Making this build even more special is the story behind it. The owner originally purchased it in high school and started modifying it right away. When it was time for college, the Chevelle got parked in the barn and stayed there for about 20 years. When COVID-19 hit, the project was pulled out and assessed. Inspired by Kyle Tucker’s…

A first car is more than just transportation; it’s a symbol of freedom, independence, and the beginning of a new chapter. While today’s standards might make them seem less impressive, those early rides held a unique charm that’s hard to replicate. Looking back, would you still cherish your first car, or has time dimmed its allure? Some people hold onto their original cars, while others move on but intimately spend years searching for a replica to relive those nostalgic days. As anyone who’s tried knows, recreating the past is rarely as simple as it seems. Jeff Johnson, of Yorba Linda, California, knows this all too well. After graduating high school with an engineering scholarship, Jeff’s parents surprised him with a 1969 Camaro—a car that would become an integral part of…

Go to any automotive event and chances are the cars with the most outrageous features will draw the attention of the casual onlooker. But for true enthusiasts it’s the subtle details, like the extra effort put into body fit and panel alignment that catch the eye of the knowledgeable. These are the cars that get better the more you look at them, which is typical of the cars that come out of MetalWorks Classic Auto Restoration in Eugene, Oregon. Case in point is a 1963 Chevy II. This GM line of compact cars was meant to compete with the likes of the Rambler, Ford’s Falcon, Chrysler’s Valiant/Lancer, and a number of GM products, including Chevy’s own Corvair. Like all the cars in this class, the Chevy II was affordable with…

The 2024 SEMA Show in Las Vegas, the aftermarket automotive industry’s most highly anticipated event, once again dazzled with cutting-edge custom vehicle innovations, professional builds, and the latest aftermarket performance products. Held annually at the Las Vegas Convention Center, the SEMA (Specialty Equipment Market Association) Show is where car enthusiasts, manufacturers, and industry professionals converge to showcase, learn, and celebrate the latest in automotive technology, design, and performance. On November 5-8, 2024, this year’s SEMA Show drew over 150,000 attendees from the United States and across the globe. The show carries a ripple effect on the aftermarket auto industry that influences build style while driving the future of the industry, which in our case, we’re talking about the latest in everything related to Chevy performance. The SEMA Show caters to…