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In 1977 I was a Junior at Lee's Summit High School in Lee's Summit, Missouri. Muscle cars were inexpensive and quite plentiful in those days. My first car was a 67 Pontiac Firebird hardtop with a stock 400, 3 speed and a working 8 track tape player.A buddy of mine who I played football with owned a black 67SS hardtop and worked in a local garage after school. The car kind of looked like him - rough around the edges, weatherbeaten and mean. Under the hood, his car had a built 427 that ran like a rocket. That was the year I fell in love - with Chevelles.
Twenty years later I bought my first Chevelle. Two years earlier I planned exactly what I wanted and saved for the anticipated project. The result was an eight month nation wide search.
Thankfully, I found my 66SS convertible at the right price in my own backyard. A matching number 396 with Powerglide, no rust except for the trunk, a ratty convertible top and interior.
A matching numbered original restoration is not what I am after. I wanted what I couldn't afford twenty years ago - a street racer!
The previous owner had already installed a TH-350, front disc brakes and a decent paint job. I started with sand blasting and painting the convertible top frame, then added a new top.
Next was a complete new interior and weatherstripping.
Next was the drive train. For the torque and horsepower I was after, it was more cost efficient for me to buy a Gen V 502 than rebuild the 396.The 502 mods include:
- New motor mounts
- New 4 core radiator
- High perf water and oil pump
- Holley 850 double pumper
- Performance Distributor HEI street/strip
- Rev limiter
- 2 1/2 inch Hooker headers into a 3" exhaust
The single foot 3.07 rear end had to go. It was replaced with new axles, rebuild kit, Auburn posi unit and Strange 3.70 gears. The upper and lower control arms were boxed and polygraphite bushings installed. On the front end the stock anti sway bar was replaced with a 1 1/2" sway bar.
Finally, the trunk pan was replaced and polygraphite body bushings installed.
Future Plans for the '66
If you would like to see your Chevelle featured here, send me a picture and I'll scan it and post it.
Al McKenzie, Box 231, Creston B.C. Canada, V0B-1G0