All Chevy Performance Volume 3, Issue 32 - August 2023

For many of us living in SoCal, the weather is, for the most part, cooperative in the sense it allows us to get our rides out on any given weekend regardless of the time of year—although the winter of 2023 was one for the ages, as we found out what it was like to deal with more rain than we are accustomed to. Born and raised in Southern California, that was more rain than I have ever seen in a single year. It made me get a taste for what it might be like living in a part of the country where winter weather plays a big part in weekend plans. No, I don’t know what it’s like to shut it all down for months at a time, so before…

1. ROLLING TRIBUTE The Forgeline engineering team is proud to release their latest Heritage Series wheel. The new HL3X is a variation of their original HL3, a tribute to the classic Halibrand wheels of the ’60s that famously carried the Ford GT40 to victory at the 1966 24 Hours of Le Mans. The HL3X follows a similar design theme to the original HL3 but features larger, more-aggressive spoke window openings to better display the underlying brake hardware, improve cooling, and reduce mass. For more information, contact Forgeline by calling (800) 886-0093 or visit forgeline.com. 2. FLAME THROWIN’ Late-model Coil-On-Plug/Coil-Near-Plug series for Gen V LT1 engines from PerTronix are optimized to improve the spark capabilities of late-model ignition systems. Coils are epoxy-molded to prevent premature failure from moisture or winding fatigue.…

@TavisHighlander TavisHighlander.com Vehicle Builder: Charlies Custom Creations, Murfreesboro, TN Patina builds have their own appeal when done right. Luckily, the guys at Charlies Custom Creations know how to put together a solid vehicle, and this one will be no exception. Starting with a stock ’67 Camaro and some well-worn paint, the shop will nip and tuck a few details here and there. The bumpers will get pulled in and finished in satin black with the rest of the trim. Making the Camaro handle better than ever before is a Roadster Shop chassis. It’s also more powerful thanks to a Chevrolet LT4 crate engine. That new stance and power is kept in check with big brakes and modern Ferrada FR2 wheels.…

Mike Kraemer’s indoctrination into the Chevy fold started at an early age. As a youngster growing up during the late ’60s and early ’70s, it wasn’t uncommon for kids like him to see vintage iron on the road decked out in some form of race trim. As a result, he still has some fond memories of the vehicles he saw back then that shaped—and continue to shape—his automotive tastes to this day. He recalls one particular car: “When I was 11 years old my mom regularly drove me to the swim club, and as we turned into the parking lot, there was a gas station that frequently had a jacked-up Marina Blue ’55 Chevy parked out front. It was lettered-up with Double Five on the front fender, no front bumper,…

Structural rigidity has long been the Achilles heel of unibody cars—particularly cars from the muscle car era, such as the first- and second-generation Camaro. The issue becomes more acute with a significant jump in performance when greater horsepower and handling capability expose the functional boundaries of the body structure. A weaker structure is not only prone to metal fatigue and even ripping in some areas, but it makes it more difficult to put all the car’s power to the pavement, whether in a straight line or in corners. It’s simply impossible to optimize launches or handling with excessive chassis flex. So, just as long as there have been flexible unibodies, subframe connectors and other structural enhancements have been the cure—but even they have had their compromises. Typically, they’ve necessarily followed…

Tom Panaseny is a car guy; he’s been one basically his whole life. What started out as helping his dad repair cars led to him buying a T-bucket as his first car. His love for Camaros began when a neighbor brought home a new ’69 convertible–white with orange stripes and an orange interior. Over the last 35 years Tom has owned, restored, modified, and, most importantly, enjoyed 11 Camaros of all generations. “Each one was unique in some way,” Tom states. “I’ve owned special editions, highly modified, low-mile, and a few one-owner Camaros. Some were show winners and some I drag raced and beat the crap out of; unfortunately, they’ve all been sold … except for one.” Tom holds this ’67 special, not only because he’s only the second owner,…