All Chevy Performance Volume 4, Issue 38 - February 2024

It is truly remarkable that original, rare muscle cars hidden in the depths of obscurity and under decades-old layers of dust and grime are still being discovered. Every so often, a rare gem emerges in an unassuming garage or barn left behind by the original owner and handed over to a family member who has little knowledge of the car’s history or value. Some of these cars could be compared in rarity to a 1911 T206 Honus Wagner baseball card. They are still out there waiting to be rediscovered and worth a great deal of money—the baseball card and the vintage car. Some of these rare rides can be seen at the Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals (MCACN) held every year the weekend before Thanksgiving at the Donald E. Stephens…

1. G-BODY GAUGES Classic Instruments released an all-new ’78-88 Chevy G-body direct-fit package. It is an all-electric cluster featuring a speedometer, tachometer, clock, and fuel, oil, temp, and volt gauges in an OE style. Hybrid LED lighting offers the feel of the original perimeter lighting and the visual benefits of backlighting. Turn signals and high-beam indicators are in the original locations and the kit includes new check engine and high-beam sockets with LED bulbs. The kit also includes a wiring harness, push-button speedometer calibration for ease of setup, a new acrylic lens, and built-in ECM signal filter switch. For more information, contact Classic Instruments by calling (800) 575-0461 or visit classicinstruments.com. 2. HILBORN EFI The Hilborn EFI-R manifold systems combine electronic fuel injection with the racing-born performance and aggressive looks…

Ironworks has set out to perfect the muscle car experience with their own production Chevelle series. Geared toward driveability and durability, these handbuilt cars benefit from years of testing and fine-tuning by a seasoned shop. Buyers can choose from several paint, wheel, and interior options that all work together as a cohesive design package. Underneath all the cars will be the same proven components that deliver a comfortable ride, plenty of power, and reliability. The backbone of the build is a Speedtech IRS chassis with an LT4 mated to your choice of a six-speed manual or 10-speed automatic. The interior features many pieces built specifically for the production Chevelles. The steering wheel is designed to look vintage but has more modern ergonomics and is also available with paddle shifting. If…

A lot of things go down with a school-age kid that influence what happens later in that young person’s life. Between studying geography, math, and science, a 12-year-old George Abittan was also studying the anatomy of his older brother Simon’s ’67 Chevy Corvette he owned during his college-age years. A young George was mesmerized by the sleek body lines of that C2 Corvette. And of course, he looked up to his older brother, which had a big influence on his taste in muscle cars and his infatuation with the Corvette. But George’s first dive into a classic muscle car wasn’t a Corvette. At age 15 he set out to purchase a ’69 Road Runner without telling his dad. Ironically, his dad’s girlfriend co-signed for the car that George made payments…

Taking on an engine swap in your high-performance Chevy doesn’t need to be overly complex if you have the right components to handle the job. Sure, it was far easier back in the day when you wanted to up the ante from a small-block to big-block power, however, in today’s world there are far more options available to bring the punch to your engine bay. With the most common swap being the upgrade to LS power, the gain in horsepower right out of the gate is significant enough before you even start to entertain the thought of turbos or superchargers. Regardless of whether you choose to run an automatic transmission or pull your own gears with three pedals, you’ll need to have a solid plan before getting started to make…

So, you’ve got a wad of cash sitting in the bank. To your credit, you saved it in preparation for your post high school studies: aka your college fund. But you’ve just realized your school days are over and you’re ready to study some other figures, like cubic-inch displacement and pound-feet of ground twisting torque. So, you decide to cash out and use that money for something that will teach you the ins and outs of muscle car tech—slapper bars, fat tires, and internal combustion engines. You find the ride of your dreams and throw your first semester’s invoice in the trash. It’s a done deal. Congratulations, and welcome to the mad world of Camaro Construction 101. Spencer Thompson of Red Lion, Pennsylvania, is a twentysomething with a love for…