'68 Camaro
Jeff Straup
Palmerton, PA
Posthumous Praise
Todd Shupp did this car's ground-up build for Jeff, who was taken by cancer two months before the Camaro was completed. Todd based it on a body-off resto with a tube chassis certified for 7.50s. The drivetrain includes a big-block with all the goodies, a Turbo 400 with a 3,000-stall converter, and a 9-inch housing with 4.11:1 gears. Todd finished the car off in a Medium Charcoal Metallic basecoat with a PPG clearcoat. The chassis is done in gloss-black base/clear. Stock-appearing upholstery is complemented by a ration of Auto Meter gauges. "Since I was responsible for the build," says Todd, "I felt it only right to submit the car for Jeff's widow, Valerie." Well done, Todd.
'83 EL Camino
Harald Weldon
Copperas Cove, TX
Clean & Subtle Camino
We'll let Harald speak for himself. "I drive this car daily and compete in local shows, and while my El Camino may not compare to the $50K or $60K cars that are usually featured in magazines, I do think it represents the direction that high prices for fuel and everything else are going to drive the hobby, at least for the majority of us. Most of the modifications were done with newer stock parts, upgraded components, and lots of labor. A great deal of it came from eBay. I refurbished the body mount bushings, suspension, steering, and brakes. It has a mild 350 with a Corvette TPI, a 700R4 overdrive, and 3.42:1 gears. I put in some Monte Carlo SS power buckets, did some subtle body mods and styling touches, and added 15-inch Corvette wheels with 235/60R15 rubber."
'95 S-10
Aaron Gullion
Ashmore, IL
Off-Road Assassin
No street machine, this. It's been upgraded for straight line work with a backed-halved rear suspension, ladder bars, and coilover shocks tending a narrowed Ford 9-inch turning 4.11:1 gears and 32x17.5 M/T ET Streets. Its 360-inch small-block spins a steel crank, Speed Pro pistons, 10:1 compression, and a Comp Cams Magnum 292H. Induction is served by Dart Iron Eagle heads, 1.5:1 roller rockers, a Weiand Team G intake, and a Holley 750. Ignition bolts from a Mallory Unilite distributor, an MSD coil, and an MSD 6AL box. Cooling comes from a new GM radiator, an electric fan, and a CSR electric water pump. The motor is backed by a Powerglide with a Pro-Brake and a 5,000-stall converter. Exhaust vents through 1 7/8-inch headers made and coated by JR Racing. An eight-point cage and racing harnesses cover the safety quotient. Check out the reverse-hinged cowl hood. Aaron's little killer is looking for mid-7-second eighth-miles.
'67 Camaro RS/SS
Jeff Noll
Mukwonago, WI
Mukwonago Orange
Jeff put plenty of effort into the Orange's ancillary systems before he brought the power and reliability of the ZZ4 HO crate engine into the nest. He propped up handling power by inserting polyurethane bushings everywhere, followed by Edelbrock shocks, 2-inch drop spindles, front and rear antisway bars, and Comp Engineering traction bars. This stuff rolls on 17x7 and 17x9 Vintage Wheel Works V40 two-piece alloys and Goodyear F1 rubber. Jeff did the exhaust with Hedman shorties dumping into a 2 1/2-inch Magnaflow exhaust system. He also did all the bodywork and primer before he turned it over to Bruce Young at Jamie's Customs (Vernon, Wisconsin) for the DuPont Hugger Orange. Torque passes through an 11-inch Centerforce clutch, through the M21, to a 10-bolt Posi with 3.73:1 gears. Though the interior is pretty much stock, it's pin-neat and flashes a gaggle of Auto Meter products.