'70 Corvette
Barry Thorfinnson
Rancho Mirage, CA
The Lusty Patriot
As a high school kid back in the day, Barry craved cars like this, but alas, had no funds for such frippery. Now, he's thumbing his nose with an LS5 454 that makes 600 hp. His numbers-matching car has an M21 transmission and Posi diff. He had the block punched 0.030 and capped it with ported heads with stainless steel valves over 11:1 pistons. A Doug Herbert roller pushes 1.7:1 Scorpion roller rockers. Fuel delivery is by a 750-cfm Mighty Demon carburetor over a Torker II intake. Ceramic-coated Hedman primaries dump into QTP electronically controlled header dumps. He upgraded the binders with Vette Brakes parts and beefed the suspension with new shocks, bushings, and trailing arms. Cragar SS wheels and Goodyear GT II tires provide grip.
'85 Monte Carlo SS
Kevin Sidey
Ridgeway, Ontario, Canada
Northern Light
G-bodies are really starting to come into their own," opines Kevin. "It's refreshing to see others recognizing them as a great platform to build on." He added additional bracing throughout to stiffen up the body and upgraded handling with Belltech springs and BFG 245/60R15 Radial T/As on rebopped '86 SS wheels. A mild Goodwrench 350 inhales through a Trans Am shaker and exhales through Edelbrock headers connected to a factory Y-pipe with dual Dynomax mufflers and 3-inch stainless steel tailpipes. Kevin swapped in a five-speed from a '92 Camaro using a '93-97 F-body hydraulic assembly, as well as a '91 Caprice serpentine belt system, a 36mm hollow sway bar from a WS6 Trans Am, and a 3.42:1 limited slip rear from an '87 Buick Grand National.
'97 Corvette
Ty Mason
Alto, MI
C5 Sensation
As slick as this car is on the outside, the real magic flows from a 408ci LS2 block fitted with a custom A&A Corvette camshaft, 10.5:1 compression from Eagle forged pistons, L92 cylinder heads with 72cc chambers, an L76 intake manifold sporting a 90mm throttle body, 60 lb/hr injectors fed by a Racetronix pump, and a Procharger at 9 psi. Ty massaged the LS1 ECU. The chassis carries modifications commensurate to engine output: C5 ZO6 shocks and antisway bars, C6 Z51 brakes, Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 275/35ZR18 and 345/30ZR19 rubber on Complete Custom Wheel hoops, an RPM Transmission-built six-speed, and 2.73:1 gears turning hardened half-shafts. Ty drives his 200-mph rocket daily, but never in the rain.
'64 Impala SS
Tom Palansky
St. Charles, IL
Bratwurst B-Body
We remember when these rides were more popular than any Chevelle of the period. Dig those dual slanted antennas. This one's a dry-air car, which was assembled in Southgate, California, and spent most of its early life in Las Vegas. The car originally ran a 250hp 327 that Tom swapped for a 300hp version, but inevitably that wasn't enough. He's currently with a 0.030-over 400 small-block that features Eagle forged rods, AFR 195 heads, an Edelbrock RPM intake, and a Speed Demon carburetor. He favors the 200-R4 because the ratios are closer than those in the 700R. The interior is custom cloth. He highlighted the long lines of the body with American Racing alloys and upgraded to disc brakes.