Motivation
The K&N techs got themselves a GMPP 383 short-block and worked it over some. A GMPP forged crankshaft now goes with Crower connecting rods. JE pistons squeeze a 10:1 compression ratio on 91 octane when pushed against GM Fast Burn cylinder heads (2.00/1.55-inch valves, raised runners, 62cc chambers). The bumpstick is the ever-popular Comp hydraulic roller with 292/300 degrees duration at 0.050-inch and a 0.550-inch lift across the board. The aluminum Fast Burn castings are fixed up with Manley stainless steel valves, Comp beehive springs, and GMPP 3/8-inch stud, 1.5:1 roller rockers. Induction is simple: A GMPP single-plane intake manifold schmoozes a Holley 750 and the 383 is protected by a K&N 14-inch Xtreme filtration system. On the bottom end of the motor, nothing less than a Jeff Johnston Billet Fabrication pump and aluminum sump oozing with Brad Penn oil as serviced by a K&N 3002 oil filter. Waste management is the responsibility of Dawson Headers (Nuevo, California) and a custom MagnaFlow 3-inch stainless exhaust system. Those snarky rocker covers are no-longer-produced sheetmetal props somebody found in the back room and may be the last pair in the universe. An Aeromotive A1000 pump, filters, and regulators mind the fuel volume and velocity; it flows through XRP Super Nickel stainless braiding hoses. To create the noise we all joyfully recall and anticipate from its mild though highly responsive ministrations, K&N tweaked the stroker to 475 hp at 5,500 rpm. An MSD Pro Billet distributor creates the explosions and 460 lb-ft of mucus-busting grunt at 4,500. To our way of thinking an automatic transmission is for a truck, not a street-driven alter ego. K&N wisely paid homage with the silky-smooth demeanor of the Tremec Ultra-Close ratio six-speeder as prepped by California Motorsport. The highly charged force cranking from the transmission punishes an Inland Empire aluminum prop shaft that turns 4.30:1 gears in the Currie 9-Plus rearend.
Wheels & Brakes
Baer 14- and 13-inch brakes burn energy off this relative flyweight via six- and four-piston calipers. More than gramps really needs perhaps, but more brakes than you need is never a bad thing. With a nod to the original Pro Street '55s, big Intro wheels (18x8, 20x10) are encased by hungry Toyo Proxes ST 245/45 and 315/35 friction makers.
Chassis
Old meets modern, no kickin' or fussin' about it, cuz. A complete Art Morrison tube chassis underwrites this lucky shoebox. Formed within a 2x3 frame it is equipped with front and rear bars, specific spindles, Strange coilover shock absorbers, power rack steering, geometry-corrected tubular control arms up front, and Morrison's four-link suspension at the back end. Suffice that the K&N '55, with a 0.94 g average, has a lot of lateral grip. Through cones, the body remains uncannily flat, reducing wasted motion and fostering a confident, snake-like advance down the course ... or that favorite bunch of twisties out back.
Interior
More celebrities at work here, too. The folks at Ron Mangus gave it their best with custom leather applied as far as the eye can see. All the interior trim came from Danchuk shelves and the dashboard was thoroughly tweaked to look like nothing has been done to it at all. Crow Enterprizes lap belts lie in furious contrast with the biscuit theme. When the sound of the engine wanes, guests are urged to sample the Sony head unit and corresponding Xplod sound system.
Artwork
K&N went to the best, Pete Santini down in Westminster. Santini Paint & Body is composed of a loose group of specialists, five or six individuals with very special talent. They smoothed out what little of the body that required it, rubbed on it a lot, and let fly with House of Kolor Sunset Pearl and opposing medium silver.