Brakes And Wheels
In the Pro Touring scene, the Chevelle's wheels and tires are somewhat diminished in comparison to the 10- and 12-inch norm, but for Herb's plan, they work just as well. Forgeline SP3P rims, 18x8.5 and 19x10, unreel 255/40 and 295/35 BFG g-Force KDW2 rubber. To grind off 160-mph-plus speeds in a 3,750-pound vehicle, Herb opted for Baer 14-inch GT Plus in front and 13-inch Touring in back. Not the high-zoot setup he might have used, but quite enough to sate his penchant for keeping the sheetmetal straight.
Chassis
Nothing ties a full-frame car together better than a well-executed rollcage. The Fab Shop in Pound, Virginia, constructed the safety enclosure/chassis stiffener from mild steel. Herb took it much further. He didn't tumble for any store-bought stuff but rather concocted his own references, eager to feel the results and quite willing to tune the combination for the task. He wings around the track with a front clip utilizing tall, lightweight, forged ATS spindles and a Lee Manufacturing 12:1 steering box. Damping and wheel movement are checked by QA1 shocks paired with Coil Spring Specialties springs rated at a brutal 1,000 lb/in as they jig between tubular SPC Performance adjustable upper and fixed lower control arms. A 11/4-inch Hellwig anti-sway bar completes the change-out. In the rear, adjustable QA1 shocks along with 250 lb/in springs, a four-link setup from Global West, and a 11/8-inch bar.
Interior
Emphasizing the Chevelle's tough-guy persona, the interior is shades of black, from the Kirkey road race seats, carpet and headliner by Ed Combs Upholstery in Huntington, West Virginia, to the Lecarra Mark 4 Supreme steering wheel attached to the Flaming River column. Herb's other essentials include an M&H wiring harness, a Firefox 10lb fire suppression system, a Tremec shifter, neither stereo nor air conditioning, and a very slick answer to the perpetual "Geez, what gauges should I run?" query. None that look like the usual suspects, anyway. In a car that is so mechanically oriented, the soft blue whisper of the Dakota Digital ensemble offers immediate recognition and quiet lighting. Quite a paradox.
Body
The Chevelle wasn't meant to be a sparkler. It was meant to thrash. It doesn't have to be crisp. It accumulates rash. For what Herb has in mind, the '66 Marina Blue (Florida painter unknown) on the not-optimum metal makes its own, gritty statement. This thing is meant to throttle. The previous owner had added two new quarters and a trunk pan. Herb had the Fab Shop build the air dam and settled a Goodmark steel hood over the guts. Wanna rub fenders, bud?