Mikes Chevy II is powered...
Mikes Chevy II is powered by a 405ci small-block with 14.3:1 compression and an Isky roller camshaft. The cylinder heads are modified Airflow Research aluminum pieces. His best pass to date is a 10.50 at 128 mph.
Mike wanted to retain the...
Mike wanted to retain the stock look so he added a reproduction interior kit. For safetys sake, he built a six-point rollcage. The B&M automatic shifter allows the TH350 to shift easily during full-throttle blasts.
This little Deuce has seen...
This little Deuce has seen plenty of changes since Mike bought it at age 14. But with tremendous determination and a real willingness to learn the once battered, Chevy II has been transformed into a first class effort.
Any true hot rodders automotive journey has a beginning and no end, and it usually starts with a vision. As an adolescent, Mike Driscoll knew exactly the car he wanteda cool-looking Chevy II with too much horsepower. To make it all come true, he started a lawn-mowing business at age 14 and opened a bank account. Soon, he had pushed his lawn mower far enough to earn $400. Then he kept his eye on the local papers and bought a 66 Chevy II post-model that needed plenty of attention.
The little Deuce had not been running for years and didnt have a straight panel on it. The floors had turned to rust in many spots and the interior was dried up. Mike had no bodywork experience, but he knew how he wanted his car to look. Armed with plenty of enthusiasm, Mike and his father massaged the body back into shape and replaced the rust with new sheetmetal. Then they squirted 69 Chevrolet Garnet Red over the body to give it a really hot look.
Mikes next plan called for a healthy small-block. But since this was his first shot at engine-building, he had much to learn. Thats when his good friend Mike Hayatsu from Aussie Machine helped out. With Hayatsus advice and machining capability, Mike added loads of performance pieces to his 405ci small-block.
Because Mike learned that better engine breathing adds power, he installed a very stout Isky roller camshaft and a set of Airflow Research aluminum cylinder heads. To feed all that horsepower, Mike bolted on an 850-cfm Holley double-pumper carburetor and an Edelbrock Victor Jr. intake manifold.
For shifting duties, he added a TH350 with an 8-inch Art Carr 4,500-stall converter for torque multiplication. Out back, he needed plenty of strength and the ability to swap gears easily, so he installed a custom 9-inch housing. Mike also added reproduction interior pieces, recovered the seats and door panels, and installed Auto Meter instruments to keep tabs on his newfound engine power.
His efforts quickly paid off. Mikes Nova stopped the clocks at a best of 10.50 at 128 mph using a set of 4.56 gears in the 9-inch housing. With a set of 3.55 gears, he has even taken his Chevy II on some 200-mile trips. A gorgeous 66 Chevy II that runs 10s and can be driven on road trips is more than just fun, its a dream come true!