A matched set of chrome-plated stainless steel Magna-Kool hoses and lines kit are the perfect high-tech way to finish any engine compartment. Spectre Magna-Kool hoses are manufactured from high-grade stainless steel, will never discolor or corrode, and resist temperature in excess of 250 degrees. Chrome-plated end covers add a clean, uncluttered look. Complete kits include upper and lower radiator hoses, two heater hoses, fuel line, and vacuum line for $99.95. Kits are available for most domestic applications.

Spectre
800.821.4868
www.speedbyspectre.com

It's typical for these aging cars to have components that are either barely functioning or practically turning to dust. Case in point, the factory brake lines found on our project El Camino were in no condition to use. While a portion of the rear brake lines were present, the lines to the front were completely missing. Additionally, the lines that were left behind had been rusted through and the end-fittings were completely unusable.inline_mediumwraptextright26515180/tech/chassis/brakes/0912chp_stainless_steel_brake_lines_upgrade0912chp_01_z+stainless_steel_brake_lines_upgrade_chevy_el_camino+performance_brake_kit.jpgTrue

It was Round 2, and we were back at Rubio's Auto Body in Sun Valley, California, to put the finishing touches on project Brutus. The Rubio's experts had teamed up like an army of ants and pushed the build through what seemed an endless gauntlet of welding and replacing panels. When we left off ("Uncovered," June '09), the El Camino sat with the majority of the bodywork and welded panels completed. To recap what was done: We removed the old orange paint, revealing the El Camino's true colors. Rot had worked its way into just about every crevice. Some panels-the hood, front fender, and rear deck-were so far from repair they had to be replaced with reproduction pieces through the help of OPG. Other stretches of metal were cut, replaced, and filled. The rest of the good panels were sanded down and awaiting primer.inline_mediumwraptextright30698799/tech/paint_body/paint/0912chp_chevy_el_camino_rat_rod_flat_black_paint_job0912chp_01_z+chevy_el_camino_rat_rod_flat_black_paint_job+custom_paint_job.jpgTrue

The only thing most hot rodders care about is going straight, and there's certainly nothing wrong with that. However, with 500hp street machines becoming the norm rather than the exception, those turns come up a lot quicker than they did just 10 years ago. Even for enthusiasts that aren't interested in road racing their muscle cars, the last thing you want when hammering through your favorite backwoods road is sloppy steering and a raggedy suspension. Rebuilding a car's underpinnings is just as much about safety as it is performance, so to find out how to do the job right we solicited the input of Brian Entrot of Performance Suspension Technology.inline_mediumwraptextright30722925/tech/chassis/suspension_steering/0912chp_how_to_rebuild_a_high_performance_suspension_system0912chp_02_z+how_to_rebuild_your_suspension+performance_suspension_technology.jpgTrue

Cooler Power

Second-Gen Camaro Radiator And Core Support Combo
Fans of long-nose second-gen Camaros are crafty individuals and stuff everything from big-inch monsters to LS engines in the bays. Knowing the importance of keeping things on the cool side, AutoRad's complete aluminum radiator and core support system is an all-in-one cooling solution. Not only is the core support crafted from 0.125-inch aluminum, but the unitized system is completely bolt-in and comes ready to drop in. All radiators are made from 0.090-inch aluminum, have ribbed headers, and vacuum-brazed cores. Two rows and 1-inch tubes (optional 11/2-inch tubes) come standard. Upgrade to the dual fans with an aluminum fan shroud and the combination will prevent even the most powerful engines from overheating. Optional assemblies are also available in brushed, polished, or powdercoated finishes and all components come with a 2-year warranty.inline_mediumwraptextright30724647/tech/additional_tech/other/0912chp_december_2009_chevy_performance_parts0912chp_02_z+december_2009_chevy_performance_parts +aftermarket_camaro_radiator.jpgTrue

If you recall from our November '08 issue ("A Monster is Born"), Steve Brulé of Westech Performance built a superb naturally aspirated 12:1 496ci big-block. We made good use of its internals too with a solid rotating assembly starting with a Lunati 4.125-inch stroker crank and 6.385-inch I-beam rods. The bores were then plugged with 48cc domed Wiseco pistons and topped with a heavy breathing pair of cylinder heads from AFR to create 12 points of compression. The AFR 325 as-cast lungs we installed flowed 385 cfm on the intake and 285 cfm on the exhaust at 0.700 inch of lift. At the center, we chose a high-lift Comp piece to deliver 274/280 intake/exhaust degrees of duration at 0.050 inch of lift and pulled out a matching set of solid roller Comp lifters. When all was said and done, we planted the mule on Westech's 902 SuperFlow dyno for testing. The bored and stroked combination churned out 780 hp and 658 lb-ft worth of stump-pulling force without even breaking a sweat.inline_mediumwraptextright30701481/tech/engines_drivetrain/shortblock/0912chp_chevy_big_block_zex_nitrous_perimeter_plate_install0912chp_01_z+chevy_big_block_zex_nitrous_perimeter_plate_install+aftermarket_power_adder.jpgTrue

It's one of the most outstanding exterior features on vintage muscle cars and was used to help distinguish one model from another: body accent trim, or brightwork. From a full-on restoration to a Pro Touring build, if the body trim is anything less than spectacular, it can distract from the overall appeal of your finished ride.inline_mediumwraptextright26513392/tech/paint_body/trim/0912chp_1964_chevy_chevelle_body_trim_restoration0912chp_01_z+1964_chevy_chevelle_body_trim_restoration+professional_metal_restoration.jpgTrue

L76
Used primarily in light-duty trucks, the L76 is essentially an aluminum block variant of the LY6. Major differences include a higher compression ratio and a slightly larger cam, which boosts output to 366 hp and 376 lb-ft. Like the LY6, the L76 utilizes variable valve timing, but ups the ante even further with active cylinder deactivation. Interestingly, the L76 also powers the Pontiac G8 GT. The car version of the L76 drops variable valve timing and features an LS3 intake manifold, which sacrifices some hp while picking up some torque.inline_mediumwraptextright30695169/tech/engines_drivetrain/shortblock/0912chp_performance_chevy_ls_engine_comparison0912chp_13_z+performance_chevy_ls_engine_comparison+gmc_suburban_l76_engine.jpgTrue

Statements like this are sure to generate buzz, but Isky Racing could just be the most prolific innovator in the history of hot rodding. In the 1950s, when aftermarket camshafts didn't exist, Ed Iskenderian learned how to grind them himself. Dry lake racers went nuts, and the art of engine building was forever changed. No wonder Iskenderian earned the nickname "The Camfather." As advances in cam design pushed valvetrain components to the limit, he invented necessities that we take for granted today, such as antipump lifters, performance valvesprings, rev kits, and antiwalk buttons. On any given test-and-tune night at any given track, most racers probably have all of those components in their engines. Furthermore, Iskenderian was the first to use computers in cam design, served as the first president of SEMA, and introduced the concept of corporate sponsorship to professional drag racing when he teamed up with Don Garlits.

There are many options when it comes to suspension. If you're looking for all-out race car performance, then it's only a matter of picking the manufacturer of your choice.

For years we've discussed the advantages of LS powerplants, mostly in respect to their power potential, along with the benefits of modern-day fuel injection. In the past the biggest drawback was the cost involved to get into one. These days the Gen III engines have been out for well over a decade so we're seeing the transition from an expensive piece of high-tech aluminum to a more down-to-earth, reasonably priced commodity that the average hot rodder can afford.

Heidts Hot Rod Shop
It's important to maintain the factory fit, which is why Heidts has designed its complete front-end subframe kit to bolt in with no modifications. Heidts' Pro-G suspension package delivers unbelievable cornering and handling with the standard kit. It includes tubular control arms, power rack-and-pinion steering, 2-inch drop spindles, rebound-adjustable coilover shocks, and 11-inch Wilwood brakes with four-piston calipers. Simply unbolt your old sheetmetal, engine, transmission, and old subframe, then slide the new one in-it's that simple. For a true complete-handling second-gen, rear four-link assemblies are also available.

As complicated as engines can be, they are remarkably resilient. When it comes to valvetrain stability, it's critical to get the tolerances correct for the utmost power and longevity. This means having the proper pushrod length and making sure the rocker arm is centered on the valve tip itself.

When it comes to supercharging Chevrolet's resurrected 2010 Camaro SS, ProCharger is the ultimate power adder.Jeff Lacina, Accessible Technologies, Inc.

Feeling the urge for additional weight savings, quality looks, and improved performance? Holley's Ultra Street Avengers and Ultra Double Pumpers shed 5 pounds from their zinc counterparts because of their all-aluminum construction and retain their factory shine longer. For added strength, the metering blocks and baseplates are constructed of 6061-T6 billet and can be ordered in your choice of red, blue, or black anodizing. Another feature is the clear fuel-level window so adjustments can be made easily on either model.

The Ultra Street Avenger comes with vacuum secondaries and in configurations of 670 or 770 cfm. The Ultra Double Pumper is available in 650 or 750 cfm and comes with mechanical secondaries and an electric choke. Both come with four corner idle circuits and offer enhanced fuel curves for optimum performance out of the box.

Introductory Price: $499
Holley performance products
Bowling Green, KY
holley.com

Fortunately, the outlook isn't nearly as bleak at a car's posterior. Since most muscle cars employ solid rear axles, the springs can be mounted directly to the rearend housing very easily. This applies to both coil and leaf-spring suspensions, and yields spring rates that are equal to the effective wheel rate. However, a solid rear axle doesn't always ensure a wheel-to-spring rate ratio of 1:1, as certain suspension designs position the springs on the control arms. The good news is that GM got things right by mounting the springs directly to the rearend housing in both its four- and three-link coil spring suspension designs, such as in the Chevelle and third/fourth-gen Camaros, respectively.

Whether you want to admit it or not, more than a few Bow Tie racers have lined up against 5-point-slow Mustangs only to discover that they-on rare occasion-aren't actually all that slow. Chances are that in order to get their tiny 302s to run with the bigger 350ci competition, they probably had a set of Trick Flow heads under the hood. Although it entered the marketplace serving the needs of the dark side (where it earned a reputation for phenomenal out-of-the-box performance), Trick Flow has since brought the same venerable formula of budget-oriented horsepower to the Chevy faithful. Today the company offers a plethora of cylinder heads for big-block Chevys and all four generations of small-blocks. From raised-runner 23-degree small-block heads to oval- and rectangle-port big-block heads to monstrous 265cc LSx castings, Trick Flow's diverse product line runs the gamut.

Love them? Hate them? Do they dull the feeling of what the car is doing? Do they react poorly under certain loads? Or can you not live without the benefits? Whatever your personal opinion, there's a reason that vehicles today have one thing in common: power brakes.

As time passes, technology evolves, and that's to our advantage, especially since it tends to lower the cost of the electronics we want to get our hands on most. It used to be that shooting in-car camera footage required a fairly decent camcorder, and even by today's standards, the digital versions can still cost a pretty penny.

There's no denying that our industry has some of the most innovative engineers and designers, along with savvy enthusiasts, who are constantly dreaming up new things for our favorite street machines. Whether you're looking for something shiny to accentuate the exterior or something to improve the handling, it's out there. And if you're looking for added grunt to get down the 1320, then all you need to do is ask yourself how much will be enough to satiate your appetite.

We all use our Chevrolet vehicles in different way. Some of us are hardcore dragsters while others are street dominators. Whatever you do with your vehicle Toyo Tires has the tire that will suit your needs.

Quick Notes
What We Did
Introduce you to suspension basics.

For some, dancing around the carburetor like a trained performer is second nature. These tuning wizards wield a flat-blade screwdriver like a trusty sword. Before you know it, the changes are made and the car not only sounds healthier and runs cleaner, it rips. On the other hand, some look at the carburetor and avoid it like the plague. To be honest, it shouldn't be that way. Carburetors are simple to wrench on, and changes can be made in a matter of minutes. The good thing is those changes aren't final.