I decided the only way I'm going to find out the true status of my new project's rust situation is to strip the paint down to the metal. I plan on using mostly chemicals to get the majority of the dirty cream colored paint off, then it's time to start sanding, grinding, and smoothing.  

After removing the paint from the fender I found out that the previous owner decided to spray this nasty cream color over a pretty nice silver, for some reason. Does the elderly love off-white or something? Why would you choose a putrid color for such a cool car? Anyway, I plan on going with a red/black paint scheme. All the chrome will be satin black, and instead of "curdled cream" for body color, a blood red color will coat it. However, I'm still debating whether to go with a shiny or satin red color. I do love that dull finish, but I also like to make my hot rods shine...decisions, decisions... 

If you're restoring an old Chevy and think you've looked everywhere for that trim piece, check out Harmon's line of catalogs.  

Harmon's offers resto parts for all the popular Chevy muscle cars, including the Chevelle, Nova, Impala, Truck, Monte Carlo, Camaro, and Nova.

The NMCA is pleased to announce the release of the all-new LSX Copo Camaro legends t-shirt for fans of this awesome factory hot rod!

Featuring the Chevrolet Performance LSX Challenge Series logo, combined with the all-new Copo Camaro and its predecessor, this 100% cotton t-shirt is a must have for any bow tie fan.  Just in time for Father's Day or as a fabulous gift…the NMCA's LSX Copo Camaro legends t-shirt is only $20 (+s/h) and can be purchased at NMCA events or on the NMCA's official store at www.powermallstore.com.  For more information or questions call 714.444.2426.

In heads-up drag racing, it seems more and more centrifugal blower racers are ditching thier belt drive bracketry for a direct drive like this piece from Component Drive Systems (cachassisworks.com). Instead of using a long belt and a pair of pulleys to spin the blower, a bracket system positions the supercharger in front of your engine's crank snout where a mechanical coupler ties directly to the supercharger. The result is more advantageous blower inlet positioning (facing forward) and a vast amount of overdrive options. In addition, heads-up drag race competitors like it becasue they'll never lose a race from a thrown blower belt.   

But a direct drive blower is nothing new. Although these setups have become popular in drag racing in recent years, direct drive/positive displacement blowers have actually been used for the power adder of choice in airplanes in the past, which makes sense because imagine losing a blower belt at 30,000 ft. in the air, YIKES!  

So I started evaluating the project I picked up last week, and so far I'm pleasently surprised. Each quarter panel needs some rot repair and there's hole in the roof, but what I was really concered with was the floor. It looked like someone let a Grizzly loose in the interior, so the other night I started the fun task of pulling out fifty year old interior peices... yay.

Once I pulled out the rat poo'd flooring, threw away all the seashells the previous owner seemed to be collecting under his seat, and ripped out that nasty hay-like insulation that clogs your nostrils, I was stoked when I found the floor to be solid, no rot at all! We still have to get a solid plan hashed out for this little Nova, but I'm thinking of naming it "The Hellion." What do you think?

Chevrolet announced the release of their new sporty four-door sedan (think Pontiac G8) called the SS. Based on the Holden Commodore, this rear wheel drive V8-powered Chevy will be built in Austrailia and exported to the U.S. Where not sure if CHP readers care about a modern four door muscle car, but hey, it's nice to see Chevy is still cranking out V8-motivated, rear wheel drive, fun cars in 2012.

After getting this 1963 Chevy II wagon dyno tuned yesterday at Westech Performance Group in Mira Loma, California, I realized that even when you think your car is running the best it possibly could, an expert can always show you how to improve it. After driving Markas Platt's Nova wagon for a couple days this week I thought it ran perfect, but turned out its A/F ratio was off at idle and there were some "flat spots" in the fuel curve that prevented this car from running at its best.

We cover Ernie Mena III as he finely tunes Platt's Nova in an upcoming issue of CHP, where we make a good running car run better.

If you're gathering ideas for a project, but haven't seen the new Chevrolet Performance catalog, you're missing out on a whole plethora of performance parts.

Crate engines for nearly every performance level, CNC-ported cylinder heads, even complete drivetrain packages are available from Chevrolet now and for the GM gearhead, nothing makes better bathroom reading than a glossy catalog packed with parts. Check out Chevrolet Performance on Facebook or log onto gmperformanceparts.com  

So, you know how I've been obsessing over '63 Nova's lately, well it turns out you can manifest things if you want them badly enough. I found a fairly straight 1966 Chevy II (no post) last Friday and after one look, it had to be mine. Although there is some rot that will need to be stopped, but all in all, it's a straight specimen with all the trim and a very nice grille and hood emblem. Most car guys would puke their skeleton if I said how much I got it for, so I'll just say it was a bajillion internets.    

 My list of ideas for it could fill blogs until the Mayan apocalypse, but we do plan on putting together a unique, but subtly styled car that you can compete, show, and cruise with. Keep reading CHP to find out the fate of this newly rescued Chevy shoebox. 

Car enthusiasts deserve a vacation that is centered around, you guessed it, cars. And not just standing around in a parking lot looking at cars.

Static car shows are great, but how about a moving car show that hits a new place every night? And when each new place is visited, how about having some cool stuff to do along with looking at all the cars? If this sounds like your kind of vacation, then you need to join us on the 2012 Drivin’ It Home Lakeside Lounge Tour!

The 2012 Lakeside Lounge Tour begins Saturday, September 8, in Branson, Missouri. After two days of relaxation at beautiful Table Rock Lake, the tour leaves from Branson, Missouri on Monday the 10th, traveling mostly backroads through the scenic Ozarks Mountains with planned nightly stops at various locations. After each leg we’ll have plenty of time to hang out and enjoy the local scenery. Bring your fishing gear!

Once we get to our hometown of Braselton, Georgia, the festivities kick into high gear! On Thursday, September 13, we will cruise to Gresham Motorsports Park: 2012 Lakeside Lounge Tour participants will have the opportunity to drive their own vehicle on the banked speedway of Gresham Motorsports Park. But the big finish is Saturday, 9/15 when we host our annual Chip Foose Braselton Bash car show. There will be hundreds of cars, thousands of people, a silent auction and all kinds of other activities going on. It will be a great finish to a fantastic week of fun and fellowship.

Official hotel information is listed below. Be sure to use the special code to receive a discounted room rate when calling to make reservations.

Event Details:
Participant Ticket:
DIHPACKETSML $69.00
DIHPACKETMED $69.00
DIHPACKETLG $69.00
DIHPACKETXLG $69.00
DIHPACKETXXL $69.00
DIHPACKETXXX $69.00

Package includes:
* 1 Drivin’ It Home event T-shirt
* 1 Drivin’ It Home event decal
* Event Program
* 5 parade laps around Gresham Motorsports Park on Thursday, September 13th.
*Event details are subject to change.

2012 Lakeside Lounge Tour Schedule

Start:
Table Rock Lake in Branson, MO
Saturday, 9/8-10/12
Still Water Resort
21 Stillwater Trail
Branson, MO  65616
1-800-777-2320
Code: Drivin’ it Home – Use for the special room rate
Ask for Todd Pelt or Kasondra Bolding
www.stillwatersresort.com

Stop 2:
Lake Hamilton in Hot Springs, AR
Monday, 9/10/12
Clarion on Lake Hamilton
4813 Central Ave.
Hot Springs, AR  71913
501-525-1391
Code: Drivin’ It Home - Use for the special room rate
Ask for Tasha Dixon

Stop 3:
Mississippi River in Lula, MS
Tuesday, 9/11/12
Isle of Capri Casino Hotel Lula
777 Isle of Capri Pkwy.
Lula, MS  38644
1-800-843-4753
Code: Drive - Use for the special room rate
Lula.isleofcapricasinos.com

Stop 4:
Lake Wheeler in Rogersville, AL
Wednesday, 9/12/12
Joe Wheeler State Park Resort
201 McLean Dr.
Rogersville, AL  35652
256-247-5461
Code: Drivin’ It Home – Use for the special room rate
www.alapark.com/JoeWheeler/Resort

Stop 5:
Braselton, GA 30517
Thursday, 9/13/12
Country inn & Suites Braselton
925 Highway 124
Braselton, GA  30517
770-868-5419
Code: Drivin’ It Home - Use for the special room rate

Yesterday I mentioned Chris Alston Jr. runs a "Chemi" engine in his Nova, then I realized not everyone may know that is. Basically, it's a totally custom, high-end hybrid engine consisting of a Chevy-style block with hemispherical combustion chamber heads. Typically offered by Pro Mod engine builders such as Sonny Leonard or Charlie Buck, a Chemi or (CHEMI) can be found in the highest levels of sportsman drag racing.

The hemispherical chamber allows builders to design a very radical piston, while the center-mount spark plugs ensure you get a even burn across the crown of the piston. The bottom line is: BIG HORSEPOWER!

I want to make the digital CHP racers aware of one of the freakin' coolest shoebox Novas in the whole world. Chris Alston Jr. competes on the west coast drag scene with a supercharged '64 and he's actaully ran as quick as 6.6Xs in the quarter mile at over 200 mph on 10-inch slicks....yes, that's right, I said sixes in a quarter mile with the stock wheelbase Chevy you see here.   

Marvelling over this "Chemi-" powered brute made me wonder: What's the quickest time with the shortest wheelbase? I'm sure there are some pretty quick little Toyota's and Mazda in the Puerto Rico drag scene, but 6.60s from a four banger or rotary engine? I doubt it. If you have a link of a smaller, quicker car laying it down, I'd like to see it.  

We love it when we stumble upon gems like this; while shooting some images for a paint & body article at Quigley's Auto Body in Lake Forest we came across Jack Maurer's wicked pro touring '69.  

Under the hood is a super clean LS7 from Katech, the paint is a Mercedez blend, and the whole car sports Detroit Speed's awesome suspension components. The car is getting interior installed as I type this, but we plan on shooting a full feature once the car is ready.

I've been researching rocker arms for an upcoming article in CHP and I'm finding it interesting how common steel rocker arms are becoming in the high-perfromance engine world. Apparently, more and more engine builders are starting to use steel roller rockers over aluminum. 

The idea is, as valvespring pressures increase and camshaft profiles get more aggressive, the more an aluminum rocker body will flex, giving up precious valve lift. With steel, the flex is eliminated and fatigue is not an issue, so you can resuse steel rockers indefintely. Check out the October issue of CHP for more.   

I've been obsessing over '63-'65 Novas lately, specifically Kyle Tucker's '63. For the last decade, all the project cars I dreamed up had drag race undertones; you know, skinnies up front, cowl hood, rear spoiler, etc. But for my next build I'm leaning towards a more of a stocker, much like Tucker's corner carver.    

If I do pick up a shoebox for a project, I want to paint it a satin color. My plan is to pick an odd factory color and spray it without the clear so it has a waxy look. Not flat, more like semi-gloss...and I'm thinking red. Then I would run a flat carbon fiber hood (with a NACA duct for a turbo inlet), carbon mirrors, carbon front spoiler, carbon trunk, and black wheels. Carbon yes, but carbon versions of stock parts. Of course it would have a stick, and I'm thinking a small single turbocharger. Maybe I will draw what it will look like and post it up this week.   

Look for a feature on Chris Brooks super clean 1969 Camaro SS in the October issue of CHP. Brooks picked up an empty shell in Arizona five years ago, now he's got an immaculate Hugger Orange first gen that gets boat loads of attention.  

A simple, yet powerful 406 small-block sits under the hood and behind it, a Hughes T350 transmission with overdrive. The steel wheels, clean interior, and nostalgic Offenhouser crossram intake manifold make this ride a true muscle car gem.  

Do you have a badass Chevy you want to show off on a national level? Do you longingly desire to burn a half-inch of rubber off of your car's tires for the sake of pure gearhead excitement? If you are a hardcore Chevy fan and you want to check out the county's cleanest, fastest, and wildest Chevy's, make sure you mark your calenders for June 1-3, 2012. Chevy High Performance Magazine will be hosting its first national event at Atlanta Dragway in Commerce, GA and if you love Chevy's like we do, you won't want to miss it. 

Heads-up drag racing, bracket racing, autocross, speed stop challenge activities, car show, swap meet, and just about anything a car guy could want from a weekend of awesome muscle car action. 

Details can be found on chpnationals.com.

Not every performance engine you choose to modify has to have full length headers, but if you told us that in high school I'd tell you to get out of town. I'm really liking the look and simplicity of Hooker's Cast Iron Exhaust Manifolds for LS engines lately.

Hooker knows some of us don't want to jam full length headers in our tight engine bays, and for some of the smaller cars, even the LS engine can be cramped. Being cast iron means they will provide years of leak–free performance with less under hood noise than traditional headers. Plus, their shorty design means you can route exhaust tubing close to your frame and floor pan for maximum ground clearance. They are available in five finish options including Cast Iron Gray Ceramic, Silver Ceramic, Titanium Ceramic, Black Ceramic, and as-cast.

There are a couple Chevy engines I have always wanted to build; one is a 409, and the other is the former NASCAR engine, the SB2.2. There's something about a small-block that gets confused for a big-block that I think is cool, and a cylinder head design that can flow 400+ cfm is nice too.

Like I blogged about before, I'm in the market for a new project, so although I am looking for a '79 Malibu, I'm thinking if I can find a '63-'65 Nova for sale in the next year or so, I'm going to see what it will take to put a SB2.2 between the rails, cool, no? It will definitely be a street car....but I will probably make it run 9s. 

Classic Industries is proud to enter the car show season with the release of an updated catalog for Chevy II/Nova models with plenty of pictures, illustrations, and hundreds of new products. With this 600-page catalog, enthusiasts have everything they need to take advantage of the warmer weather and get their Nova projects into gear.

Classic Industries has offered Chevy Nova restoration products for decades and has expanded to provide parts for all Chevy II/Nova models, from the first 1962 all the way through 1979. The updated catalog includes all the essentials needed to restore a Nova or Chevy II to showroom condition inside and out, from the body to the engine bay to the interior upholstery, as well as performance, modernization, and restyling parts to suit nearly any build, whether it's showroom stock, restomod, drag-strip hauler, or pro-touring canyon carver.
 
Interested parties can order a catalog online at: http://www.classicindustries.com/nova/catalog.html, or by calling 1-855-35-PARTS (1-855-357-2787) to request a catalog by mail. A complete selection of Classic Industries parts and accessories can be found at www.classicindustries.com and their catalogs can also be downloaded directly from their website.

New Chrome Flat Top Master Cylinders.

CPP introduces its newest addition to their custom flat top master cylinders. This is not just another pretty master cylinder! The new smooth design on these master cylinders eliminates unnecessary casting contours, provides a cleaner look and is easier to keep shiny and clean.

You get your choice of a smooth or milled lid, and they're available in 1- or 1-1/8-inch bore. When both show-stopping looks andextra performance are important, these are the master cylinders for you. Retails for $119.

For more information, check out www.classicperform.com.

Every car guy knows that freshly detailed wheels can be ruined just minutes after one joy ride, spoiling hours of hard work.

Meguiar’s, the leader in car care technology, has developed its brand new Hot Rims Brake Dust Barrier to make cleaning wheels easier.
 
Made with a special formula, this product is designed to cling to wheels, creating a barrier between the rims’ surface and debris.  Hot Rims Brake Dust Barrier enables easier removal of dirt and grime with a quick rinse, making it faster for owners to detail them during future car care sessions. What’s more, Meguiar’s latest spray is its most durable yet, and has been proven to outlast other wheel protectors.
 
Car lovers can protect their wheels by simply spraying a light coating on a clean, dry surface. Hot Rims Brake Dust Barrier can be applied to painted, polished aluminum and chrome wheels, making it one of the most versatile wheel products on the market. Available in a 9 oz. aerosol spray, this brand new Meguiar’s product is available at major retailers and auto enthusiast/specialty retailers nationwide.

For more information, be sure to head over to www.meguiars.com.

So I heard today there will be a sixth Fast & Furious movie... great. Now a whole new generation will get exposed to the terrible inaccuracies and ridiculously cheesy lines that plague those movies, inspiring tasteless 18-year-olds to heat the coil springs on their parents '99 Accord and gut the muffler.

There are actually not too many good car movies when you think about it; I mean, there are car movies with good scenes, but as a whole, I would say Hollywood gets it wrong most of the time. As for cool Chevys in movies, the '55 from Two Lane Blacktop is probably one of the cooler movie cars, but that film is pretty hard to watch in 2012; that weird transient girl with a death wish jumping into random stranger's vehicles; that greasy creep in the GTO that knows nothing about cars and just wants to race some poor street racing hippies, for some reason. Yeah, it's pretty bad.

So will there ever be a car movie that the majority of us can say, "Yes, now that was a car movie! Did you see that clean, one-colored '65 Nova with the subtle cowl hood and great sound take out that GT-R in the final scene? It didn't even have a robot decal on the door!"

The guys over at A&E Motorsports in Santa Fe Springs, California have been very busy on our second gen Camaro project over the last several months and the good news is, it's almost ready for the exhaust and final assembly. Besides installing a full gamut of parts from the chassis experts at Detroit Speed Inc., A&E also completely re-wired the F73 using an American Autowire kit and even a trick digital dash from Stack. Under each corner are wide, wide meats that we plan on abusing on the road course, and plans to install a supercharged LS3 will ensure that the turns will be white-knuckle-exciting in this beast.   

Look for an upcoming article in CHP where were show off some of the final steps in getting this project closer to hitting the street and the track.  

Supercharging a factory stock LS3 has been on our minds for quite awhile; to help curb our curiosity, we spoke with ProCharger, who made this months dyno session become a reality.

Yesterday, we headed over to Westech Performance Group, where we outfitted our LS3 with a ProCharger D1-SC supercharger system.

Rather than give away all of the details, we wanted to at least tease you with the dyno numbers. Lets just say the baseline numbers were impressive with 501 horsepower on the motor alone.

With the ProCharger mounted, we made several pulls with a variety of pulley combinations for added boost. *Drum roll please*...The final numbers revealed 765hp and 667 lb-ft with 13 psi!

For the complete details, be sure to check out the upcoming September '12 issue.