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As fast as we could get into position to take a picture, these guys already had half t
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Once the Chevelle sat firmly on jackstands, the disassembly process took place on
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With the bumpers gone and the fluids drained, the sheetmetal came under attack. Notice how
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With the front fenders and core support removed, it’s best to attack the doors and re
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While Jeff worked on freeing the transmission, we had our eyes on the 12-bolt.
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Valerye Roberts bagged all the small pieces for easy identification.
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That’s Don Swanson helping to remove the Richmond six-speed. The O2 sensor in the e
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Before dismantling the car’s electrical system, we used the electric fuel pump to p
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Once Frank finished discon-necting the dash, Kevin offered to help him extract it fr
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As the crew lifted the body, Kris and Frank quickly removed the jackstands and pulled th
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Before removing the body bolts, it’s best to lubricate them first. It’s not un
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We jumped the gun and removed the engine before the coil springs. Luckily we had Ed an
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We’re not sure what kind of creature this is, but he sure knew how to disassemb
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We left the responsibilities of removing the window molding up to our bodyman Don Swan
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There’s nothing like teamwork when it’s time to remove the bumpers.
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It’s important to come up with a plan before lifting the body off the frame. Remember
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Of course, in order to do all this dismantling, you need tools. We relied on the Craftsman
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With the Chevelle finished and food on the table, it didn’t take long for this bunc
If you have ever wondered what sorts of things magazine editors and their buddies do on the weekends, ponder no more. The dedicated Chevy High Performance staff uses those precious weekends to practice what they preach each month. Whether its at a dyno, in an engine-building room, or in the garage, theres continuous Chevrolet tinkering going on.
One recent Saturday morning, we invaded Editor Jeff Smiths backyard and uncovered what happens behind the scenes of CHP. When we arrived on location, the streets were lined with classic Chevys of all models and years. It seemed as if the magazine opened up and we drove right in. While unloading the camera equipment, we were greeted by several of Jeffs friends who where there to help out for the day. Ed Taylor, Chevy High s engine-building wonder, was there to lend a hand, along with Bob Mehlhoff, Kris Shields, Kevin Doyle, Don Swanson, Jim Peterson, Valerye Roberts, Mark Stielo, and Automotive Detailer Frank Saenz. We thought to ourselves, what kind of project could possibly require so many people? As we walked past a few Camaros and around a Rat on the floor, there sat a 66 Chevelle beside an enormous Craftsman toolbox and air compressor. On this particular Saturday, Jeff and his friends were going to have a strip party. The kind of party where a Chevelle loses everything, including its body. During the deconstruction instructions, Jeff mentioned something about steak for lunch. The mention of meat suddenly changed the disassembling crews demeanor into something resembling a pack of wild animals waiting to feast on their Chevelle prey.
When the clock struck 9 a.m., the crew went to work. Every nut, bolt, and washer found its way to a designated bag and tag person as the Chevelle came apart in quick order. By 10, the sheetmetal laid in the grass, and by 11, the engine and interior were gone. As the clock struck noon, lunchtime had arrived and the Chevelle sat completely disassembled. Sharing lunch under the sun with some of your best buddies and a million-piece puzzle Chevelle is what hot rodding is all about.