Can the world get enough of 650-hp muscle cars? Big-block motors seem to be de rigueur for many Chevy hot rods (and a few Brand Xs, as it seems), but there seems to be a movement towards more technologically advanced motors. In particular, the Cadillac CTS-V’s and Chevrolet Camaro ZL1’s LSA motor seems to be a popular choice. In fact, once upon a time, this 1969 Chevelle carried a massive 502 cubic-inch crate motor but it was removed in favor of a $13,000 supercharged LSA crate motor.
Now, in its latest iteration, this blue beaut has been given a breath of new life courtesy of Houston, Texas car shop Fastlane. The Chevelle’s owner was finding that the Mark IV 502 was not brawny and reliable enough for his liking so he scrapped the whole project and decided to start with a clean slate, from the wheels to the engine bay.
The owner had originally brought the Chevelle to Fastlane to rejuvinate it with GM’s trusty LS3 and a repaint but, shortly after Fastlane had received delivery of the LS3, an LSA crate motor for another build arrived and, well, the rest is history.
According to the original story, the Fastlane crew were ecstatic to be putting the LSA in the Chevelle but the pains they took to reach the final product were difficult. Machining a custom gas tank to fit accordingly, reworking the Chevelle’s front end to free up space for the radiator, and cutting the engine rails so the A/C unit and power steering could all operate all wasn’t easy. However, the magnificent three-layer Marina Blue paint job, the installation of specially-made Boze wheels, the reworked suspension, and a pair of new front seats straight from a 2014 Camaro helped the project fall into place.
How many other custom builds out there feature such an effective and powerful crate motor? For $13,000 it’s a quality engine package and, with the ease of tuning for anyone desiring instant power, the LSA seems like a great option for those desiring old-world horsepower with new-age technology and drivability.
Comments
Looks a lot like my old 68 SS.
It had different wheels and two 4 barrels out the hood. Power was not an issues but stopping and turning could be a thrill with non power drum brakes and no power steering. The only options I had were tinted glass, AM radio and Posi. The bench seat helped hide the factory 4 speed well.
We also had a 69 too in this color. My dad over all had Chevelles from 67-73 a new one every year. I really loved those cars growing up.
Beautiful! I’d like to see that engine bay too. 😀
WISH GRANTED! [/genie Graw]
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Thank you, that Caddy engine looks very neat in the Chevelle!
Part of the appeal of those era cars was the color choices both on the body and interior. There’s no way that color wouldn’t look good on a new Camaro!
What the real appeal was the changes they could afford to do back then from year to year in styling. It made every September a great adventure to sneak around the dealers to see what the new cars on the back lots looked like for the coming year.
I remember my dads Chevelles would come in in August and they would have to hold them till they were released. We would often be taken into a quiet back part of the dealer where they would hide the car to see it.
My 68 SS I bought in the 80’s came from the same dealer and was delivered on the same truck as my fathers was in 1968. The original owner of my car saved the paper work and I could compare it to my dads papers, They were sold 2 days apart.
I always thought of a CTS-V as a caddy with the heart of a Chevy. In fact I think they should change the name to CTS/SBC.