Here is the dilemma: You have a hot rod Camaro. Your wife likes driving your hot rod Camaro. You want to drive your hot rod Camaro, but you also want to please your wife. Solution: Build your wife a 1964 Chevy Chevelle restomod so you can both go cruising in your own car. Our feature car is the solution Jason came up with for his lovely wife, Kate.
When Jason found the Chevy Chevelle, it was a Bondo bucket from end to end. Both of the quarter panels were shot, and it had no engine. It was a project from the jump. Jason sourced a 5.3-liter LS engine from a Tahoe, bored it to 5.7 liters, replaced the pistons, added a livelier cam, did a little massaging, and was able to coax right at 450 horsepower from it. Engine problem solved. That LS V8 is backed by the 4L60 transmission that came out of the same Tahoe, but it has been upgraded to 4L65 specs. When you look under the hood of the Chevelle, you find that the firewall has been smoothed, the lines have been routed and tucked, and everything is squared away. A Wilwood brake booster has been fitted. The firewall and inner fenders have been painted and polished just like the Chevelle’s body. Nice touch.
The exterior of the Chevy Chevelle has been treated to a glossy, but understated coat of 2017 Corvette Watkins Glen Gray metallic paint. The hue seems to bring out the Chevelle’s body lines without screaming for attention. Beefy polished billet Intro wheels have been custom modified to better fill the wheel wells. Mounted behind the front wheels are a set of Wilwood disc brake calipers clamping drilled rotors. The rear brakes are still drum units.
Inside the Chevy Chevelle, the standard black vinyl bench interior has been transformed into a four-bucket seat arrangement with a full-length console running from the dash to the rear deck. Cupholders have been integrated into the console, as well as the shifter. Diamond-pleated gray cloth seat inserts are surrounded by black leather-look material. The headliner is now a gray suede or Alcantara with a long, oval, custom-made dome light. Dakota Digital gauges fill the stock dash pods, and the factory polished metal dash face has been retained. A/C vents have been welded to the underside of the dash.
The result of Jason’s efforts is a slick, if subtle, looking Chevy Chevelle restomod. Jason and Kate are discussing adding more power, possibly with a turbo for the LS. Kate says she’s fine with the idea, and would invite a bit more kick.
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Ah, true love at it’s finest…