1971 Chevelle SS

Restoration

frontdrivesside.jpg (134928 bytes)

The restoration of this 1971 Chevelle Super Sport started in the spring of 2000. What started off as simply swapping a 454 engine into a tired old Chevelle SS has turned into a frame-off restoration. Once the ball gets rolling it picks up speed. I have stopped counting the money that gets spent... it is a lot. One runs into things that are deemed necessary along the way, like a fluid filled harmonic dampener, a tilt steering column, and a tachometer dash.

When the car is done it will have a big motor, a tight suspension, and lots of power. It will have legendary big block SuperSport goodies like stripes on the hood, factory gauges, a floor shift, and tachometer. The car will not have power windows, air conditioning, or the cowl induction hood flap (yet).

The body repair and paint is Phase II. The interior is Phase III.

Currently the car is drivable and works well.

2003 Projects:

	Fuel pump pressure is low, only 3 lb. Replace fuel pump with high flow unit.
	I might restore the front bucket seats this year yet. Or maybe not.

	~~Restore factory rims and get new tires.~~
	~~Install headlight power relays.~~
	~~Buff and polish the paint.~~

This engine might have a fuel starvation problem at WOT with the 468 CI requirements and a stock fuel pump. This might explain why it seems to run out of power in upper RPM's. (If it sounds like I am fishing here, I kind of am). I have it narrowed down to either the cam profile (low rpm tourqe cam) or the 4 barrel sucking the float bowls empty under WOT. Or both?