This 1969 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible came to the V8 Speed and Resto Shop in need of some serious power, performance, and reliability upgrades. This C3 Corvette was powered by a non-original and well worn 350 cubic inch V8 backed by a Muncie 4 speed manual transmission. The goal was a Corvette LS Swap to add modern power to this C3 Corvette. A C3 Corvette LS Swap seems to be a simple job at first glance, but the more you investigate, you’ll see that a C3 Corvette LS Swap isn’t quite so simple.
The V8 Speed & Resto Shop team addresses the fitment issue of the LS3 V8 swap, as well as the steps needed to perform a Tremec T56 Magnum 6 speed manual transmission swap into the C3 Corvette. The challenges included fitting the off-center LS3 engine under the hood, as well as fitting the Tremec 6 speed manual transmission into the C3 Corvette chassis. We sourced our LS swap engine from GM Performance Parts, and a Tremec T56 Magnum 6 speed manual transmission, clutch, bellhousing, and shifter from Modern Driveline.
This 1979 Pontiac Trans Am was originally equipped with a 403 cubic inch Oldsmobile V8, and although it was pretty hot for the time, it just isn’t enough for the owner today. The car came to the V8 Speed & Resto Shop for some high-performace upgrades including a GM LS3 485 HP V8 engine fed by a Holley EFI system, and it will handle better thanks to a Ridetech Street Grip suspension system with YearOne wheels. Wilwood brakes will haul it down in short order. Before all the fun, we had to fix some rusty floors, which was a good time to fabricate a custom firewall for the car as well. Follow along with all the progress here!
1979 Pontiac Firebird Trans Am LS Engine Swap and Suspension at V8 Speed and Resto Shop Part 1
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1967 Pontiac GTO Restoration and Unveiling Video V8 Speed and Resto Shop GTO Full Build
This 1951 Chevrolet pickup truck served as our customer’s Grandfather’s farm truck for many years. In fact, it was his Grandfather that built the original dump mechanism for the truck. After years of labor on the farm, the truck was sent to the V8 Speed & Resto Shop for a complete restoration with some modifications to make it like new… and ready to be put back to work!
Click this link to see the ’51s after-restoration cross country road trip home!
Watch The Transformation from Big Block to Supercharged LT4 Power at V8 Speed and Resto
This great-looking 1969 Chevrolet Camaro car arrived at the V8 Speed and Resto Shop powered by a 540 cubic inch big block Chevy V8, but the owner wanted a better handling car to match the power. In the first round the V8 Team upgraded the chassis to a Detroit Speed subframe and rear QUADRALink setup, repaired some hidden rust, and fixed a ton of other little details on the car.
The list of parts added is impressive, and all engineered to work together. Forgeline Wheels, Baer Brakes, Toyo Tires, Holley EFI, C&R Racing cooling systems, AutoMeter gauges, and more go-fast and handling goodies were selected to achieve the final performance and handling goal. We removed the rowdy big-block Chevy V8 and retrofitted a modern 670 HP Chevrolet supercharged LT4 V8 engine to build an amazing Pro-Touring restomod.
Check out the build videos of the 1969 Chevrolet Camaro LT4 Transformation!
Pro Touring 1969 Camaro 540 BBC Detroit Speed Suspension and Holley EFI At V8 Speed & Resto Shop
This was an awesome project, the chance to restore the body on a 1955 Chevrolet hauler truck named “Carried Away” which serves as the chauffeur for an original 1955 Chevy gasser named “Mr. Chevy”. Mr. Chevy first became a race car around 1968, and has a great story all on it’s own. Below you’ll see the videos on the car and the truck, along with the restoration photos at the V8 Speed and Resto Shop. Once completed, Mr. Chevy and Carried Away were feature vehicles at the SEMA Show, the Grand National Roadster Show, the Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals, the Syracuse Nationals, the Tri-5 Nationals, and many others. It’s almost too cool for words. Check it out!
Returning A Family Heirloom Galaxie To The Spotlight
This 1966 Ford Galaxie 500 7-LItre came to us at the V8 Speed & Resto Shop after living a long and full life, with plenty of wear and rust to show for it. This car was purchased new in ‘66 by our customer’s father and has been under the same family ownership ever since.
New for 1966 – The 428 V8
The big news for ‘66 was the launch of the new 428 V8, a high-compression big-block added to the FE family as a versatile replacement for the high-strung 427s. Galaxies fitted with the 428 were badged 7-Litres, and this car features the 345 HP version cranking out 462 lb. ft. of torque at just 2800 RPM… perfect for getting big sleds like this off the line. These were available in 4-speed or automatics like ours, and they made for comfortable and stylish highway cruisers.
Once documented and disassembled, our ‘66 received extensive metal repairs. We had the body stripped with a dustless blasting process, leaving bare steel… with lots of rust holes. Replacement sheet metal isn’t really easy to come by for these cars, so we sourced some original parts from Desert Valley Auto Parts in Arizona for new wheel houses and some other parts, but we had to extensively modify the replacement quarter panel skins to correct stamping inaccuracies. Sheet metal patches were installed all over the body tub, in the floors, tail section, and package tray. Like all our metal work, our goal is to create undetectable repairs and make the car appear new again.
The frame was stripped, and rusty sections were replaced with fresh steel. All the suspension parts were restored and rebuilt.
The original engine had been rebuilt and stored a decade ago, and after a thorough inspection, it was determined that it could benefit from some cleanup machining to bring it back to spec after being improperly stored.
The Original Color Revitalized – Emberglo
Meanwhile, extensive bodywork was performed to make the big Galaxie straighter than new. After hours of block sanding, the car was primed and sprayed in the original Emberglo color, which is truly stunning in the sun under the deep Axalta clear paint.
Interior parts were reconditioned and renewed, with new color applied over repaired components. Surprisingly, the original bucket seats did not require a recovering, just a major cleaning and conditioning to make them ready for use. They don’t appear factory new, but more like comfortable furniture that is just broken in, and they look great. The center console, shifter, and gauges were restored, and a triple set of Stewart Warner Green line instruments were added below the dash to keep tabs on the 428.
Details Make The Difference
This project required copious amounts of chrome plating, as the bumpers, grille, side trim, interior trim, and other pieces were either polished or replated. New parts for 7-Litre specific items are not very common, so we fixed as much as possible.
The original steel wheels and hubcaps were restored and a set of period white-stripe tires installed. When the time came, the 428 roared back to life, with a nice rumble from the custom dual exhaust. The car appears new in every way, and it drives as good as it looks. It was even featured on the cover of Hemmings Muscle Machines Magazine, truly an honor for a great car and our very talented crew who brought it back to better than new!
Is Your Classic Languishing In The Garage?
Contact the V8 Speed and Resto Shop shop today to discuss your next restoration project, we take them seriously and offer outstanding quality for your family heirloom!
This 1969 Chevrolet Camaro is ALL NEW… And We’re Not Kidding!
This is an interesting car for many reasons, beyond the 800+ HP Mast Motorsports supercharged engine. We’re using a new Dynacorn body on this one that we bought from Classic Industries, so the entire car will be new. The owner had no real attachment to a particular car, he just wanted a Camaro. The car features the best of everything… Detroit Speed suspension, Baer brakes, Forgeline wheels, Toyo tires, Hydratech brake booster, MagnaFlow exhaust, and much more.
We build lots of Camaros in the V8 Speed & Resto Shop, and each is different and unique.
From stock originals to all-new Pro-Touring Custom Camaros like you see here in the ZR9, we’re happy to craft a Camaro to fit your personality and performance needs.
1969 Chevrolet Camaro ZR9 Videos
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This is the complete photo gallery from start to finish!
The V8 Speed & Resto Shop Crew recently finished a complete restoration on this 1964 Chevrolet C-10 pickup truck including suspension, rust repair and sheet metal fabrication, and more. They installed a GM L92 6.2 liter V8 powered by a Mast Motorsports ECM and using Holley accessory drive brackets, oil pan, and Hooker exhaust manifolds. A Mast cam and valve springs were installed, yielding approximately 525 horsepower. A TCI 4L60E transmission is used to provide an overdrive gear, and the truck rolls on Mob Steel 20″ wheels. The finish is satin black with a charcoal silver roof, wheels, and side trim insert, and the bed is all new wood. The interior featured a leather seat, Vintage Air A/C, a Dakota Digital box to allow the original speedometer to work with the modern transmission, upgraded audio, and more. Click “Read More” for the photo gallery and video of the process!
The V8 Speed and Resto Shop crew performed a complete restoration on this sweet 1969 Chevelle SS. The V8 Speed & Resto Shop team stripped the body, replaced the floors and trunk floor, assembled the body on the restored chassis, and performed bodywork and paint on this award-winning 1969 Chevelle.
The color is an eye-catching pearl metallic black offset with an original style Chevelle SS 396 stripe in vivid red. The V8 Speed and Resto Shop fabrication shop and body and paint departments were happy with deep color and arrow-straight bodywork.
Frame Off Restoration with Subtle Performance Improvements
The interior was restored featuring a Vintage Air A/C system and upgraded stereo. Leather seat covers in the original bucket seat patterns were installed. The V8 team installed shoulder belts in front and back for safety, and restored the original dash cluster. Brakes were upgraded to Wilwood 4-wheel disc units for better stopping power.
The team completed the wiring, plumbing, brakes, stainless exhaust, interior, and all aspects of the exterior restoration before driving and tuning the Chevy 454 powered Chevelle. The car won awards at the Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals in Chicago, and was later treated to a Tremec TKO 600 5-speed manual transmission from Modern Driveline with hydraulic clutch for way more driving fun.
The team at Hemmings Muscle Machines Magazine knows a cool car when they see one, and wrote a special magazine feature on the 1969 Chevelle! Thanks Hemmings!
Watch The 1969 Chevelle Build Videos
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We’re happy to chat with you about your Muscle Car restoration, click the Contact Us link to learn more!
Author: napnoop Ayyad Comment: Great Job guys, I totally respect the work that was done on this chevy
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Author: Marcelo JL Comment: Great job! Wish I could afford a Chevelle like that
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Author: NickeyChevelle Comment: Beautiful. I especially like the “bullet” outside rear view mirrors.
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Author: William Jackson Comment: Chevy makes so many beautiful body style to restore. That is one beautiful Chevy. He is a very very lucky man with a whole lot of money.
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Author: Dwight Fontenot Comment: That. Is. Incredible. So, how much did all of that cost? 🙂
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Author: Folger Tuck Comment: Great job.
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Author: mcinkyt Comment: Every outward appearance of stock, but comfortable – just as it should be restored.
Shoot a general number at me, what’s a chassis dyno worth?
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Author: jank330 Comment: nice the only thing I might have done is upgrade the brakes but other than that sweet car actually I went to school with guy who along with his dad raced a 69 chevelle with a ls6 454 in 1970 ya I’m that old.
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Author: MR_1013 Comment: Awesome job guys. How much would it take for you guys to take the knife to my El Camino?
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Author: Toms Chevelle Comment: Is there a posi on it? When you did the burnout, you only see on tire mark… just wondering. Sweet, will check it out at the Muscle Car nats this weekend.
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Author: M Logan Comment: In 1969 did chevy put a 454 in late 69 chevelle? If so how many horsepower did it have?
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Author: DPS Comment: Looks good but I prefer an OEM restoration.
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Author: Phil Chuppa Comment: 👍👍
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Author: Roi Davis Comment: I too have a 67 Chevelle that’s in need of Body work to complete. I completed the rolling chassis, and the Power plant is a 454/460cu. in. Big Block. Would you entertain a dialogue about completing this project? Let me know! Roy
We build lots of Camaros in the V8 Speed and Resto Shop, and each is different and unique.
This is an interesting car for many reasons, beyond the 630+ HP GM Performance Parts Supercharged LSA engine. The car features the best of everything… Detroit Speed suspension, Baer brakes, Forgeline wheels, Toyo tires, Hydratech brake booster, MagnaFlow exhaust, and much more. But the integration of the modern componentry goes hand in hand with the integration of the modern styling elements.
A Familiar Look With Modern Design and Performance
The goal for this car was to combine modern Camaro styling and performance with the classic look of the ‘69. Dan Steinhauser created the rendering, complete with a modern ZL-1 style hood with carbon fiber insert and a 3D printed grille.
We performed all the metalwork in-house, including fabrication of the custom hood, and installation of all new floors, quarter panels, tail panel, fenders, and more.
Lou’s Change rides on a complete Detroit Speed suspension front and rear. Deep tubs were installed to accommodate the Toyo R888 tires wrapped around Forgeline wheels.
The engine is a modified supercharged GM LSA 6.2L V8 making approximately 630 HP, backed by a 6-speed manual transmission. The car was sprayed in Mars Red, with a black ZL1 stripe.
It was a feature car at the SEMA show, the Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals, included in the Goodguys Top 100 1969 Camaros at the Camaro 50th Anniversary display, and in Hemmings Muscle Machines Magazine.
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