From the V8 Archives… the build series blogs from 1997 covering the complete restoration of the 1969 Chevrolet Chevelle known as the “SS496!” This was a great car, complete with a custom 496 stroker big-block Chevy, Global West suspension, Vintage Wheels Works rollers, Hydratech boosted Baer brakes, Magnaflow exhaust, and a whole host of restoration parts from YearOne and OPGI.

We performed a complete restoration on this car from start to finish, pulling the body off the frame, replacing the floor, quarter panels, and performing other major rust repair. Fast Times Motorworks built the custom big-block Chevy engine, which sent over 550 horsepower through a turbo 400 transmission and a 3.73:1 geared 12-bolt posi rear end. Our team completed the bodywork, paint, and assembly to make this Butternut Yellow pro-touring Chevelle a standout.

But more fun was that this was one of the first cars built by the V8 Speed crew, and these videos were from a time when very few were shooting and posting blog videos about cars. The blogs take us all the way to the SEMA show, and culminate with a feature video on the car when complete. The video resolution is only 480P, but if the car still looks awesome today!

This 1967 Chevrolet Camaro restomod is getting the whole Pro Touring treatment as we restore the body and install a GM LSA 6.2 Supercharged V8 backed by a Tremec T56 Magnum 6-speed transmission at the V8 Speed and Resto Shop. We thought we’d share an update as we build the car in our latest “What are you in for” video series where we share in-process projects from around the shop!

Continue reading “Supercharged LSA Pro Touring 1967 Chevrolet Camaro Restomod Upgrades V8 Speed and Resto Shop”

The V8 Speed and Resto Shop Body and Paint Center is a full-service custom body shop with extensive capabilities including:

  • Expert bodywork
  • Show-winning paint finishes
  • Expert color, texture, and metallic pattern matching
  • Blowtherm downdraft paint booth
  • Complete paint mixing center

There are a lot of details to watch when replacing a quarter panel! 

Quarter panels are the large, steel body panels that reach from the trailing edge of the door to the rear taillight panel, and from the roof down to the lower rocker panel and wheel opening on a Classic or Muscle Car.    

Quarter panels are integral structural parts of the car, and play a significant role in the construction, strength, and safety of the car’s body and chassis.    Some cars, like Chevrolet Camaros, are not body-on-frame construction, meaning the body itself is the main structure of the car.   These are known as “unit-body” or “unibody” designs, and are also found in Pontiac Firebirds, Chevrolet Novas, Dodge Challengers, Plymouth Roadrunners, Ford Mustangs, and many other popular classic and Muscle Cars. 

Over time, quarter panels are prone to wear, rust, and crash damage, and are often in need of repair or replacement.    Many new reproduction quarter panels exist for popular cars.   When new panels are not available, original equipment panels can often be sourced from a donor car, reconditioned, and installed on another car… if done properly.  Continue reading for the details!

Continue reading “Elements of Proper Quarter Panel Replacement at the V8 Speed and Resto Shop”

This very cool 1968 Chevrolet El Camino is a real, numbers-matching L78 396 SS with a Muncie M22 4-speed.  These are very rare 375 HP engines, found in only 393 ’68 ElCaminos new.  It came to the V8 Speed & Resto Shop looking to be straightened out and to look like it did when new.   

Contact the V8 Speed & Resto Shop with all your Classic or Muscle Car needs today!

 

Contact the V8 Speed & Resto Shop Today!

817 S. MAIN STREET – RED BUD, IL 62278

Continue reading “1968 Chevrolet El Camino Restoration at V8 Speed and Resto Shop”

This 1969 Chevrolet Camaro arrived in-process at the V8 Speed and Resto Shop.    The car came to us from Canada where new quarter panels, trunk panels, and other sheet metal repair had been done, in addition to a Detroit Speed subframe and front suspension and rear QUADRALink suspension system were installed.   The V8 Team will be completing the fabrication work and straightening the body and applying a shade of blue paint with a hockey stripe.    The car is powered by an Edelbrock Pro-Flo EFI unit on a 454 Big Block Chevy V8.  
 

Continue reading “1969 Chevrolet Camaro Fabrication, Bodywork, and Paint at the V8 Speed and Resto Shop”

The V8 Speed & Resto Shop had the immense privilege of restoring this truly exceptional 1951 Chevrolet pickup truck, which held a deeply sentimental place in the customer’s heart as it once belonged to their beloved Grandfather.

The truck arrived at the V8 Speed & Resto Shop on multiple trailers, bearing the marks of its history as a hardworking farm truck with extensive rust and damage accumulated over decades. Our passionate team embarked on a journey to breathe new life into this treasure, undertaking a comprehensive restoration that encompassed rust repair, meticulous bodywork, striking paint work, a heart-pounding V8 engine conversion, and the meticulous restoration of the dump-truck bed and mechanism originally installed by the customer’s Grandfather.

After the final touches were applied, the family set out on an unforgettable voyage, driving the truck from their grandparent’s farm in Northwest Illinois to Liberty Lake, Washington. Along the way, they graciously shared captivating photos of their adventure. Thankfully, the journey unfolded smoothly, devoid of any hiccups, allowing them to savor every moment of this extraordinary experience. Join us as we journey through an inspiring American Road Trip in a cherished family heirloom truck!

Click here to see all the restoration photos of this truck!

 

Contact the V8 Speed And Resto Shop

Contact the V8 Speed & Resto Shop to start a restoration journey of your own today!

817 S. MAIN STREET – RED BUD, IL 62278

 

This 1970 Ford Mustang Convertible is going through a complete restoration, and it came to the V8 Speed & Resto Shop for rusty and damaged sheet metal replacement, bodywork, and paint.   The V8 crew will repair the crashed quarter panel and fenders, and replace the rusty floors along the way.   Follow along in the photos and video to see the latest!    

 

 

Continue reading “1970 Ford Mustang Convertible Body Restoration at the V8 Speed and Resto Shop”

This cool 1966 Chevelle is the second for it’s owner Larry Frees, who might be familiar as the caretaker of the “Mr. Chevy” 1955 Chevy gasser and hauler ramp truck.     He had a Marina Blue ‘66 many years ago, and this car will serve to be the “jumping off point” from where his old ‘66 left off.    Larry provided us with the beginning of the restoration story as it unfolds in the V8 Speed & Resto Shop.   The car turned out beautifully, after some sheet metal surgery, laser-straight bodywork, and a custom color brewed in-house. It’s putting out over 400 horsepower, it rides on air, and looks fantastic!

Click “Read More” for the complete photo gallery!

Continue reading “1966 Chevrolet Chevelle SS396 Restoration at V8 Speed and Resto Shop”

This 1969 Chevrolet Camaro came to the V8 Speed & Resto Shop to have the body panels properly installed, then go through the bodywork and paint departments ultimately receiving a new paint job.   The color is a custom mix Axalta paint we named “Midnight Magic”, and looks awfully close to black, but actually has a purple hue with flake.    It turned out sharp!  The customer will be completing the assembly of the car.    

Continue reading “1969 Chevrolet Camaro Sheetmetal, Bodywork, and Paint Photo Gallery”