We are thrilled to be working on the restoration of a very cool 1969 Chevrolet Corvette 427 Roadster. Our talented team has completed the bodywork, and we’ve just applied the first coats of primer. The next step? A stunning custom metallic blue paint job that will make this beauty truly shine! 🌟 Stay tuned for updates on this extraordinary project as we make this classic Corvette far nicer than it was when new. Follow along with us as we breathe new life into this iconic American sports car!
Mike “Q” Ball Clarke and Kevin Oeste gear up for the 2021 SEMA Show and make some plans to record a V8 Radio Podcast from the show floor right in the middle of SEMA Week. Kevin realizes this is his 25th SEMA Show, and reflects on how there is still so much to learn, see, and do for car enthusiasts. There are a couple cool trivia questions, a few laughs, and more on this episode of the V8 Radio Podcast!
V8 Radio Podcast
There's Always Something New to Learn, Kevin's 25th SEMA Show and Plans, Automotive Trivia, and More!
If you have been a loyal listener to the V8 Radio Podcast, you know that our Esteemed Co-Host Mike “Q-Ball” Clarke only recently got his 1967 Pontiac GTO back together after a 7-year hiatus. Well, guess what… he’s thinking about blowing it apart again! And, some great new Automotive Trivia questions are shared, and Kevin tells Mike he sucks and his car is slow. You really have to listen to the V8 Radio Podcast for the details!
V8 Radio Podcast
Planning a Frame Off Restoration, Automotive Trivia, and Much More on the V8 Radio Podcast
Mike Clarke and Kevin Oeste share their frustrations about feuding within the hobby. It’s no secret that there are those who are working to make the automotive enthusiast hobby and industry go away, so we all need to stick together, not attack each other. They also chat a bit more about the 2021 SEMA Show, answering the question of weather or not the OEM automakers should have displays at this aftermarket trade show. Throw in a few tangents and Automotive Trivia questions, and you’ve another jam-packed episode of the V8 Radio Podcast!
V8 Radio Podcast
Auto Enthusiasts Unite, 2021 SEMA Thoughts Pt. 2, Automotive Trivia, and More on the V8 Radio Podcast
We’re all in this slow boat (from China) together…
It’s no secret that the whole world has been affected by the pandemic, and it has certainly crept into the world of restoration and custom car building. In this episode of the V8 Radio Podcast, Kevin Oeste and Mike “Q-Ball” Clarke dive deep into the root of the delays, and how it has domino-effected our industry. There’s also some new Automotive Trivia questions, some fun stories, and all the rest of the nonsense you’ve come to expect from the V8 Radio Podcast!
V8 Radio Podcast
What the heck is taking so long? Automotive Trivia, and More on the V8 Radio Podcast
The 1939 LaSalle restored by the V8 Speed & Resto Shop won first place in its class at the 2020 Cadillac & LaSalle Club Grand National Virtual Car Show over the weekend! Hundreds of cars were entered, and there were 40 or so LaSalles in its class, but the red 1939 ambulance took home top honors. Congrats to the owner and the V8 Speed & Resto Shop team on another first place win! We’re fortunate for the opportunity to work with great people on great cars! #showwinner #v8speedshop #restoration
Click the thumbnail to see the complete restoration photo gallery of this amazing 1939 LaSalle, a brand positioned just below Cadillac in the General Motors family.
We chat about the project in this V8 Radio Podcast Episode:
The story of this 1962 Buick Electra convertible is a fascinating journey through automotive history and personal milestones. Featured in one of the earliest episodes of V8TV, the Electra initially received attention for its engine work and a disc brake conversion.
In 1998, automotive enthusiasts David Freiburger and Rob Kinnan, known from Car Craft and Hot Rod Magazines, bought this Buick for a Car Craft Magazine project focused on creating a “cheap and fun” weekend cruiser. They gave it a fresh tune-up on the original carburetor, applied a vibrant bright yellow paint job, and enjoyed driving it around before putting it up for sale.
The Buick’s Next Chapter
Paul, a friend of the V8 Team, purchased the Electra from Freiburger and towed it from sunny Southern California to his home in the Midwest. He enjoyed the car for a couple of summers until the original Buick 401 Nailhead engine failed. With limited resources at the time, Paul opted to replace the engine with a small block Chevy V8 that he had on hand.
Life events, including a new job and starting a family, took precedence, and the Buick remained in storage for nearly two decades. Now, the Electra has arrived at the V8 Speed and Resto Shop, where the V8 Team is set to complete the engine conversion and restore this classic car to its former glory, making it a driver once again.
Almost Famous Again – V8 Radio Podcasts
This Buick Electra has been the subject of several episodes of the V8 Radio Podcast, we welcome you to click and listen (and subscribe!) to hear more from Paul himself!
This 1939 LaSalle ambulance / hearse was originally commissioned in the town of Red Bud, IL… which happens to be the home of the V8 Speed & Resto Shop! We’re excited to change the color and tune up the appearance of this originally hand-built coach. Follow along with the photos to see the progress!
Deco Streamliner Styling
LaSalle was a notch below Cadillac, but offerend power and style beyond most contemporary automakers of the time.
Contact the V8 Speed & Resto Shop with all your Classic or Muscle Car needs today!
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.
Welcome to the V8 Speed and Resto Shop – Your Premier Destination for Muscle Car and Classic Car Restoration, Now in Our 20th Year!
Imagine the ultimate expression of your automotive passion. What features would make your car truly yours? Share your ideas with us, no matter how big or small. We’re experts in:
Complete Custom Builds: Bring your concept to life, from design idea to driving it home. Hot Rods, Muscle Cars, Customs, Trucks… we build them all.
Restorations: Breathe new life into a classic car.
Custom Modifications: Enhance your existing car with your unique vision.
And Everything In Between: We handle everything from mechanical upgrades to full custom interiors, paint, fabrication, engines, and more.
Weather you dream of rocketing down the road in a 1932 Ford Hot Rod, cruising the dark streets of town in a chopped 1950s kustom, banging through the gears in a hot Muscle Car, or showing that restored family heirloom classic car or truck, we’re here to make it happen for you.
Tell us your dream car story. Fill out the form below and let’s turn your vision into reality!
