Taking an opportunity for a quick summer evening ride!
Summer’s here and the time is right for taking a cruise in a cool old car! This time, we take a minute while enjoying a ride down Bluff Road in our 1962 Ford Galaxie 500 XL convertible. This car has been in V8 Speed and Resto Shop’s Kevin Oeste’s family since 1993 and is a very special car to us, even though Kevin and Kelle don’t get as many chances to drive it as they’d like. However, even a short trip down a great road on a beautiful night does a world of good for the mind and soul. And like we said, old cars make new friends! We’ll share more video on the latest updates on the Galaxie in an upcoming video, subscribe so you don’t miss it!
This super-cool 1979 Ford Bronco recently arrived at the V8 Speed and Resto Shop looking for some basic mainenance and mechanical upgrades. It’s already wearing a nice restoration, but the original 351 M engine was just plain worn out, so the V8 Team is going to be adding some new power to this 4-wheel drive 1970s throwback fun machine!
Follow along in the complete 1979 Ford Bronco Photo Gallery below:
We’ve worked on this clean 1970 Pontiac GTO several times here at the V8 Speed & Resto Shop, and this time, we installed a Tremec TKO 600 5-speed manual transmission from Modern Driveline, complete with a hydraulic clutch and a Hurst shifter.
In the past, we’ve removed, resealed, and detailed the Ram Air III 400 cubic inch V8 engine, and upgraded it with a March serpentine accessory drive system.
The owner Mo is a US Army Veteran and has become a great friend of our team. He and his wife really enjoy Classics and Muscle Cars, and we appreciate them as customers, friends, and general positive role models for the car hobby.
We invite you to contact the V8 Speed and Resto Shop anytime at 314.783.8325 for a Coyote swap or restoration for your classic car, truck, or muscle car.
The V8 Speed & Resto Shop is a full-service classic car and muscle car restoration service ready to perform everything from simple maintenance on vintage cars to full frame-off restorations and modifications. Whether you are seeking a stock restoration, a pro-touring muscle car, or a custom restomod, the V8 Speed & Resto Shop in Red Bud, IL, can help. Contact us today to put the V8 crew to work for you. Transport services are available.
V8 Speed & Resto Shop 817 S. Main Street Red Bud,IL 62278 314.783.8325 https://www.v8speedshop.com resto@v8speedshop.com
So many of us live with the regret of selling a favorite car. The story of a growing family and the limitations of hauling kids in a 2-door coupe is a pretty common tale that often ended in that prized coupe heading down the road with a new owner in favor of a bonafide family truckster. This was the case with a particular family man and his beloved 1977 Buick Regal. Had it, sold it, missed it. Until, that is, many years later when his now-grown son reached out to the V8 Speed and Resto Shop to replace the one that got away!
Finding A Unicorn
The car in question… a red 1977 Buick Regal, was unfortunately wrecked after the sale. The owner’s son approached our team to help locate and revitalize another red ’77… have you seen one of these driving around lately? A car that once seemed ubiquitous on the streets of America had seemed to be erased from time. Thankfully, a multi-sided search concluded when the owner’s son called and said “I found one, and am sending it to your shop to make it as close to Dad’s as possible!”
It Had To Be Right
The original car wasn’t just any ’77 Buick, however. It was red with a white interior, bucket seats, floor shifter, T-tops, white vinyl top, and the V2.0 car had to be the same. Amazingly, the car the son found was also red with T-tops and buckets, but the interior was red cloth. Not gonna happen. That’s when the V8 Speed and Resto Shop Interior Shop sprung into action turning the red to white.
Taking the Interior Up a Notch
Changing the interior color sounds simple, but there were dozens of red plastic parts that needed to be color-matched to white, along with the headliner, rear package shelf, door panels, and the seat upholstery. It turns out that brilliant white seat covers are not falling off the shelves at the local parts store, so our team had to make them from scratch. New patterns were created, and piece by piece the seat covers, both for the front buckets and the rear full-width seat were sewn. New filler material was added to the frames before the covers were stretched over and cinched to perfection. The end result? A gleaming, bright white interior that is nicer than any done by Buick in 1977.
Other Work Performed
1977 was a long time ago, so the Regal required a bunch of mainteance items addressed, including:
Brakes
Brake Master Cylinder installed.
Brake Booster: Rebuilt and installed
Rear Brake Hose replaced.
Air Conditioning and Heating
A/C System Diagnosis: Diagnosed and repaired.
A/C Components: Installed compressor manifold fitting, various hose ends (#6, #8, #10, 45/90-degree, beadlock, R134a port), seal kits, orifice tube, receiver drier, flush, and retrofit kit.
Blower Motor Switch: Cleaned with electrical contact spray to address cycling issues.
Engine
Oil and Filters: Installed 5W-30 and 10W-30 engine oil, engine oil additive, oil filter, and air filter.
Belts: Installed accessory drive belts, alternator belt, and additional belts.
Oil Leak Diagnosis: Identified and resolved oil leaks.
Exhaust
Tail Pipe and Exhaust Pipes: Corrected tail pipe interference; installed new tail pipe and front exhaust pipe sections.
Sheet Metal and Fabrication
Floor Pan Patches: Tested, fitted, and installed right-hand (RH) and left-hand (LH) front and rear floor pan patches.
Seam Sealer: Applied bare metal seam sealer.
Passenger Rear Footwell: Repaired.
Body and Interior
Rear Bumper: Restored and cleaned used rear bumper.
Shifter: Cleaned and reinstalled shifter.
Suspension
Front Shocks replaced.
Wiring and Electronics
License Plate Light: Diagnosed and repaired.
Fuel System
In-Line Fuel Filter: Replaced.
Transmission
Front Pump Input Seal: Replaced.
The Reveal
The best part of this story is how the customer’s son staged a suprise reveal for his Dad at the 30th anniversary of the family’s business, an IGA Grocery Store in Red Bud, IL. They had a huge party to thank their staff, customers, vendors, and the community for their support of the store over the years. The big surprise came after the ceremony when the son presented his Dad with the keys to the freshly updated Regal, and it was a magic moment! We were so happy for the family to be able to reconnect their Dad to some of the best times of his life through his prized Buick… and that’s the V8 Speed and Resto Shop mission statement in action!
The 1977 Buick Regal story as told in the V8 Radio Podcast, click to listen!
We’re working on a cool 1938 Chevy pickup truck rat rod bobber that rolled into our fab shop with a chopped cab, a tubular chassis, zoomie pipes, and a vision to blend vintage patina with a solid foundation. At V8 Speed and Resto Shop, we’re connecting the dots to make this 1938 Chevy rat rod safe, stylish, and a total blast to drive!
1938 Chevy Hot Rod Intro Video
Key Highlights:
New dropped axle and hairpin suspension for smooth handling.
Disc brakes for reliable stopping power.
Focus on safety and functionality while maintaining the raw, vintage look.
Discussion of top chop techniques and resources.
The importance of stance in hot rod builds.
Builder’s Resource: “How to Chop Tops” by Tony Thacker
(Check out our Bonneville Up to Speed podcast for an interview with Tony!)
Chopping tops is an art, and the book “How to Chop Tops” by Tony Thacker is a great resource for anyone who wants to learn how to lower the lid on their Hot Rod or Kustom. Check our Bonneville Up Top Speed Podcast for an interview with the man himself!
A head-turning 1972 Chevrolet Camaro cruised into the V8 Speed and Resto Shop recently, ready for a touch of cosmetic magic and some TLC. The owner wanted to accentuate the Camaro’s gorgeous gold paint with some classic black Z/28 stripes, and let’s just say, we were chomping at the bit to show off the results!
The treatment included a fresh coat on the hood and deck lid, along with the addition of those sharp black stripes. To add a bit of extra flair, we also installed some sleek Ringbrothers hood hinges. But that’s not all – we we took care of a few other maintenance items to keep this beauty running smoothly.
At the heart of the engine upgrade was the installation of a Holley Terminator X EFI system. This modern fuel injection system replaced the original carburetor, providing precise fuel delivery and improved performance. To support the EFI system, several additional components were added, including a Holley fuel pump module, a mechanical fuel pump block-off plate, and a fuel pressure regulator. ARP fasteners were used throughout, and a Lokar transmission kick-down bracket and cable were fitted to ensure smooth gear changes.
To improve the Camaro’s handling and drivability, a new Borgeson power steering gearbox and rag joint was installed. The Borgeson steering box enhances road feel while adding a level of precision to the Camaro’s steering that had eroded over the decades.
This is just the beginning for this stunning Camaro. Stay tuned for more updates as we continue to work our magic and elevate this classic muscle car to even greater heights! We can’t wait to share the final product with all of you. In the meantime, if you have a car that’s craving a makeover, drop on by V8 Speed and Resto Shop – we’d love to chat about your vision!
Click this link or call 314.783.8325 to contact us for upgrades or a complete restoration!
The Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme is a mid-range car produced by General Motors for those seeking comfortable, reliable, and stylish vehicles. The Cutlass Supreme was the fanciest version of the Cutlass you could buy, and the 1971 convertible is one of 10,255 built that year.
The owner of this particular car purchased it in 1973 and has driven and enjoyed it ever since. However, over time, the car started to show its age, so he called the V8 Speed and Resto Shop to restore it.
Tearing Down To Build Back Up
The team at V8 Speed and Resto Shop began by media blasting the chassis to remove all the rust and corrosion, and then powder coated it in a black finish similar to the original paint. They also replaced the original suspension parts with tubular control arms and billet coil-over shocks from QA1, and a Borgeson steering gear for better road feel and steering performance.
The body was stripped in search of rust and damage, and any rust holes were repaired with new steel. The team also repaired the bottom of the door shell to replace some rust holes. Their mission was to use as much of the original GM steel as possible on this car to keep it as authentic as possible.
Renewing The Driveline
The original Olds 350 V8 engine was also given a refresh. The engine was disassembled, cleaned, measured, and remachined, and new rod and main bearings, pistons, rings, gaskets, and all new ARP hardware were installed. A COMP hydraulic roller camshaft conversion was installed, which not only added a cam profile designed to increase the engine’s torque output, but also uses roller lifters to reduce friction and the risk of the cam going flat. Once it was all assembled, the engine was topped with an aluminum intake manifold and a Holley Terminator X electronic fuel injection system for increased reliability.
Vibrant Green Once Again
The body was then painted in its original code 43 Lime Green Metallic color, and the team carefully re-mounted the body panels, making sure nothing got bumped or chipped in the process. Once installed, all the exterior surfaces were sanded once again in preparation for sealer and the color and clear application.
After a couple months of curing time, the paint team started the wetsanding and buffing process on the paint to further flatten the surface and bring out the gloss. The restored trim, lettering, and badges were then carefully installed.
New Upholstery And Bright Spoked Wheels
The interior was renewed, with the seats, door panels, rear side panels, dash pad, sun visors, carpet, and more being rebuilt or replaced. A new A/C system from Vintage Air was installed, and the dashboard and firewall were bodyworked and painted satin black.
The convertible top mechanism and hydraulics were also restored, and a new white convertible top was installed. The car also got a set of custom made Dayton chrome spoked wheels with white pinstriped tires.
The original gauges were restored and updated with LED lights, and a quartz conversion was installed to keep the original clock hands spinning smoothly. A Vintage Air control panel matches the original brushed aluminum design, and a Retro Sound radio provides modern tunes for the ride.
The car was finally finished and returned to the owner, who was thrilled with the results. The car is now in better-than-new condition, and the owner is excited to make new memories with it.
What Can We Restore For You?
The V8 Speed and Resto Shop team stands ready to turn the clock back on whatever you drive, restoring it authentically or adding modern performance and convenience features as you wish. Contact the shop today to learn more.
The 1969 Ford Cobra is a classic muscle car that has captured the hearts of enthusiasts for decades. This particular Cobra, owned by a passionate Ford enthusiast, is in the process of a meticulous restoration at V8 Speed and Resto Shop.
The Restoration and Modification Plan
The owner has a deep connection to the Cobra, having admired it since his high school days. His goal is to restore the car to its original glory, while adding a few modern touches for enhanced performance and comfort. He envisions a classic, yet refined Cobra that he can enjoy on weekend cruises and at car shows.
The restoration process at V8 Speed and Resto Shop involves a comprehensive overhaul of the car. Here’s a glimpse of what’s in store:
Exterior: The Cobra will receive a fresh coat of paint in its original color, with the iconic black stripes restored to their former glory. The exterior trim will also be meticulously restored or replaced to match the original specifications.
Engine: The engine will be rebuilt to deliver a powerful and reliable performance. The owner has expressed a desire for a power output between 400 and 600 horsepower. Fuel injection will be added for improved efficiency and responsiveness.
Transmission: A 5-speed manual transmission will be installed to provide a more engaging driving experience.
Suspension: The suspension will be upgraded with performance-oriented components, including coil-over shocks, sway bars, and subframe connectors. This will enhance handling and improve the car’s overall performance.
Interior: The interior will be restored to its original look and feel, with upgraded seats for added comfort. The owner also plans to add modern amenities such as upgraded gauges and a premium audio system.
Stay Tuned!
We’ll be documenting the restoration process on our blog and social media channels. Be sure to follow along as we transform this classic muscle car into a stunning example of automotive excellence.
Contact Us
If you’re interested in learning more about our services or discussing your own classic car restoration project, please contact us at 314.783.8325 or resto@v8speedshop.com. You can also visit our website at https://www.v8speedshop.com.
V8 Speed and Resto Shop Full Shop Tour Walk Through Video
Join us on a full-length tour of the V8 Speed and Resto Shop! You’ll see in-depth features of some of great completed restomod and pro-touring cars as we prepare them for the Muscle Car and Corvette Nationals, and works in progress in our mechanical department, metal fabrication shop, body shop, paint center, upholstery shop, engine machine shop, and more.
We’re fortunate for the opportunity to build such cool cars for great enthusiast customers around the world. If you have a classic car with its own story, we’d love to help bring it back to life, preserving what makes it special while restoring it to its full potential.
V8 Speed and Resto Shop 817 S. Main Street Red Bud, IL 62278 314783.8325 https://www.v8speedshop.com resto@v8speedshop.com
