Words: Tommy Parry
Nelson and his family sought out a project that would serve him well on autocross courses, and turned to a friend who had a Chevelle collecting dust. Though twenty-six years of neglect had left the car in disrepair, its life in arid Arizona and California meant only a few spots of rust — and the straight frame only sweetened the deal.
It had seen better days, but Nelson, his brother and his father all enjoy a challenge. They smoothed the frame down to spruce it up slightly, then had it blasted and powercoated. With a set of Ridetech Stage II coilovers, swaybars and new steering tie rods, they lowered the machine and increased the car’s agility. Lastly, they added a heftier twelve-bolt rear end to better administer the power from the proposed small block powerplant.
After getting the body sandblasted, the Wallace family stumbled upon some of the terrible bodywork done in the eighties. Chicken wire and bondo filling some of the fenders, a shifter hole that looked like it had been cut with tin snips… It wasn’t a pretty sight. After some fist-banging and obligatory swearing, they solved the rust issues and straightened the bodywork. Then they sprayed the firewall with DP90 to help the motor stand out and added a coat of Lizard Skin sound and heat insulation inside to contribute to a calmer, quieter, more luxurious experience.
To help the car decelerate and rotate nicely, they grabbed a set of ‘98-’02 LS1 Camaro rear discs and a new set of rotors for peanuts. Kore3 stainless lines improve the consistency of the brakes, and up front, C6 Z51 ‘Vette brakes — with a very stylish logo — perform the lion’s share of the stopping forces. A Wilwood proportioning valve further helps with braking balance.
After lots of deliberation, the Wallace family decided on a set of rollers and added a set of TSW Cadwell wheels in 18″ x 9.5″, then wrapped them in Bridgestone Potenza S-04 in 275/35r18. A square setup gave them an incisive, happy-to-rotate machine — perfect for autocrossing.
They then mated a 350 SBC engine, covered in a coat of Grabber Orange, to a Lakewood scatter shield, a Richmond six-speed gearbox and a Centerforce clutch. There are also an MSD ignition system, an Afco radiator and dual Maradyne 12” fans. Lastly, a FiTech fuel injection unit with a Tanks Inc. fuel system aided in driveability and freed up a few more ponies. With a set of BMW E34 headlights fitted, their Chevelle was starting to look like a genuine car.
Soon thereafter, Nelson took his Chevelle on its first trip to the autocross, where the long gears and open differential kept him from running at his best. Though the car was wonderfully reliable and capable, those issues held him back — and being the perfectionist he is, he ordered a set of Richmond 3.73 gears and a Detroit Trutrac differential to aid in acceleration.
On went a coat of PPG Deltron “Platinum Ice” white, some grey/silver checkerboard accents and red pinstriping. Next, a ducktail spoiler and a set of LED sequential tail lights made a few subtle changes that, in person, provide the viewer with gobs of details over which to salivate. With a bit of color buffing, new bumpers and a airbrushed Chevelle badge, this no longer looked like a project car, but rather a show-stopper, ready for SEMA.
After adding a set of slightly toasted Subaru Impreza STI seats from a car that was very obviously on fire at one point, they had given their pro tourer seats that were supportive and stylish — provided they reupholstered them. A two-piece removable rollbar, coated in dark gray paint, is the only other sporty adornment inside the cabin. Other than that, it’s quite subdued.
In the coming months, the Wallace family plans to attend the Loveland Good Guys show, continue their autocrossing efforts and eventually stick a 383 stroker in the bay. It’s been a long haul, but they’ve proven that with several decades of combined experience, commitment, high standards and an appreciation of a little flair can produce a stunning piece of automotive artwork.
