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THE AUTO BUILDER
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FREDDIE’S ’55
Once a West Coast gasser, this ’55 Chevy made its way to Lebanon, Ohio, thanks to longtime Chevy enthusiast Freddie Green. That was back in 1978, when his son Jason was just four years old. Fast forward a few years, and Jason, professing to be a Chevy man since birth, took ownership of the car from his father at the age of 10.
WHAT A CONCEPT
After recently purchasing a ’62 Thunderbird, it became obvious very quickly that the car needed a new engine. Our plan was to turn the car into a daily driver, and so, as long as we needed a new engine, we figured we’d add air conditioning to the car while we were at it. And if you really know your Ford history, you also know that the ’62 was the last model T-bird to come with a generator rather than an alternator—one more reason to consider an upgrade.
1175 HP
This engine, and others like it, has opened up a brand-new chapter in the ever-evolving, wild world of Chevrolet power. By design it has a bore and stroke of 4.60 inches by 4.25 inches and Big Chief II heads, which are about 2 inches taller, that feature oval-shaped intake ports. This, they say, is for maximum cylinder filling. Years ago, creative racers would angle-mill heads to arrive at the desired combustion chamber size and to improve the valve angle in combination with the incoming intake flow. These heads are nicknamed “11-degree” heads, as they have been designed with a built-in 11-degree angle right out of the box. There’s no angle milling needed here. A special valvetrain is necessary, along with longer stem valves. Quarter Mile Performance feels that these heads are worth 200 additional horsepower over the very best “shorter” heads.
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CHEVELLE MEMORIES
This ’65 Chevelle Has Been Redone and Looks Better Than the Day Dad Brought It Home From the Dealership
“If these four walls could only talk, what great stories they could tell” is an old adage that is certainly apropos from a historical perspective. In the context that we Americans have an ongoing love affair with the automobile, it could also be said that if a classic car could only talk, it could tell some pretty great stories as well!"
Author
Bob McClurg
Story and Photography
A Family Treasure: The Story Behind the ’65 Chevelle Malibu
If that were the case, Bow Tie enthusiast Joseph Andrew “Andy” Viduarri of Lakewood, Colorado, owns an ’04 Cadillac Crimson Red metallic-painted ’65 Chevelle Malibu that would speak in volumes. This car evokes many fond memories of happier, less complicated times. You see, the ’65 has been in the Viduarri family since it was brand-new, but we’ll let Andy tell the rest of the story.
A Lifetime of Memories
“My father purchased this car brand-new from Hajek Chevrolet, located in Longmont, Colorado. The Chevelle was originally powered by a 283/2-bbl and Powerglide transmission. I have a lot of fond memories with that car. I rode to school in it, I got my driver’s license with it, and I even dated in it,” he says.
Transformation into a Street Machine
In 1986, Andy inherited his father’s prized possession but didn’t do anything with it until 1998. “It was then that I slowly started transforming it into the awesome street machine it has since become,” he says.
Suspension and Braking Upgrades
Completed on April 4, 2007, Andy’s Chevelle features Eibach muscle car front springs, a later-model Chevelle 1-1/4-inch front anti-sway bar, Master Power front disc brakes, and KYB gas-charged front shocks. Out back, the ’65 features a Ford Explorer disc brake-equipped, 3.70:1-geared Currie 9+ live rear axle with Eibach muscle car rear springs and KYB gas-charged shocks.
Wheels and Tires
Wheels and tires come in the form of a set of briefly produced 15×7.5-inch Edelbrock five-spoke aluminum wheels rolling on P225/60xZR15 front and P275/60×15 rear Yokohama high-performance radial rubber.
The Engine: A ZZ4 Small-Block Beast
Sitting inside a fully detailed and wireless engine compartment is a 2004 vintage, 10:1-compression, GM Performance Parts ZZ4 350cid small-block crate engine featuring a ZZ4 single-plane cast aluminum 4-bbl intake manifold with a 1-inch carburetor plate and K&N-filtered 600cfm Holley carburetor. The HEI ignition system fires everything up while Hedman headers and Flowmaster 40 mufflers handle the exhaust. Also on board are a set of Tru-Trac billet aluminum engine pulleys and a Power Master billet aluminum 100-amp alternator. Backing all this up are a Hurst-assisted Muncie M21 close-ratio four-speed transmission and Centerforce II clutch.
Custom Body and Paint
Andy also performed all of the paint and bodywork on the ’65 right at home in his garage. The Chevelle features shaved door handles and pop locks. The extruded aluminum grille insert has been painted black, and the car is also equipped with a set of Snake Eyes halogen headlights.
A Lavish Interior
Inside, Denver’s Auto Weave Upholstery lavished the interior and trunk in tan soft leather with matching tan wool carpeting. The revitalized Chevelle also makes use of an Auto Meter-equipped Covan’s Classic dash, GM six-way-tilt steering column with late-model Camaro steering wheel attached, A/C, and tinted glass.
A Beauty on the Streets of Denver
Completed at a cost of $60,000 over a three-year time period, Andy’s Chevelle gets driven to all the local cruise nights around the Greater Denver area. It garners attention wherever it goes, which is no big surprise. This car is a real beauty.
