OFF THE FARM
July 16, 2023
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THE AUTO BUILDER
Featured
Super-High Super Duty
Tall lift kits used to mean a rough ride. Times have changed—the suspension aftermarket has figured out how to accommodate huge meats without inflicting permanent kidney damage on the driver and passengers. Computer-modeling and other engineering advancements prioritize ride quality into the suspension design. Spring packs with more, thinner leafs is an example of how tall-truck suspension philosophy has evolved.
FROM ONE TO TWENTY-FOUR
While several different rod builders have created limited-production vehicles, few handled every aspect of the construction in-house, mainly because they thought it best to team up with other craftsmen to create certain aspects of their cars. While this takes nothing away from the quality or beauty of the cars they created, it does say a good deal about SAR. By keeping every aspect of the construction process in-house, SAR has been able to maintain personally set tolerances and control the design theme at every juncture, yet still build each car as if it were the only one. And because each of the Double Dozens is offered simply as a “roller,” the final results of each still depend heavily on the imagination, talent and individuality of their owners. In the end, each of these cars will be special in its own right, and we’ll be showing them to you in the months and years to come.
Spotlighter
EARLY-IMPALA LS2 SWAP
The Second Time Around Is Better Equipped to Be Even More Fun
Low in its architecture and functionally beautiful, the LS2 engine is an ideal replacement for a previous generation of Chevy powerplants. It offers good
performance, greatly improved economy and plenty of support from an industry leaders.
Author
Stephen K. Anderson
Photography Courtesy of Street & Performance
A New Era for Classic Chevys
We know time is passing when Chevys that were hot-rodded years ago are being rebuilt yet again. Modified longer than they were stock, cars such as Tom Stott’s ’66 Impala are being brought back to better fit the times with alternate drivetrains with amazing capability and style designed from the start to attract new generations of enthusiasts.
Leading the Charge: Street & Performance
Stott works for Street & Performance, a long-established leader in new-generation electronic-controlled powerplants and related hardware. In addition to its array of late-model engines and representative engine installation kits, S&P is a virtual superstore of the latest and coolest components. S&P designs and manufactures a wide range of specialized products for many generations of cars—many in-house—and it also provides all the cool polished billet accessories to finish off those projects.
The Enthusiast’s Drive
Stott is, and always has been, a car enthusiast, and while his ’66 Impala hadn’t lost its appeal, it was in need of an update. Already fit with a Tuned Port Injected 350 Chevy engine, which had done its duty for some time, Stott decided that a new-generation LS2 was in order, extricated from a crashed and burned GTO. It was fortunate that Stott knew the capability of the company he works for, and understands the products Street & Performance builds to tackle just such a modern drivetrain swap. Thus, along with his friend Guy, he had no qualms about tackling this upgrade, and he was able to manage this modernization with virtually no hassles.
The Engine Swap: Out with the Old, In with the New
The previously faithful engine was first yanked out, and then the surrounding engine compartment was detailed and readied for the changes to come. Fortunately, the LS2 engine requires a bit less room than its predecessor, and with the tips utilized here, it all came off without a hitch—in fact, in only a matter of hours. The engine fired up with the first twist of the key—no starter buttons here—and the trans found all the right gears, making Stott feel mighty good about tackling his revitalized ’66 Impala in the first place. Now there’s one more old Chevy that is well equipped for another generation of rodding fun.
EDITOR’S NOTE
Street & Performance, Inc. sadly closed its doors back in 2016, but have no worries. Whether you’re hunting for parts for your LS swap or you’re starting from scratch and need the complete package, the experts at Gandrud Performance Parts have you covered with top-notch gear and killer service.
ARTICLE SOURCES
Street & Performance - CLOSED
1 Hot Rod Ln.
Mena, AR 71953
479/394-5711
