HEMI WITH AN ACCENT
December 12, 2025
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THE AUTO BUILDER
Featured
hired gun
Shops such as Barry’s Speed Shop can take a brand-new, stock vehicle and turn it into a rolling showcase, and do it in a short amount of time. Many of our readers are familiar with Barry White’s “Wrecks to Riches” TV show, as well as the many technical stories we have presented on the work he has done. So when the owners of a company contact White they know they’ll get a vehicle that will attract attention, and it will be built by a shop that makes building outstanding custom vehicles its only business (well, that and being TV stars).
445HP GM TARGETMASTER
Some Years Ago, Chevrolet Began Lowering Engine Compression (To 8.50:1) In An Effort To Meet Tailpipe Emissions Numbers. It Also Retarded Camshaft Timing In An Effort To Lower NOX (Nitrides Of Oxygen/Unburned Particulates). By 1974, Horsepower, Torque And Overall Engine Efficiency Had Dropped Some 30 Percent To 50 Percent. Chevy’s RPO L48 And LM1 350 Small-Block V-8s Then Got A Flow-Restrictive Catalytic Converter In 1975, And Finally In 1985, A New Monolith Catalytic Converter, As Well As Direct-Port Fuel Injection And Improved Camshaft Timing, Boosted Horsepower, Torque And Engine Efficiency.
For-ward Thinking
Those who know Ottawa, Kansas Roger Ward are almost certainly aware of his dry wit, his candid demeanor and his unique ability to create understated cars, one after the other. His talent in applying the most understated details to relatively unsung vehicles provides a lesson for us all that the best way to make a strong statement is to say as little as possible and do it your own way.
While his daily duties revolved around reworked body panels and refining those efforts with a paint gun, his lifelong hobby has focused those skills on a series of cars that exudes the same laid-back character which can be enjoyed in this extremely subtle, yet equally eye-?catching, 64 short-wheelbase Chevy pickup. As with so many trucks of this era, previous owners didn’t worry too much about retaining its pristine originality. Dented and rusty, this truck had been through the proverbial ringer, which made this conversion that much more difficult to achieve. Then again, Ward’s particular talents have made a great deal out of lesser vehicles, so this would simply be another test of his talents and another example of the skills he wields.
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
