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.