Cooler Runnin’
July 16, 2023
THE AUTO BUILDER
Featured
Great News for Builders: EPA Recognizes SEMA Certified-Emissions
The agency has officially recognized SEMA Certified-Emissions as a legitimate way for manufacturers to demonstrate compliance with federal emissions standards. Translation? Companies now have another legal path to sell emissions-compliant performance parts in 49 states.
628HP LS7X BUILD
Some of the greatest feelings in life come with a rise in rpm, a dropped clutch and tests of traction stretching the boundaries of our physiology. These are the emotions many of us cherish, and while many factors can evoke such emotions, the single most influential force behind these kinetic kicks is torque (which is then equated into horsepower).
Let’s Look
The growing popularity of nostalgia and rat rods, along with the aging of street rodders, has meant the rebirth of vintage engines. Rocket Oldsmobiles, Buick nailheads, Y-block Fords and Chrysler Hemis are being chosen over the “bellybutton” Chevrolet small-block. Even some small-block Chevrolet engines are getting old-time flavor by using generators–some of which have been internally modified as alternators–early blocks and heads, three-deuce setups and even adapting Oldsmobile valve covers to look like something they are not.
Spotlighter
GOD OF FIRE CORVETTE
This Big-Block ’66 Corvette Sting Ray Performs as Well as It Looks
“Corvette Bill” Bartenstein and his son, Bill Jr., are renowned around the state of Hawaii—more specifically Kailua—for their car-building talents. But that’s not all—at the 2007 Barrett-Jackson auction at Scottsdale, Arizona, a candy-blue Bartenstein-built ’69 Pro Touring Camaro fetched a record $182,000. It just so happens that this Firemist Red ’66 Corvette Sting Ray resto rod—another Bartenstein creation—rolled across the B-J auction block that same weekend and sold for an incredible $130,000. So what makes a Bartenstein-built car so attractive? Let’s take a closer look.
Author
Bob McClurg
Words & Photography
The Transformation of a Classic Corvette
According to Bartenstein Sr.: “We started out with an original 78,000-mile, one-owner 327 small-block Corvette. In fact, the same guy had owned the car for over 35 years. The car was a great driver but still had that ’60s look, so we removed the body from the frame and repainted and replaced just about everything.”
Powering Up with a ZZ502 Engine
For example, the Bartensteins replaced the original 327 with a 9.5:1-compression GM Performance Parts ZZ502, which produces over 500 hp. Although it’s stock internally, tune-up parts include an Edelbrock intake, a Holley 750cfm double-pumper carb and an MSD Pro-Billet electronic ignition system. Vintage Air climate control and serpentine engine pulleys, Year One ceramic-coated block-hugger headers and a pair of NOS Corvette side pipes complete the system. Backing it all up is an M22 four-speed equipped with a Centerforce clutch. A Be Cool four-core aluminum radiator and electric fan assembly handle engine cooling.
Upgraded Chassis and Suspension
Modifications to the chassis include a Vette Brakes & Products (VBP) tubular upper and lower A-arm/fiberglass mono-leaf suspension setup. Other updates to the front include VBP rack-and-pinion steering, a set of six-piston cross-drilled and slotted-rotor 14-inch VBP front disc brakes, and a VBP 1-1/4-inch front anti-sway bar.
Out back, the ’66 was updated to a 3.70:1-geared, late-model, single-mono-leaf-spring Corvette IRS equipped with VBP coilover rear shocks, a VBP 3/4-inch anti-sway bar and four-piston VBP cross-drilled and slotted-rotor rear disc brakes. Wheels and tires are 20×8-inch (front) and 20×10-inch (rear) Boyd Coddington wheels rolling on P245/40×20-inch BFGoodrich g-Force radial T/A rubber (front) and P295/35×20-inch BFGoodrich g-Force radial T/A rubber (rear).
A Flawless Paint Job and Exterior Modifications
Bill Bartenstein Jr. is renowned around the island for his incredible paint jobs, and the PPG candy-apple-red basecoat/clearcoat paint job on this Corvette backs that reputation. Prior to paint, Bartenstein flared both the front and rear fenders just as it was done in the ’60s, added a third taillight for a total of six, and installed a ’67 454 Corvette big-block hood.
Custom Interior Enhancements
Inside, the Corvette features the talents of island upholsterer Bob Arkus with its black-and-red ZR1 Corvette seats, door panels and headliner. Also along for the ride is the aforementioned Vintage Air climate control, a set of late-model Corvette electric windows and a Custom Autosound AM/FM Corvette radio. This is one nice Corvette!
