1965 Cadillac * Joe Spilski Jr. * Greenville, WI
Details are kind of sketchy in Joe Spilski's letter, but apparently something turned him on to this odd barn find he picked up 14 years ago for $900. "I liked the way the body was modified," writes Joe in reference to the funeral flower-car styling of the Cadillac-cum-El Camino. Another tantalizing piece of information passed along by the previous owner: the owner before him alleges the Caddy was owned by none other than Evel Knievel. Over the years, Joe has pushed it out of the garage in warmer months to work on, then storing it once winter arrives. Recently, he finished a big piece of the puzzle by securing the services of Performance Engineering, which built a total frame, rollcage, and narrowed rear with a four-link. Says Joe: "There is still lots to be done!"
| By The Numbers |
| Engine: | 429ci Cadillac |
| Transmission: | Turbo 400 |
| Suspension: | Performance Engineering |
| Interior: | sheetmetal aluminum |
| Exhaust: | custom headers |
| Wheels: | Centerline 15x15 |
| Tires: | Goodyear Eagle slicks (17x33x15) |
1981 Pontiac Trans Am * Robert Jensen * Scotch Plains, NJ
"I have always dreamed of having my first car in a prestigious magazine like PHR, and planned someday to submit it, however, I figured that day was a long way off. Thus, I was thrilled to see your solicitation for reader projects, so here it goes!" Robert Jensen bought his '81 Special Edition Trans Am before he had ever heard of Smokey & The Bandit, and it was his daily driver until 1994. "The original 305 served me well for years, and when my parent's '77 Impala station wagon rusted away, it left behind a very low mileage 350 GM Goodwrench engine," writes Robert. While it's out, he plans to rebuild it, and endow it with an Edelbrock Performer RPM Power Package consisting of a roller cam, aluminum heads, and Air Gap intake manifold.
| By The Numbers |
| Engine: | 350ci Vortec small-block |
| Induction: | Edelbrock Performer RPM Power Package |
| Transmission: | Tremec five-speed |
| Ignition: | MSD |
| Suspension: | factory WS6 |
| Interior: | Corbeau seats |
| Wheels: | Snowflake wheels from Year One (17x8) |
1985 Chevy S-10 * Adam Moore * Buford, GA
After a run-in with an old Mercury back in May of 2000, Adam Moore decided to take the transmission and motor out of his wrecked '95 Camaro, and stick it in his S-10 truck. The swap is a common one, especially down south, and plenty of technical advice on the Internet gave Adam the leg up. In the nine years since Adam first performed the swap, he's refined his driveline, computer programming, and wiring harness. He's also installed gauges, a cowl hood, roll pan, custom driveshaft, a pile of suspension parts, new Camaro SS wheels, Mezier electric water pump, cold-air induction, Aeromotive fuel-pressure regulator, and disc brakes from a C5 Corvette. Finally, in the spring of 2008, Adam's C-10 made its road course debut with some paced "hot laps" at the Year One Experience!