1963 Chevy II SS
Norm Kranz Jr. Green Bay, WI
We always love to see entries in our annual Readers’ Projects issue show up later in finished form. Norm Kranz’s ’63 Chevy II was featured in the Aug. ’10 issue with much work left to do, and now it’s a stunner in a custom PPG Pearl Orange. Of course creating and spraying custom paint potions is easy for Norm since he works as a painter in a local Ford dealership. The goal was to make a fun street cruiser to take to the local spots and shows, and so far on his trips Norm has learned more about the Chevy II’s history. It was a project originally started back in the ’80s by a local speed shop (since closed), and eventually sold to the guy Norm purchased it from. Apparently it just sat in his garage untouched the whole time. Norm is determined that won’t ever happen to the Chevy II again though; he plans to spend a lot of time on the street with it and eventually get it to the track as well.
Engine: 454ci big-block Chevy with ported cast-iron heads and larger valves, COMP cam, Edelbrock RPM Air-Gap intake and Holley 770-cfm Street Avenger carb
Trans: Turbo 400 three-speed automatic with B&M Holeshot converter
Rearend: Ford 9-inch with Detroit Locker and 4.86 gears
Suspension: Mustang II-style front from JW Rod Shop, adjustable ladder bar rear with coilovers
Wheels Tires: 15x3 and 15x15 Ansen Sprint wheels with 26x7.5 and 32x17.5 Mickey Thompson ET Street tires
1973 Chevy Vega
Duncan Menzies, Delta, British Columbia
Engine: ’86 vintage 305ci small-block Chevy (RPO L69) with worked stock heads, Edelbrock Performer intake, COMP Cams Extreme Energy 268 cam, and Edelbrock 600-cfm carb
Trans: Turbo 350 three-speed automatic
Rearend: Monza 7.5-inch posi rear with 3.73 gears
Suspension: V-8 Monza suspension, front and rear, with ’72 Nova coilover rear shocks
Wheels & Tires: Centerline 15x3.5 and 15x8.5 Autodrag wheels, Michelin 165/60R15 and 215/60R15 tires
Cool Factoid: Until recently, Duncan’s Vega was spray-bombed flat black, but a friend with a boat-painting business gave him a screaming deal on a paintjob in the off-season. It was the first car he’d ever painted!
1967 Chevy Corvette
Joe Jaffoni, New York, NY
Engine: 502ci Chevrolet Performance ZZ502 big-block Chevy crate engine, roller cam (527/.544 lift 224/234 duration at .050), Edelbrock intake with Holley 850-cfm carb
Trans: Muncie M20 four-speed manual
Rearend: original IRS with 3.36 gears
Suspension: stock front with Vette brakes spring and polyurethane bushings, stock rear with seven-leaf Vette brake spring and polyurethane bushings
Wheels & Tires: 15x7 GM rally wheels with 225/60R15 BFGoodrich G-Force T/A tires
Cool Factoid: Joe’s daughter has claimed this Vette as hers from day one. His son is OK with that since he gets the ’69 427ci T-top Vette.
1957 Chevy Bel Air
Dominick Vendetto, Farmingville, NY
Engine: stock 283ci small-block Chevy with Edelbrock Performer intake and 600-cfm Edelbrock Performer carb
Trans: stock Powerglide two-speed automatic
Rearend: original rearend with 3.36 gears
Suspension: stock front and rear with Monroe Sensa-Trac shocks
Brakes: stock drums, front and rear
Wheels & Tires: 15x6 Cragar SS wheels with 215/65R15 BFGoodrich Radial T/A tires
Cool Factoid: Dominick gave up muscle cars and racing when he started a family, but 16 years later when his son wanted a ’69 Camaro for his first car he was inspired to get back into the hobby.