Engine: gen III 426ci Hemi, 627 hp
Trans: Chrysler with TCI paddle shifters
Suspension: AlterKation front suspension, four-link rear with Panhard bar rear, adjustable sway bars
Brakes: Wilwood, 13-inch with six-piston calipers
Wheels & Tires: 18x10 and 20x12, style TBD
Trend: Bolt-in IRS systems for muscle cars
Heidts Hot Rod and Muscle Car parts has been on a bender lately working to bring their well-known IRS and IFS suspensions to the muscle car market with several bolt-in designs debuting in the past few years. Solid axles have their place, but it’s hard to beat the smooth ride of IRS on rough surfaces. Looking to expand their application list, Heidts enlisted Route 66 Motorsports and their recently launched Pro Ride Performance Car series to build this Chevy II as the testing and development mule for their new Pro G front subframe. It’s a particularly interesting project for Route 66’s Bill Jelinek, since ’66-67 Novas have always been one of his favorites.
Though it’ll make the car show rounds at events like Goodguys and the Car Craft Summer Nationals, just like their ’70 Camaro that was used to test their bolt-in second-gen F-body IRS, Heidts plans on proving their Chevy II parts through autocross and SCCA events.
Rearend: Ford 9-inch with 3:50 gears and 31-spline axles
Suspension: Heidts Pro G front with four-link rear
Brakes: Wilwood 12-inch four-piston
Wheels & Tires: 18x8 and 18x10 Billet Specialties with 255/35R18 and 295/35R18
Trend: Vintage muscle returning to daily duties
Robert Turner came to Schwartz Performance with one thing in mind—he wanted a good driver. No really, he plans to take this SportsRoof on the Power Tour, autocross it at Goodguys events, and drive it to work every day. To make it livable as a ’11 Mustang, a new Coyote 302 complete with supercharger was ordered up from Ford Racing. Modern handling, braking, and structural rigidity were requisite, so a complete Schwartz Performance chassis was an easy decision for him. Tuner needs to arrive fresh and relaxed at the office, so a fresh interior with Vintage Air, a high-end sound/navigation system, and power windows are in the cards as well. When it’s finished it’ll have all the modern goodies we want from a new car, plus tons of power and slot-car handling—or as the guys at Schwartz like to say, “a good driver.”
Engine: 624hp Coyote 5.0 with FRPP blower
Trans: Tremec T56 Magnum six-speed
Rearend: full-floating 9-inch with 3.70 gears
Suspension: Schwartz Performance full frame dual-wishbone with coilovers
Rear suspension: triangulated four-link by Schwartz Performance
Brakes: Wilwood 13-inch with six-piston calipers
Wheels & Tires: 18x9 and 19x12.5 Forgelines with BFG KDWs
Project name: Black Widow
Trend: Paying homage without cloning
In February 1957, black-and-white fuel-injected Chevy 150 two-door sedans appeared at NASCAR’s National Speed Weeks in Daytona. Dubbed the “Black Widows,” these SEDCO (Southern Engineering and Development Co.) prepped cars were an instant hit with fans and racers. Buck Baker even drove one to win the national championship. Nevertheless, by June 6, 1957, SEDCO ceased operation due to a pending congressional resolution regarding manufacturers that supported “racing activities” that may lead to reckless street driving. No one seems to know for sure how many cars were built by SEDCO; if there were official records, they didn’t survive.