December 2001 Feature Car

 

 
Member:  John Smith
Year: 1969
Engine: New Big Block 396/325 H.P.
Transmission: Munci M20 4-Speed
Rear End: 3.08 Gears 
Options:  Power Steering, Power Brakes, Console Gauges
Story: 
December means Winter is upon us.  Time to start working on those large and small items to make your car better.  This month we change pace and feature a car in the project stage.  John Smith is the proud owner of this 1969 SS396 clone, affectionately nicknamed the Texas Tornado.  He purchased the car in January of 2000 and has been improving it ever since.  John has done lots of research on the car and some great modifications too.  He has found out the car is originally a LA built car with Daytona Yellow paint and Ivory interior.  It had the D90 hockey stripe and a vinyl top.  The car now sports a 1968 396/325hp big block with 1970 vintage corvette heads.  John likes to take the car to the track when given the chance and has run a 1/8 mile best of 9.03 at 82 mph.  Since acquiring the car, John has improved performance by adding an Edelbrock 750 cfm carb, Performer 2-0 Intake, Mallory dual point distributor and coil,  Accel spark plug wires and Bosch Platinum plugs, Headman headers and Pro-Flo mufflers and 2-1/2” exhaust.   Handling was brought to ease by adding Competition polyurethane bushings, traction bars, air shocks, new springs all the way around, power steering, new idler and pitman arms, upper and lower bushings and ball joints.  Other performance adders include power brakes, Hurst Shifter, Weiand hi flow aluminum water pump and 4 core radiator.  Finally to make the heads turn, John installed Deluxe woodgrain pieces, a new woodgrain shroud and SS steering wheel,  a working 4800/7000 factory tach, new console gauges, chrome water pump housing, Moroso wire separators, chrome one wire alternator and bracket, braided hoses and belts, new roof rail seals and a cowl induction hood.  Nice job John.  John hopes to have the car completed sometime next year.  Of course, we all know that you are never really done with these great cars.