Member: Larry Lerminiaux
Car: 1971 Chevelle
Car: 1971 Chevelle
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My love of Chevelle’s began in the late 60’s when I worked at an A & W in Edmonton. I used to drool at all the Muscle Cars that would cruise the lot on Friday and Saturday evenings. The look…the sound…and of course the fine looking “babes” riding in the passenger seat. My favourite cars were the Chevelle’s.
My first love was a 1967 SS 396 that a good buddy owned. All original of course but then they all were original back then. Then came the 1970 LS6. My dream car. I vowed that I would one day own one of these cars!
As the years passed I never lost the desire to own a classic Chevelle. After my wife Annette and I raised our family and saw our two boys graduate university my desire grew stronger. I always kept an eye out for my dream car but never pursued any particular car. I wanted an LS6 but could not afford the cost for a restored LS6.
Then in January of 2003 I came across a 1971 Chevelle on Ebay. An excellent looking restoration….but not an original car. One of the best SS clones that I had ever seen. I was hooked on this car. After seeing the car and some negotiating we struck a deal and I had the car shipped to Calgary. I think Jeff had a tear in his eye as I backed the car from his driveway.
The cars creator is a mechanic (Jeff) from Winnipeg. Jeff transformed this car into a SS 454 over a 4 year period of time. No expense was spared in the frame off restoration. This car started life as a 1971 Chevelle Malibu 307 c.i. automatic and became a SS 454 c.i. Turbo 400 automatic.
Here are some of the details of the restoration:
- The frame was sand blasted and epoxy coated.
- The body was striped soda blasted and epoxy coated.
- The body and frame was then painted black with Sikkens base clear.
- The interior is new and black in color.
- All suspension parts are painted base clear or chrome plated.
- The steering gear and column are the only rebuilt parts on this car. Everything else is new.
- The engine is a .020 over 454 with FM 10.5-1 pistons, forged steel crank, ARP hardware, Miloden pan and pick-up, Crower Cam and lifters, Crower SS roller rockers and SS 2.19-1.
- Valves are 88 Manley with Crower valve springs, retainers, locks and rotators.
- Heads are 781 castings ported and polished.
- Block was line bored, deck was trued, crank polished and strokes trued. Complete assembly was balanced.
- Intake is a Holly Strip Dominator with an 850 CFM Carb.
- The motor makes 550 HP.
- The drive shaft is a Bears Chrome Moly.
- The rear end is a twelve-bolt posi with Richmond 411 gears. The axles are Moser.
- Option Codes Description
- The transmission is a Turbo 400 with H/D clutches and B&M shift kit. The converter is a TCS-SPS 3800. The ring gear is a B&M SFI.
- The exhaust has Hooker ceramic-coated headers feeding into 2.5” pipes with Pro Flow mufflers and factory tips.
This car won Best of Show, Best Chevy and Outstanding in Class a few years ago at the World of Wheels in Winnipeg. Recent appraisals have rated this car 98 out of 100. The best time at the track was 11.7 @ 114 MPH. This time was achieved in Winnipeg. This car shows really well and gets lots of attention whenever I take her to Show & Shines.
I call her Black Pearl because it shines like a pearl and I consider her to be very precious. This car delivers great Smiles per Gallon! Now I have a car to take to the local A & W on Cruise Nights with my “Babe” just like the guy’s did back in the late 60’s!!