Introducing my '69 Chevelle

[68Formula]

But did you ever Hellaflush it?

[Barrrf]

Sweeeeeeeeeet.

But 4L60e tho?

[gmorris]

Sweeeeeeeeeet.

But 4L60e tho?

Why not? I'm not launching it with slicks so it should survive. Twist/phoenix says it's good to 600ft-lbs with the build they did. Going to an 80 just makes it harder to stuff in the tunnel.

[gmorris]

Photoshoot with a friend's Impala. Thanks to @sam_orr1 for the pics. Follow him on instagram for some great photography.

[bonecrrusher]

That thing is bad ass.

[amoosenamedhank]

Not to steal your thunder, because your car looks amazing.... but any details on the Impala?

[gmorris]

The Impala is a buddy's. '66 with a 468 and muncie 4 speed on bags. It's a work in progress and needs interior and paint but is a sweet car.

[killer396]

That Chevelle looks amazing, it was what inspired my build I saw it on team chevelle a few years ago and I now have it as my screen back ground. It sucks about the accident but we are all very glad that you could make the best of it. Please let all of us know if you are coming to an event in the us some time all of us would love to see it in person!!!

[gmorris]

Thanks! I have to say I'm in love with this drivetrain. As much as I loved the pure brutality and top end power of the 540 the LS3 is just so much more civilized. I've been driving it to work most days and sitting in traffic etc is no problem, gets 21mpg on the highway and is still bloody fast. I've put more miles on it in the last month than I did the first 3 years it was on the road. I'm somewhat regretting not doing the 4l80 because the idea of a blower is always in the back of my head but I should just stop with what's working lol. I have a lot of small stuff to clean up over the winter...finish the console, some wiring and switch cleanup, maybe build a better dash insert, new tires, etc etc.

[youngmuscle]

Man what a bad ass build. I love my 454 and Holley efi combo, but I hear ya on the gas lol. I'm still tuning so hoping it gets better. Idk if I'll ever go LS, I've considered that same 540 for a while as an upgrade eventually. I like the seats and noticed you have the stock buckles which are way better than some that have the big plastic seat belt modules with the red button (I hate modern plastic in the interior lol). What was your personal best with the Holley efi as far as gas mileage? And is the handling that much more noticeable? Just curious as we have pretty much the same set up lol. I drive mine every day, rain or shine, until they salt the roads soon.

Really sorry to hear about the accident, and your a hell of a guy to Soldier on like that. All in all really inspiring. Keep up the posts!

[Auto Rod Technologies]

Sweet looking car!!!

[Motown 454]

The car looks awesome. I'm wishing for a TSP 416 or 427 for my Camaro. Did you but the turn key package ?

[gmorris]

The car looks awesome. I'm wishing for a TSP 416 or 427 for my Camaro. Did you but the turn key package ?

Yup, the turnkey 418 ls3 630HP package with an autokraft pan (needed some dimpling for tie rod ends but lots of crossmember clearance), corvette accessories and holley valve covers with the angled coil mounts. They missed their promised ship date by about a month which really screwed me but the build seems quality so far.

[gmorris]

What was your personal best with the Holley efi as far as gas mileage? And is the handling that much more noticeable? Just curious as we have pretty much the same set up lol. I drive mine every day, rain or shine, until they salt the roads soon.

I didn't check it much after I put the efi on it but I would guess 12-15mpg if I babied it. Now I'm consistently getting 21mpg highway and about 17 in the city...nuts. The handling with the air ride is pretty much the same as it was before but it rides so much better so it's a great compromise.

[85coupe50]

That thing is super nice! I hope my friends car turns out half as nice.

[ibcreativeone]

Gary, Great looking Chevelle. Question. do you have any problems with the back tires rubbing. What size are your wheels and tires and what is the wheel back spacing. Looks like you did not mini tub the car. Thanks for your help!!!

Butch

[gmorris]

Gary, Great looking Chevelle. Question. do you have any problems with the back tires rubbing. What size are your wheels and tires and what is the wheel back spacing. Looks like you did not mini tub the car. Thanks for your help!!!

Butch

No, I have no rubbing anywhere at normal ride height. Backspacing off the top of my head is 5.5 front with the 9.5" wheel and 6.5 rear with an 11" wheel., I really thought I would be tight to the frame if anything in the rear but I have some room on the inside and about a finger between the tire and fender lip. Tubbing a chevelle does nothing unless you also narrow the rear frame rails...which I didn't. Tire clearance is stock aside form jonny joints and poly bushings to keep the rear dif from moving around much.

[gmorris]

I guess a mini update is in order. The summer was successful after the engine swap and I did about 2500 miles in 2 months. Unfortunately the last couple drives were bad...I hit a deer on the highway and blew the whole front end off. Bumper, griller, all trim, header panel, passenger fender, passenger door and front edge of hood damaged. It will go to the body shop in a couple weeks here. I also had a truck in front of me kick up a piece of concrete that tumbled and made it under my front xmember. It rolled and punched up into the tranny pan. It wasn't leaking bad so I drove it home and when I pulled the pan I realized it had broken the filter pickup and starved the tranny. I have now lost 3rd and 4th from the 4l60 and it will have to come out. Finally, the stock c6 corvette PS pump finally died from the hydroboost load and a bit of restriction in the intake hose. As a result I have done a lot of work...new turn one pump and filtered PSC reservoir and a full re-plumb, ordered a stage 2 4l80e from north texas converter along with a triple disc converter to handle wot lockup. I also did a full new stock gage panel with VHX gages and installed a console from classic truck consoles with all switches and controller mounted on it. Finally Tobin at Kore3 hooked me up with a Z51 brake setup and i stuffed as much brake as possible front and rear. I will post update pics soon!

I also dumped the RnD fabrication radiator that could not handle the 418 even with the upgraded 17" fan. It ran on the verge of overheating (230 ish) all summer and the fan never stopped. I went to a C&R racing module and now it runs beautifully at 195 with no other changes and the fans rarely even cut in.

[deejai35]

Sorry to hear about the rough turn of events, but glad you are getting it back together with improvements. Your car is one of my favorites!

[gmorris]

Yeah I'm starting tho think this car is cursed...2 frames, 2 engines, 3 tranny's, 3 full suspensions, 3 radiators, 2 interiors.