Roberts 1969 Chevelle 454It was a GM A-body conundrum back when Robert was hunting for a new project— he was actually looking for a GTO when this wicked 1969 Chevy Chevelle popped up on Craigslist.

But it was priced right and in fine condition, so Robert promptly struck a deal and took the Chevelle home.

When he bought the car, it was wearing orange paint with black stripes. Under the hood was a small block Chevy 350 backed by a Chevy TH350 transmission.

After a few years of enjoying the car as-is, Robert decided to change things up, starting with the motor.

“I purchased a 454 big block from a man that built it for jet boat racing,” Robert says. He and his father did the swap themselves, pulling the 350 and stuffing in the 454.

The engine features cast oval port heads, a Melling hydraulic flat tappet cam, COMP roller rocker arms, and an Edelbrock Air Gap intake manifold with a Holley 770 Street Avenger carburetor.

The big block Chevy’s exhaust exits though ceramic-coated long tube headers, a Pypes X-pipe, and a pair of Flowmaster Super 40 mufflers.

Tuns out, the engine build was the easy part.

“My wife and I racked our brains trying to pick a color that would be unique,” Robert tells us. “We decided on 2013 Dodge Viper ‘Stryker Red’ Tri-Coat and we deleted the deck stripes.”

Paint and body work was handled by a friend of Robert’s, and he says the car has only been out of the paint shop for a few weeks.

“My wife and I enjoy this car for our car club (Coastal Hot Rodz) cruise-ins and car shows around eastern North Carolina,” Robert reports.

We’re glad to hear that Robert and his family are enjoying the Chevy—congratulations on being named our Top Fan Ride of October 2017!

Other fast specs on Robert’s 1969 Chevy Chevelle:

Brakes: Stock drums (rear), SSBC slotted disc conversion (front)

Transmission: GM TH350 with 3,000-stall TCI converter, operated by a B&M Megashifter

Rear End: 10-bolt Positraction with 3.73 gears

Chassis: Stock GM with Hotchkis handling package

Gauges: AutoMeter

Wheels: American Racing Torque Thrust with Goodyear Eagle tires

Robert's Chevelle Before

Here’s what Robert’s Chevelle looked like when he bought it.

Robert's Chevelle 454

The 454 Chevy big block that now lives in Robert’s Chevelle was originally built for jet boat racing.

Robert's Chevelle Emblem

Robert's Chevelle Engine Bay (10)

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Author: Paul Sakalas

Paul is the editor of OnAllCylinders. When he's not writing, you'll probably find him fixing oil leaks in a Jeep CJ-5 or roof leaks in an old Corvette ragtop. Thanks to a penchant for vintage Honda motorcycles, he spends the rest of his time fiddling with carburetors and cleaning chain lube off his left pant leg.