Joe Sapp (JHS's) 1971 SS 454 Chevelle

[Xplantdad]

<font color="red">Joe was nice enough to submit a few Members Rides for all to enjoy...so I will be periodically featuring his cars!

Thanks Joe!</font>

You were soliciting submissions for the member's rides section of the
sYc site so here are a few pics and brief description of the car for your
review:

In the summer of 2005 I was reading about GMPP's ZL1 all aluminum 454ci
crate motor and how there were very few of the 200 engines produced left. I
found one (#123) in Nebraska and bought it without having a car to put it
in. A few weeks later I ran across this 1971 Chevelle SS454 at a car show
and it was for sale. I purchased the car, pulled the NOM 454 and dropped the
ZL1 into it. I replaced the original fuel tank with a fiberglass tank from a
1998 Impala to accomodate the electric fuel pump, re-built the 3.31 posi
along with the TH400 tranny, added Hooker Headers, 3 stainless steel Flow
Master exhaust, aluminum drive shaft, Dakota digital gauges and a Custom
Autosound am/fm/CD stereo with 6 disc changer. Other than adding some
beefier tires, I left everything stock.

The car drives exceptionally well and sounds awsome. Other than tweaking a
few things to get the engine to fit and re-routing the air intake system I
had no problems with the implant. The engine dynoed at 550hp.

Thanks,
Joe

[SS427]

Very nice looking Chevelle Joe. The ZL-1 looks great mounted in there.
Rick

[YENKO DEUCE REGISTRY]

That ZL1 looks cool in there, I like the hi-rise manifold.

[71-LS6]

Nice.

[Z-11 396]

+++ JOE +++ THE CAR LOOK'S , ''' FANTASTIC ''', AND THE ENGINE IS A REAL /// KILLER ///, THANKS FOR SHARING THIS WITH US....KASEY ..

[Postsedan]

Joe,

Great looking Chevelle....I specially like what I happen to call the rarest of steering wheels for 71-72. We all quickly discarded this steering wheel...for a much more "Macho" steering wheel. Joe hang on to this Chevelle and the steering wheel.

Dan.

[92646]

What a great car. Great combination of the right car in the right color with the right motor. Before you installed the motor did you remove the pan and inspect the clearances or did you just drop it in?
Mark Sheppard

[mmcporter]

Great looking car. I bet it goes like the wind!!

[JHS]

[ QUOTE ]
Before you installed the motor did you remove the pan and inspect the clearances or did you just drop it in?
Mark Sheppard

[/ QUOTE ]

The pan had to be changed to a conventional style pan, as did the water pump. The pan that came with the motor was deeper towards the rear of the engine so would not clear the front cross-member; the water pump was changed from a short-leg to long-leg style to match the stock pulley system. The only other problem was the distributor, had to be rotated 90deg and re-wired so it would clear the firewall.

[GM-26]

Joe, Excellent choice putting the ZL-1 engine in your Chevelle. When I purchased my Chevelle I also wanted to upgrade the engine. Back in 1988, my local Chevy Dealer gave me only two choices. A LS-6 or a LS-7. I chose the LS-6 because it was more streetable. Enjoy your Chevelle, it's looks great and must be fast as hell.