By Fuelish Media – Images by the Author
When it comes to building a specialized vehicle designed to go fast and handle like a dream, a unique set of skills is required. A builder must not only be able to gather the right group of components to get the job done but also know how to fine-tune them to create a harmoniously functioning machine. What can’t be bought must be made, and what doesn’t fit must be strategically formed to put all the pieces together.
Rob Lindsay is one such custom vehicle builder who knows how to assemble a custom and capable automobile, and he understands what it takes to make it perform at the highest level possible. While Rob is well-versed in fabricating high-end off-road prerunner chassis systems, he can also get down in the performance and race arena, too. Naturally, he dabbles in the world of Pro Touring muscle cars as well, which is why we are all gathered here today.
Rob sees a lot of different types of vehicles come through the doors of his shop, RJ Fabrication in Hesperia, California, and the stories he hears from customers regarding the conditions of their cars never cease to amaze him. Recently, a gentleman by the name of Troy Nottingham came to him with the tale of a 1964 Chevelle that was given to him when he graduated high school. Now, all Troy had was his story since his car, which had been sitting in his backyard for roughly 16 years, had been torn down years ago and was reduced to pieces scattered between multiple crates and boxes. While a predicament such as this could scare off a builder with a faint heart, it was just another day in the office for Rob and his crew.
All Troy wanted for his Chevelle was for it to be “a good, reliable cruiser that could do everything well.” That might seem like a vague wish list to go by, but that’s all Lindsay needed to hear before kicking the project into high gear. The customer base that comes to RJ Fabrication usually gravitates toward Lindsay’s brand of customization style, and Troy was no exception.
With the car in such tattered disrepair, Lindsay felt it best to start at ground-level by first affixing Detroit Speed and QA1 suspension components to the front section of the original chassis. At the rear, Lindsay created a one-off frame from the A-pillar back and selected a Detroit Speed triangulated QUADRALink and QA1 springs and JRi double-adjustable shocks to make for an ultra-responsive ride quality. Fresh Wilwood braking products and staggered sets of Budnik wheels with Michelin Pilot Sport rubber finalized the suspension overhaul.
Next, Rob turned his attention to powering the Chevelle with a modern engine and transmission combo. What he landed on was a 2018 GM LS3 and 4L70E. A custom set of RJ Fabrication headers were attached to the car’s new powerplant, along with a dual exhaust system that was channeled through the frame and paired with Flowmaster 40-Series mufflers. A Ron Davis aluminum radiator and SPAL fan keeps the LS3 cool, and a Vintage Air Front Runner accessory drive system dresses up the engine while allowing it to perform at peak operation. Once the dust settled, the horsepower count of the LS3 hovered right around 525 with 489 lb-ft of torque—quite a bit more muscle than Troy was used to, but was ready to embrace.
To help keep the progress rolling, the crew at RJ Fabrication replaced the quarter-panels, hand made new taillight housings, raised the floor 3 inches, and expertly fabricated custom wheeltubs. Then, ASEN Auto, also in Hesperia, teamed up with Lindsay to handle the bodywork and paint portion of the build. Once those one-off touches were complete, the crew at ASEN sprayed a custom shade of white Valspar paint with Phantom Pearl and finished the car off with new Dapper Lighting headlight housings for a modern spin on an OEM appearance.
The interior received new Procar by Scat seats covered in beige and black Alcantara material by Rudy’s Custom Upholstery. The dash, door panels, and center console were also finished with the same Alcantara upholstery before it was stuffed with Speedhut gauges, an Alpine head unit, and Vintage Air vents and control panel to adjust the temperature inside the car. The sound system was then rounded off with Rockford Fosgate speakers, amplifiers, and a custom subwoofer box crafted by Carlos at Art of Sound in nearby Upland, California. This was all plugged into the wiring done by Jax Motorsports in Upland.
In what seemed like no time, Lindsay was able to produce a version of a Chevelle that its owner hardly thought possible. The car once rotting away under the elements in his backyard was now sitting in front of Troy as if it was a mirage—a vision that could now physically rev up and go! With the proposal for the rehab process modest at best, Lindsay was easily able to over-deliver for his customer. This ’64 is not only capable of running and driving—it now breaks necks and racks up trophies and accolades with every appearance it makes at show ’n’ shines and track days far and wide.
Check out this story in our digital edition here.
Tech Check
Owner: Troy Nottingham
Vehicle: 1964 Chevrolet Chevelle
Builder: RJ Fabrication
Engine
Type: Chevrolet Performance LS3
Displacement: 376 ci
Cylinder Heads: GM
Camshaft: GM
Induction: GM with dual K&N filters
Assembly: RJ Fabrication
Exhaust: RJ Fabrication 1 7/8- 3-inch headers, 3-inch dual exhaust, Flowmaster 40-Series mufflers
Dress Up: Vintage Air Front Runner accessory drive system, Eddie Motorsport hood hinges
Fuel Tank: Aluminum custom 55-gallon
Drivetrain
Transmission: GM 4L70E
Driveshaft: Chromoly 3.5-inch by Hi Desert Driveline (Hesperia, CA)
Rear Axle: Strange Engineering 12-bolt rearend, Eaton Truetrac posi, 35-spline axles
Chassis
Chassis: GM front/custom frame from A-pillar back by RJ Fabrication
Front Suspension: Detroit Speed 2-inch drop spindles, 1 ½-inch tubular control arms, 1 3/8-inch antiroll bar, UniSteer steering rack, QA1 springs, JRI double-adjustable shocks
Rear Suspension: Detroit Speed QUADRALink, QA1 springs, JRi double-adjustable shocks.
Brakes: Wilwood 14-inch rotors front and rear, Aero6 front and Aero4 rear calipers
Wheels & Tires
Wheels: 18×9 and 19×12 Budnick Pivot wheels
Tires: 265/40R18 and 345/20R19 Michelin Pilot Sport
Interior
Upholstery: Beige and black Alcantara material by Rudy’s Custom Upholstery (Hesperia, CA)
Seats: Procar by Scat low-backs
Steering: Ididit column, Budnick steering wheel
Instrumentation: Speedhut
Shifter: Custom
Exterior
Bodywork & Paint: ASEN Auto (Hesperia, CA)
Paint: Valspar custom whites with Phantom pearl
Hood: OER
Grille: OER
