Ralph Lacaze entered the car scene when he was just 14 years old as his dad gave him a “little” nudge by buying him a Model A to work on, which he did after school and on weekends. “My buddies and I would work on the car hopping it up to make it as cool as possible with the little money I had,” Ralph remembers. “It’s the car that got me started in the hobby.
Over the years Ralph has had numerous cars but recently had to downsize due to a new living arrangement, so that meant parting ways with his 1933 Ford, 1963 Corvette, 1966 Chevy II, and 1933 Ford cabriolet. All nice cars, he confirms, but for some reason letting the ’66 Chevy go hurt the most.
To ease the pain, Ralph went on a mission to get another Chevy II and found one online as part of a consignment in Chicago. “I flew out to have a look and it appeared to be in good shape, “Ralph says. “Well, due to bad weather, I wasn’t able to drive the car, but it started and sounded fine at idle, so I bought the car and had it shipped to my home in Napa, California. Once it arrived, I took it for a drive and immediately discovered the entire drivetrain was in bad shape; the engine, trans, and rearend were junk, so I pulled it all out and started over.”
Determined to right the ship, Ralph started with the engine and chose to go with a traditional small-block V-8 rather than an LS swap. “To me, the LS just doesn’t have that same excitement or look underhood,” Ralph explains.
He connected with Dave Erhlich from AutoTrend EFI and decided on the 3-2 EFI setup to go along with it. “It was a great decision as the engine draws a lot of attention, Ralph goes on. “I kept the engine bay simple and hid a lot of the EFI wiring. Erhlich did all the tuning and it starts up every time. No percolation, or gas smell in my garage, which makes my wife happy. On top of that, it looks period correct.”
The 383ci small-block Chevy built by ATK features a 4.030-inch bore and 3.75-inch stroke and puts out a healthy 455 hp and 475 lb-ft of torque. Inside, a Scat crank and rods team up with a Comp hydraulic roller camshaft and Dart aluminum cylinder heads. Fuel delivery comes via the aforementioned 1,050-cfm AutoTrend EFI system sitting on an Edelbrock Three-Deuce 5419 intake manifold, controlled by a Holley Dominator ECU and MSD 6AL ignition. Spent gases exit through Hedman headers into a 2.5-inch dual exhaust system with Dynomax mufflers.
The engine is finished off with Chevrolet Performance valve covers and a Powermaster 140-amp alternator. A Griffin aluminum radiator and a SPAL electric fan keep the engine running cool, with fuel being fed from a Tanks Inc. fuel tank and fuel pump. Power gets to the rear via a Silver Sport TREMEC TKX five-speed transmission and a Zoom clutch spinning a narrowed Ford 9-inch rearend with a 3.70 gears, Eaton Truetrac differential, and Strange axles.
To get the Chevy II handling and launching right, Ralph upgraded the chassis with a Heidts Super Ride II front subframe featuring Aldan coilovers and a Heidts sway bar. Out back, a custom-treated monoleaf spring setup works in conjunction with QA1 shocks. Comp Engineering subframe connectors help tie everything together for added rigidity, while stopping power comes from a full Wilwood disc brake setup.
The wheels are classic American Racing Torq Thrusts, 16×7 up front and 16×8 in the rear, wrapped in BFGoodrich g-Force tires measuring 205/50R16 and 245/50R16, respectively.
Inside, the custom vinyl and tweed SS-style interior was a collaboration between Ralph and Wild Cards Custom’s Shop. Black loop carpet and Dynamat insulation keep things tidy and quiet. The stock seats have been modified for improved comfort and support, while a Flaming River column and Lecarra steering wheel enhance the stylish interior theme. A Hurst shifter commands the TREMEC, and a Dakota Digital dash insert provides modern instrumentation through their VHX series. Wiring was handled by the owner using an MGI Speedware fuse panel, and comfortable climate is ensured by a Vintage Air HVAC system. Tunes come from a Sony head unit paired with matching speakers.
Outside, Eddie Auto Body in Lincoln, California, laid down a stunning coat of modified Mercedes-Benz Fire Mist Red paint, which complemented the car’s sleek lines and adds to its classic style. The body retains its stock bumpers, grille, and trim, but has a 2-inch cowl hood. LED headlights help bring the car into the modern era without compromising its classic charm.
Ralph’s 1966 Chevy II is not just another classic muscle car—it’s a reflection of a lifelong passion. From the first Model A he wrenched on as a teenager to this carefully crafted Nova, every decision was made with both performance and aesthetics in mind. And with 455 horses underhood and all the modern upgrades hidden beneath its vintage skin, this is one car that looks just as good parked as it does blasting down the highway.
“I’m now 79, and over the last 60 years I’ve built a lot of hot rods and muscle cars, and I couldn’t be happier with this ’66 Chevy,” Ralph confirms. “Driving this car makes me feel 16 again.”
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TECH CHECK
Owner: Ralph Lacaze, Lincoln, California
Vehicle: 1966 Chevy II
Engine
Type: Chevy small-block
Displacement: 383 ci
Compression Ratio: 10.1:1
Bore: 4.030 inches
Stroke: 3.75 inches
Builder: ATK
Machine Work: ATK
Rotating Assembly: Scat crank, Scat rods
Camshaft: Comp hydraulic roller
Cylinder Heads: Dart aluminum
Induction: Edelbrock EDL 5419 intake manifold
Fuel Injection: 1050-cfm Auto Trend EFI
Controller: Holley Dominator
Exhaust: Hedman Hedders headers, 2 ½-inch exhaust, Dynamax mufflers
Valve Covers: Chevrolet Performance
Ancillaries: MSD wires, MSD ignition, OPTIMA REDTOP battery, 140-amp Powermaster alternator, Griffin aluminum radiator, SPAL fan, Edelbrock water pump, Tanks Inc. fuel tank and fuel pump
Output: 455 hp, 475 lb-ft
Drivetrain
Transmission: Silver Sport TREMEC TKX five-speed
Clutch: Zoom
Rear Axle: Narrowed Ford 9-inch, Eaton Truetrac posi, 3.70 gears, Strange axles
Chassis
Front Suspension: Heidts Super Ride II front subframe, Aldan coilover shocks, Heidts sway bar
Rear Suspension: Custom-treated monoleaf, QA1 shocks
Subframe Connectors: Comp Engineering
Brakes: Wilwood disc
Wheels & Tires
Wheels: American Racing Torq Thrust 16×7 front, 16×8 rear
Tires: BFGoodrich G-Force 205/50R16 front, 245/50R16 rear
Interior
Upholstery: Custom SS vinyl/tweed
Carpet: Black loop
Insulation: Dynamat
Installation: Owner and Wild Cards Custom’s Shop
Seats: Modified stock
Steering: Flaming River column, Lecarra steering wheel
Shifter: Hurst
Dash Insert: Dakota Digital
Instrumentation: Dakota Digital VHX
Wiring: Owner, MGI Speedware fuse panel
HVAC: Vintage Air
Head Unit: Sony
Speakers: Sony
Exterior
Bodywork and Paint: Eddie Auto Body (Lincoln, CA)
Paint: Modified Mercedes-Benz Fire Mist Red by Eddie Auto Body
Hood: 2-inch cowl
Headlights: LED
