By Scotty Lachenauer – Images by the Author
There’s an old saying that goes, “If you’ve got the fangs, just sink ’em in.” Well, if Joe Canon’s 1967 Chevelle was an animal, it certainly would possess a hefty set of choppers just waiting to gnaw its way through the competition. This big-block, big-tire, behemoth has the teeth where it counts and responds to the competition with a hearty “chomp,” never biting off more than it can chew.
Joe’s run up to owning this incredible muscle car was not achieved out on the macadam, but rather more or less by playing in the dirt. “My early experiences weren’t with cars, but dirt bikes and ATVs. Those were my main interests while growing up. It wasn’t until I was 35 years old that I was introduced to the muscle car scene by my friend, Mike. He had a 1972 split-bumper Camaro and I was instantly hooked the moment I laid eyes on it. We started going to a lot of car shows together, and I quickly fell in love with the hobby,” Joe states.
So, after checking out a variety of local muscle cars, Joe decided he needed a powered-up Chevy in his life. After seeing what was around, Joe took a chance and purchased a needy 1967 Chevelle with a 454 underhood. This would turn out to be the starting point for his own muscle car build. The A-body had clearly spent its share of time on the track and would need some attention to be street-ready again. After bringing the Chevelle home in 2017, Joe wasted no time, setting out to transform it into a hard-hitting machine equally at home on the street or the strip.
First things first. Joe called up local Chevy gurus Anthony and Kenny Luca of Anthony’s Rod and Custom in Ridge, New York, to handle the fabrication. The father/son team would oversee the complete rebuild of the car, using their years of experience with Bowtie builds. The guys mapped out a plan, merging the Chevelle with Joe’s cache of parts to create a cohesive, modernized muscle machine.
Joe had already started putting his engine together, as he was hellbent on delivering a new powerplant to propel this ride down the road and on the track. Henson Racing Engines in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, were the first ones to get their hands dirty, building the big-block from scratch.
It all starts with a Brodix cast-iron big-block filled with a Callies forged Compstar crank, Wiesco 40cc domed pistons, and Callies Compstar H-beam connecting rods. From there, the cylinders were covered with Brodix BB3 380 heads, built with Manley springs. An Edelbrock Super Victor intake is topped with a 1,150-cfm Holley Dominator carburetor fed by a MagnaFuel Prostar MP-4450 pump. Extras include a Derale rear-mount trans cooler, 20-gallon fuel cell, and a Moroso vacuum pump. A CSR water pump and thermostat housing, along with a Be Cool three-row radiator keep this monster chill even under summertime stress.
A Freddy Brown Powerglide, built with a trans brake, transfers the power to the rear through a 5-inch custom aluminum driveshaft.
Since that original build, Joe recently had Piston Racing Engines in Bay Shore, New York, rework the innards. They installed a much more aggressive custom Bullet camshaft and upgraded the lifters while they were at it to help drive this 572ci monster and its hefty 13.5:1 compression to 1,100 hp at the rear wheels.
Diggin’ in underneath, the guys knew that traction would be of the utmost importance when you’re laying down big horsepower and tire-twisting torque.
Up front, the suspension sports TRZ front control arms, spindles, and a pair of QA1 coilover shocks. Out back, there’s a Moser Dana 60 with spool, stuffed with track-ready 4:11 gears. A custom four-link rear suspension is aided by a set of Afco Big Gun double-adjustable coilovers perched on each side. To bring this bullet to a halt, Willwood four-piston drag racing brakes reside at the corners and a Hurst line lock aids those tire-roasting burnouts.
The cockpit on this here Chevelle is all business. A set of Scat Sportsman high-back racing seats command this ride with comfort and support. A set of RJS five-point harnesses and a custom 8.50-certified rollcage with swing-out bars make sure Joe’s got safety on his side. The custom-built dash is stuffed with AutoMeter Carbon gauges to keep track of the vitals. A TCI Outlaw forward-pattern shifter gets this Chevelle through the gears. To keep this ride going in the right direction, Joe chose a Motion Race Works Quick Disconnect system along with an MPI steering wheel. A modern custom carpet was added to smooth out the contours of the interior, which was matched in the trunk.
With its past life as a drag car, the Chevelle carried the usual exterior alterations. The Lucas’ kept what worked, refined the rest of the sheet metal, and layered in a few custom touches to tie it all together.
The Chevelle has been frenched-in and shaved where the guys felt appropriate, and they tucked and shaved the bumpers as well. A 5-inch cowl hood was added to help clear the massive mill lurking underneath.
The Chevy was sprayed in Hot Hues Razzle Berry paint. All the trim was painted in matte black to give the Chevelle a more sinister theme.
The Chevelle wears 17×4.5 RC Hammer wheels up front and 15×15 Champion wheels out back. They are wrapped in Hoosier 26.4.15-17 and Hoosier 33×18,50-15 Quick Time Pro slicks, respectively.
With its aggressive stance, jumbo power curve, and cultivated good looks, this Chevelle hits its mark at every turn. So, once Joe laid eyes on the newly reborn Chevy, he just couldn’t get over what the car has become.
“I really love the car. It rides like a street beast!” Joe excitedly says. “I’m extremely happy with the finished product and it surpassed my expectations. Anthony’s Rods and Customs did a fantastic job.”
Check out this story in our digital edition here.
Tech Check
Owner: Joe Canon, Ridge, New York
Model: 1967 Chevy Chevelle
Engine
Type: Brodix Chevy big-block
Displacement: 572 ci
Compression Ratio: 13.5:1
Bore: 4.560 inches
Stroke: 4.375 inches
Assembly: Henson Racing Engines (Oklahoma City, OK)
Cylinder Heads: Brodix BB3 380
Rotating Assembly: Wiseco 40cc dome pistons, Callies Compstar H-beam connecting rods, Callies forged Compstar crankshaft
Camshaft: Custom Bullet
Induction: Edelbrock Super Victor intake, Holley Dominator carburetor
Exhaust: 2 5/8-inch Custom step headers to 5-inch collector, Bullet Race mufflers
Cooling: CSR Water Pump, Be Cool three-row radiator
Ignition: MSD crank trigger, Pro Billet distributor, MSD box Digital-6 Plus, HVS Blue Blaster coil
Ancillaries: Two OPTIMA YELLOWTOP batteries, Flaming River battery kill switch
Output: 1,100 hp
Drivetrain
Transmission: Freddy Brown Powerglide with trans brake, Derale transmission cooler, ATI converter
Shifter: TCI Outlaw forward pattern shifter
Driveshaft: 5-inch custom aluminum
Rearend: Moser Dana 60 with spool rear 4:11 gears
Chassis
Front Suspension: TRZ control arms and spindles, QA1 coilover shocks, Ididit steering rack
Rear Suspension: Custom four-link suspension, Afco Big Gun double-adjustable coilover shocks
Brakes: Wilwood four-piston, custom stainless brake lines, Hurst line lock
Wheels and Tires
Wheels: RC Hammer 17×4.5 front, 15×15 Champion wheels with custom powdercoated bead lock ring billet 12-point lug nuts rear
Tires: Hoosier Front Runner 26×4.5-17 front, Hoosier Quick Time Pro Slicks 33×18.50-15 rear
Interior
Upholstery: Stock
Carpet: Custom interior, trunk, and rear seat area
Steering: Motion Race Works quick disconnect MPI steering wheel, Ididit column
Harness: RJ Safety five-point
Seats: Scat Sportsman high-back
Dash: Custom
Gauges: AutoMeter carbon fiber, MSD shift light
Roll Cage: 8.50-certified with weld-in swing-out bars
Exterior
Paint and Bodywork: Anthony’s Rod and Custom (Ridge, NY)
Paint: Hot Hues Razzle Berry
Hood: 5-inch cowl, billet hood hinges and hood pins
Bumpers: Shaved and painted
Extras: Custom frenched and shaved body, all trim stock painted matte black
