The 1969 Chevy Chevelle remains one of the most iconic muscle cars ever produced—a sleek, aggressive classic that has certainly stood the test of time. For Jose Ybarra of Corona, California, it was a canvas for connection. “I’ve always been a fan of Chevelles—the ’69 in particular has always stood out to me,” Jose confirms. “It’s one of those cars that both my sons and I really connect with. It has everything we were looking for: an old-school sporty look, and it has that classic muscle car presence—the perfect platform for us to bring our shared vision to life.”
Jose has been around cars his whole life. Growing up he remembers watching his uncle and older brother working under the hood of his dad’s 1971 Charger. “My dad wasn’t much of a mechanic,” Jose recalls. “It was usually my uncle who was wrenching, with my older brother helping out.”
With the 1969 Chevelle being a shared favorite for Jose and his sons, Jonathan and Jay, a comprehensive search led to one that fit the bill. It looked clean, appeared to have good bones, and satisfactory sheetmetal—a good starting point for their project.
Once they tore into it, though, they came across more rust than they had expected, mainly in the roof and a few other areas threatening to derail their progress. But the Ybarra crew wasn’t about to give up. They rolled up their sleeves, brought in Jose’s brother for backup, and pushed ahead. The unexpected rot added some time to the project, but they remained committed to building the car they had always wanted.
Underneath its clean exterior, Jose’s Chevelle packs serious power. The heart of the beast is a 364ci LQ4 V-8 built by Montiel Auto Service in Stanton, California. This powerplant relies on some factory internals brought to life with a Brian Tooley Racing LS1 Stage 3 camshaft giving the Chevelle plenty of street cred. With GM aluminum heads, FiTech Rebel LS induction and fuel injection, the Chevelle churns out a balanced, street-friendly 489 hp. Bous Performance headers feeding a 3-inch stainless exhaust system with MagnaFlow mufflers produce an aggressive growl to coincide with the Chevelle’s healthy power output.
The engine bay is dressed up with Bous Performance valve covers and includes a supporting cast that features a Top Speed Performance water pump, Champion aluminum radiator Derale fans, and FiTech ignition components. Eddie Motorsports hood hinges add some flair and conform with the clean theme underhood.
Behind the engine sits a 4L80E automatic transmission built by A Transmission Clinic of Corona, California, connected to a Driveshaft Pro driveshaft and a stout 12-bolt rearend packed with Eaton Truetrac limited-slip differential and 3.73 gears—perfect for street cruising and plenty capable of handling Jose’s occasional heavy right foot when it comes time to put on a little smoke show.
The Chevelle’s stance and handling are just as important as its muscular demeanor. The factory chassis was upgraded with Bous Performance control arms and spindles up front, paired with Aldan American coilover shocks and springs for improved ride quality and handling. The rear was treated to matching Aldan American coilovers. Steering is dialed in with a Borgeson steering box, giving the car improved road response and driver feedback.
Bous Performance 12-inch rotors and four-piston calipers provide confident braking. The car rolls on a staggered set of American Racing VN514 wheels—20×8.5 up front and 20×10 out back—all wrapped in sticky Nitto tires that offer a perfect balance between grip and style.
Inside, the black leather upholstery was expertly handled by Gamino Upholstery, retaining the factory seats and dash while enhancing comfort and durability. Modern tech includes a Dakota Digital gauge cluster, a Bluetooth entertainment system by Audio Developments, and a punchy sound system consisting of Orion amps, Infinity speakers, and a Kicker 12-inch subwoofer—all wired and installed by Jose’s own Ybarra Customz shop. The A/C system from Old Air Products ensures comfort on hot SoCal cruise days, and the cabin is finished off with Bous Performance steering components and Eddie Motorsports pedals for a custom yet cohesive look.
The exterior keeps things pristine, clean, and classic. RR Autoworks, also in Stanton, handled the bodywork and sprayed the striking PPG Gray Metallic paint, with painter Rafael Rodriguez bringing Jose’s vision to life. Stock bumpers, grille, headlights, and taillights keep the vintage vibe intact, while fresh plating and panel alignment elevate the presentation.
Jose admits that if he had a chance to do it all over again, he would have started with a better candidate. A supercharger and six-speed transmission might also be in the mix for the future, but for now he’s truly impressed how the car came out, and how he enjoyed spending time working on the car with his boys. “It wasn’t easy, but taking on a project like this and working alongside my sons made the experience more meaningful,” Jose says. “The most memorable experience was when we fired it up for the first time. The sound of that engine coming to life was remarkable. I’ll never forget the look on my sons’ faces when they heard that engine roar. In fact, we all had the expression of shock, excitement, and pure joy. We’re incredibly proud of what we accomplished in just under two years. The attention the car gets at shows and on the road makes all the hard work worthwhile, giving us a real sense of pride every time we take it out.”
Check out this story in our digital edition here.
TECH CHECK
Owner: Jose Ybarra, Corona, California
Vehicle: 1969 Chevelle
Engine
Type: LQ4
Displacement: 364 ci
Compression Ratio: 10.5
Bore: 4.040 inches
Stroke: 4.00 inches
Builder: Montiel Auto Service (Stanton, CA)
Machine Work: Montiel Auto Service
Camshaft: Brian Tooley Racing LS1 Stage 3, 231/242 duration, 0.617/0.592-inch lift
Cylinder Heads: GM aluminum
Induction: FiTech Rebel LS
Fuel Injection: FiTech
Ignition: FiTech
Exhaust: Bous Performance headers, 3-inch stainless exhaust, MagnaFlow mufflers
Valve Covers: Bous Performance
Accessory Drive: Top Speed Performance
Ancillaries: Top Speed Performance water pump, Derale fans, Champion aluminum radiator, FiTech air cleaner, Eddie Motorsports hood hinges
Output: 489 hp at 6,000 rpm, 430 lb-ft at 5,000 rpm
Drivetrain
Transmission: 4L80E by A Transmission Clinic (Corona, CA)
Driveshaft: Driveshaft Pro
Rear Axle: 12-bolt, Eaton Truetrac limited-slip posi, 3.73 gears
Chassis
Chassis: Factory
Front Suspension: Bous Performance upper and lower control arms, Bous Performance spindles, Aldan American coilover shocks, Aldan American springs, Borgeson steering box
Rear Suspension: Aldan American coilover shocks
Brakes: Bous Performance 12-inch rotors, four-piston calipers
Wheels & Tires
Wheels: American Racing VN514, 20×8.5 front, 20×10 rear
Tires: Nitto
Interior
Upholstery: Black leather
Installation: Gamino Upholstery
Door Panels: OPGI
Seats: Factory
Steering: Bous Performance steering column and steering wheel
Pedals: Eddie Motorsports
Dash: Factory
Instrumentation: Dakota Digital
Wiring: Ybarra Customz
HVAC: Old Air Products
Entertainment System: Audio Developments Bluetooth receiver, Orion Amps, Infinity speakers, Kicker 12-inch sub
Installation: Ybarra Customz
Exterior
Bodywork and Paint: RR Autoworks (Stanton, CA)
Painter: Rafael Rodriguez
Paint: PPG Gray Metallic
Grille: Stock
Bumpers: Stock
Headlights: Stock
Taillights: Stock
Plating: RR Autoworks
