BY Ryan MansonPhotography by THE AUTHOR

hen it comes to the gauge cluster of most classic Chevys, few provided much information past vehicle speed, fuel level, and an engine temp that ranged between hot and cold. In fact, the dash cluster in our project ’57 reflects just that, which leaves, literally, more information to be desired than is actually provided. Engine speed, oil pressure, and the state of the charging system was left up to the driver’s imagination, lest an “idiot light” or two. With today’s trend of ever-higher horsepower drivetrains and ever-increasing electrical loads, the need to keep a closer eye on the goings-on under the hood has never been greater.

In the case of our ’57 Chevy, the temp gauge provides a simple range of temps, the speedo reads inaccurately, and the fuel gauge suffers from “needle bounce.” The aforementioned lack of oil pressure, engine speed, and charging state from the cluster means we’ll be driving blind when it comes to the situation underhood.

Ramming Speed

BY Wes Dunkel Photography by THE AUTHOR

eneral Motors’ fourth-gen F-body was a radical design. With its steeply raked windshield and bird-beak nose, the groundbreaking LS1 powerplant was tucked halfway under the cowl. Function clearly followed form at GM headquarters.

But with the LS1’s factory intake manifold nestled neatly in the valley of the Gen III V-8, cowl clearance isn’t a problem. However, intake manifold options are severely limited to low-profile designs. Those with high-horsepower engines had two choices: one, use the stock or aftermarket low-profile plastic intake manifolds; or two, cut the stock cowl, lose the windshield wipers, and possibly even cut the windshield.

Fortunately, Holley has an option: the Modular Lo-Ram EFI intake manifold for LS1/2/6. Its large, short runners are great for making big top-end power, and its large plenum complements supercharged and turbocharged applications. If the factory-style intake manifold on your cathedral-port LS engine is choking its potential, the Holley Lo-Ram EFI intake manifold is the ticket.

Slippery Facts About Engine Oil

BY Jeff SmithPhotography BY THE AUTHOR

nless you are an oil geek and make it a habit of staying current on API specifications and what is happening in the ever-changing world of engine lubricants, it’s likely there are a few technical tidbits in this story that should be of interest to you regarding the oil you’re using in your performance street car engine.

Flat Tappet Break-In

It’s no secret that the world of engine oil is in a constant state of change. This has been going on for decades but a major shift occurred when the American Petroleum Institute (API) began removing the anti-wear additive zinc dialkyl-dithiophosphate (ZDDP—don’t worry we won’t ask you to spell it) from engine oil throughout the mid ’90s onward. This occurred because new car manufacturers requested the ZDDP levels be lowered because when that additive is oxidized during combustion, it produces an ash that tends to poison catalytic converters.

Getting Well Connected

By Ron Ceridono Photography by The Author

or those who love to revitalize vintage vehicles, chances are an electrical system update is going to be on the list of things to do. At one time replacing frayed, broken, and missing sections of a wiring harness or adding additional circuits meant a trip to the parts store for a spool of wire and some crimp connectors. However, if you’ve ever dealt with an old car that had a “rat’s nest” electrical system with a bunch of circuits all made from the same color wire, then you know the problems that can create, particularly when trying to trace a circuit. A better, safer, and much easier-to-install alternative is a complete wiring system like those available from American Autowire (AAW).

AAW was founded in 1987 by Michael Manning and Frank Colonna—a two-man operation that started in Manning’s basement. Today Manning and Colonna, along with Jim Cardona, have 100 employees in a 38,000-square-foot facility manufacturing Universal, Factory Fit Original Reproduction, and Classic Update wiring kits.