Few classic cars turn heads like a 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS. But one example gets special attention from the YouTube channel Patrick Glenn Nichols Musclecar Barn Finds thanks to a mighty V8 in the engine bay; the legendary LS6 454 big-block powerplant.
Nichols allows viewers to explore this epic car and its engine from a close-up point of view. Once a sad barn find, this Chevy is finally making its way to being roadworthy.
A Chevelle SS Almost Ready For The Road
The video opens with a semi-complete 1970 Chevelle SS gleaming with a perfect retro color, Champagne Gold. We learn that this Chevy mainly needs the hood and gas tank to get installed, along with final work on the interior. Otherwise, there’s not much holding back this car from the street.
Nichols makes a point of walking views through what’s original and what’s not. Most significantly, the engine is numbers matching, while the four-speed transmission came from elsewhere.
Aftermarket Components Bring This Chevy Back To Life
While the engine has many original parts, like the alternator, carburetor, and exhaust manifold, some of the car’s other components are from aftermarket sources. Nichols points out that this is necessary because finding factory-sourced replacements for a 50-year-old vehicle isn’t possible.
Most notably, the front fenders (including the interiors) are reproductions, as is the black vinyl interior. Nichols’ level of detail in his explanation includes pointing out that three of four wheels are date-correct for this 1970 Chevelle SS, but the steering wheel is from a 1969 model.
Significance Of The 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 454 LS6
Few vehicles hearken back to the heyday of muscle cars like the 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS 454 LS6; it’s a memorable icon for bow tie fans. Chevy offered the LS6 as an option for the 1970 Chevelle SS, an upgrade that gave the car top-performer status in its class.
The LS6 engine is a 454 cubic inch big block V8 with a factory rating of 450 horsepower and 500 lb-ft of torque, but underrating engine output was typical in the day to help keep insurance premiums in check (a dyno sheet shows the rebuilt engine in this 1970 Chevelle produces 517 hp at peak). It’s a powerplant still sought after today by collectors seeking to relive a memorable era in automotive history.
Source: YouTube/Patrick Glenn Nichols Musclecar Barn Finds