A Ryno Built Supercharged ’70 Chevelle Super Sport with 900 Horsepower
When Zach Hightower brought his ’70 Chevelle SS from Texas to Ryan “Ryno” Lieberman’s shop in Joplin, Missouri, it was an in-progress project that had already spent time in other shops. The body shell was on a dolly along with boxes of parts and pieces. And, as is often the case, critical parts were missing.
The task for Ryno’s shop – Ryno Built Rod and Custom – was to sort through the pieces and put together a game plan for getting the Chevelle back on the road. The shop has produced a number of distinctive rides over the years, from customs like a ’62 Caddy, a ’60 Chevy station wagon, and a ’64 El Camino, to several vintage Ford and Chevy pickups. Tackling a classic ’70 Chevelle muscle machine build would add some variety to the shop’s roster of cool projects.
Ryno says Zach wanted a modern twist on a ’70 Chevelle that his father owned years ago. “He told me his vision, but I made suggestions,” Ryno says. “He gave me free rein to do what I wanted to do.”
The goal the two men ultimately decided on was to craft a clean and competent muscle machine – a car that kept its vintage character while gaining modern performance, handling, comfort, and detail.
The Chevelle’s lowered stance and vastly improved handling come courtesy of a Roadster Shop chassis and a collection of components designed for performance, like coil-over shocks, tubular upper and lower front A-arms, and a four-link rear suspension. Rack-and-pinion steering handles the turns, while 14-inch, six-piston Wilwood discs on all four corners are surrounded by Billet Specialties wheels (18×9.5 in front, 18×12 in the rear). Nitto tires keep the car well planted in the corners. The stock fuel tank was replaced by an aftermarket unit from Rick’s Tanks.
Contemporary power comes from a modern LS engine with a classic cubic inch displacement: 427. Built by Don Hardy, the 900-horsepower engine is based on a Dart block and heads topped with a Whipple supercharger fed by a 90mm throttle body. Don Hardy big-block Chevy-style valve covers lend some old-school flair, while Ultimate Headers guide the exhaust waste through Stainless Works mufflers and 3-inch pipes. The ECU is from Holley and a C&R Racing radiator keeps the temperature in line. A Wegner Automotive accessory drive system manages the alternator, water pump, A/C compressor and other accessories. A Tremec T-56 Magnum six-speed manual transmission prepped by Bowler Performance directs the power to the Quick Performance 9-inch rearend that houses an Eaton Truetrac unit and 4.11 gears.
Jason and Erika at Ballard Auto Body in Neosho, Missouri handled the bodywork challenges and applied the brilliant PPG Code 75 Cranberry Red paint. Body modifications included removing badges and other exterior emblems, and deleting the side marker lights on front and rear quarter panels. Other modifications included decluttering the rear bumper, which meant removing the black inserts that were standard on SS equipped ’70 Chevelles. A front spoiler from Spoilers by Randy sits under the front bumper.
Under the hood, additional subtle modifications help focus attention on the understated but well-engineered engine. The firewall was smoothed. The stock inner fenders were treated to minor adjustments – multiple dimples and small holes were fixed. Satin black finishes on the engine bay sheet metal and engine parts help maintain an OE-style vibe.
The interior also shows extensive work that complements the original design. The stock dash houses NVU instruments and a Billet Specialties steering wheel sits on an Ididit tilt column. The stock front seats were restored (frames rebuilt and powder coated) and then modified with reworked foam and deleted headrests. Jeffrey Trujillo of Trujillo Auto Trim in Joplin applied the synthetic suede and vinyl upholstery. Stock armrests, door and window handles as well as stock gas, brake, and clutch pedals reflect the OE-influenced theme.
Ryno built the custom console that brings the cabin up to date with a digital control screen, modern shifter, and cup holders. Safety equipment includes a RideTech Tiger Cage roll bar system and race-style harnesses. There’s also a serious stereo system with enough power to keep pace with the car’s 900 horsepower. Ryno installed the complete sound system and constructed the housing for the amps and subwoofers mounted in the trunk. The Chevelle was displayed at the 2023 SEMA Show in the MB Quart booth, which is the company that supplied many of the sound system’s components.
While Zach’s ’70 Chevelle may have been a booth model at SEMA, it was built to drive and perform as a real-world street vehicle. Ryno and Zach say it will be on the road this year at various events. If you see it somewhere, be sure to give it a closer look. You’ll be impressed.
Photos by John Jackson
