April 2, 2026

Goodguys 2027 Grand Prize Giveaway 1966 Chevelle Part 4 – GAP Industries’ Metal Working Magic

Every hot rod or street machine project involves a certain amount of fabrication. Some require a lot more than others depending on the extent of rust or damage in the vehicle you’re starting with, or the degree of modification in the project rendering or plans. In either case, it’s good to have strong fabrication skills on your side.

Fortunately for us at Goodguys, there’s a wealth of custom fabrication experience and hands-on knowledge on the team at GAP Industries, where our 2027 Grand Prize Giveaway ’66 Chevelle is being built. We showcased a lot of that fabrication expertise when we showed you how the team effectively built an almost-new body from the floors up using reproduction sheet metal from Auto Metal Direct. Their experience came into play again as they fitted the body to the new ExtReme IRS Chassis from Speedtech Performance last month. And lest you think the fabrication needs have diminished, we’ll be showcasing even more custom metal work this month as the crew works to refine the car’s firewall, floor, and other components in preparation for the drivetrain and custom interior.

One of the top items on the list of next steps was fabricating a custom firewall for this muscle machine. There were multiple goals for this part of the project, the most important of which was to provide adequate clearance for the 427c.i. LT engine from LME and its custom-machined intake manifold, which required a substantial recessed area. The firewall also needed to look clean and smooth, and, on the inside, it had to accommodate a set of competition-style swing pedals and master cylinders from Wilwood on one side, plus a Vintage Air heat and A/C unit on the other.
With a mockup engine in place, the talented team at GAP was able to craft a made-to-order smooth steel firewall that accomplished all those goals. They also built in the necessary support structures on the inside and got to work fitting pieces like the pedals, A/C unit, and a tilt steering column from Ididit.

Behind the custom firewall, a custom plus-size transmission and driveshaft tunnel will provide generous space for the Tremec T56 six-speed and driveshaft while allowing for the Chevelle’s low, aggressive stance. It also incorporates a cool custom blister for the shifter. These one-off pieces were tied into the OE-style reproduction floor panels from AMD.

Follow along as we see how this top-notch team of fabricators sets the stage for a clean custom engine compartment and a functional, comfortable interior. We’ll also catch glimpses of some other trick components, like the carbon fiber inner fenders from Ironworks Speed & Kustom and billet hood hinges from Eddie Motorsports.