May 20, 2026

Goodguys 2027 Grand Prize Giveaway 1966 Chevelle Part 5 – Fit and Finesse with GAP Industries

Many readers may see the rendering of the Goodguys 2027 Grand Prize Giveaway 1966 Chevelle and think that, visually, the car is destined to be a relatively simple muscle machine with a few minor metal mods. And in some ways, they’d be correct. The talented build team at GAP Industries is not radically altering the classic lines of this mid-’60s Chevelle. But as evidenced by our earlier build installments – in addition to what you’ll see in this one – there’s often an extensive amount of fabrication work involved in making “a few minor mods.”

Of course, much of the initial metal work on this muscle machine involved just getting it back into a clean, rust-free original form. Most of the body panels from the rough and rusty original car were replaced with fresh sheet metal from Auto Metal Direct. That process involved a good number of modifications, too, like shaved drip rails and a custom firewall and floor pieces. This time around, we’re going to get a glimpse at a few of the finishing metal touches as the GAP team prepares the Chevelle for bodywork and paint.

Several of the remaining metal mods and adjustments came under the hood, where there’s already the aforementioned smooth firewall and carbon fiber inner fenders from Ironworks. To complement those elements, the GAP team fabricated a custom filler panel from the radiator core support to the grille. This smooth panel will clean off the front of the engine compartment and conceal the open area between the grille and radiator.

The reproduction cowl induction hood also received some alterations. A portion of the inner structure was removed to create clearance for the tall billet intake manifold that will top the Late Model Engines LT engine. The team also made adjustments to the front and rear of the hood to fine tune the gaps to the body.

One additional way the team is smoothing this Chevelle is by fabricating custom trim to replace the multi-piece stainless around the windshield and rear window. Crafted from multiple pieces of flat brass welded together, the trim will fit flush with the body and provide a clean, seamless frame that enhances the car’s original lines.

Like many builds that come from top shops these days, this one will feature tucked bumpers for a cleaner appearance. This process involved cutting each bumper into pieces, removing material to narrow the assembly to the desired width, then re-welding and metal finishing the pieces to prepare them for plating. It also involved building custom bumper brackets to tuck the bumpers closer to the body, in addition to modifying the quarter panels to better fit the shape of the rear bumper.

Follow along with the accompanying photos and you’ll get some highlights of the minor metal mods and fabrication finesse that the GAP Industries team has put into this Chevelle. This is one muscle machine that won’t lack for cool details, and we look forward to showing more progress as the crew starts on bodywork, prepares for paint, and gets ready for the drivetrain and final assembly. Stay tuned!