Goodguys 2027 Grand Prize Giveaway 1966 Chevelle Part 6 – Get Up and GO with LME
Hot rodders have come to expect a lot from modern muscle machine builds. They want classic American sheet metal paired with updated ride, handling, braking, and comfort characteristics. And they want big power without compromises. That usually means a modern fuel-injected engine that generates impressive horsepower and torque figures while also being docile and reliable enough to drive regularly on the street and in traffic.
With those parameters in mind, Tim Palazzolo from GAP Industries knew exactly where to turn for the engine in the Goodguys 2027 Grand Prize Giveaway ’66 Chevelle: Late Model Engines. Located in Houston, Texas, not far from GAP’s headquarters, Late Model Engines has developed a strong reputation for building top-quality short blocks, long blocks, and complete engines based on modern platforms like the GM LS and LT, Ford Coyote and Godzilla, and Chrysler Gen III Hemi. The shop also manufactures and offers a wide range of products for these engines, from valve covers and intakes to complete cylinder heads.
Tim connected with LME’s Bryan Neelen to discuss options for the Giveaway Chevelle, and together they formulated a plan to build a modern LT engine that combines the right amount of rowdiness, reliability, power, and performance to make the Chevelle a fun and potent street machine. “One of the goals with this project was to highlight our 720-horsepower 427 naturally aspirated engine,” Byran says. This package uses components that are carefully selected to deliver good value and strong performance. “The goal is to build a nice, reliable, powerful combination,” Bryan says.
The package is based on a cast iron GM LT engine block filled with top-quality rotating assembly components that came from Summit Racing. This includes a Callies 4-inch-stroke Compstar forged crankshaft, Callies H-beam connecting rods, Clevite bearings, and ARP hardware. The rods are fitted with Mahle forged pistons delivering a 12:1 compression ratio. A Cam Motion camshaft and Johnson hydraulic roller lifters are other key elements in the long block assembly, along with an aluminum oil pan from Holley.
One of LME’s machined aluminum timing chain covers is used on the front of the engine. Besides looking trick, the cover deletes the variable valve timing function of the LT engine and eliminates the GM cam phaser, which improves performance and reliability. It retains a factory oiling system (Summit supplied the GM oil pump) and uses a single-bolt cam gear.
The block is topped with LME’s LTX race heads, which are custom machined in-house from raw USA-made castings from Edelbrock’s foundry. The heads are machined with a straight exhaust port instead of the factory dogleg design, which improves airflow. LME also omits the direct injection ports, making it a dedicated port injection engine that is easier and less expensive to swap into earlier vehicles – much more like an LS. The heads also have revised valve and valve guide locations and use larger-than-stock titanium 2.180-inch intake and 1.680-inch exhaust valves. The rest of the valvetrain consists of 3/8-inch pushrods, performance valve springs, and GM rocker arms with a trunnion modification.
LME offers several different machined intake manifolds. For the Chevelle engine, Tim wanted to use the C8 billet manifold for maximum visual impact. Originally designed for C8 Corvette applications, this is a tall, large-plenum intake with straight runners that will not only help this engine perform to its fullest potential but also look intimidating. We’ve noted in previous installments how it required hood and firewall enhancements to make it fit the Chevelle.
Like all long blocks and engines built at LME, this one was dyno tested at the facility before Tim picked it up. This ensures that the engine is properly broken in, makes the intended power, and is free of any leaks. They even use a blowby meter to make sure the piston rings are sealed. The goal is to ship out a quality engine that’s reliable and ready to go. “You could drive this engine from Texas to Florida and have no issues,” Bryan says.
Over at GAP Industries, Tim and his team put in some additional time making the engine look better. They treated it to a fresh finish of Chevy Orange paint and bolted up custom-machined valve covers from Swiftek Engineering with Goodguys lettering. A Vintage Air Front Runner accessory drive system was also bolted to the front. The power from the LME 427 will be channeled through a Tremec T56 Magnum six-speed transmission that’s connected using a QuickTime bellhousing and a McLeod billet steel flywheel and RST twin-disc clutch.
With more than 720 horsepower on tap, plus three pedals and six speeds, this Chevelle is destined to be a thrill ride! We can’t wait to see and hear it run once this modern muscle machine makes its finished debut. Until then, we hope you’ll appreciate this look at how the engine came together.
If you missed the installments detailing the Goodguys 2027 Grand Prize Giveaway 1966 Chevelle, check them out: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4, and Part 5.
Photos: GAP Industries, Late Model Engines
