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When it comes to the drivetrain, Peter’s thinking may be old, but it sure isn’t slow. Instead of a generic Mark IV or V big-block or, worse yet, a boring little Mouse, a stout 409 was put together. The W-block was bored .030 over, and the cylinders were filled with Venolia pistons riding on stock but shot-peened rods. The heads were treated to custom porting, a three-angle valve job and valvesprings able to work with the .530-inch-lift, 300-degree-duration Crane camshaft. The intake is a Chevrolet stocker mounted with (what else?) dual Carter AFBs. Peter modified an MSD crank-trigger system to spark the engine. He also modified an L88 Corvette seven-quart oil pan to fit the bottom of the 409 and the chassis of the ’63. Peter prides himself on knowing how to build tough 409s, and the one in the car will hold him over until he finishes a bottle-fed 471ci 409. The transmission is a Powerglide (remember, that’s all you could get in 1963) with an ATI manual valvebody and 8-inch converter. Peter uses a Chevrolet police-car transmission cooler and had a one-piece driveshaft built to replace the stock two-piecer.
The foundation for the Impala is a stock chassis that Peter back-halved using 2x3-inch tubing to accommodate the 33x21.5 Mickey Thompsons. From the new rear framerails, a narrowed Ford 9-inch was hung using Koni coil-overs. The front suspension and steering are stock except for the ’69 Chevelle disc brakes, which bolted on using ECI caliper brackets.
Peter had C.A.R.S. sew up the seat covers, door panels, carpet and headliner to keep the Impala interior looking stock. The rear seat was modified to fit with the wheeltubs, and the cage was designed to be a little less obtrusive.
The MSD ignition box was stuffed into the glovebox to keep it hidden. Since the ignition needs airflow to keep cool, Peter opened the rear and top of the box to allow air to move from the speaker grille over the MSD box.
Not even a battery box, JAZ fuel cell and huge wheeltubs can fill the trunk of a ’63 Impala. The rollcage ties into the custom rear subframe of the car. The trunk area was splatter painted for a factory look.
There is something awe-inspiring about a 409, and if looking at this end doesn’t get you excited, listening to the sound coming from the custom 3-inch exhaust system will.
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