Robert Briggs' '64 drop-top seems nice but nondescript--until you catch sight of the exqui
But back to that engine: "It sets you in your seat when you nail it," says Briggs of his creation, as if we had any doubt. We had to ask, though, about the Impy's cruising capabilities, given the car's original intent, and the answer is positive there, too. "I didn't build it to sit and look at. It drives bitchin'," Briggs tells us, "but it's a tire burner." We can believe that, too. However you take this one in: checkin' out the wild engine bay, cruisin' the boulevard, or reducing new tires to bare cords, it's very cool, and makes perfect sense.
Speed Reading
'64 Impala SS
Robert Briggs
Garden Grove, CA
ENGINE
Type: '76 Chevrolet 400
Block: 0.030-inch overbore to 4.155 inches
Oiling: Moroso pan, big-block oil pump
Crankshaft: Cola forged-steel, 3.75-inch stroke
Connecting Rods: Eagle One
Pistons: Venoli pistons, pins, and rings, 8:1 compression ratio
Cylinder Heads: Brodix
Valves: 2.08/1.60-inch
Camshaft: Isky
Timing Set: Cloyes double-roller
Valvetrain:Isky pushrods, Crower roller rockers, remainder Brodix
Induction:1,050-cfm Holley Dominator carb by The Carb Shop, Ontario, CA;
Edelbrock Victor Jr. manifold; twin-turbo draw-through system using RotoMaster compressors and Turbonetics wastegates, fabricated by Ron Lummus Racing, Anaheim, CA
Ignition: MSD 6AL
Exhaust: Polished stainless headers built by Ron Lummus Racing, Burns stainless merge collectors, 3-inch Magnaflow dual exhaust
Other:Vacuum air pump, PMR braided lines
Output: 1,200 hp (est.)
Machine Work: Benson's, Santa Ana, CA
Assembly By:The owner
Thanks To: Arman Maghdessian and Gary Briggs
Ron Lummus Racing created the awesome looking twin-turbo setup for Robert Briggs' '64 Impa
DRIVETRAIN
Transmission: Turbo 400, stock Impala SS floor shifter, TCI 12-inch converter, and a Steff electric cooler
Rear Axle: GM 12-bolt with Posi-traction and 4.11:1 ring-and-pinion, built by J&F Gear, Huntington Beach, CA
Driveshaft: Driveline Specialties
CHASSIS
Frame: Stock, reinforced by the owner
Front and Rear Suspension: Firestone airbags with KYB gas shocks
Steering: Stock
Other: Chrome-plated A-arms and trailing arms, other components painted gloss black; Energy Suspension polyurethane bushings
Brakes: Wilwood front discs, stock rear drums
Built By: The owner
WHEELS & TIRES
Wheels: 20x8 Intro Twisted Vistas
Tires: P225/35R20 Falkens
BODY & PAINT
Body: Stock, stripped to bare metal, blocked, and floorpans replaced by the owner; trim and bumpers replated by The Bumper Boyz, Los Angeles, CA; new emblems from The Car Shop, Orange, CA
Paint: Glasso Black by Paint by Briggs, Huntington Beach, CA
This Impy rolls on 20-inch Intro Twisted Vista wheels clad in Falken rubber; stopping duti
INTERIOR
Original except for new carpet from The Car Shop and Auto Meter three-gauge center pod
PERFORMANCE
"Tire burning"
By John Nelson
Enjoyed this Post? Subscribe to our RSS Feed, or use your favorite social media to recommend us to friends and colleagues!