Chevy Big-Block – Pulpaddict

’68 BIG-BLOCK, LOW-BUCK CHEVROLET

For less than $3,000, you could buy a Baldwin-Motion ’68 BIG-BLOCK, LOW-BUCK CHEVROLET with dyno-tuned 427/425 power, four-speed, and F41 suspension!

’68 BIG-BLOCK, LOW-BUCK CHEVROLET

Overshadowed by the SS-427 Impala in the late-1960s, few enthusiasts were aware that Chevrolet was building a low-end, two-door “post” Biscayne that could be optioned with a 425 horsepower 427 big-block and four-on-the-floor. In 1968, Baldwin-Motion’s entry-level SS-427 Biscayne Street Racer’s Special, with a dyno-tuned 427/425 big-block, close-ratio four-speed transmission, Posi rear, F41 suspension with rear sway bar, HD radiator, and distinctive badging, was just $2,998.00!

The overwhelming majority of production 427-powered, full-size Chevys were optioned with the hydraulic-lifter 385-horsepower version of the venerable big-block. Baldwin-Motion’s Street Racer’s Special came with the solid-lifter L72 Turbo-Jet 427 with 11-to-l forged aluminum pistons, solid-lifter .491/.495-inch-lift camshaft, 785-cfm Holley four-barrel on an aluminum high-rise manifold, dual-point ignition, and tuned cast-iron exhaust manifolds. It was the ultimate ’68 BIG-BLOCK, LOW-BUCK CHEVROLET.

Joel Rosen and testers at Hi-Performance CARS Magazine took a brand new SS-427 Street Racer’s Special Biscayne to Raceway Park in Englishtown, NJ. The results were impressive, considering the hulking sedan weighed approximately 3,600 pounds and was shod with optional street performance tires. After a number of 13.88- 14.00-second runs, Rosen played with the plugs and timing and ran a best of the day – over 100 mph in 13.40 seconds! Running against the stopwatch, CARS magazine staffers recorded several 6.4 to 6.8-second 0 to 60 mph sprints at Englishtown.

’68 BIG-BLOCK, LOW-BUCK CHEVROLET According to Rosen, “Most Street Racer’s Specials had transaction prices in the mid-$4,000 price range.” The base 427/425 Biscayne at $2,998.00 came with slow manual steering, non-power brakes, and bench seating. Only dyno-tuning and status badging distinguished it from a factory stocker.

For more information on the ’68 BIG-BLOCK, LOW-BUCK CHEVROLET and the complete line of full-size models including the SS-427 Impala, check out OVER-DRIVE magazine @ https://over-drive-magazine.com/2025/03/05/1968-chevrolet-full-size-cars-fact-sheet/

‘67 CAMARO: PONYCAR WITH MAJOR MUSCLE

Chevrolet was three years late to the Ponycar Party, but the long-hood, short-deck ‘67 CAMARO: PONYCAR WITH MAJOR MUSCLE made up for lost time!

‘67 CAMARO: PONYCAR WITH MAJOR MUSCLE

When revealed to the public in the fall of 1966, the all-new Camaro could be ordered with engines up to and including the 350 cubic inch small-block V-8. Soon after the Camaro’s public introduction, there appeared a potent 302-inch small-block in Z28 trim and big-block 396 engines with up to 375 horsepower. And, if that wasn’t enough power, Baldwin- Motion (Baldwin Chevrolet), dana Chevrolet, Nickey Chevrolet and Yenko Chevrolet offered limited-production 427 Camaros in various states of tune.

GM’s F-Body twins, the ‘67 CAMARO: PONYCAR WITH MAJOR MUSCLE and Pontiac’s Firebird, represented the carmaker’s first venture into Mustang territory. Slightly longer, wider and lower than a Mustang, they introduced new levels of power. While Chevrolet and Pontiac shared a basic platform and much of the sheet metal, including front fenders, door skins and rear quarters, power choices and options were brand-unique. Pontiac relied on a peaked hood, split front grille and GTO-style taillights to set the Firebird apart. When it came to a rear suspension, GM engineers were penny-wise and pound-foolish. They utilized a less-than-desirable monoleaf rear suspension from the Chevy II parts bin.

After the initial ‘67 CAMARO: PONYCAR WITH MAJOR MUSCLE Public introduction, 302-inch Z/28 small-block and 375 horsepower 396 big-block engines were made available. Even though the Camaro and Firebird shared a common platform and some sheet metal, they looked and drove differently. When presenting the new Firebird, Pontiac took a page from the GTO playbook. Thanks to a myriad of performance, image and comfort and convenience options, buyers could turn a Firebird into anything they wanted.

‘67 CAMARO: PONYCAR WITH MAJOR MUSCLE

Everything you’ve always wanted to know about the ‘67 CAMARO: PONYCAR WITH MAJOR MUSCLE is available online at Over-Drive Magazine @ https://over-drive-magazine.com/2024/03/22/1967-chevrolet-camaro-fact-sheet/

For more information about Baldwin-Motion SS & Phase III 427 and 454-inch Camaros, check out https://www.amazon.com/Motion-Performance-Tales-Muscle-Builder/dp/0760355606/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1493151743&sr=1-1&keywords=MOTION Performance, Tales of a muscle car builder

1967 CHEVY 396/427: BIGGER IS BETTER

Our friends at OVER-DRIVE Magazine have published everything you want to know about 1967 CHEVY 396/427: BIGGER IS BETTER full & mid-size models.

Chevrolet expanded its use of four-barrel big-block engines in 1967, offering 396/325 and 396/385 versions in full-size Biscayne, SS and Impala models and 396/350 and 396/375 engines in Camaros and Chevelles. GM divisions were prohibited from using tri-power induction on passenger car engines, barring the use of 427/400 and 435 horsepower Corvette engines at Chevrolet. In 1968, the 427/425 big-block, right, became available in full-size Chevys. Baldwin-Motion transplanted high-horsepower 427s in 1967 full & midsize models.

The full-size 1967 model was redesigned with enhanced Coke bottle styling that featured front and rear fender bulges, making the car appear larger than the previous year, though it was not. The L72 425-horsepower 427 CID V-8 engine was not available in 1967, with only the 427/385 big-block as the top high-performance option.

The mid-size 1967 Chevelle SS 396 Sport Coupe was the top-of-the-line Chevelle in performance and luxury. When equipped with the 375 horsepower 396 big-block V-8, it could kick ass!

For OVER-DRIVE Magazine Fact Sheets covering 1967 CHEVY 396/427: BIGGER IS BETTER full and mid-size models, please visit https://over-drive-magazine.com/2024/09/20/1967-chevrolet-full-size-cars-fact-sheet/

https://over-drive-magazine.com/2023/10/31/1967-chevrolet-mid-size-cars-fact-sheet/

1966 CHEVY 396/427 MARK IV: BIGGER IS BETTER

Chevrolet raises the performance bar with big-block Mid & Full-Size models: 1966 CHEVY 396/427 MARK IV: BIGGER IS BETTER.

After teasing enthusiasts with a very-late and very-limited-production Z16 Chevelle SS powered by a proprietary 396/375 Mark IV big-block, Chevrolet followed up with a newly-styled ’66 Chevelle SS396 with less horsepower! First introduced with base 396/325 and optional L34 396/360 hydraulic-cam motors, it was a while before they quietly offered the L78 396/375 solid-lifter powerhouse that enthusiasts craved. It appeared in March 1966 with little fanfare or marketing support.

Except for displacement and advertised horsepower, the 396/375 and 427/425 were very similar. The 427/425 Mark IVs in the full-size Chevy Biscayne, Impala & Caprice and Corvette, and the 396/375 had four-bolt-main blocks, 11-to-1 compression, .520-inch-lift solid cams, rectangular-port heads with 2.19-inch intake valves and aluminum intake manifolds with 780-cfm Holley four-barrel carburetors.Chevelle SS396 models were trimmed to appeal, and powered to impress Musclecar shoppers. All SS396 Chevelles came with rear frame reinforcements. We tested a 396/360 Chevelle with four-speed 3.73 Posi rear for the May 1966 Hi-Performance CARS and we were not that impressed.

Our best 0 to 60 was 8.0 seconds and couldn’t do better than 91 mph in 15.85 seconds on the track. Getting the power to the ground was a major problem. With sticky tires and 4.11s, high-mid-14s would be in reach.

For the full-story about 1966 CHEVY 396/427 MARK IV: BIGGER IS BETTER, check out OVER-DRIVE Magazine’s fact sheets on 1966 Full-Size Chevys @ https://over-drive-magazine.com/2024/08/26/1966-chevrolet-full-size-cars-fact-sheet/

For the full-story about 1966 CHEVY 396/427 MARK IV: BIGGER IS BETTER, check out OVER-DRIVE Magazine’s fact sheets on 1966 Mid-Size Chevys @ https://over-drive-magazine.com/2023/09/22/1966-chevrolet-mid-size-cars-fact-sheet/

CHEVY 427 BISCAYNE: STREET RACER’S SPECIAL

BALDWIN-MOTION’S CHEVY 427 BISCAYNE: STREET RACER’S SPECIAL offered the most blast-for-the-buck, plus the element of surprise.

In 1978, Baldwin-Motion offered enthusiasts the largest selection of modified brand new Chevys in the field. In addition to its base 425-horsepower SS-427 Camaro and 500-plus-horsepower Phase III model, the Fantastic Five lineup included 427 Novas, Chevelles, Corvettes, or even a low-rent, full-size Biscayne. All nameplates could be fitted with a myriad of performance, comfort and convenience options. The selection listed in the Baldwin-Motion catalog included 25 Special Performance Options and over 35 Regular Production Options. Prices started at under-$3,000 for the 427 Biscayne Street Racer’s Special.

Overshadowed by the SS-427 Impala in the late-1960s, few enthusiasts were aware that Chevrolet was building a low-end, two-door “post” Biscayne that could be optioned with a 425 horsepower 427 big-block and four-on-the-floor. Even fewer were those who knew in 1968 that Joel Rosen, left, Baldwin-Motion was marketing an entry-level CHEVY 427 BISCAYNE: STREET RACER’S SPECIAL. Unlike typical recipients of swapped 427s, SS & Phase III Supercars, the SS-427Street Racer’s Special came with a dyno-tuned, factory-installed 427/425 big-block, close-ratio four-speed, Posi rear, F41 suspension with rear sway bar, HD radiator and distinctive badging. The cost: $2,998.00!

The overwhelming majority of production full-size Chevys with 427s were fitted with hydraulic-lifter 385-horsepower versions of the venerable big-block. Baldwin-Motion’s Biscayne came with the solid-lifter L72 Turbo-Jet 427 with 11-to-l forged aluminum pistons, solid-lifter .491/.495-inch-lift camshaft, 785-cfm Holley four-barrel on an aluminum high-rise manifold, dual-point ignition and tuned cast-iron exhaust manifolds.

In 1968 Joel Rosen and testers at CARS Magazine took the CHEVY 427 BISCAYNE: STREET RACER’S SPECIAL featured here to Raceway Park in Englishtown, NJ. The results were truly impressive, considering the hulking sedan weighed in at approximately 3,600 pounds and was shod with optional street performance tires. After a number of 13.88-14.00-second runs, Rosen played with the plugs and timing and ran a best of the day – a tick over 100 mph in 13.40 seconds! Running against the stopwatch, CARS staffers recorded a number of 6.4 to 6.8-second 0 to 60 mph sprints.

According to Rosen, “Most CHEVY 427 BISCAYNE: STREET RACER’S SPECIAL that we built actually had transaction prices in the mid-$4,000 price range. The base 427/425 Biscayne at $2,998.00 came with slow manual steering, non-power brakes and bench seating. Only dyno-tuning and status badging plus unique Baldwin-Motion options distinguished it from a factory stocker.”Rosen carried over the SS-427 Biscayne Street Racer’s Special for the 1969 model year ($3,098.88) and offered it along with an SS-427 Impala ($3,495.95). Both were rated at 450 horsepower. Options included an L88 aluminum head 427 and an all-aluminum ZL1, although records do not show that any were built.

The Fantastic Five lineup of super-performance Chevys offered something for everyone and reinforced Baldwin-Motion’s position as the most prolific Chevy Supercar builder in the marketplace. The bargain-priced member of the Fantastic Five – CHEVY 427 BISCAYNE: STREET RACER’S SPECIAL – could also be optioned for serious street or track racing.

For more information about the history & heritage of Baldwin-Motion and MOTION, check out, MOTION Performance, Tales Of A Muscle Car Builder, http://www.amazon.com/Motion-Performance-Tales-Muscle-Builder/dp/0760335389