SWT SS 95 Impala SS

[SWT SS]

Back in 1996, I was in the market for a new car. I had seen a couple of the new SS around town and liked the looks of them, but still setting my sights on a BMW. But once I test drove an SS the decision was easy. Soon after, I began looking around for used ones. I first found a ’94, but it was so beaten that I knew it wasn’t the one for me. Then I came across my ‘95. It was bone stock, it had low mileage, and once I took it for a ride, it took me all of about 10 minutes to make a decision. The next thing you know, I’m the proud owner of the payment book for a 1995 Chevy Impala SS. And it felt wonderful.

Not knowing about car shows and modifying vehicles, my knowledge needed to grow. My very first mod was a dash hugger. Little did I know that this would be end up being the least amount of modding that would be done. Next I decided she needed a little more growl, so it was time to upgrade the exhaust. Back then the exhaust system choices were more limited, so I chose to replace the factory mufflers with a pair of Flowmaster 40 Series units, which are still on the car today. Add to that some chromed angle cut tips, intergrade them into the bumper and stir until done. But that again was just the beginning. I attended my first car show at Dust Off in Burlington, MA. There I met some really great guys that had done even more with their rides than I had, and realized there was still more work I could do. A Suncoast Ram Air hood with its functional intake system was chosen, and the next thing you know, the charge card was out, and the major modding had begun.

From early 1997 to 2000 came many minor and a couple of major changes, the carpet was changed to black, the sway bars were exchanged for an F-body front and H/O rear combo. The intent was that this was not going to be a trailer queen. She was going to be driven. A limited amount maybe, but still driven nonetheless. At the time, I was going for a stock look, but more enhanced. Bonneville seats front and rear seats were installed, the spoiler was swapped for a G2 type and I added some blue pearl over the factory GM black. At the time, if you were to walk by the car, your eye would tell you that something was different, but the car didn’t scream “Look at me!”

The premise behind this car is that there are many major and minor mods throughout. For instance. most people don’t even see that there is a custom shifter in there. I was surfing the net, looking at other peoples rides, and I came across a car in Canada that I liked. The owner was in love with Oldsmobile’s and went so far as to install a set of Hurst Lightning Rods in his car. He was the first guy to do this mod. As far as I knew, no one in the States had ever even tried. That was when it was discovered that there are two types of Lightning Rods, one is an aftermarket type intended for 3-speed transmissions., and the Hurst/Olds had a unique set for the 4 speed trans. And since I wanted my upgraded 4L60E trans to be fully functional, I needed the rare Oldsmobile unit. So the search was on. Eventually, the correct shifter was located - on eBay of course. My friend Jason fabricated all the mounting hardware to make them work. It took over 50 hours to fabricate all the brackets, mounting plates and spacers that needed to be made, all from billet. Please understand that you cannot just drop them, in, it was necessary to get the height and front-to-back placement correct to have them fit into the console properly and have the levers fall to hand. I try to do things correctly with everything on the car. I have made mistakes along the way, but all in the learning. I don’t mind paying for it, just ask my girlfriend .



I’ve since added a few performance parts, like a set of FLP long tube headers and X-type crossover pipe. I had the stock throttle body taken out to 52mm, and added the unique High Rise intake manifold. This was done by slicing the top off the stock intake manifold and adding a cast aluminum chamber to increase the plenum volume. Next, a set of 3.73’s and extended control arms found their way into the car. And for extra traction, a pair chromed SS rims were widened from the stock 8-1/2 inch width out to 11 inches so wider 315/35-17’s could be mounted. I did take her out for a few passes down the strip, where she pulled a 14.39, not bad for a 4400-pound car.

Now it was near the end of 2002 and I was ready to try another major change. This time I decided the car needed a new longer look, and in doing so, the doors would be shaved. Well, since we’re painting it anyway, let’s two-tone her. Many combinations were tried, but after a bunch of template colors were looked at, the decision was made to keep the top half the same Blue Pearl over Black and to change the bottom half to a mix of Silver White Pearl and Blue Pearl, using House of Kolors materials. This would be the 2nd time the car was to see snow while out of my hands. In the spring of 2003 the car rolled out of the paint booth. It was wonderful to see something different again. I loved the changes and am very happy with the work that was done buy JP Auto Body here in Nashua, NH. They took the whole car apart to do the work, which includes extending the two-tone theme into the doorjambs.

In 2004 I finally thought that I could bring it to the GM National in Carlisle, PA. I had been asked to go before, but never really felt the car was ready. I wanted to bring something no one had seen before. There were a couple of shows going on at the same time, the GM Nationals plus the B-Body specific event. She did extremely well taking Best of Show in the B-Body Show, and Celebrities Pick, Best Painted B-Body, and Best Modified B-Body for the National Show.

This winter I installed a Powerdyne 6lb supercharger system and took the car to the annual World of Wheels in Boston. She’s back home now and currently sits while I have a few of the more visible duct pieces off being chromed, and that will be it for the big stuff this year. And to add to the custom look she had had a frame notch to acomidate the ultra wide 335's tire on custom Forgline Wheels and flares were added to her body as well. Now she sits nice and runs stronger than ever. I am always looking for something new, and future changes are sure to come. If you see me out, please come over and say hello. I love to see the mods other folks have done to their rides and to talk cars – especially B-Bodies. Here are some pictures for you.Attachment 2942

[ROKTMAN]

Wow,nice car!You know your story is somewhat like mine.It is told on CuSStom .com.

Funny how these things bring out the best in people ,modding ,clubs and forums.

Glad you are on board here...THE place to be for GM vehicles.Enjoy your stay.

Here is an excerpt from the story:

Roktman



Roktman`s Roktship

In the spring of 1997 I was headed south to Tennessee and spotted two sleek ,black sedans on the other side of the interstate heading north.My girlfriend asked what were they and I really didn`t know at the time. She said “you have to get one ,that is you”After returning from our trip I started doing some research and found out they were the Impala SS .Well after a couple of weeks of searching I found just what I was looking for ,a 1996 black Impala SS at McClusky Chevrolet in Cincinnati Ohio.

While not new to performance cars my main focus and passion was the Chevrolet Corvette .I had worked my way up through the PontiacTrans Ams and Fiero`s to the Corvette. Various stages of modding those ensued as well as showing them at car shows.Once I saw the Impala though it was love at first sight.The power and style of my beloved Corvette with room to take passengers AND luggage.No more Corvettes for me!

The first week was spent looking at ways to pep up the performance a little bit.Having a buddy that managed a repair shop only made this way too convienent.The first week I put on a Dynomax cat back exhaust.The next weekend a cold air intake.This continued on weekly as every Saturday my buddie`s shop was full of Impala parts for him to install.I stuck pretty much to bolt ons adding a Paxton supercharger in 2000 as it continued as a daily driver until the spring of 2001 .A leaking intake manifold gasket in the winter of 2002 took me to my buddie`s shop for repair.He remarked that since I was taking off the top end of the motor anyway why not put in a cam and head package.Then he said since you are doing that why not just build a forged motor too.So that was how the mod bug bit me.We built a forged 350 and it ran for 4 minutes on start up before it blew up.Turned out the powdercoating company that powdercoated the intake had left sand in it and it blew through the motor…a total loss.After a little coaxing the powdercoating company agreed to pay for a new motor and we built a 396 stroker.During that six week span in the winter/spring of 2002/2003 we built two motors in six weeks.
I ran the motor with the Paxton that summer going to the ISSCA Nationals in Tulsa racing it in the competition events and winning the People`s Choice ,Best of Show award ,beating out 350 other Impala`s.I was asked to have the car photographed for the Impala SScene magazine as well as GM High Tech Performance.After getting back from Tulsa the car just wasn`t running strong enough with the Paxton supercharger mated to the 396 motor. Over the Thanksgiving holiday I installed a ATI Procharger D1SC supercharger.This combo ran until the summer of 2004. Pushing 900 horsepower through a motor built for 600 horsepower was a failure looking for a place to happen.In the summer of 2004 I succeded in breaking the crankshaft .This facilitated the current configuration of a fully forged Lunati billet rotating assembly with Ross Racing Pistons and Pro Mod rods.Growling through the Spintech 3” exhaust you would think a Busch race has come to the neighborhood.Not condusive to sneaking out to early Saturday morning car shows.

The car wasn`t designed just to be a race car but the ultimate street car not lacking any of the creature comforts and ameneties.From a complete custom sound system including DVD screens ,fiberglassed subs and components to the triple floating amp rack in the trunk backlit in purple neon.Air Ride Tecnologies suspension smoothes out the bumps while running on 315 /35/17 rolling stock out back on 10” wide Budnick Tiller Fatlip wheels.A Baer Big Brake Kit with custom purple calipers completes the package.The engine compartment is a combination of billet aluminum and chrome accented by a purple engine block to match the purple ghost flames on the hood,side scripts and fenders. A custom matched front facia houses the air to air intercooler and integrated fog lights.The interior is a custom interior featuring billet accents,custom leather lumbar seats,custom carpeting and a full array of gauges .

While predominantly used as a show car it is driven regularly to the Super Chevy Shows,ISSCA Impala Nationals and a multitude of local and regional car shows.To date the car has 111,000 miles on it but still retains the condition to be a perennial national show winner and magazine feature vehicle.

If you are ever out at the ISSCA Nationals,Super Chevy shows or any of the other regional shows be sure to stop by and say hi. Just look for the low slung black beaSSt driven by the Roktman.

[SWT SS]

Thanks Dave

For your kind words. I have always liked your ride. I’ve been on this site from time to time just poking around. I (like you) have spent many many hours and $ throughout the whole build process and I think I’m a bout done. Ya...I say that now but winter is just around the corner.

Thanks again
Chris

[ROKTMAN]

ThankSS Chris.Hope to meet you at the Impala Nationals maybe next year.

[GMTuners.net]

if there's a "cleanest car" award, you get it. very nice!

[SikMindz]

Holy long post SSman! LoL

Great looking car- I love the paint scheme as it looks a lot like mine in reverse! Welcome!

[SWT SS]

Thanks guys for your kind words. I just came back for Super Chevy here in Epping, NH where the car took best Modified so again another great weekend.

chris

[1RAWSS]

That is a very nice SS, great ideas and great outcome.
Nice work
Later
Bernie/1RawSS

[SWT SS]

Just thought I'd bring it to the top and see what's cooking.

Chris

[ROKTMAN]

Hey Chris.I`m getting ready for the Fly In tomorrow I put together at WPAFB-Dayton.A tour of the Air Museum and then a picnic with 40 or so Impalas from a three state area.Wish you were closer so you could come.