1970 Chevrolet Chevelle SS from North America - Comments

Automatic transmission went out at 70k miles (too much hot-rodding). Timing chain slipped at 120k miles & had to rebuild.

I built this engine up a bit (410hp now - very mean) & has some overheating problems. Has drum brakes all the way around & does not stop on a dime. Handles better since I added anti-sway bars on front & back.

I've had two 1970 Chevelles. Only a non-SS comes with drums all the way around (as my non-SS did). The SS came with front disks (as my SS did).

They are mean, heavy Chevys. The 454 SS I had was fun, but I enjoyed the non-SS better because I bought it without an engine and built it up with a 1971 Chevelle 350, 750 Holley, Wiand single-plane, Crane Fireball 480 cam, 62cc power-pack heads off a '68 283, 3.73 posi gears, adjustable vacuum and mechanical advance, accel distributor & coil, 4-core BB radiator, BB front springs, offset control arms, poly sway-bar bushings, etc. etc.

The car ripped, and that's exactly what happened. The ignition key was very worn, and could be turned with anything and the car got ripped off *sigh*.

I owned a 1970 that was a total screamer. Full disc brake conversion, 12-bolt 4.56's and a TH350 tranny. Up front was a 454 bored and stroked to 496 inches that broke two dynos (800lb-ft) and finally scored 955lb-ft at the wheels on a higher end dyno. The TH350 lasted for a year behind the BBC and finally got spat out at the Montgomery dragstrip. I replaced it with a tranzilla sixer, and MAN WHAT A RIDE!!!

I remember that day it died, I still cry about it. I was in Gainsville, FL running in the brackets when the right axle broke and sent me into the wall... I was fine, but the Velle was dead. Block was cracked, tranny was busted in half (Almost) and the body was toast.

Sold for scrap, some parts went to live in other cars thankfully. I am searching for another 70 now, but good solid frames and bodies are becoming harder and harder to find...

Yeah, the Chevelle is my favorite muscle car. I have a model of a 1967 and a calender picture of a 1970. The 67 model has the 396ci and the specs for the calender picture is also a 396ci. I have always heard that the Chevelles are fast.