Project Whistling Death

As a leader in the classic car parts industry, Original Parts Group, Inc. (OPGI) gets to work with a lot of creative people like those at auto magazines and enthusiast websites, professional car collectors, restoration shops and of course, many individual car fans too. Not a day goes by when we don’t hear from someone who is starting a new classic car related project of some sort. One of the more interesting build projects we are participating in this year is called Project Whistling Death, a 1967 Chevelle being built by Hot Rod Chassis and Cycle (HRCC) in Addison, Illinois.

When OPGI learned that Whistling Death was planned to be a custom chassis-based, pro touring Chevelle that would be built from an unrestored 1967 Chevelle 300 platform, the project seemed like a perfect fit for its’ restoration parts and accessories, and OPGI quickly signed on as the primary build partner. Combining the best parts the industry has to offer along with media coverage by the folks at Bangshift.com and the automotive expertise of Kevin Tully and his Skunkworks crew at Hot Rod Chassis and Cycle, it was hoped that Whistling Death would “reset the bar for what a functional pro touring Chevelle should be.” Kevin and his partner Chad Hill, along with the Skunkworks team at HRCC said they wanted to build the most advanced pro touring car in the country, and make it one that would be “used, raced, and driven hard.”

The plan was to utilize the best parts from the best suppliers to create a sleeper of a car that will look like a somewhat traditional pro touring Chevelle, but would actually be a custom chassis car with independent rear suspension and all the modern tricks hidden underneath a classic and understated exterior. According to Chad Hill, the exterior color will be Dark Sea Blue, a Navy/Marine military spec color from the ‘40s-‘50s. The military blue paint along with the use of the “whistling” Hilborn injection system prompted HRCC to name the project “Whistling Death” as that was the nickname Japanese pilots used to call the very successful American Corsair fighter airplane back in World War II.  Sporting a more aggressive version of the standard SS Chevelle paint stripe and a Stinger hood, the dark blue Chevelle takes on a bit of a sinister look that resembles a vintage fighter aircraft.

The military-inspired Chevelle will have an independent rear suspension (IRS) system anchored by a Hammerhead differential housing filled with Moser parts. HRCC stresses that its’ unique “Interceptor” IRS system is their own design that utilizes multiple control arms and it is not related to existing Corvette or Jaguar IRS setups. Up front, a yet-to-be-disclosed “super-secret” front suspension (to be unveiled at the SEMA Show) will be mounted to a scratch built chassis and roll cage fitted with Viking Beserker ASM shocks at all four corners and the disc brakes will be Alcon components. In addition to the Hammerhead differential, the Whistling Death drivetrain will include a Tremec T-56 Magnum 6-speed Transmission with Sequential Shift from Dedrichs Motorsports. The power will come from a LSX454 from Scoggin Dickey fitted with LSX Stack Injection by Hilborn and controlled by an ECU from Holley, and an all new twin rotor dry sump package from Moroso, all nestled under a fiberglass hood by VFN. To get that power to the ground Whistling Death will be riding on Forgeline/Grip Laguna wheels and Nitto tires.

Original Parts Group will supply all of the sheet metal, trim, door handles and other necessary restoration parts, while Shields will supply lightweight polycarbonate windows and parts from both TMI and OPGI will round out the interior. When completed as planned, Project Whistling Death should be one of the most technically advanced pro touring cars in the country and HRCC plans to test its strength and durability both on the street and in competition.

The testing will have to wait for now though, as Kevin and the crew at HRCC are busy making sure they actually have a 1967 Chevelle to build upon. The first car they started working on seemed pretty solid from the outside, but after they got it back from the paint stripper further investigation revealed so much rust rot that there really wasn’t much metal to restore in some places. The first car was so far gone they had to go hunting for another car just to make one good workable ’67 Chevelle 300 from two partially decent donor cars. The rust problems also served to point out the beauty and convenience of using OPGI’s factory accurate replacement parts instead of trying to fix the hopelessly rusted original pieces.

One look at the tasteful rendering and the extensive list of parts and suppliers should confirm that Project Whistling Death is definitely on track to becoming one bad ass classic Chevelle that will bring a smile to the Chevrolet lovers of the world. Stay tuned here at the OPGI Blog or at the Bangshift website to follow along with the build-up. The completed Chevelle will also be displayed in the Original Parts Group, Inc. booth (# 23987) at the upcoming 2014 Specialty Equipment Market Association (SEMA) Show held in Las Vegas, from the 4th to the 7th of November.

Project Whistling Death Build Partners –

Original Parts Group, Inc. – Restoration Components
www.opgi.com

Bangshift – Media
www.bangshift.com

Scoggin Dickey – LSX-454
www.sdparts.com

Tremec – T-56 Magnum 6-speed Transmission
www.tremec.com

Hilborn – LSX Stack Injector
www.hilborninjection.com

Craftsman – Tools
www.craftsman.com

Aeromotive – Fuel System
www.aeromotiveinc.com

Autometer – Gauges
www.autometer.com

Forgeline/Grip – Wheels
www.forgeline.com

Nitto – Tires
www.nittotire.com

C&R Racing – NASCAR-style Radiator
www.crracing.com

Dedrichs Motorsports – Sequential Shifter
www.dederichsmotorsports.com

Hammerhead – IRS differential
www.etenterprises.com

Painless – Wiring
www.painlessperformance.com

TMI Interiors – Seat Upholstery & Door Panels
www.tmiproducts.com

Holley – Computer
www.holley.com

Quicktime – Bell Housing
www.lakewoodindustries.com

VFN – Hood, bumpers
www.vfnfiberglass.com

Miller Welding
www.millerwelds.com

Mr. Gasket
www.mr-gasket.com

Viking – Berserker ASM Shock System
www.vi-king.com

Driveshaft Shop – Driveshaft
www.driveshaftshop.com

Moser – Ring & Pinion
www.moserengineering.com

Alcon – Brakes
www.alconusa.com

Shields – Polycarbonate Windows
www.racingshields.com

Valspar – Paint
www.valsparrefinish.com

Flaming River – Steering Components
www.flamingriver.com

Tech A/FX – Hoses & Fittings
www.techafx.com

ABC Performance
www.abcperformance.net

McLeod Racing – Clutch
www.mcleodracing.com

Moroso Performance – Twin Rotor Dry Sump
www.moroso.com

Comp Cams – Camshaft
www.compcams.com

Dynotech Engineering
www.dynotechengineering.com

HRCC/Skunkworks
Hot Rod Chassis & Cycle
59 Factory Rd
Addison, IL 60101
630-458-0808
www.hotrodchassisandcycle.com