{"id":33,"date":"2018-12-01T00:19:15","date_gmt":"2018-12-01T00:19:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/svh65chevelle.com\/?page_id=33"},"modified":"2024-02-16T14:09:58","modified_gmt":"2024-02-16T14:09:58","slug":"home","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/svh65chevelle.com\/","title":{"rendered":"Home"},"content":{"rendered":"

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We didn\u2019t know much about Shawn Van Horn\u2019s 1965 Chevelle when we spotted it in line at the Run to the Coast event at El Toro Air Base earlier this year, but there was something about the circa 1985 wheels that made us want to investigate it. Then, once we saw it carve the autocross course like a knife, we knew there was something more than just Corvette wheels going on under\u00a0that early A-body.<\/p>\n

As a former employee of Newman Car Creations, Shawn Van Horn used his knowledge of suspension geometry, fabrication skills, and a handful of good friends to classically combine a \u201998 Camaro, an \u201984 Corvette C4 and a \u201965 Chevelle\u2014an impressive combination for an old car that can also handle and brake like a factory performance vehicle, and one of the coolest aspects of the build, you can get all the parts from your local Chevy dealer.<\/p>\n

\u201cI bought it from a guy who bought it used in 1968,\u201d Van Horn said. \u201cIt had a bone stock 283 with a \u2019Glide and 30-year-old bias ply tires and helper springs. I drove it that way for 1,000 miles before mouse smell and poor brakes kept me from driving it anymore.\u201d With the help of good friends Tom Smith, John Dolan, and Shawn\u2019s wife Krista, the Van Horn\u2019s Chevelle transformed from a tired, lazy cruiser into a spry and agile one. \u201cSince Tom wanted to learn how to fixture and build his own chassis and I wanted to learn how to do paint and body, a trade was struck.\u201d It was at this time Van Horn decided to put the car under the knife to add a sports car suspension to the old ride with some expert fabrication skills.<\/p>\n

The frame was cut and removed at the firewall forward then Van Horn fabbed in his own rails that accepted the Corvette\u00a0C4 suspension cradle. \u201cI had to move the engine into the firewall 4-5 inches to clear the steering rack, which helped move the balance to 53\/47, but it\u2019s still heavy on the front,\u201d Van Horn said. As for the IRS rear, the stock frame was cut and a new, 5-inch narrower section was built to accept it, as well. The power-train was a simple score, an LS1\/T56 straight from a wrecked 1998 Camaro Z28. \u201cBuilding the chassis was easy for me, it was all the tedious bodywork that was difficult; glad I had Tom and Krista to help. She spent two days scrubbing the bottom of the car just to get it ready for paint\u2014I couldn\u2019t have done that.\u201d<\/p>\n

With the main components in place, Shawn used eBay and Speedway Motors to hunt down the remaining pieces of the puzzle. The interior and computer tune was subbed out, but everything else was done by the Van Horn\u2019s, including the exhaust system. \u201cWe had a big push just to get the car running for the Run to The Coast event, so there are some things we have yet to do. The motor is coming out and being freshened up with Lingenfelter CNC LS6 heads and a hotter cam. The suspension will be firmed up as well.\u201d We\u2019ll have to keep an eye out for the Van Horn\u2019s Corvelle at next year\u2019s event, and as for the wheels that drew our attention, they were found in the garbage; proving once again that one man\u2019s trash is another man\u2019s treasure. From the wrecked F-body to the abandoned C4 suspension, Shawn\u2019s build is a great collaboration of parts people were ready to throw away, but look what you can do with some ingenuity and a loyal team of car buddies<\/p>\n

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