80s Built Chevelle Drag Car - Will It RUN AND DRIVE 450 miles home? 

So sad, folks try to scam people. At least I got your moms cook book out of it for 50$. Only hope my gift cards I sent you worked😊

I'd like a copy of that cook book if a guy gets a hankering to sell one! 😁

Mom's cook book? Well how did that get all the way out here?

It's sad but usually scammers come from wealthy countries

Thank you Derek,as well as the entire VGG family for a great year of content. I would love to wish each,and every one of you a Happy New Year, as well as Abundant Blessings, perfect peace, Happiness, most importantly, perfect health throughout the year. I am absolutely 💯 looking forward to 2023 content, I know it's just going to be every bit as awesome as 2022!

I've noticed that the better the car, the less the goofing !

I like the long videos. These are much better than what’s on TV.

@@bodarville2510 You are so right.

I absolutely agree. I love these videos!

Great revival, who needs TV

Bring the thunder! *Cap explodes*

Hey I’m an HVAC technician here in Texas also. I’ve just recently stumbled across this guys videos. Makes me want to get out of hvac and build classic cars!

I ain't no HVAC guy but I know about every 2 years I change out my flux capacitor when the fan starts to wine about starting.😅 One year I found out the hard way it certainly will bring the thunder. 😅

I bet it helps the customers to relate to you a lot better.

also hvac guy and cant agree more. its nice to learn something and solve these issues on these old cars. and it does help in relating with the customers a lot.

David, I agree with you. I find burnout competition is basically an abuse of machinery. I don't care for it.

agree.... the 400SM is defenatly worth rebuilding. keep it a shiner, call it sky blue. but some magnetic business cards on it and hit the show and shine circuit.

I just think its boring to watch. I mean yeah. You can spin some doughnuts and make some smoke. Ok. Lol.

Yep! What they said 👆

I like the Drag and Drive as it is performance designed to live longer than a season but possibly if Derek wanted to enter burnout Comp's still a "rescue" of some less desirable vehicle throw on a blow through turbo welded up with batteries or similar just to get the last gasp out of something destined for a Sawzall and the scrap metal bin. Getting something from an auction even and work around the bleep bloops and press all the budget up arrows. Burnout cars do not last long when they hit a barrier in the smoke cloud.

ok

Humble brag

@@Ghettochappy Hell, everyone needs some praise every now and then. I know when I was in my teens & early 20's I needed it & was known to fish for it. No harm done. @michigandogman3060 you were indeed raised right & you're more than likely a helluva guy! Don't let anyone shame you for wanting praise or acknowledgement! If you feel like you need it, go & get you some! Even if you don't deserve it, odds are the things you do & say to get it will be praise worthy & will make you a better person. Sorry for the rant, I'm just really sick of all the negativity & assholishness people spew to belittle others to make themselves look better.

Good job!

@@Ghettochappy nah if I was bragging I would have told how I emptied the trash, fixed their refrigeration unit, swept the floors and restocked the shelves 😂

Every carpenter 'cept Jesus...

Hell yeah my guy! I'd love to see Derek make this a street rod for dragging on the weekends but able to also be a daily... errr... well maaybe a going to town rig for when you got a date right before you gotta smoke some fellas lmfao

14.7 all day baby!

it'll be lucky to run a low 13

RC cars often 1/8 but youll struggle with quarter scale. Its not impossible theres afew 1/4th scales out there its the body youll struggle with most but mayb somebody did do a Chevell they definitly have the V8 engine. The conley V8 rc engine is a work of art too. 1/4 scale V8 expensive asF though.

@@TrollingHistory I think you got the wrong idea from the OP. They aren't talking scale with 1/8th or 1/4, they are talking fractions of miles.

Ditto.

I agree

Derek, I was on the phone with Mike tonight from Wildfire .....I'm getting myself a lift !!

2nd that

Also really enjoyed the show tonight

maybe fix and restore some wireing like for indicators and switchs that do nothing. but i agree with what your saying...

I would like to second, third, and fourth and a half this! Just plop a VGG logo on each door, is all I figure it would need. A blue tinted version, that said VGG with "Blue Lightning" below.

Yeah I want to see the times it can get with the current setup.

What they said

I agree with everything EXCEPT keeping the engine. Its most likely a great drag engine but i think it might not be the best to tour around and do the drag n drive events he will want to be doing.

Yep….just like that! Add OD trans and enjoy. Hot Rod Tour in that will be classic!

Love that!

Yup......I'm Absolutely With U 'Bout The "2Hr"(10-15min 4Me) Deal. He's Always Happy & Positive, Educational, Intelligent & Funny/Witty W/Out Bein' Political, Whiney or Vulgar & I Really Appreciate That, Especially These Days as it's Hard 2Find Anymore. U & Ur's Have a HAPPY NEW YEAR My Friend.💯🤙🥃😶✌️🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸

Agree! Keep the paint and the 400! Maybe a trans with overdrive and fix up a couple things.

Seeing as the car is already set up for smaller humans, maybe make it an old school drag car for the wife, then something your kids can learn on?

I'll second this

I'll third it

Happy holidays!

@@ViceGripGarage happy holidays to you and your family. you already gave her a few good names yourself "Dead Miss", "Missleading". or a guy could just call her Problem Child or something cool like that.

Seems like a worthy successor to independence…

Agree! He needs to hear that. He needs encouraged.

😅

Hopefully Motor Trend doesn't try to stick all of his content behind pay walls like everything else.

@@Chanselor yeah, for real! They ruined Roadkill when they took all their episodes off RU-vid and tried to make too much money. I actually haven't seen any of his Motor Trend content yet

Whatcha mean "free'??? He's not monetized?

Impossible, there's far too much work going into this channel

@@sherry73 oh I mean it's free for us. We don't have to pay a subscription price just to access it. Of course he's making money, haha.

I totally agree with the sentiment in your comment. VCG is about 3 million time better than Top Gear. While watching the like of VCG and Legitstreetcars one gets no sense of arrogance and privilege unlike the previous three presenters of Top Gear. Derek, Alex Palmeri, Tony Angelo etc are all clearly passionate about cars and always appear to appreciate their success that has been achieved through hard work and risk. I'll probably never watch Top Gear again.

@George Nothing reeks like arrogance. It's just repulsive. Being Highminded, Puffed Up, Prideful, are all negative traits. That all leads to a huge fall. No matter what on earth you have it should never move you from a place of being your self , another human like all the rest of us, some who have and some who dont have, this or that. Lets keep humble and lower ourselves back down to reality, no matter what we own. Lets see each other as equals and not offend anyone. Lets even esteem others before our self. Lets Kill SELF if you know what I mean. I'm sure we all have the opportunity to have the Heart of Gold and submit ourselves to God as we act on His word in obedience. Don't let a pocket full of money, success or an expensive street car change you.

That was a really nice and true comment. I understand what you're saying as I've always felt the same about Derek, his content, and how he's always inspirational to us all. Happy new year to you and your family as well, from one feller to another. Matter of fact I'm working on my old pile of crap turbocharged Acura TL right now. Mainly due to ADHD, but also because when I'm not at work, I have work to do at home...

@George That's a hell of a big chip on your shoulder there George. Happy New Year ffs.

His early videos have lots of solid advice on engine building. I learned alot about rocker arm geometry and setup from him. Great stuff!

Liberty or Freedom Chevelle, so it is in the same theme as Independence and 1776 but isn't a copycat.

i second that but also keep the interior as is as much as possible so old skool cool

a bald eagle on the hood would be cool with the liberty bell on the rear deck. VGG license plate :)

Liberty is a great name for this Chevelle that will roam the roads and drag strips of the USA!

Agreed, call it Liberty.

💯 agreed. 400 pretty rare nowadays. Upgrade and enjoy. First trouble shoot. Good stuff.

@@kevinjohnson8758 Im from Australia and know very little about older vehicles, that being said, id love to see it as it is brought back to life as is. By the soundfs ofit, it already has all the goodies so why not right?

I had a 70 the same color. If you look at my channel, there is a couple videos of it. Sadly, an old man insurance scammed me, and it was totaled. 😭

100% refresh that engine and set her up for the drag and drives

Keep the 400. I've regretted dumping one off for 39 years now.

Keep the engine it came this far what do they say we'll this is what I brought run it

Got a few years on you (+5) - my dad ran a '66 Chevelle back in the 60's (My brother has dad's trophy's) - Derek's love of cars reminds me so much of my dad, dad didn't look like Derek but shared hjs love of cars. (I really miss him) . Dad taught me to wrench, (never said "your a girl go away (although my brothers did - they limited me to stomping the pedal to bleed the brakes :-) ) and I can wrench to this very day (I still have my made in the USA Craftsman tools). Back then everyone ran a stick - I remember I couldn't push the clutch down on dad's drag car!!! I still love and will always love Detroit iron. We HAVE to keep this love for actual cars alive! Don't ever hang up your vice grips and I won't either! God Bless!

@@cynthiaklenk6313So excellent to come across a lady wrencher. Way too thin on the ground. Back in the 70s, we had two lasses who rode their two stroke twins with the same enthusiasm we lads did, and both were “handy” with tools & did their own maintenance. Back then, I didn’t think to ask how that had come about. I’ve two daughters and neither are interested in dads old strokers or a shed full of tools. One tried & we actually laced a rim, then tensioned & trued it well together, but that was a one off. She’s the aptitude to fix stuff, knows how to apply force properly using a screwdriver and spanner or ratchet socket, but simply isn’t that interested. On a more promising note, I’ve now two small grandsons and both can’t wait to get into the workshop every time mom brings them over. I’m working on the possibility that if I hang on long enough for one of them to hit their early teens, we’ll do a simple project together and if he’s interested after that, I’ll specifically Will him all my tools. Otherwise they’ll go in the dumpster after I’m gone, because there is simply nobody who knows which end of a torque wrench is which, or why it might be useful to know. I wish you joy. 😎🙏

That's a strange choice for a social comparison.. lol I see what you were going for, but Derek is more of a Ron Jeremy of automotive content creators... lol

Much appreciated!

Amen! I could see him smilin'.

Thank you! Will do!

safety 3rd

@@ViceGripGarage have you seen the videos in Ohio im sepprised it could drive

@@ViceGripGarage lady liberty would be a amazing name for that sweet ride

Way better than names I chose. Maybe Derekaration.

That or Mayflower

I vote leave the paint and don't wrap it. The paint is not show quality and isn't the exact color of the original anyway. Restore all the running gear to perfection and just have fun with it and don't worry about perfect paint.

yes! 1/4 as is then new rear tires and other basic stuff like a dyno tune and do an after 1/4

Was going to say the same thing but you beat me to it but no problem. Keep it as close to his build as possible and go racing.

Same here! Want to see it!

Same

Totaly

Thank you

I learned all about distributors in a loading zone during peak hour one of the first times I drove in the “big city”. I believe they call it character building.

"Special Things"? really, more like necessary things, to keep these forever breaking, leaking, or tc. machines working. I had DEACADES of fixing I.C.E. cars-no more I am so done with all of it. I got an Electric Car and will NEVER look back in fondness to fixing a gas powered car.

@Harriett Anthony we all have different perspectives, some of us enjoy these things and the memories they provide. Enjoy your electric car.

Good comment!

Agree eleventy billion point six percent! The MT produced stuff is interesting and I like it too, but its waaaay over produced. Derek's home brew is much much better. If I'm going to pay to watch this dancing monkey, it'll be through a membership!

The Motortrend ones have a constant background music. I find it really annoying, especially while Derek is talking. He’s his own show, doesn’t need any help.

Scheduling too I'm sure, we can have a 2 hour video here with no problems but cramming the revival, the drive, and modifications into 40 minutes is tough. But it's the only show on TV like it and it's Derek so I still watch every episode

VGG hasn’t skipped a beat (heck, there’s many here that don’t even know the other show exists)... which means MT‘s “Roadworthy Rescues” is just added bonus-like content. Don’t knock a guy for expanding the VGG empire and maybe adding a few shekels to the ol‘ wallet. 😉

I agree I'm thankful they allowed him to continue his own revivals I was really afraid in his contract they would kill his ability to continue his own revivals seeing as it could be considered competition for their show... But on his own show he is able to do him ad doesn't have to follow their requests... And your editor can make or break a YT Channel IMO

I say, junk that tiny thing and rob Liberty.

It won't stay the same lol.

I am loving seeing all the older cars back on the roads even if the do need some work. I cant stand newer cars. Too much going on. Lol.

I bet 450hp at the flywheel, or did when it was new. Car probably ran 11's. Put a 200 shot on it and reliably put it in the 10's as it sits with some updates.

@@FrankBullitt390 definitely never ran 11s independence is capabale of 9s but runs 10s and has over 1k hp and because of rust like 1/3 less weight there is zero chance this car ever touched 11s in the 1/4 maybe 13s like 13.5 450 at the crank is 370ish whp with an auto and 390/400hp with a manual thats not enough to go 11s in a car that weighs 3500lbs

Happy new year

I agree I think it’s pretty dam cool the way it is.

Agreed. Disc brakes on front, 4 11s in rear and leave it a street bruiser. That engine has some guts!

How about a defroster and wiper blades too?!

@@bobr2959 actually just defroster.....rain x or waxing windshield works fine. I think he was fighting the fogging inside more than anything.

exactly!

You go son!

SHITTERS FULL.

Actually it's called JURY RIGGING

Call it the Patriot

Wild Wild horses >>>>> wild wild horses we'll ride them one day

Old School needs to stay close to it's roots.

Lady Liberty, I like that

The small block 400 is the best, too many have been ruined by boring them and then running hot though..

Thank you!

Probably suspension and brakes too. But I fully agree with everything you said.

@@esqueue it could be stretched out for the sake of budget. Do a little here and a little there. Either way it’s a beautiful car. Can’t wait to see more of it

He did the GTO just fix the motor and not build it...for a war veteran

That color is also known as Liberty blue. Since the old one is Independence, mozzle call this one Liberty. Disc brakes, adjust the cage/seat and make it a removable steering wheel. No miss, no fuss.

That's Detroit iron!!! 😀

@@cynthiaklenk6313🎉