In layman's terms, one of Newton's laws states that an object at rest will stay at rest and an object in motion will stay in motion unless acted upon by an external source.
That external source? A 632ci internal combustion engine. The object in question is a '67 Chevy Impala, a vehicle that quite possibly has more mass than a Sherman tank. This object at rest does not like to stay at rest for very long, and it doesn't like to stay in motion for all that long, either. After a wheels-up launch, it's all over in seven point something seconds. Back in 1967, it would have been impossible to imagine a car this size moving that fast unless it was free-falling through the atmosphere.
Edwin Robles first purchased this Impala back in 1987 for a mere $800. The Impala was in great stock shape, including the very mousy 283. It was a true blue-collar grocery getter. Of course, had it stayed that way, there would be no tale to tell. Soon thereafter Edwin transformed the Impala into a Pro Street vehicle, one he and his wife, Nancy, could have fun with while cruising the fine state of Illinois. Horsepower and torque coursed through Edwin's blood system, and the addiction to endorphins was only released with the drop of a hat or the countdown of a Christmas tree. After several years, the street scene wasn't enough to satisfy the endorphin addiction. Edwin soon became associated with a racing outfit known as The Chicago Outlaws Super Stock Association.
With the skills of J-Lo Competition engines (aka Jimmy Lopez), a massive 632-cubic-inch big-block was built for the Impala. Bored to 4.600 and stroked to 4.740 with Competition Pistons slugs and a Comp cam lifting .946 @ 286 degrees with an exhaust lift of .920 @ 310 degrees and a set of Brodix Big Duke aluminum heads, the compression is a stout 15:1. The rest of the valvetrain consists of 7/16 Mantoon pushrods and Crane roller Ultra Pro lifters with Crane rockers as well.
The intake manifold is a Pro-Filer "Hitman" model topped with a Holley 1,250-cfm carb. An Applied Nitrous Technology fogger system shoots a massive 400hp boost to the engine when it's in full launch mode. A Moroso eight-quart pan and Moroso belt-driven pump keep the life-saving oil system flowing when traveling down the track. The full-throttle horsepower measures in at 1,130 at 7,900 rpm, and the torque is a frame-twisting 849 ft-lb at 6,700 rpm. To date, Edwin has run a personal best time of 7.82 seconds at 178 mph at Union Grove Dragway in Wisconsin.
Channeling all this power to the rear wheels is a '69 TH400 transmission assembled by Performance Transmissions running a Neal Chance 3,600-stall converter and a Grinter Brake valvebody. A Chris Alston FAB9 rear end with 4.30 gears takes the brunt of the torque and sends it to the Weld Pro-Star wheels and Hoosier slicks in the back 40. Fast Forward Race Cars is responsible for helping to lighten the Impala's load by custom-fabricating the 3/4 25.5 chassis.
The Chicago Outlaws Super Stock Association has some pretty specific guidelines about the appearance and build of its 25-plus-member chapter. One of those rules being that said vehicle must look stock and have working lights and blinkers as well as stock door panels, carpet, etc. That's the biggest attraction about this Impala: It still retains a huge majority of its OE styling and looks, but it can run faster than a hyperactive 4-year-old. How can you not love this car? Look for Edwin and the rest of the Outlaws in action at select Super Chevy shows.