Project American Heroes III is the latest in Super Chevy's series of cars built for the purpose of raising money to benefit the Armed Forces Foundation, an organization that helps wounded soldiers returning from overseas and their families.
Our '70 Chevelle spent the last month getting straightened, gapped, and dressed up for an exciting future. Building on the success of last year's red PAH II '69 Camaro, the latest edition shows a maturing of the concept. This year's Chevelle embodies the execution of the ultimate in aesthetics, technology, and performance. Because of the quality of parts from our generous vendors, and the craftsmanship of the crew at Route 66 Motorsports in New Lenox, Illinois, this car would certainly hold its own among any street machine competing at your local Super Chevy show.
The car is first primed with...
The car is first primed with PPG NCP271 primer/surfacer. The 271 is perfect as a self-etching primer/surfacer for bare metal panels, and is a staple at the shop. Jason Johns and others at Route 66 Motorsports spent hours block sanding every inch of the Chevelle. 3M paper progressed from 800 grit, then 1000, then 1500, and finally 2000.
One look at the General Motors Performance Products supercharged LSA motor would stop even the most hurried pedestrian dead in his tracks. Out of the ordinary only begins to describe GM's phenomenal crate engine, found exclusively in Cadillac's CTS-V (and soon the Camaro Z28). The PAHIII chassis does not disappoint either, with state-of-the-art suspension technology from Detroit Speed and Engineering. Baer Brakes is calling in its best binders, and Strange Engineering is making sure we can get horsepower to the ground. TCI is handling shifting duties, and PPG is our paint supplier.
The maturing of the PAH concept is a reference to the signature look of the third brother. Like the special offerings from Nickey, Yenko, Motion, and Berger, the three Project American Heroes hot rods have established their own signature look. Eric Brockmeyer's rendering of the Chevelle was not a groping in the dark for creating some new image, but more of a continuation of the two previous cars that had been created (PAH I was a blue '57 Chevy convertible). Once again, Brockmeyer nailed it. You, the readers, overwhelmingly decided to paint the car black, so round three is black with red graphics.
Coincidentally, or providentially, Route 66 Motorsports owner Bill Jelinek personally owns a bad-in-black '70 Chevelle SS street machine, so it goes without saying that he's having fun building PAH III. Bill's son Nick got the nod for applying the PPG Deltron 2000 DBC9700 Black. In any craft, the measure of talent is drawn when someone is so good at what he does, he makes it look easy. That's how Bill Jelinek applied the Project American Heroes signature stars and stripes graphic ... he made it look simple. For my money, nobody does graphics and artwork better than Jelinek, so take a few tips from the master as we progress on PAH III.
 Having applied the NCP271...  Having applied the NCP271 and block-sanded the Chevelle to the silk smoothness, PPG product is readied for battle. The car will be cleaned, receive a couple coats of DP40LF, receive three coats of DBC9700, and then a coat of DBC500 Intermediate base clear in preparation for the stars and stripes graphic. |  Before painting the body shell,...  Before painting the body shell, all paintable unattached parts are sprayed with the DP40LF. We're talking fenders, doors, hood, trunk lid, and filler panels. Nick Jelinek is the man with the Sata gun; he's on a mission to apply a nice double wet coat with the gun set at 35 psi. |  Attention turns to the body...  Attention turns to the body shell, and as always, the surface to be painted is cleaned with PPG Acryli-Clean DX330 wax and grease remover. Make sure to clean every inch of the car with the DX330 for the best possible adhesion of product. |
 More DP40LF primer/sealer...  More DP40LF primer/sealer is poured in the cup to be mixed with the DP402LF catalyst. |  Nick mixes the DP402LF catalyst...  Nick mixes the DP402LF catalyst at a 2:1 ratio, two parts sealer, one part catalyst. Make sure to read the instructions on the can! |  The shell is quickly covered...  The shell is quickly covered with the DP40LF, receiving a double wet coat and allowing 15 minutes flash time between coats. |
 When the DP40LF is dry, it's...  When the DP40LF is dry, it's time for the Deltron 2000 DBC9700 basecoat black. The DCX61 hardener is added as per the instructions on the can. After the graphics are completed, the Chevelle will receive multiple coats of PPG Concept DCU2021 urethane cear. |  Nick applies three coats of...  Nick applies three coats of DBC9700 with the Sata gun set at 35 psi. Again, flash time between coats is about 15 minutes. Afterwards, the body receives a coat of DBC500 color blender, basically a midcoat base clear in preparation for the graphics application. |  When the DBC500 is dry, Bill...  When the DBC500 is dry, Bill Jelinek scuffs the area to receive the graphics with 600 grit 3M paper. |