Built Back Better – Kevin Partin and His ’67 Chevy II Make the Most of Second Chances at Sick Michigan Miles Presented by Driven Racing Oil!
The concept of a ‘Barn Find’ has become somewhat played out. But fortunately cars like Kevin Partin’s ’67 Chevy II come along every now and then to remind us what the concept is all about. Not just blowing the dust off, but elevating a machine to new levels.
Kevin’s now a quarter-century into his ownership of this car, during which it has had dozens of combinations, but none so quick as what it carries currently.
This article originally appeared in Sick The Magazine’s Fall 2025 print edition. Get the official magazine of drag and drive - subscribe to Sick The Magazine by CLICKING HERE!
“Everything on this car has been done at my shop, including the bodywork and chassis fabrication,” he said. “People don’t believe the paint on the car is 25 years old now.”
Traditional drag racing was the original goal for the car, but Kevin admitted he got burnt out on the whole deal and decided drag and drive was a better option. “This is more relaxing and fun,” he noted.
Well, it can be. Sick Week 2025 Presented By Gear Vendors Overdrive was anything but a good time when the motor dropped the rods out after a small mistake.
“We took it down to Sick Week for early testing. I had just switched it over to Holley EFI in a mad thrash before the event and we didn’t realize we had the dome pressure sensor wired backwards. We took the car on the road for a quick test drive to build a fuel table and when I tipped into the throttle that thing put 75 psi on the dome and went ‘boom’ instantly. It pushed all the connecting rods out of the motor. She pulled like a freight train for a micro second, though.”
Kevin didn’t hesitate to rebuild, with a new LSX block and rotating assembly. He uses stock LS3 six-bolt heads and a hydraulic roller cam, with some big fuel injectors and a pair of Borg Warner S369SXE turbos. The motor made 1300 horsepower on Big 3’s hub dyno.
Apart from the 8.50 cage, you’d be hard pressed to tell just how quick this Chevy II is. The full interior was retained, including the headliner and the back seat. A 3.50-geared Powerglide and Gear Vendors overdrive unit ensure highway RPMs are very cruise-y.
A fifth-place finish for Kevin at Sick Michigan Miles Presented By Driven Racing Oil proved Kevin’s street car cred. A final average of 5.552, with a best run of 5.384, were definitely barn-worthy.
“The car performed great all week and we survived 1100-ish miles of Michigan highways in the heat,” he said. “The car consumed 25 gallons of C16 race fuel and 16 spark plugs. Not too bad for a new motor.”
Written by Luke Nieuwhof. Photos courtesy of Sick the Magazine, 1320 Video and Kevin Partin.
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