SSleeper - 95 Chevy Impala
An Unsuspecting Sedan That Packs A Deep-Rooted Punch
By: By Eric Anderson

What was it that got you interested in cars? Maybe it was watching James Dean participate in “chickie runs” with his ’49 Merc in “Rebel Without a Cause.” Or, perhaps it was watching Martin Sheen behind the wheel of his infamous ’34 Ford hot rod in “The California Kid.” Or, maybe you’re like many enthusiasts and it was a special street machine your parents drove that sparked your interest in cars. When we asked Mike Morgan of Oviedo , FL , what’s behind his love of cars, he was quick to explain. “When I was a kid, my dad had a ’65 Impala SS with a 327 and a four-speed; it had a yellow exterior and a black interior.” He continued, “We used to have fun doing burnouts and donuts in the local grocery store parking lot, with my sister and I screaming our heads off in joy!” It was fun while it lasted, but unfortunately, it didn’t last long. Morgan explained, “My mom never liked the car, so it was gone by ’68. That was a sad day.”

Fast-forward 35 years. With the memories of doing burnouts and donuts with his dad and sister in the family Impala fueling his passion for cars, Mike decided he needed one of his own and began searching. “In the fall of 2003, I was perusing eBay Motors looking at the ’94-’96 Impala SSs. I saw my first newer Impala in ’97 and immediately fell in love with the car,” Mike explained. With six years of depreciation on his side, Mike was confident he could locate the car of his dreams for a reasonable price. He continued, “I found a Dark Gray-Green Metallic ’95 that failed to meet its reserve price. I contacted the owner in Indianapolis and arranged to buy the car. I flew to Indy in December and drove the car back to Orlando .”

Because of the relative rarity of the ’94-’96 Impalas, Morgan fully intended on keeping his dream car stock to ensure future collector car status, but that only lasted three months. He explained, “I had always wanted a fast, good looking car in the vein of the one my dad owned when I was younger, so I began a three-year journey to achieve my dream.” Morgan began the build process by spending time on the Impala SS forum (impalass

forum.com) where he researched the most popular modifications before adding a number of bolt-on upgrades to the engine and suspension. However, it wasn’t long before the Impala needed more. “After attending several Impala SS events, I realized my part-time dabbling had become a full-fledged obsession,” Morgan said.

After considering a number of possible routes he could take to continue modifying his Impala, Mike settled on adding boost into the mix. Considering the car weighs 4,300 pounds, Mike thought a positive displacement roots-style supercharger would be the best option, but knew no such kit existed for the factory LT1 V-8, so he contacted Keith Mease at MPE Racing Fabrication in Pennsville , NJ . After some discussion, the two decided a custom aluminum intake incorporating the Eaton M-112 supercharger found on the Ford Lightning would be the best option. Not only would it provide excellent low-end torque, but the low profile design also meant it would fit under the Impala’s stock hood. Because there is little room for an intercooler, Mike elected to add a water-methanol injection system from Snow Performance, which helps keep incoming air temperatures under control.

After a short stint using the stock bottom end, Morgan built a 383ci LT1 using forged internals and ported Edelbrock aluminum heads to withstand and take better advantage of the boost. Morgan installed an Accel DFI “Gen 7” engine management system to control the modified powerplant.

To help harness the power produced by the blown 383 in his Impala, Mike replaced the stock wheels and tires with a set of 18x9.5-inch Coy’s “C-5” wheels with tri-bar knock offs wrapped in BFG KDW-NT tires. Behind the chrome wheels are KORE 3 Corvette calipers front and rear, which squeeze Corvette Z51 cross-drilled rotors.

The lower and more aggressive stance is courtesy of stock front springs that have been relieved of a half coil and Moog 637 springs in the rear, which are teamed with Bilstein shocks at all four corners. Front and rear anti-sway bars and rear lower control arms from BMR Fabrication help keep the Impala flat and planted in the corners.

Much like he did with the rest of the car, Morgan made a number of modifications to the interior of his SS. He replaced the front seats with a set from a ’97 Pontiac Bonneville, which feature six-way power controls, and outfitted the front and rear with leather covers from leatherseats.com. The digital gauge cluster gave way to an analog unit from a ’96 Camaro, while a steering wheel from a ’99 Monte Carlo with working stereo controls replaced the stock leather wrapped wheel. Morgan also added an overhead console from a ’97 Chevrolet Astro van that features a working compass and thermometer.

Mike’s ’95 Impala SS has served him well in its current form and has taken home a number of trophies from shows all over the southeast. However, despite his success with the car, Mike is working on a few upgrades. He explained, “Plans call for a new custom sheet metal intake for use with a larger displacement Kenne Bell supercharger. I also upgraded the stock 4L60E transmission with a high performance version built by Carolina Performance Transmission.”

With a goal of making upward of 700-horsepower at the flywheel after finishing the next round of upgrades, we’re confident Morgan will be able to relive his childhood memories by doing burnouts and donuts in his ’95 Impala SS with ease. We say go for it, Mike. Live it up!

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