MOUNT SMART

TO STOP the 600-cube brute twisting itself out of the frame, it’s held in place by solid-mounted engine plates front and back.

“Everybody told me not to go solid plates,” says Michael, “as it would make the car overly harsh and uncomfortable – but it’s actually better. The Impala uses a separate chassis so the urethane chassis-to-body mounts act as engine vibration dampers. Also, being such a big car, the chassis moves around a lot; the two engine plates tie it all together really well.”