Savannah Slammer: John Deak's 1962 Chevrolet Impala SS

“Pronking” is the term used to describe the characteristic stiff-legged leaps an impala makes when it spots a threat lurking in the savannah. Simply put, it’s a show of athleticism to deter predators from chasing them: the chance of success is low, so don’t bother trying.

John Deak’s 1962 Impala SS sends the same message standing still.

Starting in 2006 with a rough, floorless body and a parts car, John and his father Jim Deak spent four years unleashing the Impala’s wild side. John tackled the powertrain, chassis, and suspension while Jim handled the body and paint. The impeccable workmanship and attention to detail is evident throughout, despite John’s claim that “It wasn’t built to be a show car.”

The beastly bowtie made its 2010 debut at Pinks: All Out at Summit Motorsports Park in Norwalk, OH, and has evolved since then. ET’s have been slashed thanks to a steady stream of tweaks and upgrades—timeslips deep in the 8’s are a common sighting. “It’s always under revision,” says John, “I’ve probably built it three times over.”

But you won’t see this Impala pronking, and for good reason: it has no predators to taunt. Check out OnAllCylinders.com to follow the evolution from lifeless land yacht to high-performance predator!

Photography By: Todd Biss Productions
Art Direction By: Lance Nemes
Story By: Dominic Righetti

FAST SPECS

Engine and Transmission
Engine: Dart 588 cu. in. big block Chevy, CNC-ported Brodix cylinder heads, Callies crankshaft, Oliver billet steel connecting rods, Wiseco custom pistons, Total Seal piston rings, custom solid roller 4/7 swap camshaft (.937" int./.898" exh.), titanium intake/Inconel® exhaust valves, Jesel shaft rockers, Biondo Racing fabricated aluminum valve covers, Moroso drive mandrel, pulleys, billet oil pump, and aluminum oil pan; COMP Cams® belt camshaft drive, ATI Super Damper
Machining by: Minor’s Performance Machine, Lordstown, OH
Induction and Fuel System: Profiler tunnel ram, dual 2,100 cfm Holley Terminator billet throttle bodies with mechanical fuel injection and belt-driven fuel pump, custom fuel cell
Ignition and Electrical: MSD front mount belt driven distributor, 7AL-2 ignition box, Pro Power HVH II coil, and crank trigger; Moroso Ultra 40 Series wires, PowerMaster XS starter and 16V alternator, Painless wiring harness and fused switch panel
Exhaust: Custom headers with 2 1/4" primaries and Dynatech 4" collectors, ceramic coated by New Image Powder Coating, Struthers, OH
Cooling: Griffin crossflow radiator, Derale fan, Meziere water pump
Transmission: TH-400 with J.W. bellhousing, BTE Racing reverse manual valve body with trans-brake, B&M shifter, 6,000 rpm stall converter by QuickDraw Converters, Killbuck, OH, Meziere billet flexplate, ATI Performance catch can, carbon fiber driveshaft
Transmission by: Vickers Performance Transmission, Alliance, OH

Chassis
Frame: Modified stock front frame rails with 2" x 3" tube rails from firewall, custom mild steel roll cage
Rear End: Competition Engineering fabricated 9" housing with back brace; Strange Engineering center, spool, gun-drilled axles, and 4.57:1 ring and pinion
Suspension and Steering: Front A-arm/4-link rear, AFCO Big Gun shocks, Hyperco Hypercoil springs, Rhodes Race Cars 2" splined anti-roll bar, custom manual rack and pinion
Brakes: Wilwood 4-piston calipers
Wheels: 15" x 4" American Racing Trakstar (front)/15" x 14" Sanders Engineering 750 series (rear)
Tires: Hoosier 27" x 4.5"-15 (front)/32" x 14.5"-15 (rear)

Exterior
Paint: Nissan Sunset Red Pearl Metallic/Bright White basecoat
Body: Custom fiberglass front end, hood, trunk lid, and rear bumper; custom polycarbonate front/side/rear windows, rear wheel openings stretched 3 1/2"
Paint and Bodywork by: Jim Deak

Interior
Seats: Kirkey Pro Drag
Dashboard: Custom fiberglass with AutoMeter Ultra Lite gauges
Other: Custom tin work and removable transmission tunnel
Upholstery by: J’s Upholstery, Edinburg, OH

Special Thanks To:
Jim and Cindy Deak, Rick Siciliano, Andrew Williamson, Chuck Strom, Joe Smith, Jim and Valerie McCombs, John Michael, Kenny Thomas (KTRE), Kenny Slaughter, Andy Sollers, Shawn Minor, R.H. Cox, Dion Vickers, Jason Brock, Darrel Rice, and everyone else who has helped me keep this car going