A lot of people may get the notion that there’s not much need to change a proven winning combination, but that certainly is as far from the truth as you can get in the ever changing and developing world of drag racing. As the technology improves nearly every time a SBC is fired up on raceday morning, even those at the top of their game need to make big improvements every chance they get. That’s just the case for 2009 and 2010 NMCA Nostalgia Muscle Car champ Andy Warren, alongside his 2 ton ’71 Chevrolet Caprice.

Shooting for a three-peat with his Caprice, Warren has come up with a solid list of to-do’s for this winter, as posted on Yellowbullet.

A lot of little key items are being changed out, including some new Moroso coil springs up front, new 3 1/2″ exhaust and possibly some new wheels, but that isn’t the big news here; Warren’s most significant and wild change to the car is the swap to a 427 C.I. small block from the current 406 incher while still making the most of what he’s already got in his current Dart Pro1 heads.After Warren and Tim Knieriem ponder a few more things, they just might step it up to a 434. With some added power under the hood, Warren is sending out the TH350 transmission to ATF for a refresh and some new planetaries.

Aside from that, a custom 12 point moly cage and a fabbed 12 bolt or 9-inch rear end is also in the works as Warren sets his sights on keeping a reserved parking spot for his Caprice in the NMCA winners circle. Hopefully with these changes and shaving a few necessary pounds wherever possible, some high 9 second passes will be on order for the two time champ. Chevy may not have ever dreamt that their most plush 70’s luxury car would be a dragstrip dominator, but now we’re being made well aware of their potential, despite the curb weight in excess of 4000 pounds. Keep on yankin’ the wheels in that beast, Andy.