While many love to call “hi-riser” any vintage car model from the 1970s and 1980s packing huge wheels and a slightly nose-up stance, there are always different shades to this customization subculture.

When we first caught wind of a 1971 Chevrolet Caprice on 28-inch rims running the 1/8 mile we thought, “hmm,” followed by an “interesting,” But that wasn’t until we saw its powertrain, which consists ...