While it may appear to be a time-lapse review of a routine, although incomplete, assembly of a small-block Chevy, there’s a much deeper backstory to the hands moving around the bottom end of the cylinder block in the above video.

These are high school students from Oxnard, California, involved in the Drag Racing Against Gangs and Graffiti (DRAGG) program that was created in collaboration with the school district and Oxnard police. It’s strictly an after-school offering, although students can earn elective credits upon completion of the program. The goals are simple: keep youth in school and provide work-related opportunities that they enjoy. And who doesn’t like cars?

Students learn more about the cylinder head assembly for their 350ci Chevy project.

The 350ci SBC in the video is part of a full frame-off restoration of a ’79 Z28 Camaro found in a salvage yard.

“Originally we were going to do a more wild build,” says program director James Stanley. “But we realized if we were ever going to sell this car, it’s not smog exempt. Right now it’s just a straight rebuild.”

Some of the parts include Comp Cams cam and lifters, valvetrain components from Precision Engine Parts, Hastings piston rings, Federal-Mogul pistons, Melling oil pump, Summit oil pan and ARP fasteners.

This project is running a little over schedule and likely won’t be completed until next semester. Coming up in the near future is a ’71 Camaro project that will receive a modified engine as the goal is to take the car to the track.

The engine rebuild is being handled by the program’s Alpha group. In past years about 15 students signed up for each semester. Now the class has grown to over 45 students, necessitating Alpha and Bravo groups to give the more experienced members bigger challenges and allow the first-year students to work on automotive basics.

“We also take students out on field trips, so that cuts into the class time quite a bit,” adds Stanley.

While many of the field trips are automotive related–such as visiting Formula Drift and the March Meet at Famoso as well as showing off project vehicles at SEMA–the students have also visited a college campus to learn about job interviews and preparing a resume.

For more information on DRAGG, check out the group’s website and Facebook page.

One of the DRAGG program’s project cars.