Hot Rods Tetanus Tornado, 56 Chevy 13 sec for $1300 build!

"Yeah, I promised my wife I would do all I can not to die doing this, so we are trying to make the chassis as safe as possible, and you can always fix quarter panels, but pulling the chassis back out takes some effort! Don't worry you will be impressed by just how little we do in terms of body work."

That sheds a lot of info on the paint job. When management speaks, you better listen.

 

If you want her to handle better, install a center section like this.. It cost me less than $50 in metal. "borrowed" the idea from the Art Morrison design.

 

That is super sweet, I was kind of thinking about that, if you could post some more pics or a link to you build I would appreciate it! Thanks, Jon

 

So Josh, who has the 56 body, realized that the front fenders and deck lid had found a new home elsewhere.... so he went to his dad's buddy's house in search of replacements and he hooked us up alright! Super Stoked!

 

With the floors, cowl etc gone on the body, when you put it back together, consider making the body easily removable. It would take a separate floor, probably bolted at the rockers, then at body mounting points to the frame. Brace the body well. Build your floor and cage then set the body on and off, you could even have lifting points in the roof tied into the body structure. Wiring set up with water pack connectors.

It would definately set the car apart as a strip machine.

 

$1300 is quite a goal

Sent from my XT1526 using Tapatalk

 

One of the guys wanted to make it a flip top funny car.... we are going to let him do that on the next build.... when he is project manager!

 

Some more pics of the body

 

You guys going to leave the leaves and twigs in it? One of the guys I raced with built a rusty Chevelle he pulled out from under an oak tree, when he launched acorns would fall out of the rust holes.

 

This will blow the budget but I had to pass it along.......

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/nby/pts/5403600436.html

 

scoggman, your build is inspirational. I've got a Free Farm Fresh Fifty Six headed my way, a free 4 bolt low compression 350 under my bench and a set of free 14x7 slots in my basement. I'll be paying close attention!

 

I got some pics of the "Tornado" part of the car..... Sad! But she will live again!...... Hopefully!

 

That frame straight ,after all that?

 

Dayum! Looks like the front turn signals & hood badge are at least usable. Hope the frame isn't too whacked. Man, just looking at the carnage in the back ground, wow. Mom Nature can sure pack a whallup when she takes a notion.

 

Sign me up on this one, looking forward to the build!

 

nice! and an original V8 car! please do a build thread.

 

Just remember to keep the weight to the bare minimum, then after you make that 12.99 E.T. you can then put in all the rest of the car ....

 

Whether you meet your $1300.00 goal or not it will be a fun build.

 

I was thinkin' the same thing Kan

Ryan.

 

Yeah, it is supposed to just be something fun and get the guys out of the house for the afternoon and learn with. Most of the guys haven't done a lot of welding and fab work, and this is perfect because you can't mess anything up! It may turn into a 15 sec $1500 car when it is all said and done, nut should be a good time along the way.

 

****Question**** So would you guys run a free powerglide or a $300 turbo 350?
Thanks,
Jon

 

Free is a very good price.

 

We did back to back testing on PG/turbo 350 with a 500 hp stocker. Turbo 350 was about .15 quicker. Go the free route and if it runs 14.10...bust the budget, get a 350 and get your 13.99. A good converter might be hard to find within the budget though.

 

This is so cool. I love builds like this. Reminds me of wrenching with buddies years ago... all of us poor but trying to haul ass with whatever we had.

Stay light as possible. Gear it deeply for redline at the stripe with your rear tire height. Even on a low budget motor build or refresh compression is your best friend for free hp. Fab up your own ladder or lift bars to plant it. Loose in the front for lift and weight transfer. Work the math for proper instant center. Build it stiff so nothing is lost to twisting and flex.

Subscribed.

 

So another buddy at work has some older buddies that are tri-five fanatics and he mentioned our project to them, and they thought it was super cool and wanted to help out. So I picked up my buddy James and we headed over to their place after church.

To say the least... they hooked us up!
For $290 we left with a "383" that knocks, a turbo350 that slips a little, a set of tri five chrome headers, a fully rebuilt front end, a rachet shifter, some finned valve covers, a set of new 4:11 gears, and a yellow steering wheel!

Prob won't use the motor or trans right now.... so they won't be added to the budget ($150)

And besides that I made two new friends! Thanks Dave and Dale!

 

Oh yeah, and a set of seats and a sway bar!

 

This is me "practicing" in Dave's 57 hard top. I look good don't I!

 

Total build cost =$311

 

That hood scoop is groovy.

 

I strapped the frame down to my trailer to get an idea of how bent the frame is..... it's pretty bad! It is going to take some more hp than me jumping on the corner to fix this one. I have a dirt track buddy with hooks in his shop floor. may take it over there and see what can be done.....