Projects 55 Chevy Bel Air Resurrection

This will be a long one, most likely with multiple posts to get it up to speed.


Some important (to me at least) back history on this car. My Uncle purchased it in out of Missouri back in 1979. From there he pulled the old, worn out stock motor and dropped in a 327 out of a 64 Chevelle, with a 4 speed Saginaw gear box. Here is a photo of it in 1979.






He drove it for many years, and ended up parking it around 1997 outside, under a car cover. There it sat until 2020, and well Michigan winters + trapped moisture under a car cover was not kind to it. Here is the day I dragged it home when he asked me to take it and get it running. This is from 2020 when I picked it up.






At some point he attempted to primer the drivers side, unfortunately, in an attempt to stop the rust. Kind of a bummer, as I like the patina on the rest of the car. Plan is to strip the primer. Outside of the drivers side floor and rocker, the car is surprisingly solid. It was in great condition back in 1997 when it was parked.




August 9th 2024:

For the first time in over 30 years, it runs.

https://imgur.com/ujJagg0

August 12th, 2024:

Moves under its own power for the first time in 30 plus years:

https://imgur.com/a/Jaywr0i


August 16th 2024:

Drove it to work for the first time, really one of its first voyages.






Fast forward to today, here is a list of new parts that are installed. I still need to settle on wheels and tires. Been waiting to get it lowered to do that.


'55 Chevy disc brake conversion Kit
New Aluminum Radiator
New Gas Tank
New Gas Tank Straps
Intake Gaskets
Holley Renew kit for the carb
Moroso Advance Curve Kit
Starter
Water pump
Fuel filler neck
Battery
Rear brake union
Rear brake drums kit, pads, brake cylinders
Package shelf tray
Hoses
Belt
Floor Pans
Sending unit
Hood latch repair kit
Factory Battery Hold Down
Rear leaf spring bushings
2" drop coil springs
Beltech 0-2" drop shocks

The interior is going to be pretty decent once I get new carpet in it, the body really took the majority of the shit.

 

So, getting started on some body work, or I guess you'd call it primer removal. My Uncle had sprayed one side of the car with primer in an effort to keep the paint from shrinking. That didn't work, and well the primer, to me, was covering up some cool patina.

Here is a before and after of the hood. Just took it real slow with some 320 grit, trying to not blast through to the metal or remove all the patina, but trying to remove enough primer to reval what's underneath.

 

You had me hooked until the word patina came into play.

 

Some more photos from the last month or so:




As it sits as of this weekend, lowered 2.5" in the front and 2" out back.

 

lots of fun ahead

 

Another one saved!

 

I really hope you will paint back like it was. Good for getting it back on the road.

 

So, after 3 or 4 different tries, I found a paint color that's pretty close. I hope to one day, but to be honest that has been pretty low down the priority list at the moment. Getting the primer off, embracing the patina will be the short term look. Long term, yeah I hope to restore the body work one day. As you can see, I've soaked quite a bit into it already this year, and I'm just glad to have it on the road at the moment.

Thanks for the warm welcome, everyone. Been lurking here for a lot of years!

 

One more photo, thought it was cool with the American Flag.

 

I like it and the truck beside it (any pics of it?() don't paint the 55.

 

^^^ thanx,...cool truck.

 

Agreed. I had hoped the whole "patina" thing had run its course.

 

Great work getting it back on the road and driveable again. I have no issue with old paint, that's pretty much how my '57 looks, maybe with a few more layers on it than yours, but similar. I don't see any harm in it, as long as a guy doesn't slop oil/special sauce on it or clearcoat it, as that's going to make it an extra layer of BS to strip off if you do paint it later, and looks dorky to me. (Doesn't sound like you were gonna anyway, but just wanted to throw that in there.)

Do you have side trim for it? If so, any plans to put it back on?

 

I mean, for what it's worth at least its not fake patina. And I'm not sure what you guy's expect, I literally just got it running, and I like the patina it currently has. Well, half of it.

Yep, I have every piece of trim. I'll put it back on after I figure out what I'm doing with the primer on the drivers side. It's in similar condition to the rest of the car.

 

If I may be so bold.........DO NOT CLEAR COAT IT!!!

 

Normally I groan on patina. But majority of the time it's some car the builder found and they have no history with the car. Then they commonly slap some goofy late model engine in in and some ridiculous wheels and go on about preserving the history of the car. Looks to me like you made an effort to preserve or repair what was there already with a few small improvements. So while I'm not a fan of the patina you won't get any hate from me for it. Out of curiosity did he have the paint done back then? Or was it on the car when he got it?

 

It was blue when he bought it in 1979. It was originally neptune green and shoreline beige. Other than the roof, I do not see any of the original color. There is a fair amount of mud in the drivers rear quarter, I assume it was hit and that's probably when it got its color change.

For what its worth, I do not intend to clear coat it.

 

Then if he didn't do it or have it painted I'd stress even less about painting it. Like I said you get a free pass from this anti patina guy

 

Left in patina, or blown apart for a mile deep paint job, the best part is it’s headed back down the road. Congrats on your efforts.

 

One of my favorite 55 Chevy Bel Air Hardtop Sedans from 1959-60 time period.

Hello,

Nice 55 Chevy Bel Air Hardtop… it looks like a fun time to be had while driving down the highways.

My brother and I always had favorites in the Gas Coupe and Sedan classes. They were street coupes and sedans with a little modification here and there to make it go faster on the street. But, at the drags, unless your old car was stock, those “hot rods” got put into the Gas Coupe and Sedan classes.

My brother’s favorite was Doug Cook’s Tahitian Red 37 Chevy Coupe in B/gas and C/Gas classes. Mine was the Junior Thompson B/Gas 41 Studebaker Sedan. One or the other was the champion in either class during our participation days.

But, in 1959, a rumbling was read about a Midwest 55 Chevy Bel Air running in B/gas that was winning everything at every dragstrip entered. No one had a Bel Air Hardtop Sedan modified to race at Lion’s Dragstrip at the time. Several 55-56-57 post models were in the stock classes and in the gas coupe classes. We were impressed at those stories and record achievement from the 55 Bel Air Hardtop. YRMV

Jnaki

Then in March 1960, we actually saw the 55 Bel Air Hardtop sitting in the pits during the 2ndBakersfield Smokers March Meet.

Since my infatuation with the overall build and records, I made a video clip that includes what that champion record setting 55 Chevy Bel Air Hardtop sounds like at the drags. It is the real sounds of Mike Marinoff’s 55 Chevy Bel Air Hardtop off of an LP album I have.

 

What I'm calling "round 2" is done. Don't hate me for the headlights, I don't care for them much at all. But at least I can see to safely drive at night. I am going to explore other options.

I dig the slicks on it. It has that drove it home from work, swapped to my slicks to head out to Woodward for the night look to it.

Lowered 2.5" via coils in the front and beltech drop shocks
Lowered 2" rear
Hoosier 26.5" x 8" hoosier slicks
New Headlights
Front turn signal sockets and harness - new amber lens covers
Relocated radiator to behind the core support for hood clearance
New fan
Electric Choke replaced and rewired
Removed excess wiring, and replaced much of the front harness
Replaced rear emblem
Trunk lock
Glove Box Lock
Replaced GT steering wheel with original '55 wheel
Remove the primer from the hood, emblems cleaned up and reinstalled

Last things I will probably do this winter are:
Replace front and drivers side floor
Replace drivers rocker
Remove primer from drivers side
Mount trim
Carpet
Exhaust (smithys of course)

 

Like where it’s going…very cool.

 

Dang, I just love the shape of a '55 hardtop! You can't even hide it with ''rough'' paint. I was really hoping you would choose wheels other than rallys. Man, they were popular for a while, if it wasn't pro street, Rallys with all kinds of caps, painted body color, you name it. Now they scream '80s on a tri 5. Great to see you've saved your uncle's car. Has he seen it lately?

 

Looks great !!!

 

He passed July 2nd of this year, unfortunately. That his name on the side glass. Been getting it running in his memory.

Thanks for the kind words, everyone. Its been a lot of fun.

 

It is incredible what wrapping the car in a plastic tarp can do. As you stated "holding moisture", and yet I still see it all the time, cars wrapped up like a mummy...to die

 

It 's literally a humidity chamber. Then it gets a rip or tear in it somewhere water can get it, and well, this is the result.

 

What does the interior look like? I can see some kind of bucket seats.