Projects 1955 Chevy Southeast Gassers Build

100% agreed.

All those guys are just writing checks for their stuff. You're building everything yourself and dragging it to the track on an open trailer. You already won my man.

What's the CID on the latest big block?

 

It’s pretty cool beating on something home built that’s for sure. All I can do is the best I can.


And it’s a decent 496” nothing crazy but good parts

 

A few photos from the past few races. Still figuring the new combo out but getting closer.

 

Had a good outing and fun time this weekend at London, until the rain came. Car worked well with the new clutch setup and went the fastest 60ft ever with this car. But just didn’t pull hard enough down track like it should. Not sure if it was due to too small of carburator, not enough fuel pressure regulator, or intake manifold. So changing fuel pressure regulator to a more serious one, swapping to a tunnel ram, and two carbs for next race, as well as taking some ballast weight out of the car to hopefully shed about .10 of et or so and run some 5s. Already made up the linkage and got the tunnel ram installed.

 

Removed 88lb of ballast, upgraded to a much larger fuel pressure regulator, got the car running with the tunnel ram on it, and mounted the new scoop. The quest for 5s is at its end, either she will or she won’t lol.

 

Hope . When is next race?

 

Seal those carbs off to the scoop with a pan and foam and possibly trim the cowl a bit on the rear carb. I picked up over 2/10ths on a 55 I ran with a BBC single carb by fabricating a pan. Good luck , enjoy.

 

Put a fuel pressure gauge on back carb. Mount it where hood meets cowl in your line of sight try to take a glance at top end. If to busy there ( big smile) put phone on dash & video the gauge. Got to have good pressure for whole run.

 

I plan on making a tray, that’ll be the final step.

 

That’s a good idea

 

A few photos from the weekend. I did add a fuel pressure gauge off the back carb line to make sure pressure stayed steady going down track, and it did.
Tunnel ram, hood scoop, and fuel pressure regulator upgrades all cumulatively resulted in a 5.99 pass. Got my 5 second et, we picked up almost a tenth, and 116mph so a gain of 5 mph. 60ft picked up as well. With a little chassis tuning and some more tweaks this will be a great combo I believe. Great weekend for sure.

 

Did some scaling of the car and adjusting preload to try to settle it down on the line and leave a little straighter. Also dusted off the metal working tools and clecos and made a grille block off to try to keep from trapping air. If anything needs aerodynamic assistance, it’s a 55 Chevy. Lol

 

Great seeing you back at it! How's the Missus and the little one (to be)?

 

Zak, I built my '55 Gasser back in the early '60s and constantly tried to improve the aero of the front end. This photo was taken at Lions after I sold the car but I had also blocked off the grill opening with aluminum sheet metal. Car ran 10.80 at 129 in '66 when I raced it. Your car looks great and each modification you've done has had a positive effect. You should be in the 5.50s soon.

 

Sorry I am behind on your thread Zak. The 55 looks great. I have the up most respect for what your are doing. Keep it up!

 

Did some tinkering on the 55 this weekend and made a scoop tray and got the carbs sealed to the hood. Trying all of the little free hp ideas.

 

Little off season score for the race team, acquired this 1966 GMC 4000 ramp truck with a 305 v6/4spd 2spd Saturday. Incredibly good shape and just needs a little paint work to be up to really look the part. Going to put some fresh black down on the bed, bumper, and wheels. Then some enamel white on the cab and some door lettering and it’ll be dialed in.

Next winter plans is small block or big block swap and nv4500 for a little more modern and highway friendly travel for long distance.

The wife and son already approve of the vision!

 

Looking good! Almost looks like there’s enough room for a sleeper behind the cab with the 55 on there! Then you’d really be living the late 60’s drag life! Lol!

 

that is TOO cool!!

 

Have to think sheet of aluminum under engine from grill to fire wall & tight inner fender wells would help aero. Harder to service engine but should help. A little work to keep you busy ( smile. )

 

That ramp truck is so cool!! Love it! 60-66 my favorite GM truck body. The front bumper on that thing is awesome! Don't take it off!

Great photos too btw

 

Me like. Both the 55 and the ramp truck.

 

Weather hasn’t really been cooperating, but have made a little progress on the ramp truck, fixing lights and painting the bed. It’s not perfect but looks better than it did. As soon as the weather breaks, I’ll scuff the cab and shoot some single stage white on it to freshen it up before we letter it too.

Also, some big changes coming for the 55 too. Tore down a couple cores and ordered some parts, getting ready to throw together a powerglide and convert the car over to bracket trim for the upcoming season.

 

Getting away from SEGA or is there a new bracket class?

 

After 10 years of SEGA and running every gasser class they’ve had, I’m finally stepping away from running with them. No hard feelings or anything, just too much traveling with a young child and ready for something new.

 

Understand! When I was at the Shady Side race back in 2021 there was a definite difference between the low buck/grass roots guys and the high dollar/win at all cost cars and teams. That was 4 years ago, I’m willing to bet it’s even more evident now! And bracket racing will really sharpen your track skills, and you’ll get lots more runs on a weekend which is really what it’s all about!

 

Yeah I’m looking for less seat time traveling to the track, and more seat time in the racecar. Lol


Traveling 5-10 hours each way to a race, knowing you aren’t going to win a round, much less the race, is a hard thing to do. It’s 4 miles from my driveway to the entrance at Bristol Dragway so it’s just financially, physically, and logistically much more doable to race at Bristol.

SEGA has been a huge part of my life and I’ve made life long friends through the group, but it’s just not feasible time wise or budget wise anymore for me.

 

Are the Bristol bracket races 1/8 or 1/4 mile? The good thing about the brackets is that it’s not as hard on your car or your wallet. And like you said, it’s still racing! In a couple years you can build a 1/4 Jr Dragster, I bet it would fit right next to the 55 on your ramp truck!

 

Prioritizing your family is the right choice. Good for you.

 

Bristol mainly races 1/8 mile.

and yeah already got a name picked out for his Junior dragster eventually! lol