*****My 55' Chevy Gasser Build......Part 1*****

Hello Boys and Girls.
Well I've been wanting to build a real g***er for a long time, and well here is the very first of many updates. This summer i bought a 55' chevy 2 door post from a friend of mine. It was in my price range(cheap). It will need a total rebuild...top to bottom, front to back, side to side. Aside from the 32' my dad and i built when i was in high school.. this is the biggest project i've gotten into. I'm sure I will enlist help from family and friends along the way... but to me thats part of the fun.

My plan at this point is to straight axle the front, relocate the springs in the back.. and set the motor back as much as i can with out screwing up the dash... I'm thinking 4-6 inches. It has a fibergl*** flip on it now.. i think i will rebuild it, and reuse it... however I'm not totally set on that.. I don't think i will radius the quarters.. I like the factory look especially if i move the springs inside the frame.. I will have plenty of room. I have a 12 bolt rear for it with 4:88's and I'm planning on a 283/4spd combo.. something with a lot of compression... I really want to keep it period correct.. 62-64' era.

Also I'm looking for suggestions, any help along the way would be great. I know their are a lot of talented builders on here who have already gone done this road..

 

keep us updated. i think it was kiwi kev that did a post on a g***er he was working on for a friend. try looking it up in search, its worth it

 

g***er build! I can`t get enough of them.Going to watch this one. like all the rest.

 

actually, i'm good friends with kiwi kev.. I stopped out to his shop when i was on the west coast with my band. He's an amazing builder... and a great guy.

 

YO! Can i build the motor???
Trade labor for guitar lessons?? hahahaha
Looks cool man..looking forward to seeing it in person..

oh, i got your message, sorry no call back..i'll call you tomorrow..

 

i was hoping you'd help..... you and billy need to stop over and have a laugh at what i got going on over here.... my poor wife! the boy's said to her the other day..."dad brings home the coolest stuff!" she just shakes her head....

 

The kids are too young to know any better, and i've already said your wife is a saint!
Plus i didn't laugh the first time i seen it..i won't laugh now....promis ha

 

tony.... guitar lessons?? You dont want me giving you guitar lessons... drum lessons i can do!

 

Yeah but you got the connections..haha..juz kiddin'

 

cool I just started my g***er build a 56 chevy.good luck.....

 

something about those two sentences in the same post don't sound quite right

 

thank for doing the write up. I'm waiting to start on mine till I get the storage of my 57' squared away. Once thats taken care of I'm looking forward to getting started on my g***er (I've got radius the wheel well though!). I learn something from each one of these builds so please keep it going!

 

Good times ahead! Looks like a good starting point for a g***er.

 

thanks guys.. its gonna take awhile for updates... my schedule is really nuts between the 3 boys and touring. but it will get done bit by bit!

 

I think i'm going to try talking you into radiusing the quarters..
You know, nice and clean with a slight flare..it'll be a nice compliment to the gl*** front and motor set back...nothing like making more work for ya..haha

 

you kiddin... the more i cut out of the quarters... the better. I been going through some photo's and i have seen a few cars from back in the day that had them stock, and i thought is was kinda neat to see...but yeah with the gl*** front ith would keep the theme better..

 

Sounds like a cool project. Our club has put a few together and are in the process of building a couple right now so feel free to ask any questions or click our car club link below and look at our build pics, might help answer a few questions you have.

 

put quarters off of a 55 chevy wagon there radiused factery...jones

 

Only on the Nomads, fuel fill also different I think. I`m pretty sure they are like $800/side. Just radius them based on your rear wheel/tire combo.

 

yeah, if i do radius them.. it will be off the actual tire dia. instead of the nomad quarters.. all extra money is going into whatever it takes to make it wheelie!

 

nice start cant wait to see this thing done

 

Build it and ride.... Do something different than the two lane blacktop stuff. Been done and done and done. Make it g***er by all means.

 

nice start, I wouldn't mind doing one of those, better bring it Buffalo way when it hits the road

 

Luv them 55 Chevy g***ers?

 

looks like a solid start

 

thanks guys.. i would say its all that solid but the frame is good...and so is the roof. its gonna take awhile but it was in my budget. I'm good cut the frame this week i hope.. i have to get some steel. I saw in the speedway catalog they sell disc brake kits for the truck axle i got using the original spindles for $249. I don't think thats too bad.. Once i get done with the mock up of the motor placement and all, i plan to sell the motor and trans.... for about $200.

thanks, and i agree about the 2 lane car.. i love it but its gonna be different.

 

looks like you got a good start!! love the straight axle cars ,any tri5 loos good with a axle under it!! keep us posted!

 

looks like we're in the same boat man, good luck on the build!

 

The 283 is a good choice and it would run in a lower cl*** but when your talking '62-'65 I wouldn't settle for anything but a 327. It would have been a "new" displacement for back then you would have been "the big man on campus" with the 327. If you've never heard a 327 at 8500rpm ****ing through a Hilborn and blowing out a set of 2" tuned headers while rowing through a Hurst shifted Muncie 4spd. into a 4.88/5.14 rear you haven't lived.

Frank

 

Cool start to a great project. Best of luck. I'd radius the rear wheel openings for the true G***er look. Cut them to fit your wheel tire combo. If you move in the rear springs in and not cut the 1/4's it will look like every other mini tubbed car out there and not a g***er. Then build a killer 427 inch small block and tell the world it's a 283!!!!