Projects Bad Banana Resurrection - 55 Chevy Gasser

yes good to see your back posting,nice meeting you guys yesterday.
car was cool!!

 

Was this car always in the Northeast.
Even though I grew up in Butler also, I remember a yellow 55 Chevy gasser named Bad Bannana that used to run in Ft. Myers Fla. in the mid 60s. Could this be the same car?

Dave Gray
Carlisle, Pa.

 

When's your father going to get to see it run? Those are the pictures I"d like to see....

 

No... this car never went to FL.

 

Hi I was at Milan yesterday and saw you run! BITCH'IN!! checked out the car in the pits and it looked super!!! I had only read part of this post before yesterday,went back today and read all of it. GREAT story ,photos and history!!. THANKS! This story and ones like it is why I look at this site not because someone says its friendly enough or NOT to be here! PLease keep with updates. And THANKS again! Mel

 

The car had been drifting to the right on the previous runs so I purposely aimed it to the left in this run. As it turns out, I should not have as it looks like it would have went pretty straight. This was the last run of the day. Reaction time was .015

 

bad ass, congrats

 

saw the Banana yesterday and met the crew. great car and great people.

 

Bad ass dude!!

 

That is one Bad Banana! Love it!

-rick

 

CONGRATS ! Man it's pretty cool to see it going down the track and I'm sure it felt a thousand times better, way to go !

 

Your car looked awesome yesterday!!! I have some pictures and video of it running that I will post as soon as they are done uploading. Matt

 

LOVE IT, LOVE IT, LOVE IT,

Keep up the good work ,

I know your Dad is very proud of you

and to see his old 55 on the track again,

Man I love it........

 

Its great to see that video after all the hard work you put into rebuilding this car. Makes it all worthwhile huh?

 

The car looked good although I felt for you on the first run with the severe front tire shake. Your next run was remarkably smoother although still a little shake. I did not stay for the rain as I wanted to get some work done on my car but here are a couple of pics taken with my little pocket camera. Really impressive all in all. Good show-Jim

 

lol!!! Now thats a bad Banana


Car is looking good and sounds great!!!!

 

Here is the picture that can be added to the scrap book that Rusty and Austin will remember for ever. What a great day for them and it was great to be parked next to them in the pits and get to see it run in person.

Jon

 

Priceless!!!

 

Looks like you need this...congrats!!!!!!!!! See you at beaver springs.

 

awsome job congrats ..

 

Rusty, please don't give up on this thread!! I gotta hunch your dad can deal with whatever negative vibes that came from................er...........................wherever.

 

Happy to see your car go down the track again. Thanks for the great thread.

 

Fantastic!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Gongrats guys, the car sounds great. Your Dad must be very proud.
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wow that looks fun! came close 11.01, lol great time!

 

Wow! The project thread is great, but actually seeing it run down the 1/4 was even better! I really love this car! Been there, done that, and doing it again!

 

Thanks all for the responses and PMs. Means alot to me. Some have asked if I quit posting here. No... just not been much to post about. Been going through the car and getting everything ready for the Gasser Reunion in Beaver Springs. Added more caster to the front axle. Turns out Dad had some more caster shims he thought he had given me. I said I have gone through everything and not found any. He said he would look in his shop. Called me back 10 minutes later and said he has just what I needed. He shipped them to me last week and I put them in this weekend.

I also added a steering stabilizer shock on the front axle as well. Between the two, that should take out that last little bit of shimmy after the front touches down.

The original paint that came on the headers was crap and I had painted over it and so the paint was not sticking to the headers at all. Any place I had cleaned the original paint off and then painted them, it was fine. Austin sandblasted the headers all the way down to bare metal and we prepped them right and hopefully they will stay painted now. At least they are easy to take off if they need it again at some point..

Checked the engine over good. Had a small oil leak (my fault... forgot to put a bolt in the hole that intersects with the fuel pump pushrod. ) Also found there was a broken rocker arm adjusting nut. The stud girdle was holding it but the nut was broken. I happen to have about 4 of the same style nut in some of my old stuff so we got that fixed as well.

Next time out will be June 10-12 at Beaver Springs. I am still hoping Dad will be there to finally see this thing in person. The last time he was here and saw this car was last April (2010) and it was sitting in my pole barn with boxes stacked on it and covered in dust. I am crossing my fingers that he will be able to make it. I also hope I can at least drive him around the pits in it. Won't really know for sure until we get there.

Hope to see a bunch of HAMBers there! Stop by and say hello if you are there! We'll be easy to spot!!

 

Sounds like a good chance for your master plan to come together. Good luck and will look for the pictures.

 

Looks like you are ready to show off the Bad Banna at Beaver Springs. Have fun and I look forward to the update. Have fun.

Jon

 

Rusty, it was great to meet you and your family @ Beaver Springs. Your 55 is really impressive and running strong. When I met your mom it blew me away that we live about a mile away from each other here in N.F. Good luck with the car and if your come to visit your mom your more than welcome to look me up. Brian