Projects My 1953 Chev Belair HT Import Project

mo! Its arrived on aussie soil!!!! Pick up next tuesday/wednesday

 

THANKS MAN! i really am unsure. some guys think its OG, but other guys think its been re-done....and looks to have a floor pan replaced.

i'll soon know come next tuesday/wednesday!

post a photo of your 54!!

 

UPDATE: The HT has arrived on australian soil. 3 weeks on the water. She arrived at the Melbourne docks on saturday. Monday morning i was phone to fax/email through the import approval form and invoice for the parts in the boot.

After some technical difficulties with email addresses and fax numbers, paper was sent off. Friday phone call, 99% sure it'll be ready for pick up next tuesday/wednesday.

going to pack the wagon with tools, water, fuel, oil and a jack and see how she drives home(3 hours on the highway)

fingers crossed she makes it haha

 

this is the 54 my dad gave after i kept bugging him to give it to me so i can get it running again. after five years he finally caved. my dad is 89 years old and still drives his truck.

 

Here are some pics of my engine after i cleaned it up and painted it. Not bad huh.

 

Haha de ja vue there coops

Just sharing the hardtop love Arthur's sweet VOOODO

 

Just a quick update on my phone HAMBERS.

The chev finally arrived at my house last Thursday!!! It did not go smoothly as the photo indicates. But I am far from disappointed. Everything I expected in the car !!!!!

Currently bleeding all four drums. Will uploaded alot of tomorrow morning.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

 

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Just a quick update on my phone HAMBERS.

The chev finally arrived at my house last Thursday!!! It did not go smoothly as the photo indicates. But I am far from disappointed. Everything I expected in the car !!!!!

Currently bleeding all four drums. Will uploaded alot of tomorrow morning.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

 

ok, so heres a bit of an update:

The chevy has finally arrived. However this end of the journey from the states didnt go to well.

At the last minute i found a car carrier and was given an awesome quote. After being stuffed around by the warehouse, and finally being allowed to see the car, he rang me with the news all tyres had been let down and its currently sitting on blocks. Some shipping companies let the tyres down for transport, however, mine didn't. so i am really unsure as to what happened there. Being tubeless, they had popped out of their seat, which meant dragging the poor chev on the trailer. A very cheap quote quickly turned into a alot of money for transport....

once it arrived at my home, i immediatley took the the wheels to bob jane the next day. $40 and all four tyres were refitted and balanced.

so far i have:
Flushed the radiator-new coolant-should still need a professional clean
replaced the plastic fuel filter with a much nicer steel one
fitted frog mouth air cleaner
cleaned both front control arms-re greased all grease nipples
cleaned and re-packed both front wheel hubs
cleaned up the white walls with JIF
mounted a battery holder-didnt come with one

the bad:
alot of the front end - bushes etc should be replaced soon
found my first rust spot-left hand front chassis rail
front bumper bar is welded to the chassis on the left side
battery cables need replacing asap
"american" lowering blocks
leaking rear shocks
two holes in the muffler

I have tried bleeding the brakes with not much luck until today we got underneath and checked the hoses-looks like the fork lift has crushed the rear hose-new brake lines coming asap(hopefully)

OVERALL I AM ACTUALLY REALLY HAPPY WITH IT.

i havent been dissapointed with the condition yet-besides what the warehouse unpcking staff have done.

heres some photos from the last few days.

 

UPDATE:

New Battery and battery leads

Bought new spark leads....the guy at Repco sold me the wrong ones.....

New spark leads tomorrow(hopefully) and new spark plugs.

The internet is a wonderful thing. My parts finally cleared quarantine/customs, put the word out if anyone is traveling my way, and sure enough, another car enthusiast is trucking up my way. Fingers crossed i'll have new lowering(legit) lowering blocks in, offy valve cover fitted and an elec dizzy all fitted over the weekend.

DOES ANYONE KNOW WHAT SIZE REAR SHOCK A 53 RUNS?

 

Had the squashed brake line replaced today. Finally have some ok drums haha. Will eventually have all drums machined.


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Good stuff Chris. Will it make the Kustom Natasha?

 

Haha I hope it makes it to kustom Natasha. Good day on it today. But still need exhuast work and rear suspension work


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That's a one good looking Chevy. Congrats! Waiting forward for some photos.

- Ray

 

Cool looking jigger, look forward to catching it at a show somewhere!

 

Hahahahahahahaha IPad spellcheck being a retard!

 

Update: the mad thrash to kustom nats(I leave Thursday week) is I'm full effect. Yesterday was a seriously good day. New plugs, new leads(two trips to Repco) installed a pertronix electronic ignition, fitted eye lids and fitted an offy valve cover. Pretty chuffed with myself that I made it fit(I am far from being a mechanic) had to hand file the thermostat housing so the end of the valve cover would fit(it's a snug fit)

Not a whole heap of work, but for me, I am stoked!


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Quick update: new exhuast/straight through muffler fitted. New legit lowering blocks fitted. It now rides in the bump stops. Will do just for this weekend.

Cut-polish-wax. Came up a treat. Few little things tonight and we are off!


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I'm chasing extra grill teeth for the chev. Can anyone suggest where to find repop ones or any leads to second hand teeth?

Also, are 54 headlights and taillights a clean swap??

Does anyone have any leads to second hand 54 front and rear taillights?

Cheers guys.


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Some recent photos!


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I bought these repop Fenton headers before the chev even arrived. Money is tight at the moment so why not prep them for a ceramic coating...

Started off with a 60 and then a 120grit flapper disc. Am now on to hand sanding and working through the grits.

If anyone has any ideas on what grit I should finish with, I am all ears!!

Also, for the fiddly areas around the Fenton logo, the man behind my inspiration for my engine used modelling files!! Any other suggestions are welcome!


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The previous owner had welded the left hand side front bar to the chassis. Having a good win Sunday just gone, I got greedy with the grinder.....kicked, little cut to the bone, tetnous, X-ray, antibiotics. Not cool, but them the brakes.


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Some recent photos before tackling the front end.


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Tackling the front end on the cheap. New front brake hose, new brake pads, front drum machined, cleaned and re-packed bearings. Some minor rust repair, found some severe rust-in a replaceable bracket, thank god!

Front rims sandblasted and powder coated in satin black, heavy polish on my olds capa and some jif on the firestones!


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Back into it.....just! This hand is killing me..

Fitted the front bar only to find it is way off centre. One side sits way further out than the other. Has anyone come across this before? How'd you go about aligning it again?

I have spaced one side of the bar mout with a decent sized washer, but it's almost an inch or two out on one side.

Have thought of grinding out the mounting holes on the bar supports so I can adjust backwards and forwards....


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Man that's one beautiful hardtop you have! Great colors too!

 

Hey thanks man!! Don't let the photos fool you to much. She needs alot of TLC! But I am so stoked on her condition


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Look'n good,that suck's about the wheel's.

 

Love the car. Sorry to hear about the hand!