Customs Finally starting on the wife’s 56

Bought this last Christmas for the wife. She loves tri 5 wagons. Her favorite is the 56 as is the blue and white combo.
I have been slowly buying parts and putting off getting the shop cleaned out. Not done yet with the cleaning but I’m trying to keep a promise of getting it in my the shop while on holiday break

 

Her requests are for AC, PS and PB all standard stuff
She told me not to put an “ugly” engine in it (her term for LS)
She wants painted steel wheels with poverty caps
The best part is that she told me to lowerer it(not slammed). Got to love that

 

Not only live it, but I love it also.

 

Going to replace the rockers first. I have full repro inner and outers. I can post step by step pics on this if needed
Got to decide on running a fresh 350 I have (with 462 heads) or build the 283 power pack I have.
The other decision is which power steering box

I’m not used to building cars that have this many sources for parts. I’m used to having to build everything

 

Thanks. My brain moves faster than my typing

 

Need to do an electric wiper conversion as well.
Simple rebuild on the front but thinking on using the added caster upper arm shafts. A hamber suggested that would help the car drive better since it will have PS. Any thoughts on that will be appreciated.

 

Sounds like it will be an awsome ride!
Wife has some good taste with what she wants!
I’m seeing a bbc with a tunnel ram and a bird catcher, nose high in the front with a 4 speed and slicks!
Can’t have the ice cream melt on the way home from the grocery store !!

 

Well ya got a point.
I trying to guide her to a mild custom look.
The best part may be the fact she flat out told me “ no bucket seats”.

 

After the rockers and floor work. The only other major body issue is the rear gate bottom. The outside is perfect but the inside bottom is gone. Got to decide if I replace of fab a new bottom

 

If you need to replace the floor get it with the braces, the job is so much nicer.

 

I looked at the one piece floor but I’m going to fix this one.
The floor is perfect under the rear seat. It’s the edge next to the inner rocker and front pan where ya feet go

 

That's good because it's a lot of work, good luck moving forward. I have a thing for old wagons yours sounds like a great project.

 

I have done the one piece on other cars. Liked it. Finishing up a 59 that should have been replaced with the one piece . 6 pan patch panels all fit and butt welded. The guy realized after I finished it that the 1 piece would have been the better option

 

its going to cool love 56 chevys

 

All I can say is, About time! Looking forward to seeing this one go together.

 

Looking forward to the updates, Gonna be a good looking ride. Has the car had quarters put on, strange the rockers are shot and the rear wheel lips are good.

 

I hope you do a build thread (here) on what you do. You are plenty savvy in my opinion, and I am looking forward to seeing your work. I think the mild custom would kill on that car. Tri-fives really take to that vibe. Keep us updated.

 

Wow....what a wife....the car is just like my dad's 56 we rode in until about 1963 when a red light runner got the left fender A frame. My bro and I were just kiddo's of about 6 and 9 or we would have told him we'll fix it ! He bought a 1960 9 passenger so we soon for got about it. Good luck with the build - it looks like a nice one !

 

Plan on it. But is just some simple rocker and floor work.The hardest part will be the tail gate
The mild custom part will probably be just the stance and maybe some pinstripes. Going to try to talk her in to losing the hood bird.

 

My '56 came to me with the CPP 500 series power steering and the upper a-arms with 5 degrees of extra caster but it drove kinda squirrely. Turns out they didn't tell the alignment shop about the a-arms. Once we got it aligned properly the car drove great. It also had the CPP front anti-roll bar and power disc brakes. The pedal had a lame feel to it. I deleted the booster and combination valve, added a non-power master cylinder and a SSBC prop valve and now the brakes have great pedal feel and work perfectly. That also cleaned up the engine compartment a bunch (I hate that booster and bracket).
I installed the Danchuk side motor mount conversion to eliminate those weird factory "sticks n biscuits" It also moved the engine slightly forward for better distributor clearance. With these mounts and the 500 series steering box the Corvette 2 1/2" ram horn exhaust manifolds fit nice.
It's 1(800) Hot Rodding at it's finest. Most of this stuff came with the car but I'm glad it did, the car is just awesome to drive. The wife's gonna have a helluva nice car when you're done!

 

Good to know about the manifolds. I have a new set of vette rams horn repops.
I built a lot of cars with non power brakes and loved em. Just don’t know if she will. I do not like the look of a booster either

 

Most aftermarket boosters are junk. If you must run power brakes I prefer factory boosters. Nice to have a wife that enjoys old cars, My girl is totally good with my hobby , Helps that I build her cars to call her own

 

I don't know sh!t about power brakes 'cause I never run them but I read on another thread on here that the basic booster that comes with many of these kits is useless and that was my experience. There is probably a better booster that will give her that new car brake pedal feel.
Feel free to post some more pictures, the ol' wagon looks pretty damned cool as it is.

 

I used a hydro boost on my last project. Love it.
I used a chain store rebuilt booster in my 67 and has worked out well.
Used several willwood master cyls and they worked well too
May do a little master cyl bore size research. Would be nice not to have an ugly booster.
Gonna run the stock rear axle and brakes

 

Might want to think about self adjusters for rear brakes. Just a thought.

 

If it doesn’t have em we will probably have to add em

 

Just remember Anthony, happy wife, happy life.


Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app

 

My 1st car was a 56 wagon. Copper & Beige

 

Looking forward to seeing the wagon come together, gotta love a wife that enjoye the old cars.

As for the engine it's hard to beat a sweet running 283.

As for the tail gate it's a job but with your background it shouldn't be a problem, Brenda's wagon had a rusty tail gate, inside & outside but it turned out pretty good.







All said and done, just takes a lot of patience but you already know that. HRP

 

Got a little bit done today
The floor is not as bad as I thought
The rear is ok other than the lip at the inner rocker
The front and toe needs a little but not bad