Projects The 56 Chevy Continued Adventure Build

In pic #3&4 your Princess Auto is showing.... LOL. Did you get to Mission on Saturday?

 

I've got some great PA tools. Some of their Pro Point stuff is actually quite good. My 3/4 impact is a PA cheapy and that friggin thing keeps going and going!
Didn't make it to Mission. Having been their the weekend before and then off to the inlaws up north this weekend i am putting enough miles on. Saw lots of pics online, didn't look too bad. Would have loved to have seen/heard Syndicate Scuderia cackle up and down the track.

 

I greatly appreciate PA. They, along with KMS have been a great benefit to us home builders! And PA’s “scratch and dent” sales have been a boon for me that’s for sure...

 

New addition to the tool arsenal today. still have to get it solid mounted but I'm sure this will make beading a whole lot easier. And in other news my frame from Roadster Shop is finally ready to ship!! That will be a cool day when it arrives!!

 

Cool car. Personally I can't see what all the 4 door fuss is all about.
And for all the effort to do a 2 door conversion seems pointless. 4 doors are great for families or if you want to take friends with you. I see absolutely no advantage in a 2 door unless you intend to flip it for a profit.

 

The boy and I pulled the motor and tranny today. I was teasing him that he lost his motor pulling virginity today as this was his first time! Wanted it clear to make it easier to pull the body off the frame and also move the old frame out of the way once separated. With the motor out I was able to see how Dad had fabbed up a set of side motor mounts. Fairly crude stick welding onto the frame but it lasted all this time. With fall around the corner I'm starting to get the itch again!

 

Well those engine mounts look fine to me. Not pretty like tig but they did the job and that was the point of the exercise...

I have one of those bead rollers. My son adapted a 1/2” drill with a 10:1 gear reduction box that does the job. (I bought seven or eight of those bead rollers I got at a crazy good price! Moved them along to add to the hobby budget...)

 

Body off the frame. Have to raise the stand I threw together up a little so it clears the back of the frame by the rear end then I can mount the front of the rotisserie. New frame arrives next week. Winter is coming...

 

it's official! Went nice and smooth with a little bit of sweating. I have looked close all along the top of the frame rails and I do not see a body number anywhere. Wondering if that's a US car thing? I know for a fact this is the original frame so not sure what the scoop is. Any opinions on what the frames worth as is? Was thinking $5-600? Frame is super solid, no rust at all.

 

Cool things come in big crates!! Can't wait to open up and drool all over the new frame!

 

Have fun! That crate looks well built as well.

 

Fab work on this frame is killer. With what you get for the money and not enough hours in the day I'm glad i went this way.

 

Hauled the car home this morning and tucked the hot rod away for the winter. Looking forward to getting back on and pushing things forward. I need a bigger shop!!

 

Mystery time. First pic is the clock out of the car and second pic is all I find after spending a bunch of time online looking at all the pics of 55-56 clocks. The face on mine doesn't look like anything I can find. Anyone recognize the face of my clock? It's the original clock as far as I remember.

 

Interesting. Aftermarket? But why would this one have a date of Oct 52? Sorry no further info given from seller other than Chevrolet clock.

 

Pic #2 is the correct clock for 55-6.

 

Ok tried another GM model for 52. Here you go.

 

Thanks gents, yes I figured out it was a Pontiac clock just after I posted about it. I found this pic online and says it's out of a 52 Pontiac. I kinda like it better than the 5-6 Chevy clock and seeing as it's been in the car as long as I can possibly remember I'll see about replacing the glass.

 

Stripped the dash and pulled the heater out along with the cowl grill and lower windshield trim. Still the ugly work but needs to get done. I'll fill the holes that were drilled for the gauges as I want to put the dash back to stock and I'll have a three gauge panel below the glove box. I'll restore the heater control so I can use it as well. Have been back and forth about adding vintage air. I hate the look of it under the hood so that's what really is holding me back but I'm getting soft in my older age and I like air in the summer!

 

Does it twist lock into speaker bezel just like a normal 5 and 6 clock does?

 

Actually it is a GM clock, they used the same clock though out the brands except for Cadillac which used their own unique rectangular clock.

 

ya fits perfect, that's why I never questioned it being in the car all these years.

 

Any tips on replacing the seat mount brace from anyone that has gone here before? I will be replacing the front floor braces complete on either side so I will be removing them first then I'm assuming these brackets will separate from the floor with an air chisel. There was rot on the floor above these braces on both sides and the drivers side bracket has some hefty rot on it as well. I have already opened up part of the floor above the brackets cleaning up the rot but I may have to cut them back even further if I find the floor is too thin for welding the patch back in.

 

And the work begins again. Knocked out the one brace that is getting replaced and then cut out a section of floor that was thin and rotted. man the rotisserie makes things so much nicer vs being upside down to work on the car!

 

Got the patch fabbed up and tacked in along with the new seat mount & floor brace. Will get it burned in and then move onto the drivers side. Slow tedious work but nice to be getting it done. Ordered up a CPP hydroboost MC. Once it arrives I'll get it mocked up so then I can mock up the hydraulic clutch cylinder and fab the clutch pedal connection.

 

Took the plunge and ordered up a complete interior kit from Ciadella today. Went with the Del Ray instead of the 210 as I like the look of it better than the original 210. 6 month lead time so I have time to sell some blood and other body parts to pay for it... Why did I get into hot rods again? Oh well, it's only money. Been slow going otherwise as work has been demanding to start off our busy season.

 

I like the Del Ray interior, maybe it was mentioned earlier but do you have the 2 door sedan seats to put that kit on? They can be hard to come by. Will look nice when done, has a somewhat similar pattern/look as the custom door panels your grandpa made.

 

Ya the 210 seat upholstery just wasn't going to cut it. yes I have the 2 door sedan seats front and back. Just need to be recovered and new foam.

 

Girl friends 56 after replacing carpet.

 

Little bit of shop time today after a family brunch. Got the passenger side floor braces all welded in and finished welding in the main patch replaced with the seat mount support. stitched up a slice I discovered in the rear passenger door and filled in where the door handle used to be. Got some other parts in including a CPP hydroboost unit. I had the same one on my Camaro and it worked really well.

I've come to the decision that I am going to leave the existing paint on the car and colour match the doors and rockers and do a mat clear. Besides the door conversion and rockers, the rest of the car is very straight and zero rust so to move the project along quickly for now I am going to do the patina thing. It's all @Jeff Norwell fault for sticking with the original paint on his 57... Cost is playing a factor of course and I also really don't want to see the car trotted off to paint jail for what is always too long. I want to drive this car again as it's been too long!!

Dropped the engine block and all parts to the machine shop on Friday as well to get balanced and assembled. They have a full dyno set up as well so I'll get to see what she puts out once done. Assuming it will be a couple months at least for it to get done as they are smoking busy which is great to see. Owner is a great guy and built the 409 for the coupe.