Projects 55 Chevy Bel Air Resurrection

It is great that you got it up and running. I never worry about how long things take when I work on my cars. Getting on the road is usually my first priority, everything else is when I have the time and money to do it. You already got it running, nice!

 

Car has been down for a bit, I had some ignition gremlins that I've been fighting. I swapped the car over to a HEI distributor, and once I had the old points out I found the issue; a little shard of metal bouncing around in the distributor.

The car might look a lot different in the spring, so I wanted to take some pics before the snow flies.

 

It's better with nice paint, of course... but, natural patina is good too. I drove my 56 F100 as it was with patina until I finally got it painted. I do remember taking it to a show and seeing a old friend, Chuck. I asked him if he saw my truck-"Yeah I saw it" he said with a sneer. Well fuck him- what a attitude! He has never seen it painted and prolly never will. I'd like to say I didn't care, but it did kinda piss me off at the time. Do what you want- paint is expensive and it looks great as is.

 

Just now finding this thread. Very cool that you are getting your uncles car going again. You are making good progress as best I can tell in a pretty short amount of time. I can’t wait to see what all you do with it. Maybe I’ll even get to see it in person sometime since my younger brother lives near you. I was up for Autorama last year. Anyway, keep it up!

 

On your headlights-you mentioned you were looking for something that looked better-

I put a set of the Holley Retrobrites in one of my cars for an event that I knew I was going to be driving at night in rural areas with no lighting. Made a HUGE difference and they're not noticeable unless you're looking for them. I have no connection or sponsorship, just my experience.

Devin

 

Hey, keep on rolling! If you end up buying chrome, a wagon bumper gets the tag off the trunk lid.

 

Yep, I am aware of the retro brights, they are just spendy! I have been keeping an eye out for a set on the secondary market.

I really appreciate all the kind words and advice everyone! This is my first tri-five and my first, I guess what you would call "hot rod" so I appreciate the guidance.

 

So are you planning to go back to color it was repainted back in the day or are you going to original color?

 

Wagon bumper on a sedan/hardtop has always been one of my favorite trim five parts swaps

 

That I do not have an answer for yet. I'm undecided. First thing I have to do is replace the floors and rocker on the drivers side, so I have time.

It was originally neptune green and shoreline beige. Unfortunately I don't know exactly what color blue it was, but I'm sure I could match it fairly close from what remains.


To complicate things, I also really, really love this:

 

Broke a rear trans mount, replaced both yesterday. The motor has slowly been shifting down and rear word on the passenger side to the point the distributor was leaning on the firewall. I should have done this months ago honestly, really happy with how the motor and trans sits in the chassis now. Honestly really happy with the state of the chassis over all.

My headers are shot. They're next on the list.

 

Some pretty in depth surgery happening. New front floors, new inner and outer rockers, new lower rear quarter, and a few braces underneath.

The rockers didnt look bad - thats because they were covered with fiberglass once upon a time. The metal had literally eroded away leaving just the fiber glass shell. Pretty crazy.

Anyways, the other side will get the same treatment. Still undecide on what to do with the patina/paint after the metal work.

 

Now would be a good time to go to nomad wheel openings.

 

along the gulf coast in Texas, we call "patina" rust. Normally with really good "patina" you can see the sunset on the other side.

 

There are LED conversions on the market that look like normal sealed beams. Boss has them on his OT musclecars. Around $100/pr on Amazon. Major difference is that the glass lens is flatter than true sealed beams, but much closer to the correct appearance

https://www.amazon.com/IHNZCB-H4-9003-Headlight-Conversion/dp/B0CZ3W7BC7?ref_=ast_sto_dp

I just put that exact set in his 66 Bronco, world of difference

 

Those look much better! Thank you for the tip!

 

New metal is mocked up on both sides.

 

Looks good. You're getting a lot of criticism here but you're doing it right, fixing the stuff that needs to be fixed in a logical order. You can decide to paint it, or not, later. Just keep it moving forward.

If the door gaps were good before you started cutting, consider putting some braces in there before cutting out that much sheetmetal at once. Sometimes it's pretty shocking how much a body can move around once you start removing rockers and floors and such.

 

It is what it is, I don't really understand the criticism. I get that people don't like patina cars, but it's not like it's fake, and it's moving in the right direction. It's a car with history in my family, I'm doing what I can to preserve it while having fun with it, and working on it along the way. Yeah, I could buy a new body, slick it up with a nice paint job and make everyone in here "happy", but then it's not even the same car. So they can be miserable fun Governors and I'll keep having fun.

Unfortunately the body had already started shifting. Both inner and outer rockers were toast, and cycling the door all summer, and driving it didn't do it any favors. I need to do some measuring, get the door open and closing smoothly with a brace tacked in place before I weld it all up. I appreciate the tip.

 

I dig the way the Hoosiers look in that pic.

Keep making progress and to hell with whoever doesn’t get it (don’t like it? Don’t look.). Your car, your thing. If there was only 1 standard for cool, this would be a boring hobby.

 

New front floor pans, inner and outer rockers, lower rear quarters are in on both sides. My welding sucks, but its solid and its getting covered up anyways. Also used seam sealer to keep water / exhaust fumes out. Sprayed in copious amounts of por-15 to hopefully keep the floors around another 70 years.

All I have left is to build my seat mounts, install the carpet and I have get it back to my house for a few more odds and ends before Spring.

 

Spring to do:

Exhaust is next. I have new mid length headers to paint and get on, and then I'm having exhaust built at a shop.

Wire moon tach
Replace Clock glass
Get the blower working while I have the dash apart.
Spark plug wires, wire boots, and wire holders
Front end bushings

 

These guys are used to the " car makeover" shows on TV , no matter what needs doing , it usually only takes an hour ...

 

Threw some paint on it over the patina to hide the new metal, for now. I suspect a real paint job is in its future when I run out of other stuff to do. For this season I will put the trim back on and send it.

 

Finished welding in the braces on the underside yesterday, sealed and POR-15'd everything. Floors look so nice I almost hated putting carpet over them.

Dusty, but you get the idea. I just have to stretch the carpet and install the sill plates and the new headers, and then its off to the exhaust shop.

 

I'm glad to see you making progress. Looks great!

 

Exhaust is next, then the trim. I'll be using the clips that retain the trim via nut so I can remove it for paint when I get there.

Smithy's would be traditional hot rod mufflers, correct?

 

I love the look of this car as is, no trim, patina, sits amazing

 

I’d drive it