Projects 1955 Chevy Southeast Gassers Build

55 looks awesome! I really like your Nickels Speed Shop sign. What is the story behind that?

 

I like the green/white color paint scheme.
I am building a '49 Anglia gasser sty[e and I would like it to be green with a golden panel painted roof.
Would you care to share which green you used?


Good luck with your ride. I also mainly do the bracket races, with an occasional - twice a year - foray into the nostalgia drags for the reasons you mentioned.

 

Nickels is a local speed shop/now wholesale distributor for performance parts companies, I’m actually a sales rep for them.

I ended up with the sign from one of the old shops from the 80s, they have been in business since the early 60s though.

 

Thank you! Not a problem, my car is GM bright white roof, and the green is 1968 camaro factory GM rallye green paint code.

 

Thanks for that! Great pictures and great sign.

 

Nothing too terribly exciting, but got the 55 tore down and ready for the glide as soon as we get it built. And working on the brakes on the ramp truck. Had a wheel cylinder seeping, and had to get it apart to figure out which style I had and hunt down some replacements.

Also sourced a nice stock 400 small block to freshen up and swap the gmc v6 out for this coming winter.

 

This is one of the best threads I’ve read in a long time. I love the car, the ramp truck, everything. I have a similar situation, only the opposite lol. I grew up in a bracket racing family, my dad, uncles, brothers, that’s all we’ve done. Now I want to try my hand at heads up, 4 speed, gasser racing. I was fortunate to pick up a roller (I won’t mention which one since I don’t have deep enough pockets to do it justice lol) but we’re gonna build a small block for it and go play with the sega group in a very limited capacity. I’m way more Northeast than Southeast but a couple races anyway.
Anyway, sorry to hijack, thanks for the inspiration!

 

Zack anything will beat the GMC V 6 for mileage and parts etc etc. not saying it’s not running well but it will be miles ahead all around.
You know this already but a bell housing change and side mounts and your in with almost anything from a 292 six to a sbc to a bbc.
And you’ll lose a good bit of weight too.
I have been where you are as well. Family first.
My wife has supported every step I’ve ever made. But I also put the children and her first.
I had a LCF 55 Chevy with a custom bed for my pull truck. Sbc sm 420 and a two speed rear. It had a 5th wheel which I removed and air over hydraulic brakes / the good was I had a built in compressor and air . Would get 15-16 pulling was dependable and I made many trips to Bowling Green from Houston Ms. I 40 would beat you to death at times though

 

you needed "bulldog" painted on the door!

 

Is the car you have happen to be a white Anglia? lol

 

You are very wise lol. Yes it is

 

Pls explain half wal mart sign. Confused

 

It’s a picture from an envelope when you took photos to Walmart to be developed. The picture is sitting on the edge of the envelope in my lap.

 

One more evening of work and we’re ready to race this weekend!

 

Love southern gassers, but the auto will save u drive line problems. Have fun with it

 

Debut test and tune with the powerglide went pretty well overall. The converter is way too tight, and would only foot brake up to 3000 rpm before it would drive through the brakes, and only got to make one pass due to oil downs. The ramp truck was a big hit too. And the 55 went 5.91, my personal best ever in the 55, and best overall too.

 

Looks great!

 

Super slick RT too. The rig looks awesome.

 

Nice to see your hard work paying off!

 

Raced with the Carolina pushrodz at Wilkesboro Dragway Saturday, and won the quick 8 A/gas shootout. Rons first race and his dad made him look good lol.


The car also ran its fastest passes to date, 5.87, 5.89 and a a couple 5.88s. Still leaving off the footbrake at 2800. I think leaving off the transbrake we can gain some more ET.

looking forward to running some more Carolina Pushrodz races this season as they schedule them.

 

A few more random photos from the event from my cellphone.

 

You're living a great life, Zak. Keep on keepin' on!

 

Great photos. Especially the ones with you, wife and kiddo. How many of those cars have automatics?? Looks just like a SEGA race!

 

Hey Zac , I look forward to seeing you in a few weeks at the Knoxville Drag Way.

 

I’m going to try to come spectate! I’m no longer SEGA legal with my car though.

 

There were quite a few SEGA cars in attendance! I’d say20%- 30% of the turnout was 4 speed, but most were automatics. Still a good show though, big burnouts, wheelstands, awards for best of both to encourage them. lol


They (Carolina pushrodz) are planning on doing a few more of these races this year. I’m looking forward to racing more with them.

 

Went so fast that I about blew my own door off. Lol

Had to fix the door around the hinge, and made some backing plates to prevent this in the future. Had already done it back a few years ago to the drivers door, and now the passengers door needed it.

 

Tried some different carbs this weekend and the car hated it, so went back to the 660s I’d been running and car was back on kill running 5.88/89 consistently. Driver just let the car down on the tree. Was still a fun time and overall success at the track. Now getting ready for the pushrodz gasser race in Mooresville this coming weekend.

 

Redlit in the semi finals yesterday, but car ran several 5.74 ETs in a row, so we set personal best et with the car again and car was consistent all day. Loving this new combo and enjoying racing with the family!