After six long years on the boat I finally get some home time, or well until Jan. Since turkey weekend I have managed to get this very close to firing up. Bought this from Flattop Bob like 4 years ago as something to do when home more than a keeper. But it has grown on me and back when my back was screwed up I had the help of two close friends to install the front end and I kind of owe it to them to see this thru. Hell, Ive changed the wheel/tire combo four times and have yet to drive it and now it looks like a fifth change as I dont care for these slots at all. 55 Pontiac wagon but underneath is all TA, including welding in the front stub, 30 over 400, 350 trans. The posi rear bolted right in only having to fab new shock plates. In the last few weeks I have managed to get the new floors welded in, 55 Chevy and a lot of work because they really are not that close. The front bumper ***y. is welded in though I still need to heat and bend the TA bumper brackets to work. Scored some hood hinges and now the hood fits a hell of a lot nicer. Solidly mounted the TA M/C, booster and pedal ***y. along with the original brake switch and new SS brake lines front to rear. Finished the brackets for the radiator which had to be located in front of the radiator support. Once the TA stub and wheels are located and centered in the wheel openings this has to be and only leaves a ½ space between the radiator and the clutch fan. I will be holding my breath when we start it up. Completed the steering box hookup to the Ididit column with a SS shaft, very clean and tight and not it turns all by its self. Fuel cell modified and mounted and I could not be happier with the fit as this allows me to use the original fuel door. Removed a couple of leafs form the rear and it is still not low enough, it now rides 7 behind the front tire and almost 10 in front of the rear tire, but before I remove anymore I need to roll it out outside for a look and really think this thru as it will be dragged raced. Gotta have that hook up!!! Also rebuilt the distributor, got rid of the MSD and big ugly Accel coil he was running when he drag raced the TA, maybe reinstall the MSD later, right now it just has to run. After way to many hours trying to figure out these *&%$# Pontiac pulleys, now without the AC, I finally said f it and had a spacer machined, fabd some new brackets and now everything is perfectly aligned. Also completed another Pontiac nightmare, installed the headers and starter. Definitely have to go with a mini starter in the future. And now today I am going to install the shifter along with ****oning up all the factory holes that are now in the firewall. Fabricate a battery hold down. Then tonight while I watch Mizzou kick Oklahomas *** I am going to get after some of the wiring chaos. I have really missed being a tangible part of this place. Thanks for looking. All in all I am one happy SOB. Happy Holidays!!!
YEAH BABY! your wagon rocks dude! glad to see you making progress on it. been waiting to see more pic's of it. yours is light years ahead of mine. make sure you take a video of the maiden voyage and post it.
atta boy i sold mine like it a few years ago .. yours will need the 55buick/55chev taillite conversion.. i had a vision of multicolor flames(grey ,smoke ,copper and red) done in window tint on the front side gl*** that led to multicolor pinstripes at the rear back ....kinda like a ambulance. what no roof rack ... maybe just 4 tie down cleats like ol speedboat would have or from a amb***ador wagon that front plate just havta be removed please good luck
The 400 was worked by a local shop that I personally would not have used as they are very inconsistent in their builds. 30 over and the heads worked, very strong engine. He had an Edelbrock intake on the engine but I yanked that and put the factory intake back in place with a 750 Holley. Since moving I have misplaced a folder that contains all of the specs including the cam card, receipts, timing slips etc and the freaking bill of sale for the car. Havent given much thought to the body mods with the exception of colors. Will be copper topped flowing into the interior and black lower half. Ill look around for the 55buick/55chev taillight treatment spoken of. Back when I first purchased the car the taillight center lenses were trashed. I found some lenses at Wal-mart (yeah whatever ), that I cut and shaped with a Dremel and glued into place. Mostly I went that route because the lenses I could find were stupidly priced. A neat thing with the lenses I placed in there is that they are scripted with Stratolite. Get it?
I wondered how this worked. My 55 sedan is all original, traditional 50s sled......but my 55 hardtop is going to be more street rod-esque. Sub framed, posi, prolly a 400 crate engine, a/c, stock appearance, blacked out windows, pearl paint *2 tone*, saddle colored leather interior.....I dunno, guess it's my old age kicking in. My mother wants to drive it, she's not real bright so I figure the easier, the better. Can we please see under your skirt?
THE BUICK-CHEV TAILITES ARE USING A 55 CHEV BEZEL WITH A 55 BUICK LENS.. the lens must be heated widenend a bit but with new briter bulbs and the elimination of the backup lens .. these may be availible already made? you can now add backup lens from something else think about the multi colored pinstriped window tint ... copper-smoke - grey i have never seen it done any good tint shp should be able to doit good luck
Again your job turned out nice, but I decided against sub framing my car. I even had one sitting next to the car in the garage. I decided to use the 58 suspension and go to ball joints that way. The lowers bolted right up the the 55 frame. Plus the Scarebird disc brake kit too. I was able to figure in a higher caster and anti dive into the upper arms when I made the mounts for the upper arms. I decided I wanted to keep the manual steering plus it was an ***embly with the column and gearbox. I didn't want to relocate the original radiator since the gearbox ends up where the radiator is, plus the fab work involved in the subframe clip. And I already had side mounts built for my engine.
The Jalopy Journal
