Another 55 Straight Axle Chevy Gasser build.

Spent a little time welding up the extra holes in the dash..

 

Just an observation here, but on most of the other gasser pics that I've seen, people usually make diamond-shaped gusset plates that they weld on to support the area where the new front frame rails meet the original frame.

How did you reinforce this area? Or are the extra plates overkill? Is the car going to be caged?

Thanks
Nick

 

Your 55 Gasser is absolutely fantastic. Brilliant workmanship!! I built a 55 Gasser street rod in 69/70 for a customer, that was errily very similar to yours. I cut the frame in the same place you did, built a2x4 box frame to a round tube front. crossmember, put a straight tube axle under two front. springs from a 55 Chev. P/U. Here's where it gets spooky!! I put a "70" 383 magnum from a insurance write off in.
I set it back 10% of the wheelbase.It was awesome!! it would do wheelies right off the line from dead idle.It was jacked up to about 3 ft. to the bottom of the rockers with a olds rear diff. The owner was only about 5ft Unforchantly I dont have any pictures or any contact with the owner.I dont know what ever happened to the car.
ROCKET RIDE

 

Hello Nick. The subframe goes into the frame and butts up against the original frame where it starts to downturn. I am installing a 12 pt cage into the car,so that will add a lot of rigidity to the front clip. Another thing I did was to mount the rear spring hangers on the original frame, so a some of the force is distributed to the stock chassis. If I had/were butt welding tubing together, I would add the diamond shaped gussets.

 

Thanks !Back in 1969 I put an Econoline axle under a 65 Chevy II.327,4 spd,etc. I could hit the throttle twice and get all 4 wheels off the ground! I rolled the car over just before graduation. Not a scratch on me or my girlfiend. Tow'd the car back to the garage, put some oil in the motor and decided to drive it home the following day. Wound up off the road and into a tree (had to do that final burnout...lol). Lost my license for 90 days for the second accident. Ahh, the good old days....

 

That thing is really awesome. Thanks for the tech info too. Keep us informed!

 

Wow, very nice! Great job and vision to do such a clean installation.

Al in CT

 

A little closer everyday.

 

Looking better every day too!

 

Fuckin Nice!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

Baron, when you mounted the front spring mounts, did think about caster angle of the axle or what were your thoughts on that in mounting the tube axle? Perhaps the spring mount on the tube itself was welded in such a way to account for it. Thanks, Kurt

 

When I welded the perches on the axle, I had set the caster at +7 degrees. By changing the rear mount, I gained more (approx+2) , which will be fine. Once I get it to the alignment shop, I'll know exactly what it is.If I need any more then what I have ,I can shim the axle, but it should be OK as it sits.

 

Finished installing the rear end today. Still need to weld some straps on the ladder bar brackets on the rear end. Rear wheels and tires are on,and clear the rear springs on the inside by an inch. I am going to raise the car 1 inch in the rear(adjustabke at rear pivot assmbly). I welded up all the trim holes below the windows and rear quarters. Good to have it rolling around again. First time it has been outside the shop since September wahen I rolled it in to start on it. Little more body work and then get ready to install the 14pt roll cage. Body still has to come off one more time for paint underneath, so I can not install the roll bar until that is done. Spring is here !

 

Couple more pictures taken today...

 

^^WOW! I need to get to work

 

Looking good

 

Wow, you will be the hit of the town!

 

What size wheel and tire are you running on the front, Also what make is the tire. Thanks Todd

 

Man you are going to need a TON of outside room for all those smokey burnouts.

So...as a friend, I can take that 51 off your hands....ya know.....so ya have more space.....




Looks kickass man, and Im not a gasser guy, but it looks well done.

 

They are 205/75-15 Delta's 0n 15 x 4 inch Cragars.

 

I just have so many favorite cars. Going to put the Merc in storage....out of site, out of mind. Thanks for your kind offer.

 

are those military surplus leaf springs up front?they have usa in ink on the top
nice car!keep the updates comin
Troy

 

The springs came from Speedway Motors(although through MAS).

 

Lookin" good Baron!!

 

Baron,

Great looking '55, love that you chose a Hemi too. I am attaching a pic of my '55, has a Hilborn injected small block and a T-10.

Peter.

 

Thanks. Love the looks of your car. I like the color choice too. A good friend of mine runs Hilborn injection of his 56 BB Gasser. Runs 10.30's /135 mph on alcohol.

 

I know it's been a LONG time since I rode past a gas-SERVICE station and there was a wicked hot rod living in one of the bays! There was always something cool about that. It made you want to buy gas there....or maybe just a power bar and one of those light up "Raider Nation" hat pins.

 

Looking good. I like the stance!

 

'55 gasers are so much fun to look at... great job. How long did the "front end frame swap" take you?