Here's a few pics of my '56 Dodge. It runs and drives, but doesn't stop worth a damn. Still needs major brake work, some electrical and cosmetic work also, but it's coming along. Lou
Already there...it's the original 315. Most of the original stuff was broke or garbage. It's got a spin-on oil filter, small block chrysler fuel pump, edelbrock 500 carb, and a Chevy HEI distributor. I'm lookin' for a Caddy air cleaner for it...just wondering on the amount of cutting I'll have to do to it to get it to clear the HEI. I just got keys cut for it so it starts and stops with the key. Set the timing on it the other day and it runs perfect, no noises. Turns out the generator works...honestly didn't think it would the way everything else was going. Phase 1 is near completion. Phase 2 is the brakes... Phase 3...floor pans, rocker panels and quarters. Phase 4...haven't thought that far ahead.
It's got a real '50s NASCAR flavor with the Hemi and white wheels. You should consider painting it up that style, that would be a riot! I'm a little behind you with my '57 Plymouth. Check out AAJ brakes for a safe and inexpensive setup for '50s Mopars. Just order the basic kit, if he ships all the other parts to you it costs a fortune. Your local auto parts store will have everything you need. http://www.aajbrakes.com/
Yeah...I'm leaving it with white wheels and blackwall bias-plys, like you said, it adds to the old race car look. With the exhaust cut off they way it is right now, it reminds me of the sound of the old street stock and hobby stock race cars. I painted the front gravel pan white and the rear tail light coves white to add a little kustom flavor. I think it looks pretty good. A 50's NASCAR paint job has been in my mind for quite some time...but I think I just wanna enjoy it as is for right now. The primer I sprayed in my garage and the white parts I just rattle canned...just to experiment with color combos. Eventually, when I get all the stainless trim and chrome real nice, I'll redo the car in it's original Sapphire White, Oriental Coral, Sapphire White tri-tone paint job...but that could be YEARS from now... Besides I like it the way it is now...
That brake site is pretty cool. I might take them into consideration. I've got those 12 inch center plane brakes on my car with the dual wheel cylinders up front. I might not go with 4 discs...but a front disc conversion might be cool. Sounds like an awesome swap and fairly easy. Thanks alot.
Maybe you could help with this question. I can't find rebuilt master cylinders for my '56 cause it's got that power brake unit. Do you think if I went with those disc brake conversions I would be able to use a later model chrysler power brake unit with the kits master cylinder...or would I just have manual brakes? I'm gonna call those guys and ask them what my options are. I've thought about just using a later model power brake unit and master cylinder with the stock brakes, but I like that conversion kit.
Hey! That's looking good. a good ways from the last pics I saw. By the way you described a 2 tone car. Tri-tones have three colors. Saphire white and Coral is nice. Real, real, nice. The one I'm parting has dual exhaust. Would you want it?
Well I think it's listed as a two tone paint job...but the top is white...so it goes white on top, red in the saddle, and white again on the bottom. I don't know whether to classify it as two or three tone...it's two tones literally, and actually I think it's commonly referred to as a two-tone sandwhich... I might want that dual exhaust if your pipes are still good up to the axle. I don't need the over the axle portion, but if the pipes are good...I might want it...
I think there were a total of 147 color combinations for these cars if I remember that bit of tria correctly. Mine wa originally White top and hood, medium grey body upper and trunk, turquoise lower. I'll be under the Dodge later tonight and can really check the condition of the pipes.
At least you know they went to a good home. I gotta get clips for the stainless molding...then they'll go on next. I'm in the process of cleaning up those rear armrest/kick panels and the rear seat back...I think I may just go buy a cheap black sheet and use that for the rear seat cover. I made a set of door panel templates off yours and they seem to fit great...I gotta get more of that fiber board though so I can make the panels and the back dash. Thanks again.
I really like the way this engine compartment looks. Just dirty up that carb, put an old style battery in and hide that fuel filter (you should run some hard line, not to much rubber hose)...perfect! Its got a good "Run what ya brung" look.
I love the white wheels and blackwalls! Very nice early NASCAR look. Is that a 4-hole carb spacer? I have an open spacer on my hemi and was wondering if the universal 4-hole ones fit the carb's throttle bores and the manifold bores. Any Ideas?
[lookin' for a Caddy air cleaner for it I've got a Caddy aircleaner for sale it's solid but has surface rust $150 plus shipping
Gasser, NO! Nascar, YES! That's going to be a killer ride if you just keep going in the direction your headed. BTW, I've got an extra SBC if you ever decide to ditch the Hemi. Frank
Sure is...it goes along with that big vacuum can too. It's normally filled with air then when you hit the brake, vacuum from the engine sucks it closed and pushes a rod that in turn pushes on your brake pedal lever...helping you apply the pedal. Something to that effect...
The spacer I got is a 4 hole spacer made to adapt edelbrock and similar bolt pattern carbs to the small quad bolt pattern of the Carters. The spacer I got actually has two bolt patterns on it so you could probably use a variety of carbs on it...but yes it is a 4 holer. I got it from Hot Heads in NC. There website is www.hothemiheads.com If you ask for Bob he's real friendly and knows his shit. Ask him about the 4 hole spacer if you're interested.
I agree the car would look good as a straight axle gasser, but I think it would serve this car better to do it up as an old NASCAR race car. The gasser look did cross my mind...cause I love those sky jacked hemi cars...especially the altered wheelbase cars of the 60's. But...this thing just looks more like a circle track car in my mind and after finding a handful of old nascar photos with a couple D500's running the beach...I decided that look would do this car more justice.
Nice choice, because I can't ever recall seeing a Mopar of that vintage running as a gasser. Back then, all the emphasis was on weight reduction and I don't believe they were lightweights to begin with. You won't find any one-piece fiberglass flip front ends for a Dodge like that. While the NASCAR look's cool, if you're being really authentic I think you'll find most of Chrysler's efforts were with the signature Chrysler vehicles with the bigger hemi engines, but that shouldn't keep you from doing your own thing. On rereading your posts, you note D-500s were running circle tracks then and my mind is just clouded by all the Kiekhaefer successes.
You're right Goober about Kiekhaefer...but I have found some pics on the net of old Dodge Coronet club sedans like mine in full NASCAR trim....funny, but they're all running behind a 300... So I know for a fact that some guys were fielding Dodges...but of course the 300's by Kiekhaefer dominated back then. I'll see if I can find the pics. I did find an old NASCAR history book at Borders that had a couple tiny pics of '56 Dodge race cars...but I didn't buy it.
Just a little update...I was looking for pics of nascar races and came across a results sheet for the 1956 southern 500. It lists owner Malcolm Barlow with driver Gene Bergin finishing 36th in a '56 Dodge. Owner Carl Kiekaefer with driver Frank Mundy finishing 38th in a '56 Dodge and owner Tom Harbison with driver Danny Letner finishing 59th in a '56 Dodge. There was also Pee Wee Jones driving a '56 Dodge and he finished 64th. Some things that interest me....they had 70 cars run the race...of which only 39 were running at the end. One of Kiekaefers '56 Chryslers finished 2nd with Speedy Thompson at the wheel.
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