Thought I'd share some photos of my 55 chevy build. This car had been sitting in a guys backyard since the early 80's. Floors and tailpan need replacing, but the body's in good condition. It'll have a small block with a muncie. Ford 9" with 4.56 gears. Not gonna be highway driven much. Undecided on the color for now.
New floorpans are in. Picked up some 65 chevelle bucket seats off CL. Had to fab up some perches for them. Just got my rotisserie yesterday. Hoping to remove the body soon.
Picked this motor up off of CL from a guy named Brad in Grass Valley, Ca. When the engine shop turned it over on their Dyno it bent all 8 exhaust pushrods. I hope the valves aren't bent either. When the motor was taken off the stand they found the timing gears were installed wrong. AND the bottom end was NOT forged like Brad said it was. Brad is not returning my phone calls now, Imagine that! I guess its my fault for trusting a stranger. I'm having to completely tear down the motor and start from scratch. This*****s!
Buying used engines can be a real trip down a very dark road sometimes. I have a friend who purchased a Hemi and later found out the motor was bored 65 over. Now it's sleeve time!!!!!!!!! I see guys buying used cranks who don't know what they are looking at or how to check them. If you purchase a used engine and you are not sure what questions to ask or how to check it out bring someone with you who does. Jimbo
took me awhile, but I got it mounted. The rotisserie is a Redline. Pretty happy with the quality. Now the dirty work begins!
Yeah, that's probably it. Looks like a decent engine if you can get it straightened out (no pun intended). You are moving fast! So, when will it be finished? Great start, subscribed. Mike
looks like alot of progress in short time.gonna be cool build..those shackles are gonna slap the frame. id address those myself ...
what is the axle width? and make that u are using? and are u going to use the stock steering box? thanks looks awesome, getting ready to start my 55 gasser project
The axle is a 50" speedway kit. Yeah, with no weight on the front the angle of the shackles is concerning. However, as soon as you throw the engine and front metal on it the leafs flatten out. I should have this done around april 2013, barring any setbacks. Oh,and yes i'm gonna use the stock steering box.
Got my ladder bar kit from chassisworks today. Took me about 3 hours to tack in the ladder bars. Lots of measuring and then more meauring. Still have to mount the panhard bar and shock mounts. I think I got the hard part done though. Went with the 36" bars and adjustable coilovers. I'll post more pics this weekend. Chris Alston makes a pretty nice kit.
Getting set to do the ladder bars on my 55 this weekend, I get to benefit from you doing it first! Great build.
Real straight-forward work, Jophus. I've always liked Chris Alston's stuff. (pricey now, but quality is unsurpassed) How far did you plug in your front frame stubs? (and what did you do in the area of steering box thru-bolts?) I helped a bud do his, and I felt the stubs didn't telescope deep enough...I made up a longer pair and shaped them to tele 14" in. Has Brad returned your calls? I'm curious as to the extent of valve damage...(and pistons, Heaven forbid!) Interference of that type can pinch the upper ring lands...and worse...
Thanks guys. The front rails only go in about 2-3". The gussets are strong enough to hold. I was able to leave the stock steering bolts in place. No, Brad hasn't returned any calls. I had the engine shop tear the motor completely apart. I ended up buying a completely new bottom end, Forged this Time! Valves hit "pretty hard" according to my engine guy. I had the valves removed to check for damage. I also had to change blocks due to bad machine work. Thats the last time I buy a motor without hearing it run. Lesson learned.
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