55 gasser WANABE lots of questions and ideas NEW PICS

If you can find a cast iron T10 out of a mid 70's Camaro or Firebird they are pretty good, hold up to any decent street motor and are cheaper than their aluminum counterparts..but that being said typical rebuilders get 850 outright for a rebuilt ready to go Muncie or T10 so why buy a $300, $400 or $500 one that is used and who knows how good it is. Just to get it going you could throw in a Saginaw...the shifter and rods wouldnt be the same, but as long as same spline the blowshield, clutch, flywheel all work

 

While you are doing the floors, in my opinion, especially if going for a G***er look, and have a truly functional car that is easy to work on, I would make a bolt in ****** tunnel....maybe even bolt in ****** tunnel with partial firewall section that will come right out...make it WAY easier to work on.

 

Don't rule out a Ford or Mopar 4 speed. If you keep your eye out you may come across a top loader or A833 which I have found to be much more rugged than the Muncie's. It is not hard to adapt and clutches for the most part are the same price.

 

Nice project! I am of the few....I vote no on the radius. Almost all g***er styled '55's have radius quarters. I didn't do it on mine and am glad.

Please keep the pics and updates coming. Build threads are cool.


DC

 

i agree on the bolt in trans tunnel and thanks to everyone for the input on the 4 speed...

 

Nice find! Body doesn't look too bad to start with either.

 

in the 1970s Chevy pick ups, the two wheel drive ones often came with the Mopar A833, they are common, pretty plentiful, will bolt right up to the Chevy blowshield as they are manufactured by Mopar for Chevy

 

p.s. The A833 for Chevy pick ups basically was a 4 speed overdrive, the 3rd gear is 1.0 and the 4th gear is like .73, so if you can get one of these, be a real good way to go...bet you get a good one for a couple hundred - of what I read the model number that is an A833 made to bolt directly up to a Chevy bell (used in pick ups etc) is a NP440, I am guessing that number is cast into the case, but search on google so you know how to identify it. Commonly used 1981-1986 in half ton Chevies of what I am reading online now..

Good link here

http://www.chevytalk.org/fusionbb/showtopic.php?tid/268778/

 

The Mopar GM OD 4 speed was not available in the 70s GM trucks. It came available around 1981, and can be had cheap if you can find one. Get the bellhousing too, as it is unique to this trans/engine combo. It is the cheapest OD for a SBC I am aware of.

They do have a problem with the countershaft being supported in the case with no bearing nor bushing. That setup will not stand up to a lot of abuse, and it is almost guaranteed to weep fluid due to this design flaw.

 

I look at that car and see LOTS of metal work. My biggest concern is the fact that your biggest concern is your lack of metal work experience. But, there is only 1 way to learn metal work... Thats to do LOTS of metal work. By the time this car is ready for paint you will be a body work expert. Take your time. Don't get frustrated. You have great forms like the HAMB to help you when you need it. You took the first step when you accepted the challenge. This tells me your head and your heart are in it. The hard part is staying motivated a year from now when it feels like your not making the progress you thought you would have by then. good luck. Im pullin for you

 

thanks for the trannie info---as for the metal work it is a great concern ,but it also should give a sense of accomplishment if i can do it---thank you for the encouragement---picking up a 4 door parts car friday in very solid condition...

 

Coil springs are for hotrods. G***ers got to have an axle.Any way you build it will be cool all old cars have heart & soul but the old heads from that period well give you more ataboys if there if a honkin axle up front.buildit poundit loveit.

 

It is true that a full on G***er should have a straight axle, but you could mimmick the look by tall/heavy duty front springs, along with a spring spacer, all depends on how much of a real deal you want, how authentic et. You can achieve a squated rear, high front with coil springs in front and leaf springs in the rear.

As far as floors, lear to mig weld, take a course at a local continuing education/night cl*** at a local tech school.

If you do make a bolt in tunnel, there are all types of great riv nut insert kits out there, they go in like a rivet but are threaded, real nice to work with.

 

i have replaced floors and built tube frame drag cars but never bodywork on a metal car...

 

out with old (10 bolt) in with the Olds---cut this housing for a nova a few years back , looks like a perfect fit for this car. had to cut it because it was a poncho wide track---threw in two pics of the adapter used when converting cherry pickers into a rotisserie...

 

I would try to trade you out of your old cragars, to maybe put on my ole 55 if you werent so far away.

 

try to stay focused and not get in too deep.....this will be a great car for you to learn body work on...I have a kinda high end build I am about done with, it will be fun, perfect..but the 69 Corvette that is a driver quality car that I am about done with, likely going to be more fun...when I build an early coupe, going to be a budget car

 

well i picked up my parts car friday ,had a blowout on the trailer coming down the big hill north of the tunnel but managed to keep it straight and stop safely ---car is nice and solid i may do a two door conversion on it instead of cutting it up---still has sbc in it ,must be a corvette don't you think?---threw in a couple of pics of what i should be working on...

 

I'd throw the cragars on the 4 dr and drive as is once finished for a cruiser.

 

I'm so tired of the "gotta have a straight axle to be a g***er" ****.
Both of these g***ers had a-arm front suspensions and were very compe***ive. Ferd Knafels "Storming Bull" was the 1965 NHRA Street Eliminator world champion.

 

True. Not every g***er had a straight axle, especially in the slower cl***es.

 

i am thinking d/gas 1962...

 

"Both of these g***ers had a-arm front suspensions and were very compe***ive. Ferd Knafels "Storming Bull" was the 1965 NHRA Street Eliminator world champion."



Was "Street Eliminator" considered a "G***ER" cl***?

 

good score. you can always radius later. I bought this 4dr as a parts car last summer sight unseen then looked it over and said way too nice to part out but I have a cruiser 4 dr already. so this will get a 2 dr conversion floors are cherry
Got lots of irons in fire but I want to take my son to his 1st day of kindergarten in some fire breathing machine. aug 2015 deadline. lol
I've seen a few munices pop up when someone buys a treamac on clist. I bought a real nice M20 from a 69 last year for $500 be ready to jump when you see a good one. I rode in the car before it was pulled

 

man that is a solid looking four door---are those nomad eyebrows?

 

no its some trim the eye brows have slight rust but not much that trim covers it. Still sporting the OG 265 2bbl, pg. Ive got some 2dr sedan doors already. the rear quarters are banged up a little so may just get some repos put on and faux patina them to match rest of car.
I'd like to have it a little nose high, 327, 4 speed some buckets from a corvair I kept

 

well the tudor was just too rusty underneath for me so i let it go---started a two door conversion on my 4 door parts car and picked up a 4 door wagon for parts has a great body (surface rust only) but no floors--- here are some pics...

 

keep buildin send pics great start man

 

Glad to see some guys know their history here, tired of the has to have an axle to be a g***er ....IT DOES NOT NEED AN AXLE TO BE A G***ER!! And if it does have one it doesn't need to sit 4 feet in the air...I have 2 55's with an axle and one without....I like the coil spring car better personally.

And when your car is done.....bring it here (link below) we already have some guys from your state coming this year with stuff.

www.meltdowndrags.com

Go to the photo section we had 60+ 55-57 PERIOD CORRECT chevy's attend in 2012.

Nice find....PM if you need any help!

 

4 door conversion is about done and i picked up a wrecked 2 door sedan for parts---heres some pics...