Projects 32 make over started

So the make over on our 32 has started. It's been in it's current condition since 60 or 61. The motor leaks like an old panhead and the clutch is slipping. The suspension is worn out and the electrical system is piss poor. I will be posting a long as things happen. I will post pic's as soon as I remember how to.

 

Wishing you great success with the redo!

 

Good Luck. I’m doing mine now

 

The look is illusive. Beware of the temptation to purchase ready made street rod parts.

 

Post some pics…..we love pics

 

I just got my body back

 

If she ain’t leakin better check da oil , she needs a bit ! ( Panhead )

 

So the engine is ready to come out as soon as I locate the chain for the cherry picker. I crawled under the back to remove the drive shaft and took a real good look at the back end. What I saw was an oldddd home made 4 link set up. The bars have eye bolts welded in and the nuts on the bracket bolts holding them in are back welded. Tiny little coil springs on top of the axle tubes with old worn out shocks. I will take pic's of the old school mess tomorrow. Also noticed the passenger rear wheel cylinder is leaking as well.

 

There is always that "one more thing I found" going on when you dive into a project. That will be a nice one when you get done again though.

 

It's like any project. You always open that bag of worms that keeps diving into your pocket. But it will be brought back into the 2025 year of parts and mechanical running order. The wife wants an auto trans installed. So I'm gonna find out what it's gonna take to make it fit in place of the T-10 transmission. The floor is a sheet of plywood cut to fit. I'm pretty sure the turbo 350 is longer than the T-10 trans. If I have to turn the plywood into sheet metal that's not an issue. I just want a safe and reliable car that she can enjoy when I'm not in the passenger seat. She will be getting her hands dirty and will know all the basic's to get home in case of an issue.

 

I believe what we see, is a rescue.
Good on you Sir

 

Make her great again. Enjoy, and keep us posted.

 

So it appears to have a 9" rear end. Here are some more pic's.

 

Isn’t that 57 Chevy?

Make your photos full size, not thumbnail.

 

Not sure alchemy. It has a center section just like the 9" in my Chevelle.

 

Sure is a '56 '57

 

There's always a Powerglide.

 

There is a short shaft turbo 350 and a long shaft version. The short shaft is the same length as the T10 and bell housing. Short shafts were for Camaros and Novas while the long shafts were in Impalas and trucks. I'm looking at doing the opposite swap in my 34.

 

Glennpm what are the indicators I should look for on the rear end? Also DuraGlide according to the internet the 350 with 6" tailhousing is 27 something inches long and the T10 is 24 something.

 

Are the flanges where the backing plates bolt on squareish, or round with the top sliced off?

 

Doing some research it appears to be a 57 Chevy rear end. The 55 and 56 didn't have the drain plug. I will have to clean the tubes to find the numbers to know exactly what we have.

 

thats a 55-64... check for posi... they were real liberal back then...if you a 9'' the 3rd member hangs below the 2 nuts.... so if you can put a ratchet w/ extension on the two bottom nuts it's not a 9

 

if it has weld marks for spring perch... it's pre 58

 

looking closer, looks like weld marks where they cut off the control arms... so now i say 1958-1964

 

IIRC it is a posi unit after doing a small burnout and leaving to tire marks. I'm gonna have to pull the body so I can get in there and take measurements before I cut out all the old suspension and prep it for new 4 link set up.

 

Look on the front of the dropout. If there is a large P cast into the driver's side, it's a posi.

 

Having put thousands of miles on my old '56 Panhead I know exactly what your talking about, but I always used the analogy that my bike doesn't leak it just marks it's spot! HRP