55' Chevy "GASSER" Build UP... Yeah, another one

As far as the wheel combo goes I think you had it right the first time. I personally have always favored the black steely in the rear and five spoke up front. With the nose up a bit, it just seems be the right balanced look. Just say "No" to white letters. And that is the only thing I can whine about. Great to see three generations at work!

 

That's a cool build but you sure that rectangular intake is going to work on those oval heads ?

 

Should

Need to get some rectangular gaskets...

 

Way to go!

 

I have a question. I just purchased the same engine mount from Speedway (the tubular one you have in your pics) Is that a front mount in the picture also? Are you using both and if so, why? I am curious as to if you think the tubular mount will not be strong enough. The car is looking great and it's really cool that you and your son are working together on it. Keep it up!

 

YEs to the first rim and tire choice....no to the second....Not my car and it dont mean squat but whenever I see the send set it just turns me off for some odd reason....

Looks like you gotta great start though!

 

I bought both, because I didn't know which way I wanted to go, plus, I'm too lazy to fab it and for 50.00 it's a good deal..

The tubular mount is strong enough to hold up to those types of mounts.

 

lookin great.....

 

Keep 'em comin' chopperman - great to see you back, and what a killer project. Your son has grown a bunch and it's so great to see three generations of motorheads!

 

I'm in favor of the first wheel and tire package, go with the Firestone cheaters on the back and maybe a Pro Trac biased ply on front, you could also use the 15x4 Radir Tri Ribs or even maybe a 15x4 Cragar SS on front too.

These are WW Firestone 820's and Firestone 640's

 

>>>Pretty AWESOME to have three generations working on the same car..>>>

Most definitely! Good luck with the project

Al in TN

 

Spoke with the tech guys at holley and they said it's OK to run this intake, I need to clearance it a bit in order to get it to clear the valve cover bosses.


Need to use FP 1251 gaskets

 

no I hate em to, but I dig the other cars, despite that though cool picks and nice to see your getting your kid into it!

 

Looks great, man. Stay with it.

 

Been out of town for a few days.....

I'm going to take the intake down to a buudys to mill it.


I received a new 1.75 dimple die. My previous set went from 2.0 to 1.5, and it made tappering rails look, well a little weird. The new 1.75 die should allow for a better tapper up front. Only concern I have is that it appears that JMR has change their set... It looks like, at first glance that the profile hasn't changed. Well see


I also put in an order for new cutters.. After 3 builds, my old ones were toast.. One that can be sharpened and one that can't.. I figured a back up would be good.

 

I love this build. Great looking car, I would have to definately radius the quarters on a 55 chevy with a tilt front and blower! And on the rear tires I would look at the Radir cheater slicks, I think they look better than the Firestones. To me the Firestone's look to much like a dirt track tire. Anyway sorry, I will stop bitching now. Have fun!

 

Now that is cool! Also dig the bike and A!

 

Since I decided to dimple die the rails and use late model engine mounts I had to get the engine location done before anything. This is because I need the tubular engine mount / crossmember to be my starting point for hole locations on the dimples. Kind of a PITA to do all this up front, but getting that hole line up right out of the gate is SUPER critical for a clean instal.

In order to make life easy on myself, i fabbed up a few engine mount adapter to fit on my homebrew axle positiing jacks. These guys let me level the engine without a hoist.

In order yo get all that done, I had to get the trans x-memeber dialed in, to start off.


Also started on the front sub frame. See pics of materials I'm using for the sub frame...

Headin gback to shop

 

few more

 

Hole layout.

I am pushing to get holes cut on the rails before I hit the sack... Well see.

 

Well I got the holes cut and the rails tappered, but my kid is in bed, and I know he REALLY wants to work the press to dimple the rails, so I will let em be..

I had to rework my holes.. There was just too many and it didnt flow right.... It's easy to go dimple die crazy when you have the tools, so I scaled back..

Also, I'm really glad, I threw down for the 1.75 set, it makes the transition MUCH better

 

"Gettin my FAB on" Yes you are!! Keep postin'

 

Well I'm not happy with the front rail so I'm redoing it..

My pie cut was off a bit on the back side so my tapper, ended up looking a bit weird and wobbly.. Plus I got some warpage from welding to fast.

This time I will make a jig for it all..

Not mission critical stuff, but it would annoy me, so it's getting redone

 

What brand are those hole saws? I think I saw them in my Woodward Fab catalog, but cannot find the catalog now.

 

got them here

http://www.vansantent.com/sheet_metal_cutters.htm

 

New rails

TRUST me when I say this... It's harder than it looks.... Its tough to get the rails square on both ends, tappered evenly, not warped F/R, and oh yeah... they need to match...

 

Got an hour in today.. Yeah, I know it's sunday.....


I got the tapper welded up and ground down + bullnosed the front rails... Not bad for an hours worth of work...

 

looks great

 

A few mock up / measurement shots

 

Making progress on the sub frame.

Still need to flare the holes, grind the bullnose down, and tack it all up