Hot Rods Big Daddy's 55 2 door wagon gasser

What's up you bunch of ol grizzled assholes?? Well I bought the 55 wagon. Awesome guy, he has owned the wagon since 1972, and now it's mine. It's been through a lot from the stories he told. floors are rough, quarter panels are rough, headlight brows have been patched on, etc... but I know a guy. I told him to keep the swivel buckets, I have a bench seat. And he's keeping the 327. I'll be going with the 454 and 4 speed, and I picked up a Ford 8.8 rear. He's gonna pull his engine and then I'll pick the car up. Just ordered the same straight axle setup that I put under my El Camino, but this time I believe I'll widen the axle so the track is closer to correct, so's not to have to listen to the bitching. (Insert middle finger emoji) anyway, the guys name is Jarrell, pure hermit hippie dude, and it was an honor to meet him. Still has his first car sitting in the barn, 37 Plymouth coupe with a Buick nail head. Had an array of 55 Chevrolet's. Including the car that he took his driver's license test in. He's 75 years old. Here's a couple of pictures I took. It'll be a couple of weeks before he gets his engine out of the car due to cutting hay, but I'm excited to get going. Gonna be some fun evenings around my shop

 

Way cool !! It's gonna need a name.

 

I'd drive it!

 

Not a true sedan delivery but maybe "Deliver This"

 

Congratulations Brother! I’m excited for you and to watch this Sweetheart come together!! Great score!!

 

Very cool, congrats man, I thought they sold an axle labeled for a tri-five and was the right width

 

Speedway?

 

That sounds like a great project. Only word of caution I will give you is to watch those 454s. They are power hungry. One day they will be happy just putting around and the next thing you know they’ll be over 500 cubic inches and not happy until you find them some boost. Are you going to put a cage in it?

 

Check this out. Might help. https://www.classicperform.com/tech_articles/Straight_Axle/Straight_Axle.htm
Speedway. https://www.speedwaymotors.com/HD-G...8-1-2-Hub-to-Hub,383101.html?sku=9104350-4.75 Different axle widths listed below.

 

Great score, really cool! Some gasser names off the top of my head:

Stabbin’ Cabin
Feral Jarrell ( after the PO)
Good, Bad, and Ugly
Can’t drive 55
10 Second Delivery (Painted like an Amazon truck)
Green go! (Gringo) helps if painted green
Red Rocket
Radio Flyer
Double Nickel Express
Filthy 5
Bail Money
Shove-it-or-Leave-it-Lay (Chevrolet)
Speed of Stink
Free Candy


really cool, I can’t wait to see what you do with it

 

Bewitched

 

Now you're a tri five dork! Lol
Great score, I hope the floor braces are ok and you're only replacing pans. Hope the dash isn't cut for that Ford radio!

 

Wow, not just a wagon. It's a Pie Wagon!! Swivel buckets, panel paint, 327 with a 4 speed, must have been a Sharp ride.

 

I checked Speedways site at work this morning after searching Google for 55 Chevy gasser axle kit.
The one Google popped up with was a 48inch kit. Digging further they had 46-52 inch kits in 2 inch increments. Description said “fits GM spindles.
I assume though that means 5 on 4.75 pattern.

I think cost ranged from 600 to 1100? Also Summit and Jegs and several others popped up.

I’d call a few and ask what the truck width will be with “x” kit.
Several other sites popped up with just axles only, unsure of spindles, etc.

In spirit of the “Speedway” thread and the death of a printed catalog, step back in time (after looking on line of course) and “let your fingers do the walking”.



Also, Speedway had a listing for “custom”

 

Speedway has a “heavy duty” thick wall version in any length you want. You can run either spindle and either wheel bolt pattern. I’m running the Chevy spindles but the Ford bolt pattern. The Ford bolt pattern uses 1/2” diameter studs as opposed to the 7/16” studs on the Chevy pattern. That then matches the pattern and diameter of the studs on the 8.8 axle.

 

Yeah I ordered the 50" kit last night from speedway. I thought he was saying that they had a wider axle.

 

Shit Steve, I'm not scared of anything. You should stop by my shop and see what I have to fix on a normal day

 

Yeah I ordered the Ford also, because Andy has ocd and told me I can't have different bolt patterns lmao

 

So, I'll have this car at Bowling Green next year, if I can do this, I can't wait to hear the excuses you fucks have for not getting your cars done!

 

I’m working on it!! I’m trying to save “The Scrap Iron Six!!

 

Congratulations man..Very cool.

 

Got it made brother!

Call it “Big daddy express”

 

Woah! So cool! That thing must have some history. Great find.

 

The mullet. buisness up front and party in the back.

 

Congrats Lloyd! That is one cool 55! I’m sure it has many stories to tell if it could talk. Now, you can add to those stories.

 

Geez Lloyd, I was hoping you would finally come to your senses and build a Ford this time...but at least you'll have a Ford bolt pattern...which i probably won't let you live down.

 

In this thread there's a few photos of cars with 50 inch axles.

https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/threads/best-straight-axle-kits-4-55-chevy-gassers.532183/

This is what led me to believe they sold a kit just for the tri-five

 

Doesn’t even need paint

lucky