1. Cry that the original motor isn't in it. 2. Get over it, put some time and money into the drivetrain. 3. SLEEPER (except for the fact that we would all know) Why not? The motor and trans are useless to the charicter of the car. Wouldn't touch the body or the interior except for the 4-speed floor shifter.
Too sweet with low miles all original? Sell it to a ******** purist and buy something you wouldn't have any qualms taking a torch to.
Leave it alone, that car screams traditional (except the belly ****on). Put the six back in it or a 59 V-8, multi-carb set up. ENJOY it!
Well, he can't believe all the responses to the car. Most are what he was thinking of doing. Keep it looking gennie and maybe add air or drop the front. But, what he really is into, is making it a hot rod, so rather than ruin this '55, he is gonna sell it and buy one not so pristine. I'll post an ad in the cl***ifieds. Thanks.
1) Drive it till the motor makes a funny noise. 2) Turn the radio up loud, drive it till it dies 3) Drop in another 350 4) Repeat steps 1,2,3
why do anything if, like you said, he's just going to turn it shortly. Leave it alone and let the next owner decide if it "needs" anything. Frank
Put the hubcaps in a box and put that on a shelf in your garage, maybe a tripower or something cool... that's about it for me!... maybe a bit lower... naw, forget that. Just lose the caps and put the multi carb on it... instant "HotRod"
700R-4, dropped spondles and front disc brakes. Steering box upgrade as well. Simple, reversable modifications to improve stance and drivability. And, of course, some gl*** packs.
He wants a '55 Chevy hot rod and really didn't understand just how sweet this one was till he saw it in person. The price was right and he bought it, but now he doesn't want to ruin it. He'd rather it go to someone who would appreciate it for what it is... real nice cruiser. We talked about it in length yesturday evening and he's like me and a lot of you, somethings you just don't chop up.
I know how much abuse a 700R4 or the god awful 200 4R will take...and I know how much will be needed to fix one, or if the case need be build one to handle serious power. It's not worth the time nor effort. Not when you can take a TH350 or TH400 not have to build the hell out of it to handle some abuse, and then throw a gear vendors unit behind it if you want OD,and have a very reliable ****** package. That also will be cheap to repair. The point is the trannies are not the best, you wouldn't believe the cars we've worked on the originally had the 700R4 or the 200, that had been swapped out for a 350 or something similar. The 4spd still reigns supreme in my world though.
I have a 1922 T Center Door that my grandpa has had since 1936...It's got a 4 inch chop...no frame as of yet or paint...but it's getting cut up. And it was restored. Gramps loves it. Also...Why sell a nice car is the easiest to hot rod...no rust, stuck bolts, or broken pieces to deal with...why sell it??? You can leave the paint...build the engine and ******...interior is done, just do your engine, and suspension work, then throw your nice "pre finished" body on it, and go to town for a shake and a cheese burger.
Leave it alone. I bought one from my grandfather in 1970 just like it for $150. That's right all original, except it had a 235, for $150. Sold it four years later for $500 bucks after I put in $2K. God, somebody shoot me...I'd give anything to have that car back. I think it's in Tennesse now...who knows.
With a car that nice, you shouldn't even have to ask. If you do anything to it, keep the parts so it can be put back to original. If it is a numbers matching car, it will be worth a whole lot more than a misfit. But it looks terrific just as it is.
The Jalopy Journal
