Projects Old Rusty . . . a Father/Son '51 Chevy

1954belair235
1955 LEDSLED

Thanks ya'll!

 

Billy and I decided that a sbc would be the most economical thing to get us well above Old Rusty’s 92hp.
Talking it over , we agreed that for user-friendliness and relative maintenance-freedom we would go (Edit: OT)

 

(Edit) ditching the cowl vents. Decided to clean up all the holes, not sure what most of them are for anyway. Might be a better way, but I found just overlapping a larger piece on the other side (inside) of the cowl was easiest. Have no qualms about filler. I mean, we've got enough work to do as it is.



Here's the "wrench" story. If I could not reach around to the other side of the cowl in order to hold the patch pc. tight, then I'd just screw something (like the wrench above) to the cowl to hold it tight. What's a few more small holes that I can weld closed?

 

Sorry, man I think I let you slip through the crack! Thanks.

 

Trunk at gas filler neck:

 

Nope. Some drunken fraternity punk hit me while I was going to college. Miss that old car. Not to worry, as a matter of fact I got my eye on one. Funny you mention in it. For what it's worth, your son should hang on to that car. It will mean a lot more to him the older he gets. Not that it doesn't mean a lot to him now. I'm sure he's just itching' to get behind the wheel. I would be.

Really nice job btw. I loved that Nova but it wasn't near as nice for my first time. Other folks offered so I want to do the same. If there is anything we can do just post it. Love helping a young rodder out. Old timers did it for me. I wouldn't call myself an old timer just yet but wanted to pay it forward.


Good luck to you guys!

 

Prior owners patch attempt, screwed on.

 

Inside rt. rear tub, 60 years of road grime and rubber bits.

 

Here you go, Johnny1290, the inside of rt. rear 1/4 at door.

 

Rt. rear trunk from underneath

 

Some more of my plebish fabrication skills

 

Tranny tunnel looking rearward

 

Get your kid some good googles. He should wear them anytime he finds himself under the car or dash. Make sure he never rubs his eyes if any rust or dirt falls into them, just lightly blink so it moves into the corner. Then, just use a tissue or q/tip to remove it.


BTW, great work.. I still have my father / son project from when I was 15. Its my yellow 59 pickup

 

Under trunk pan . . . cleaned up pretty good

 

I hate to keep posting on your thread but hey, it keeps up at the top. I think most folks can appreciate this thread. You're doing a great job. You guys should really be proud.

You mentioned earlier that your son coughed up the intial $395. The Nova cost me $700 when I was 14. When I was in middle school I'd save my lunch money every day and eat the scraps off my buddies lunches. I was doing that so when I turned 16 I'd have a car to drive. My Dad found this 62 Nova 2 door post behind his body shop that didn't run for $700 bucks. I took that lunch money I was saving and I bought it. It came with a pair of NOS front fenders for it since the ones that were on it were junk. Sold those at a swap meet for $750 and I was off and running. We hoped up 194 in it put headers on it, dual exhaust and a homemade intake. I had put the three speed on the floor and it was probably a good thing we kepth that little 194.

In those days when you got your license they gave you a piece of paper and you had to wait to get the real deal. 36 hours after I got my paper license I got a ticket doing 53 in a 35. I was running down the guy that was messing around with my girl. All I got was a $75 speeding ticket and my keys taken away. I was pissed, and embarrased. Who needed that floozie anyway. Not the Nova, the broad.

I'll see if I can hunt down a pic. Just for posterity sake.

Can't wait to see this thing sitting on the ground.

 

With the floor pans 95% complete, it was back to sandblasting the body. Still have plenty to complete, doors, fenders, trunk lid, hood . . .

And as you can see, I cheated on the roof. That's as far as this plebe is going on the damn roof. Will feather it out with sandpaper . . . and so what if it's not show quality. It's not a show car!! It's a driver, baby!!

Oh, and did I say . . . sandblasting sucks!!

 

Neato thread.

Great parenting stuff right there.

Warms me chilly old heart.

 

No Problem. I have enjoyed reading everything you have posted.

 

Thats how i got into cars. im 37 now but me and the oldman still work on everything together. keeps us in touch with each other.

 

Great work,keep it coming!

 

Really appreciate the offer. So much work yet ahead, I'm sure I'll call on you for something. Thanks!!

Love to see it. Great story about the ticket.

Speaking of sitting on the ground, Billy really wanted bags, but we couldn't afford everything. He chose new drivetrain and wire wheels over bags. Personally, I'd prefer Sombreros and WWW, but I'm not the design boss.

 

Can't wait until my son is old enough to come out to the garage with me.
I love it...Keep the hard and rewarding work guys!!!

 

455 Olds? Nice. Thanks for the heads-up.

 

That is awesome. Say hi to Bill for me.

 

Thanks man. You said you'd seen worse projects than yours? Hello . . . here we are!

 

Thanks nitrohonky.

 

AWESOME THREAD----------If I weren't so close to my kids I think I'd be jealous. Mine are still a bit young but there will into this stuff before i blink again......I'm subscribed and paying close attention to the details of your posts. Thanks for all the effort in sharing with us.