Projects Pile of parts, a 55 Chevy 210

Those seats will look and fit perfect in your car.

 

'67 steel back bucket seats with the pushbutton locks are incredibly valuable, I hope you're grateful to whoever gifted them to you, because those are pretty fantastic pieces. Those will look good in the car though, they're from the perfect era for it.

 

Yes, I am definitely grateful!

 

I'm wondering if "into the woods" is the owner's private property.

 

Great project, coming together well. Since it needs everything you can get creative - A mid / late 60s build has lots of options.

When you say it's rusty. Remember some of us are are northerners, lucky to have anything on the bottom foot of the car.

Consider taking the time - now - to make some tire clearance in the rear. Oh about a 28x9 slick would be wonderful. Even if you don't plan on drag racing it, in my mind it's a selling point.

 

I went today and removed the dashboard from a donor car. It needs a little work, but it is way better than what I had.

 

*raises hand*
I would be interested in driver's door, sir!

 

That's how I did my '57, just used the best of the used stuff I could find locally. It's nice to even have a donor car available to pull stuff out of like that.

 

You have come a long way. Congrats.

Thanks,

jim

 

Any progress

 

I haven't done anything lately. I was in the process of changing the dash out. I ended up with a 57 and 55 dashboard. I couldn't decide which one to use, so I stopped for a few days to think and regroup. I think the 57 dash will be neat, clock delete, radio delete and all, but in the end will it hurt the resale value? I decided a few days ago that the resale value didn't matter and I will be replacing the original rusty dashboard with a 57 dashboard I cut out of a Bel-Air. I'm not sure if I will leave the dress up trim.

 

Hot rod Chevy inspector. I'm gonna need to see some progress buddy. Me and you both know that you bought those fenderwell headers!! So I'm gonna need to see some new pictures!

 

Oh by the way, 55-56 dash is sexiest. Discuss...

 

Bullshit, Lloyd!

 

@pigIRON63 -
Someone overseas converting a '57 to right hand drive would use a 5-6 dash. So why not the other way around? Lloyd's full of it..

 

Ok guys. I actually like both dashes. The 5-6 dash is a beautiful work of art. The 7 dash is not as extravagant, but I seem to like it better. I hope my comparisons don't upset anyone, but I feel like the 5-6 dash is pushed up and away from the driver and passengers, kinda like a 64-66 c10 dash where the 7 dash seems to flow down and into the lap of the driver and especially the passenger, similar to the dash in a 63 Galaxie. I love the way my Galaxie feels sitting in it.
Also, the 5-6 dash that I have needs some repair and all of the gauges and trim is fowled up. The 7 dash is in better shape, and I friend gave me all of the gauges and trim to complete it.

 

Guilty as charged sir.
I am still waiting on their arrival.

 

Having worked under and thru gutted dash boards of all three years I’d work on 55 56 any day over 57.

 

Customizing is not a crime. If you like the '57 dash better, use it.

Although I wonder if it's a direct swap? The windshield is different on a '57, they changed the shape of the top of the cowl since the '57 has vent air inlets around the headlights instead of at the base of the windshield, I know the '57 windshield is a one year only piece. I believe the interior windshield garnish is different as well. Anything can be made to work, but I do wonder if it'll fit up as a direct swap or not.

 

These were on my porch when I got home today! I moved the 55 over to the shop...

 

I have been working on a few projects at the same time, so my progress has been slow. I finally dug all of the parts out for my drivetrain. I took the flywheel and clutch kit to the rebuilders. I had the clutch upgraded to Kevlar strand. 69' 327, I picked it up from a friend. He had it leftover from a 57' wagon build. I'm gonna take a chance and try it out like it is. Probably won't even get painted. I'm not sure what all has been done to it. It does have 1.5 roller rockers , but that's all I know. RC industries bell housing , Muncie four speed. I'm gonna try to get the engine set down in it this weekend.

 

Having had several tri five Chevs they still have a soft spot in my heart.
Like your build, sourcing parts from here, there, anywhere, everywhere..just like before we had the huge supporting reproduction aftermarket.
55 is my favorite (year I was born), wouldn't mind getting another one..prices sure have escalated on these.
Thanks for posting.

 

is that a cast steel bellhousing? how well do they hold up compared to the stamped/forged bellhousing? it almost looks aluminum in the pic.

 

It's a forged aluminum bell housing. It's outdated, but it was NHRA approved in 1963.

 

I started assembling the bell housing and engine the other day realized that I had the wrong clutch fork. I got in touch with a fellow hamber and he hooked me up with what I needed. Thanks @4ever18.
I went to the garage today and everything went together great. I also bolted the headers on just to get a good look at it. After taking the headers off and hanging them up, I set the intake back on the shelf. I noticed that my valve covers hit the rockers. I'm in need of a tall set of valve covers. Any ideas? I will try to install the engine this weekend, Lord willin'.

 

Glue two sets of cork gaskets together and see if that clears it.

 

Or just get a pair of spacers like I have hanging on the wall for my engine

 

Those valve covers are cool enough to be worth buying a set of spacers I think. I don't think spacers are crazy expensive. Just paint them the same color as the heads, they won't be real noticeable.

 

Hey, @pigIRON63 -
You're rubbing off on me.

 

Valve cover spacers are probably cheaper than new valve covers, plus new tall covers are square looking and wouldn't go with your old style build.
I bought spacers for my T engine so I can go back with the corvette covers instead of the CalCustoms.