I found this restoration project on one of the back roads two tracks in Newberry, MI we used to fly down as kids, timing each other to see who could make the fastest run. I still travel it as I get older, although not nearly as fast. The other day I came around a bend and saw the front front grille of a rusty 55 sitting out like was for sale, with no sign. I pulled into the house and asked and the apparent new owners of the home and she said they had pulled it from the back yard in the trees as it was an eye sore and were going o have it scrapped. She gave me the owners telephone number and pleaded that I call him and "get it the heck outta there" as she put it. I explained I would do my best. A few days later a deal was stuck. The name of that road was the 1/8th line so I thought the name was fitting. It has a stovebolt straight 6 and 2 speed powerglide automatic that hasn't been run in roughly 25 years. I plan on doing a Gasser out of it, but have to get the body squared away first. I have had it around 5 weeks now, so the first few posts will be picture heavy. [/QUOTE]
So I was missing the ignition, and trunk key for the car. My dad is a bit of a useful/ sable hoarder and saves a lot of things that may come in handy later. He has been collecting a tin of keys he slowly adds to from box lots in auctions/sales from over the years. What are the chances. GM Key number 3 I tested from the "key cake tin" worked on the trunk, and GM key number 12 worked on the ignition! So ignition now work, horn and starter are now working properly, and my gen. light is on. Trunk doesn't look to bad, needs a couple small patches. [/QUOTE]
Bumpers off, and new front fender lip installed. Ran it out to the end of the alley and back today. Slowly working it out a little farther each day.
Eyebrow day!!!! Sunburned like crazy, but got both of them done and back on. FYI: Drove it about 2 miles today. Soon Ill take it into work with me (5 miles). [/QUOTE]
Spent the last few hours chemically stripping the front clip. YUCK! Down to the metal, no surprises so far. Original color was black. Threw on some black paint/etch weld primer to keep it from rusting. Registered with Date of Manufacture plate! E.T. Mags are ready for tires.
Got the rest of the body grit blasted. I have ordered replacement lower quarters patch panels, rockers, and rear back splash lots of work left before this thing is anywhere near paint ready honestly. But it is drive able and fun as is!
Stuck the trim, badges, bumpers and grille back on it for a local car show this week. Won the "diamond in the rough" category that show off cars prior to restoration/rodding I still cant get over how good this cars runs after sitting for 20 years. Took it out for a 30 mile drive last night and she never even coughed.
This is how she sits today! Well I cheated! I got the tires mounted, and I had to stick them on before I have finished the body work! I eat the frosting on the cake first too! The cool side note on the E.T. Rims. They where on my fathers 1955 Dupont Fire Red Chevy he raced in the 70's. I saved them out of our scrap pile and restored them. They have spun on 2 Generations of Downey 55 chevy's! 14x7 E.T.'s on the front. 15x8.5 E.T.s on the rear. Matching Cooper Cobras on each. Time to get the front end in the air.
You've done a great job so far, I'm looking forward to seeing how it all takes shape. I always loved those cars, and yours is way cool. Sent from my SM-G920V using The H.A.M.B. mobile app
Great score. Love the front wheels. Looks pretty solid for a northern car. Here's mine. It's a 6 too, 3 speed. I put 15 inch Americans on it after this pic.
Chances are pretty good any key from one Tri-Five Chevrolet will fit/work on another. In high school (66-69) there were eight of us who started "testing" our keys on one another's cars in the parking lot one day, and three of us had keys that worked in another car, and one that worked in two! My 56 at the time, was't one of them that had another key work on it, but my key worked on one other car, a 55 (???). I can see why so many of those cars wowund up stolen over the years. I am Butch/56sedandelivery.
Butch Its nice to meet you! I read somewhere that there were only 6 different GM keys for a 7-8 year period thru the mid 50's to early 60's. I ran a search when I was looking to buy a new ignition/door locks/truck lock and found the info on a locksmith site/forum. At any rate I was extremely happy I didnt have to replace them all. A.J.
The Jalopy Journal
