As promised, here's a few current pictures... Surprise! This is what I found when I removed the cruiser skirts. Got to get a little paint and hopefully match what's already on there... This side isn't quite as bad but you can still see two different shades of yellow... And here's a shot of the interior. New interior items are Newport electric windshield wipers, Vintage Air Heat Cool Defrost unit, stereo system, new carpet, new gl*** and door panels were repaired.
Loos Good Jim. Everyone loves a little surprise now and then. Hopefully you can come up with a decent match for the yellow!
The other day or maybe it was a week ago, I decided to take dash back apart and will be replacing the original gauges (gas, water temp & idiot lights) with 2 - 1/16" Stewart Warner Deluxe series (gas, water temp, amp & oil pressure) but retaining the original speedometer. I'm just waiting for the gas gauge to show up and then I will post pic's.
The back side... Got the Oil Pressure and Water Temp sending unit's in and all that's left to do is install the cluster and hook everything up.
Very cool..... Git in, play tunes that only require 1 speaker, listen to that *****'n Y-Block sing.... Life is good, my friend, life is good !!!
Good changes. IMHO it looks much better “skirtless”. Gauges look more hot roddy too. Don’t worry about matching that primer, when you going to paint it? I still say it needs a nice maroon metallic with gold scallops . Looking good!
Just went back to the early pages and saw where you said it has a 312. Is that do***ented? Every Y block in a ‘55 “was” a 292 and in ‘56 everyone “was” a 312! LOL
Update... Lately I haven't done much of anything to the '56 other than drive it! Back in September, I chased @drdave's Lavender Lady up to Dewey, OK. for the Stray Kats "Lead Ain't Dead" show. That was the first real test for it and I was really happy with the way it performed. We ran between 70 & 75 most of the way and it averaged 17 mpg, pretty good I think for a 312 Y-block! Didn't burn any oil and never overheated but I did have to add some transmission fluid. It never slipped and it shifted o.k. but it'll need to be resealed fairly soon. I have since attended a few local car shows and made a couple of cruise nights both in Russellville & Ft. Smith and have a few more coming up in the next few weeks. All in all, it's done well and I've been very happy with it...
Well, it's been awhile since I last posted any updates and that's because I haven't been doing anything to it, I've been spending most of my time working on my grandsons El Camino. Last week I did manage to get the transmission out and get it resealed, replaced the battery and tended to a few more loose bolts. Sorry, but that was it!
I think you are making more progress than me! LOL I'm down to one running, driving car....the T-Bird. pulled a cut out pipe off the Chevy on a new speed bump and have to weld it up, the Merc has apparently jumped time and waiting for a new timing set and the A, well...... lol
The Jalopy Journal
