w.i.p.:Ratted out 53 Chevy

hello all, im a new member but i've been visiting these forums for some time now. anyway, heres a project i recently started. its a "Lowrider" 53 Bel Air. So far ive shaved the trim, emblems, door handles and the above window drip edge. Im also gonna swap out the old blue flame 235 for a ls1. Im probably gonna leave the suspension box stock since it is a lowrider kit. Also Im using the dog dish hub caps from the kit with stock rubber. This car is gonna closely resemble Jesse James' 54' chevy that is sort of famous. anyway, heres where im at right now...

http://usera.imagecave.com/robsmods/FiTre004.jpg
http://usera.imagecave.com/robsmods/FiTre005.jpg
http://usera.imagecave.com/robsmods/FiTre006.jpg
http://usera.imagecave.com/robsmods/FiTre007.jpg

p.s. anyone know where i can get a 1/25 or so k&n filter for my ls1?

The best place to get cone "K&N" style air filters is actually any one of the Revell/Monogram World of Outlaws sprint car kits. There are four of them in every box thanks to the mechanical fuel injection setup on the 410ci aluminum Gaerte Chevy small block.

Which, by the way, is a bitchin engine to drop into a street rod.

I'd recommend, though, if you're going to be doing all the work to build a dropped car with smoothie bodywork and an updated powertrain (remember that if you're using an LS1 from a Corvette you need to cut the block free and graft it to a transmission as Corvettes use a rear-mounted transaxle) that you scrap the tired faux "Rat Rod" aesthetic and lay down a proper shine of a paint job.

Nice Start!

I agree with Octagon!:)

update:

Okay thank you guys for your comments...

heres where I stand now, im lazy, and I havent done much :icon16:

Basically, i've just started work on the chassis and will be finishing the interior soon. so far I've put piping on the seats but havent got the urge to paint it yet, i've also installed the way out of scale carpet, I ran out of flocking and had some sticky felt left from old projects. I've got the LS1 started, I did end up cutting it away from the corvette and then i grafted on the box stock trans. as you can see fro mthe pics it doesnt look too bad. Since im gonna be painting it satin black I decided to make the engine bay as detailed as possible, so I plan on wiring, plumbing and scratchbuilding an ECU and trying my best at making the wiring harness look realistic. also, I decided to change the shape of the quarter panels to look more like a 54' and keep the overall body as smooth as possible so Im slowly getting there with my body work...

anywho, heres how she looks right now...

http://usera.imagecave.com/robsmods/FiTre8.jpg
http://usera.imagecave.com/robsmods/FiTre9.jpg
http://usera.imagecave.com/robsmods/FiTre10.jpg

p.s. layla's keeper, i promise my next street rod will have a shiny paint job... :grinyes:

alrighty, heres a little update.

So far I've finished the chassis/suspension, I had an accident with the interior so thats on hold right now, I shot the body with a coat of filler primer and now im working out the final kinks in the body work so it'll be ready for some satin black soon. One problem im dealing with now is that the LS1 is too wide and wont fit between the inner fenders so im going to have to do a little knife work to make some more room :evillol:

anywho heres how it looks right now...

http://usera.imagecave.com/robsmods/fitre10002.jpg
http://usera.imagecave.com/robsmods/fitre10004.jpg
http://usera.imagecave.com/robsmods/fitre10008.jpg

cool looking good so far.. Id leave it in the primer, I think it looks wicked like that. Can you say sleeper???????

cool looking good so far.. Id leave it in the primer, I think it looks wicked like that. Can you say sleeper???????
sleeper.... :rofl: (sigh) well i have to agree with you cause i always think old cars look good in primer

I have to agree with Laylas Keeper about your build! In the all the years being around ol' skool cars and street rods, I have not seen a "rat-rod" with an LS-1 engine!!! They are usually something old as is the car! Like an early 350, nailhead or even a flathead ford engine! All because it is flat black, primer or even a rusted out bucket does not mean its a "rat-rod". But, I do like what you are doing, maybe you can give it a gloss job with disc brakes and street-rod it!!! Go to ekustoms.net for rat-rod cars!!

yeah the term "rat rod" is sort of misplaced with this project, but I wasnt sure what to call this praticular style. there are 2 reasons that I am firmly stuck on satin black for this project. 1) the only colors I like are white, silver and black 2) I believe that while bright paints and chrome are nice, they take away from the mechanical prowess of a project like this. In my world, the powertrain is the star of the show. With this project the emphasis is more on the mechanical details than the exterior finish. Dont get me wrong, I do appreciate a beautiful glass like paint job like the next guy, but for this praticular project im trying something different...

How about try a 2-tone! A silver top w/ a matte black body? Or even a matte white top w/ a matte black body!! Check out page 2 on my '51 Chevy!! And yes it will have chrome molding!!!!!!