55 chevy project

When buisness is slow at work my boss puts me on the 55 project. He wants it to look like the car in american graffiti. I had to rent the movie to see what im doing to this car.

This so far has been one of my most favorite restos yet.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y18/hotrod_chevyz/camaro%20project/55post2.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y18/hotrod_chevyz/camaro%20project/55post7.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y18/hotrod_chevyz/camaro%20project/55post5.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y18/hotrod_chevyz/camaro%20project/55post6.jpg

You can see what stage its in. This car will be rust-proof when im done with it.

Cool project, looks like a good start to me. Nice to be able to spend someone else's money for once. Post more progress pix.

Bob

Well, that '55 Chev that Harrison Ford drive in American Graffiti was the SAME car that was used in Two Lane Blacktop. (It looked like sh*t in that movie)
Ask your boss which version he would prefer.............

Well, that '55 Chev that Harrison Ford drive in American Graffiti was the SAME car that was used in Two Lane Blacktop. (It looked like sh*t in that movie)
Ask your boss which version he would prefer.............

Okay then, i will. Hes not wanting an exaxt replca, but thats his vision. Its to be a mostly stock looking black on black (not two tone) with second gen camaro wheels.


Cool project, looks like a good start to me. Nice to be able to spend someone else's money for once. Post more progress pix.

Bob


The fair is here so work should slow down enough to finish the floor pans and redo the undercoat. In the pictures i posted the only area of the car that wasnt taken down to bare metal so far is the passenger rear quarter. Its had some collision repair down that side and it was such a fine repair that we didnt know about it until we started sanding. Other than that the whole car is stripped down to bare metal, no fillers or rust repair (besides floorpans), just a thin coat of spraypaint to keep off surface rust. The inside of the trunk, fenders inner and outer, top, ect all the metal is good and solid.

The next pics should be of completed floorpans and putting on the new control arms and the disk brake kit wich converts it to second gen camaro brakes. Then its frame off time so we can paint the frame, do the undercoating, and install second gen camaro rear suspension.

It might end up with a roll cage in it. We discussed putting a 265 and 4 speed but now we are talking about maybe building a stroker motor for it and digging out and rebuilding a rock crusher. Who knows, it may end up with a 454 in it..

Heres a few pics of the current project status. I HATE how the welds turned out. Everyone who has seen them in person says it looks good but just wait until its frame off time....

Our welder is large, so i sat it on "1" and between "a" and "b" wire speed and it was difficult to keep from burning through. Everyone who has seen them in person says it looks good but just wait until its frame off time....

The rust repair is almost done and now I have some sheet metal to put back straight, and lots of stuff to bolt back on. Its a slow proccess as this is what i work on between fixing customer cars. The wheels are already picked wich are a set of early camaro factory wheels. The interior is going to be pretty much stock black, except a custom console and front bucket seats perhaps borrowed over from Camaro.

I want to know what im putting under the hood! Motor and trans arent a definate yet. Since my boss already has a 70 Chevelle SS/W 454, he wants this one to be a small block car. We have found a few buildable 265 blocks in the pile wich have much potential (stock 55 blocks), but i would rather it have a 383 or 400. Trans will end up being a 4 speed, even though he talks like he wants it to be a custom built 400.
More updates later. Next project: Frame off, Front Control arms, and disk brake kit (camaro brake kit). After that, it gets a ford 9 inch thats disk kitted and fitted for third gen camaro rear coil suspension.

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y18/hotrod_chevyz/camaro%20project/55%20chevy/55floor1.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y18/hotrod_chevyz/camaro%20project/55%20chevy/55floor2.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y18/hotrod_chevyz/camaro%20project/55%20chevy/55floor3.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y18/hotrod_chevyz/camaro%20project/55%20chevy/55floor4.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y18/hotrod_chevyz/camaro%20project/55%20chevy/55floor5.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y18/hotrod_chevyz/camaro%20project/55%20chevy/55innerfen1.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y18/hotrod_chevyz/camaro%20project/55%20chevy/55innerfen2.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y18/hotrod_chevyz/camaro%20project/55%20chevy/55trunkjan.jpg

http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y18/hotrod_chevyz/camaro%20project/55%20chevy/HPIM0736.jpg

The last pic is the only patching left to weld before i start prepping it for paint. That is unless i have to move the crossmember that some dipshit welded in.. I have pics that are more flattering, but these show what the welds are half grinded and in the raw.

Anyhoot more updates later. Next project: Frame off, Front Control arms, and disk brake kit (camaro brake kit). After that, it gets a ford 9 inch thats disk kitted and Camaro rear coil suspension.

Looks like it was a very good car to start with. They are getting harder to find in decent shape. Keep the updates coming.
Terry