1956 Chevy Pro-Street Build

[RockinKees]

Originally Posted by ptc

Yea I figured that much Buddy!!! - There will be a test at the end!!!

Ha!
I'm ready for it!!

[Kim57]

Looks like it's going to fit just fine.
Kim

[BC Toy chest]

Very impressive, love it. When I finish .... lol if I live long enough to finish my '56 GMC I am going to put a blown (roots) 8-71 496 a BB Chevy and turbo 400 combo in my '67 El Camino. Seeing all that you are doing has given me another shot in the arm. Thanks, plzzz keep the photos and info coming. At the risk of up setting other people on here, you are one of the most enthusiastic members here. You are all over the place you got the bug bad, u seem to visit every project there is lol. I can tell you are really excited about your project, keep on keepin' on bro. Can't wait to see your motor go together, don't leave nothing out. Maybe we can exchange ideas.

[ptc]

Originally Posted by BC Toy chest

Very impressive, love it. When I finish .... lol if I live long enough to finish my '56 GMC I am going to put a blown (roots) 8-71 496 a BB Chevy and turbo 400 combo in my '67 El Camino. Seeing all that you are doing has given me another shot in the arm. Thanks, plzzz keep the photos and info coming. At the risk of up setting other people on here, you are one of the most enthusiastic members here. You are all over the place you got the bug bad, u seem to visit every project there is lol. I can tell you are really excited about your project, keep on keepin' on bro. Can't wait to see your motor go together, don't leave nothing out. Maybe we can exchange ideas.

Thanks BC for the 'honorable mention'.... (so to speak), I am exicted!!! I love building anything that makes noise, if not for anything else just to piss off the neighbors for fun!!!! (lol) except now that I live out in the country only the cows look around when something STARTS UP OUT HERE....

I like to look at other peoples projects (and comment), it not only gives me ideas, but it also gives me inspiration to get my project done and do it well. I see so many talented people's work on here and I pray to God to give me the patience to do whatever I take upon myself to do with care and a passion to do it to the best of the ability that HE gave me to do. We all have the ability to do anything we want to do if we want to 'learn', its up to us to make it all happen.... or not.... for whatever reason.

Deadlines are good to give yourself a bit of a challenge, but it doesnt mean the end of the world if they come and go. Just reset them and keep on going. Just like anything in life... if you believe in making it happen it will, because you cant have accomplishments without 'dreams'....


Enjoy!

[ptc]

So my next dilemma has been this whole roll bar thing. I am trying to work with NHRA to establish the requirements of putting the roll bar in to meet their rules and regs and be able to go to their sanctioned events (required at most tracks for insurance) and have some fun and stay legal. Ive tried calling them and talking with them about what I have designed, but they just give me the brush off. I guess they are not interested in new membership or facilitating the sport further because they are the WORST at public relations!

So I have decided - screw it! I will build it to my specs with their RULE INTENT in mind and if they dont let me race then oh well. If somebody wants to cut it up later on and add the necessary items they can. I want my cab to be removable with a roll cage inside of it, thats the way Im gonna build it.

Basically (I have been told) if you run faster than 11.99 you need a roll bar and other certain safety equipment meeting all SFI cert standards etc, which seems ludicrous today with Corvette Z06 showroom cars doing 10's in the 1/4 mile with nothing more than a 3 point safety belt holding you into a fiberglass coffin. Oh they require a helmet!.....

Moving on....

[Valarius_Starchaser]

Originally Posted by ptc

So my next dilemma has been this whole roll bar thing. I am trying to work with NHRA to establish the requirements of putting the roll bar in to meet their rules and regs and be able to go to their sanctioned events (required at most tracks for insurance) and have some fun and stay legal. Ive tried calling them and talking with them about what I have designed, but they just give me the brush off. I guess they are not interested in new membership or facilitating the sport further because they are the WORST at public relations!

So I have decided - screw it! I will build it to my specs with their RULE INTENT in mind and if they dont let me race then oh well. If somebody wants to cut it up later on and add the necessary items they can. I want my cab to be removable with a roll cage inside of it, thats the way Im gonna build it.

Basically (I have been told) if you run faster than 11.99 you need a roll bar and other certain safety equipment meeting all SFI cert standards etc, which seems ludicrous today with Corvette Z06 showroom cars doing 10's in the 1/4 mile with nothing more than a 3 point safety belt holding you into a fiberglass coffin. Oh they require a helmet!.....

Moving on....

Amen brother I have mad the same call and have gotten the same answer and further yet have come to the same decision

[BC Toy chest]

Originally Posted by ptc

So my next dilemma has been this whole roll bar thing. I am trying to work with NHRA to establish the requirements of putting the roll bar in to meet their rules and regs and be able to go to their sanctioned events (required at most tracks for insurance) and have some fun and stay legal. Ive tried calling them and talking with them about what I have designed, but they just give me the brush off. I guess they are not interested in new membership or facilitating the sport further because they are the WORST at public relations!

So I have decided - screw it! I will build it to my specs with their RULE INTENT in mind and if they dont let me race then oh well. If somebody wants to cut it up later on and add the necessary items they can. I want my cab to be removable with a roll cage inside of it, thats the way Im gonna build it.

Basically (I have been told) if you run faster than 11.99 you need a roll bar and other certain safety equipment meeting all SFI cert standards etc, which seems ludicrous today with Corvette Z06 showroom cars doing 10's in the 1/4 mile with nothing more than a 3 point safety belt holding you into a fiberglass coffin. Oh they require a helmet!.....

Moving on....

Hey PTC I agree with you 100% I have seen some nasty accidents with Vettes going too fast on the street imagine the carnage on the track with a brand new ZO6. Convertibles and Fiberglass cars scare me. I know what you mean about NHRA not very friendly folks when you got questions. The rule books alone are not enough you have to speak to some one. I needed to know the same thing about the roll cage. So I found out on a Chevelle / El Camino forum what I am going to need to do just for starters on my '67 Camino. I am going with a 10 point roll cage. With unibody cars like Novas, Camaros faster then 11.99 you can get away with welding the cage to the floor but with cars like our trucks, El Caminos, Chevelles and other full frame cars the cage has to go thru the floor to the frame. The other issue is the bracing behind the hoop for some people that have street/strip Caminos and pick-up trucks they don't want the support brace to come out from the back window. So depending on how much room you have and if it is a small window truck the two rear support braces have to come out the back window area immediately under the back window or thru the window, due to the bracing can't be mounted more then 10 or 12 inches from the top of the hoop. There is a race truck section on here and also go on http://www.yellowbullet.com/forum/ . Go to these guys and see if they can help. Also some of the racers are former NHRA & IHRA tech guys. I hope this was a help.

And Like you I have another dilemma. I am cripple from a car wreck many years ago and I have to have a side brace bar that swings out with the door or getting out of in the car will be difficult and painfull. In fact my El Camino has more leg room then my '56 GMC which I owned three years before my accident.

[tiddlar]

nice charger man... im getting more excited

[BC Toy chest]

Hey PTC, I am done with my electric fan and shroud project and now moving on to my one piece door glass. Check this out if you haven't seen it yet. Lots of helpful stuff on what to do and what to watch out for when doing one piece glass. I am staying with manual window operation but I am sure it also applies to power windows to with some slight mods. Here's the link http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...=366078&page=3

[ptc]

Originally Posted by BC Toy chest

Hey PTC, I am done with my electric fan and shroud project and now moving on to my one piece door glass. Check this out if you haven't seen it yet. Lots of helpful stuff on what to do and what to watch out for when doing one piece glass. I am staying with manual window operation but I am sure it also applies to power windows to with some slight mods. Here's the link http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...=366078&page=3

Thanks BC, yea I ran across those videos on UTUBE when I was researching the whole 1-piece glass deal a while ago. I am still trying to talk with Nu-relics to see what their truck kit includes. It is suppose to be the best on the market and have everything needed unlike the Brothers (and others) kits that leave alot of stuff to be custom made. Ive already got my glass and the guy said his cuts are made to the Nu-Relic templates.

[ptc]

Worked on the truck a little this weekend. so many things going on with it, could use a crew of about 10 guys!!!!

1. The front end came off and got the mockup engine all removed and returned to its owner. Put all the front end back on again so that I can start getting my hood designed and shaped.

2. I was going to use a 55-56 hood, and cut out the 58-59 top and put it together. Well that plan is out the door because for some reason the 55-56 hood doesnt fit length wise from the cowl to the front of the latch plate on my '57.... Weird I know, I thought these 55-56 hoods fit just like a '57 would???? So then I figured I would just use the 58-59 hood directly onto my '57 and the length does work out ok, but it will need to be widened on each side to fit to the fenders. Seems that may be the easier way to do it.

BUT----- then I found out that the hood hinges and the width of them are different between a 55-57 and the 58-59.... Jeeze why????? Why do they do stuff like this if the cab is exactly the same???? so frustrating!!!! So now I have a newly powdercoated set of 55-57 hinges that are not going to be needed either....

So a total waste of time this weekend on the hood project except for finding out what CANT BE DONE.... oh well back to the drawing board again.

3. I also got a new wheelbarrow to finish my firewall with and started sizing all that together. I decided to copy the original stamping of the firewall along the edge of the cutout so I made the parts for that on either side using some 18ga sheetmetal and my stretcher tool and the ole hammer and dolly.... worked out pretty good! now I just have to make the cut and weld it all into place.

4. I also finally got my rear roll bar hoop bent into perfect shape to fit the contour of the rear body, its going to fit nice and tight up against the rear metal. I fitted it to the floor and made the floor plates, drilled them for bolting thru the cab to the frame below and then welded in the top plates. So the rear mounts are done. Next will be fitting the side over-the-door bars and locating the front plates.

So got alot more done on the cab. Im hoping to get everything fitted this week and have it out to blast by next week. I have to paint behind where the roll bar will be going in because its so tight that I wont be able to get paint behind it afterwards. So more to come on that.

Sorry pictures will come later..... promise!

[Valarius_Starchaser]

holy smokes lots of progress it sounds like cant wait to see some pics keep up the momentum!

[ptc]

Thanks VS!.... it always feeling like 1 step forward, 10 steps back!!!! My to-do list gets longer everytime I cross something off the list and I start into another part of the project. I guess it just comes with the territory right?


On another note.... Ive been trying to sell a complete 3/4T running gear and frame roller for the past year and no bites.... so I think Im just going to scrap it all out and cut up the frame and make a dolly out of it like this one I saw on this site.....

[ptc]

The ongoing saga of the engine build..... this is tiring.... so the shop finally got off their ass and mic'd the cyl bores only to find they are 'big'. So I need to get bigger pistons no matter what if I am going to 'freshen this thing up'. pistons are already at .006" over and the hone will bring it to .008" over and thats just too much piston slap for something I could be forcing 30 lbs of boost into..... so new pistons are coming in a 4.53 size. That will give me 516 CI

Getting a little bent outa shape at this point, just wasting time.... smoke 'em if ya got 'em!!!

[II_Slow]

There are some very interesting piston coatings on the market now intended to take care of problems like this. If you haven't ordered pistons yet, you may want to research it. You should be able to make up that .002 hone plus a big chunk of the .006 you were already over.
Example: "Polymer Coatings are designed to build up piston diameter
from .0005 to .005" - see JCM Machine & Coatings .

I usually lift my ringlands long before I wear the cylinder walls so I haven't tried it, but a lot of reputable engine builders appear to be sold on some of the piston coatings, particularly on boosted and nitrous applications.

[Valarius_Starchaser]

had you already purchased pistons? I sure hope not I remember seeing some a ways back in here somewhere

[ptc]

Originally Posted by Valarius_Starchaser

had you already purchased pistons? I sure hope not I remember seeing some a ways back in here somewhere

Got a link?????


also the coatings may be an option, I'll chek it out.

[Valarius_Starchaser]

Didn't mean a set for sale I meant a photo in your thread of what you planned to run

Also a little crazy how long it's taken your machine shop to get anything done with your block I just dropped my bottom end off at one and will be badgering them for sure if we get to the three week mark without anything done to them

[ptc]

Well I got the roll bar pads welded into place for the rear hoop and the frame mounting plates matched below them. Then I got the custom bent rear hoop bar into place and tacked in. Also got the belt bar tacked on. Then cut and fitted the over door bars. They are going in front of the dash as there is not enough room in that corner to get them through the top of the dash. The bending radius just wont work that tight. Next step will be to get the windshield bar and the under dash bar bent and then cut and fitted into place.

Then we remove all the tubing - and send it out for blasting!

[Valarius_Starchaser]

What tube bender/pipe notcher are you using for this? What grade tube as well.

Also interested to see what you do with the door beam section I'm having a hard time thinking of something that wont require me to become an acrobat before I get into my truck

[lower50's]

Roll bar looks really good so far.

[Kim57]

Real nice looking.
Kim

[ptc]

Thank you guys for checking it out!

VS - Its a drag roll cage, 1 5/8" tube - The roll 'cage' is only going to be a 4-point, I am not doing it exactly to NHRA standards or rules, but it will be on par with those rules so that if somebody wants to take it to the next level they will easily be able to do that without re-doing the whole thing. I bought a notcher setup from Harbor Freight, its was on sale with 20% discount, got it for $40!

It will have everything required but door side bars and the rear bars going out the back of the cab to the rear chassis. Im not putting in those items as its going to be a "street truck" with a nice interior and upholstery and this 4 point cage will be enough to keep the roof from coming down on the occupants IF it were ever to go on its top....

The 'kit' came from Chris Alston ChassisWorks - they sell many different levels of kits. Actually this one kit can be built into an 8 point cage. It cost $319. It is bent for the 55-59 chevy truck interior. I made some more bends on the rear hoop to make it a tighter fit and to fit my custom frame mounts.

Here is the basic kit and all the specs on it:

https://www.cachassisworks.com/p-495...e1-58x134.aspx


with many addition options:

[II_Slow]

VS - a swing-out door bar is a nice option to make getting in an out a lot easier. Not sure what the rules say about them if you are trying to certify the cage. Typically spring loaded or pin/clevis at the shoulder and hinged at the bottom.

Here's what I have to contend with so you get no sympathy from be. Just remove the steerig wheel, step in, and sort of fall into it, and then hope like hell no one ever has to get me out in a hurry.

[ptc]

Originally Posted by II_Slow

VS - a swing-out door bar is a nice option to make getting in an out a lot easier. Not sure what the rules say about them if you are trying to certify the cage. Typically spring loaded or pin/clevis at the shoulder and hinged at the bottom.

Here's what I have to contend with so you get no sympathy from be. Just remove the steerig wheel, step in, and sort of fall into it, and then hope like hell no one ever has to get me out in a hurry.

Thats what you need to really think about as a driver..... YOU have to be able get yourself out of a burning vehicle and not expect somebody to come to your rescue in a fire ..... dont make a coffin out of your roll cage!

Heres some parts that make a swing out side bar feasible and they are NHRA approved per rule 4.10.

https://www.cachassisworks.com/p-529...-134-tube.aspx