1956 Chevy Pro-Street Build

[ptc]

Ok well the (engine) project took a left turn yesterday.... engine builder got fired... due mostly to his machine shop people just screwing the pooch totally. Hes fine with it as he is so busy anyway, everyone is happy. So moving on.

Gonna find another motor at this point that is built and ready to go that meets my 'boost specifications'. There are so many out there right now to choose from it shouldnt be too hard to find something for a decent price. All it takes is money right!

[lower50's]

That's not a bad price.

[RockinKees]

Yeah, the same question as Lower 50's...it's your engine, right??

I thought the engine is being built by a company who has qualified personal. When they get fired the engine stays in the company. With or without an engine builder...

[Advanced Design]

I take it you fired them and are moving on? Cage looks good!

[Nut Case]

PTC, sure hope the cage is never needed, my best friend in HS, his dad had a body shop, and lots of wreck cars in a compound, stole a mid 50's Studebaker barely running, well a few pipes badly welded we got it running took it up on some rolling hills to roll it over just for fun. got 5 point seat belts had our Moto cross lids and away we went 3 full rolls. Never do it again, lots of knots and bruises 16 year old dummies. So experience taught me a lot. BTW it was a ugly station wagon. Keep on keepin on. Nut Case

[ptc]

On the engine deal - The machine shop is a good shop but just overwhelmed with too much work with the racing season starting. But they need to figure out who their paying clients are and take care of them too.

I "fired" my builder.... hes also kind of a friend.... so its not as bad as it sounds, I was tired of waiting.... He had a deadline of April 1 to get it done and it wasnt going to happen. When I did a little research and found #1 that other machine shops in my area could get my block work done in a week! Right now, no problems.... No waiting needed! That pissed me off. I dont care how big of name you have as a (machine) shop, if you think you can piss on little people then you are dirt in my book!

Secondly - since my builder was already having THAT machine shop do the work, (I didnt want to pay them) and he wanted the block, crank and the manifold I had purchased for the project, so I sold it all to him for cash money. I made $500 over the original purchase price and got a TH400 basically for free. So it turned out ok for all I guess, I just lost 3 months time that I will never get back.


Nut case.......... I am NOT building this truck to be a test dummy for my welding abilities on this roll bar, I can assure you of that! Its tacked into place right now only for fitment. then it all comes back out, the cab gets blasted, primed and painted (interior) and then the bars all go back in and tig welded with welding blankets protecting everything we can.

[lower50's]

The shops need to remember it's the little guys that helped there business grow.
At least you turned a profit after it all and scored a trans.

[ptc]

Well finally got my last roll bar tubes bent into shape and should be getting them fitted into place this weekend and hopefully get the firewall completed too. Found some more rust in the upper cowl assembly that I need to address, possibly remove the whole thing and replace it.... Another $300 gone to the sheetmetal 'Gremlins'.....

[RockinKees]

Angry Gremlins....

Sure hope you don't find more of them!!
Now get me some pics of your cab with rollcage!

[Advanced Design]

Just don't feed them after midnight or let them get wet.

[ptc]

Sorry guys took a break from the truck this weekend, just didnt even want to look at it. I did get some rims for it to make it a roller again. Since I sold my other wheels and tires. Found a complete set of SURVIVOR American Racing "Daisy" wheels in CHROME! 15x8 and 15x10 ---- They were pretty ugly but a little steel wool and the chrome came back to life again. Ill be selling these too when I get the new wheels.... but they look pretty good dont they?

The roll bar will be my next assignment to complete!

But..... then on SUNDAY.... I went for a little drive..... Late Model Sportsmen race cars.....

[mud.man.rj]

Ahhh, the last pic with the big back tire just makes me smile, thanks.

[ptc]

I got out to the shop a little this past weekend between rain storms and having to build a chicken coup for the Mrs...... more "honey do stuff"

I got the front floor plates fitted and welded into place so that the side bars have a place to land. I got the side bars tacked back in again and got the top windshield bar fitted. Im going to have to re-think the underdash bar as its going to be a knee-knocker where I have it placed right now.

Man I sure wish I had known about this DIY Bender planset before I started all this roll bar stuff... - well for future bar benders here is the link to build this -


http://www.gottrikes.com/tube_bender.htm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature...&v=NfJIFK2gaXY

I did receive a special treat from Chevy Dave this week too!, THANKS DAVE! Ill see if I can make that work out when I get a few more parts for it.

More pics coming soon....

[55 Chevy Dave]

Glad to hear you received it. Hope it works out for you as good as mine did for me. Keep me posted!

Dave

[RockinKees]

Man
You look good in that race car!!
But I think you look way better in your race truck

I bet it was a very nice break from the project!!

Nice rims too, a little paint and......

[Kim57]

Nice wheels.
Looks like a great time at the track.
Kim

[lower50's]

Yup rims and race cars, thats a good weekend.

[RockinKees]

Real nice!
Came out more than decent!

[Kim57]

Coming along nicely.
Kim

[Valarius_Starchaser]

Nice work on the cage I'm really dreading doing mine keep it up I for some reason think your tires are a little wider then mine

[Advanced Design]

Creative problem solving on the hood hinges. Looking forward to seeing it come together.

Who doesn't love fat tires!

[lower50's]

Cage, hood hinges, really really fat tires. All looks great. So if the fat slicks are your Sunday tires, what are your Monday-Saturday tires? Compact spares? LOL

Might look a bit funny

[ptc]

Originally Posted by lower50's

Cage, hood hinges, really really fat tires. All looks great. So if the fat slicks are your Sunday tires, what are your Monday-Saturday tires? Compact spares? LOL Might look a bit funny

Sweet!!!!

Nah.... the slicks are Sundays.... and the treaded tires are for M-F when it goes out .... lol


The new ENGINE news is I pulled the trigger on a new BBC 540 Crate Engine - Built out complete less intake with a dyno sheet and warranty thats says 717hp - 638tq at 5800rpm.... baseline!!!! Should have it in 30 days.

So motor dilemma is done and over with.... no more BS to deal with.

[ptc]

So here are the hinge adapters I fabbed out of some cold roll angle iron and flat steel. Just ran a nice single bead on one side that will be hidden on the hood side anyways, drilled the hood side holes slotted so they are adjustable and then bolted them onto the hood. Now I have to fit the hinge side to the adapter and drill the holes for wherever it meets up and should be good to go.....

[Valarius_Starchaser]

I may have missed it but what trans is going behind the monster engine?