1956 Chevy Pro-Street Build

[Kim57]

Looking good.
Kim

[RockinKees]

Yep, looks nice!

[Compton]

This is one angry looking machine!

Love the build and valve covers are super cool!!

[ptc]

Originally Posted by Compton

This is one angry looking machine!

Love the build and valve covers are super cool!!

Those are original Custom Chrome BBC valve covers with their old logo on them... and they are for sale - $50 + ship if you're interested.

[ptc]

This is my 1975 Sanger hotrod boat - Its what they call a "true flat bottom" with a gull wing front. Its 18'-10" in length. I have recorded about 96mph on GPS in it but my TFH pilot friend has taken it well above that. 90+ is more than enough in that little boat on a good water day!

It has a 496 BBC running about 720-ish hp at 6900 rpm with its current setup. its a pump gas 91 octane motor at 10.55:1 CR, dual quad 850DP carbs tunnel ram, iron 990 heads all port matched, polished and large valves. The cam is .638 lift at I-270/E-280 duration that works from 3500-7000rpm just perfectly for this torque range on water. It was built for reliability and longevity, this is its 3rd season now running around. Was thinking of putting it in the truck.... but the boat is setup perfect and I dont want to mess with it, took awhile to get it there.

This photo was taken at a H1 Hydro race event where some of us "Nostalgia Boat" old timers were allowed to go out and run around the track with each other. And this pic was taken there at Folsom Lake in CA. Some big water that day! Usually we run the smooth water rivers and sloughs of the CA Delta with these types of boats.

[mud.man.rj]

That boat is super cool, wow, nuts too.

[ptc]

Originally Posted by mud.man.rj

That boat is super cool, wow, nuts too.

Not much in hot boat interests here I guess.... or hot rod trucks either for that matter!!! must be a RIP...(Rust In Pieces) REST-o site!!! hahaha

anyways on with the building!!! - Found a couple local shops that have the Merc headlight stuff Im looking for so am going to proceed with that little bit of customizing on the front fenders too.

I decided to go with a custom grill also instead of the stock '57 grill (which I like alot) but am just going to dare to be different. I found a '57 car signal bar to mess with and mock it up into the grill surround so Ill get that together for my turn signal lights. I think that will be cool. Its been done before....

[Kim57]

I like that look.
Kim

[mud.man.rj]

Continually stepping it up, I like your style and ideas, out of the box the right amount rules.

[RockinKees]

Nice grill insert, I like that!

I also like your boat, but I think it's more of an aeroplane, it hardly hits the water
Is that a "drag" boat or is it for a "racecourse"

[ptc]

Originally Posted by Kim57

I like that look.
Kim

I figured you would really like that little touch!!! -

Originally Posted by mud.man.rj

Continually stepping it up, I like your style and ideas, out of the box the right amount rules.

Thank you much mm!

Originally Posted by RockinKees

Nice grill insert, I like that!

I also like your boat, but I think it's more of an aeroplane, it hardly hits the water
Is that a "drag" boat or is it for a "racecourse"

Kees thanks - I like different! Yea my boat is basically just a "LakeRod" modeled after the old vintage "Flat Bottom River Racer" style.... The factory truly called it a "Family Ski" model and when they were produced in the 70's people skied behind these things with a 454 BB Chevy engine in them with about 400-450hp. Its a v-drive setup with an 'in-n-out' gear box... in gear or out of gear.... thats all you got.

I typically just take it out to gatherings of other vintage boats, hotboat days, and river and lake runs, but once in awhile I will take it to the nostalgia races where they let us run them for show mostly.... so putting on a good show for the spectator is what we do!!! and a little WHEELIE every once in awhile is what they like to see.... They have so much power they jump right out of the water....

heres a video...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-y_JvsYSvHo

[RockinKees]

That sounds like Cacklefest at the Nostalgia Drags
Looks cool!!
Nice, a tip at the gaspedal and your out of the water
That's a lot of power in such a small boat

[mud.man.rj]

Now that's a video, sure doesn't take much to get air..

[jeffs56]

Where did you find that grille if you don't mind saying. I seen that on a truck before and been wanting something like that for a while.

[Advanced Design]

Holy cow, those boats are scary cool. Really love the sound!

[bowt1ed]

I have also been considering putting a 57 car bar in the grill opening on my 55 front. Did it fit width wise without modification? Thanks, Jim

[ptc]

The boats are alot of fun to run and to watch circle racing.... If you ever get the chance to go out and see them run the "K" boats are the fastest out there, they'll do 150 down the straights and about 60 around the turns, they battle!


The 57 Chevy Car light bar does not fit right into any of the grills for the trucks. and I think the 57 grill surround is probably the widest. Im gonna have to cut mine down about 6" and re-weld the pot metal back together with a 'brazing' technique that will get it back together. Then smooth it all out and re-chrome it. I may not go chrome but its possible.

I was out at the Pleasanton Goodguys show this past weekend and met the guy that owns the truck I pictured above. He is a local guy around my parts! Great day out there. Ill post up some pics

[ptc]

From the Pleasanton GOODGUYS car show - 2016

[ptc]

And here is the custom '57 that is just an incredible truck.... The headlights are all LED and the turn signals are frenched in so nice. THe light bar is actually used as driving lights and there are PIAA Halogen type driving lamps installed in the 57 bar. Very nicely done. 383 SBC in it with a tilt front hood, Tilt rear cover, bed all upholstered and everything has been molded in at the bed. just very nice all around.

[bowt1ed]

Very nice indeed.

[ptc]

Originally Posted by jeffs56

Where did you find that grille if you don't mind saying. I seen that on a truck before and been wanting something like that for a while.

The Grill as shown in that truck above is totally custom built.

The grill surround is from a '57 truck with the center cut out of it and then all the holes filled. I dont know if the '57 truck grill parts fit on any other version of the Task Force truck fenders other than '57.... Anybody know? The light bar comes from a '57 Chevy car. They can be found in OEM form or re-pops are made also of them. Cost is about $100 -$300 depending on condition.

The light bar length has to be modified to fit within the grill surround, its too long. The only problem with that is the light bar is made from pot metal. So if you buy a nice new chromed one - you will be re-chroming it again.... Then mounts need to be made to attach it from behind.

[55 Chevy Dave]

I have been looking at my front parking lights for a while now trying to decide if I should smooth them out. I think you just helped me make up my mind! What are you planning on replacing them with? I thought about doing some flush LEDs.

I never thought about filling in under the grill.

Thanks for the inspiration! You're build is looking great!

[ptc]

Originally Posted by 55 Chevy Dave

I have been looking at my front parking lights for a while now trying to decide if I should smooth them out. I think you just helped me make up my mind! What are you planning on replacing them with? I thought about doing some flush LEDs.

I never thought about filling in under the grill.

Thanks for the inspiration! You're build is looking great!

Hey Dave thanks for the interest. Im going to go with that 57 Belair grill light bar for my turn signals. I just really like that look within the grill area. I like the '57 grills the most, theres so much you can do with them.

Im filling in the lower valance complete under the grill and fenders because I am not going to be running a bumper. So I want it to look finished that way. I may run some type of splitter under it, but will have to see what that looks like afterwards.

[55 Chevy Dave]

That should be a great look. Definitely post pics!

By the way, regarding the safety chains for your tow bar: Have you considered welding loops on the hitch tube just in front of the tow ball? That way, when you remove the hitch tube the safety chain loops go with it.

It's not optimal, but better than nothing. Just a thought!

[ptc]

Originally Posted by 55 Chevy Dave

That should be a great look. Definitely post pics!

By the way, regarding the safety chains for your tow bar: Have you considered welding loops on the hitch tube just in front of the tow ball? That way, when you remove the hitch tube the safety chain loops go with it.

It's not optimal, but better than nothing. Just a thought!

Thanks for checking in- That chain idea is always an option! I think the whole purpose is to have the chains connected to a part of the vehicle that wont 'separate'? --- lol

Got the other fender patched up this past weekend same as the first one, now moving onto the valance skirting. So I'll get some more pics up when I get it all done.