1956 Chevy Pro-Street Build

[55 Chevy Dave]

While I agree that it would not be the best case scenario, here is why I believe it may be good enough: The safety chains are there in case the trailer dislodges from the ball. If the trailer does come loose, the safety chains would break loose or the chains would rip through the safety rings (regardless of where they are mounted) long before the hitch tube is ripped out of the receiver. Far greater force would be required to shear the hitch tube lock pin in two places or to rip through both sides of the hitch tube.

Undoubtedly, it is still much better than no safety chain mounts at all.

I am looking forward to future posts are your progress on the truck!

[ptc]

Worked on the front valance a little bit more to get it somewhat together. Needs some fine tuning still to get it all 'mirror perfect'.

So what I basically did first was shape a large piece of 18 GA. sheetmetal onto the bottom of the existing valance that would hang below the edges of the two fenders. this extra would be curved under to match the fenders eventually and would be needed to 'shrink the metal' into a curve around the front.

Once that large piece was formed perfectly to fit and was tacked into place, I bent some shapes for each of the sides to fit the contour of the original end piece. This lengthened it downwards to meet the new center piece extension.

Once the center pieces were done and tacked into place, then I made the end pieces for the fender ends to match the center piece. That is the final joint where they come together.

The metal is all 18 gauge and the shapes were made around a piece of 2" exhaust tubing to get the curve. The bottom of the valance was curved using a piece of 1" steel pipe about 4 feet long to wrap it around. I welded the pipe to the back vice jaw and used it as a bender with a soft blow hammer to help it out.

[ptc]

Then onto more of the finished product.... next is that custom grrrrrr-illlllll !!!!

[Kim57]

Looking real good.
Kim

[ptc]

Originally Posted by Kim57

Looking real good.
Kim

Thanks Kim, I hope to start tackling the hood 'creation' soon. I'll be using many of your techniques to make it happen. Im going to splice in the 58-59 style hood drop down into a 55-56 hood. And also slant it.

Hopefully its works out decent...

[RockinKees]

Nice fabwork!
No frontbumper then?

Take your time with the hood!

[ptc]

Originally Posted by RockinKees

Nice fabwork!
No frontbumper then?

Take your time with the hood!

Thanks Kees! No bumper.... only hidden IRON behind that valance! just in case.....

The hood will be a neat project. hoping it all comes together as my mind sees it! The front fenders are off to the sandblasters to be 'cleaned' and epoxy coated. Then I can work on the hood.

[ptc]

So a quick update on the FRONT END. All the parts went to blast and got epoxy coated last week. Have a couple rust spots to fix up and then french in the headlights and get my 57 Bel Air light bar together for the grill insert. Then the fenders and front end will be done. Got the rear fenders set into place with the BIG MICKEY T's tucked under and it looks so good!!!! wish I could keep 2 sets of wheels and tires!

So this is how it sits right now

[RockinKees]

Looks good!
It's coming together now

[II_Slow]

Fight the good fight. Pro Street is NOT dead!!!

[mud.man.rj]

Kickin it, nice updates.

[Kim57]

Very nice.
Kim

[68c10owner]

Reminds me of my friends 55 prostreet. Camaro clip up front, s&w racer clip out back. 29x18.5 mickeys with a 427/4spd combo. Just fast enough and fun as hell. The build is coming along great.

[tiddlar]

Looks fast already! love it.

[slammed57]

Originally Posted by ptc

Then onto more of the finished product.... next is that custom grrrrrr-illlllll !!!!

you graffed in that piece nicely , great fab work. did you have to do a lot of hammer and dolly work, cuz it looks dam smooth!

[ptc]

Thanks guys for checking all my work out - appreciate it.

The bumper fill - No not really, the center piece lengthwise formed easy, once I curled the bottom then I had to use a shrinker to form to the curve of the front piece. So I had to break down and buy the HF tools. ($129 for both on sale!) The end pieces were formed over a piece of steel tubing the same size of the original curve and then welded them all together. Little hammering and dolling to fit but not much.

I think the bumper fill-in area still needs a little something on the ends. Im thinking of doing some type of alum trim off the ends of the bump out and coming around the sides of it a little. Maybe cut some alum tubing in half and form it to fit.

Other ideas?

[hotrodelrod]

Great build! I love a pro street truck/car. Big meats and big hp!

[ChuckDriver]

Looking forward to the burnout video!

[Roadkill58]

Lookin good PTC.

It does look fast sitting still.



.

[ptc]

Thank you guys for checking in.... Ive got so many irons in the fire right now, Im going in 10 different directions and working on too many things all at once!

Trying to get a 'mobile tube' bender to come out and get all my roll bar tubing bent... found a guy, but everybody is so busy!!! what happened to this crap economy I keep hearing about???? lol

I cant finish the smooth dash until he gets his tubes bent and I get them welded into place first... so thats a big hold up for me right now. (Did I mention Christmas is coming?)

I got my body guy lined up to start working his magic on the bed for now, still working on the front end parts to make them all match. Going to make some custom inner fender wells, I just dont like the slanted style.

Which leads me into a cross flow style radiator so it stays below the top of the support to blend it all in. Also trying to add the electrical water pump and move my engine forward to keep from cutting the firewall....

I have a plating guy stripping down the BelAir parts so I can work on that custom grill...

Just met with the engine builder again this weekend, block is at the machine shop. Saw my beautiful polished GM forged crank.... all ready for assembly. ENGINE is taken care of for now!

Trying to find some type of latching battery box size lids for the bed and a latching style lid for the brake res under the cab to put in. Any ideas or pics??? Need them to finish up all the bed steel plating.

Oh yea and I am building a playhouse for my grandkids too BEFORE Christmas arrives..... can this month last longer????

[RockinKees]

You're a busy guy

I think you need a 30 hour day and a nine days week.....
Keep at it and it all comes together in time

[68c10owner]

What engine builder do you use?

[Nut Case]

Go Grandad, Go. Grandkids are the best. You've got framing skills too! Is there anything you don't do. Keep on keeping on. Good Luck on surviving the "Silly Season" Nut Case.

[ptc]

LOL thanks guys!!!! yep busier thank a 1-legged man at an a$$ kicking contest is what they say!!!!

Originally Posted by 68c10owner

What engine builder do you use?

Hey Anthony, I use a guy in Lodi area that does all the assembly and build work. He is on facebook and C/L alot. Goes by Brian Johnson Racing Engines. (Not to be confused with THE Brian Johnson of AC/DC).... He has about 3 track cars of his own.

He built my boat motor for me 3 years ago and it is a potent "little" thing! So when this came up I figured he was the best bet for getting me what I needed, and he was all on-board when I told him about it.

He gets all the machine work done at Joey Groses shop. And Grose does the dyno work for him also on completion of the motors.

[68c10owner]

Originally Posted by ptc

LOL thanks guys!!!! yep busier thank a 1-legged man at an a$$ kicking contest is what they say!!!!





Hey Anthony, I use a guy in Lodi area that does all the assembly and build work. He is on facebook and C/L alot. Goes by Brian Johnson Racing Engines. (Not to be confused with THE Brian Johnson of AC/DC).... He has about 3 track cars of his own.

He built my boat motor for me 3 years ago and it is a potent "little" thing! So when this came up I figured he was the best bet for getting me what I needed, and he was all on-board when I told him about it.

He gets all the machine work done at Joey Groses shop. And Grose does the dyno work for him also on completion of the motors.

Yeah I've seen his ads. Never used him or know anyone who has but I've exchanged emails with him a few times about parts and he seems like a decent guy. I use a shop in Carmichael, Performance Engines. I stumbled across his shop a few years ago and he always cuts me good deals so I keep using him. His shop isn't as well known as Rex Hutchinson or Dave Riolo but I've never had any issues with his work.