55 Chevy Pro Street

[Zippi]

1 hour ago, horsepower said:

I had a couple of the AMT '57. Pro Street kit and decided that the frame and suspension parts would be a perfect fit under the '55 body and with the tires and wheels from the AMT '67Chevelle kit I am almost ready to get real serious about it. Addendum: got a supercharged big block with fenderwell exit headers from a Chevy Monster Truck kit and since it has a street type set up for cooling AND a modern automatic to use I'm just about ready to start mocking things up, still haven't decided if I want to use the big block base engine and heads from the '57 so all mounts won't need to be changed around, and I was looking for at the front clip from the AMT '70 1/2 Camaro to update the chassis in the front or if I really want to use some put back rare things I have a complete Mustang II front suspension set up from the Revell Beatnik Bandit II and that would be even a little more up to date for a street driver type because if I really want a Pro Street car it would require building (or robbing) the more modern McPherson strut type front suspension from a modern style Pro Street but I'm not building a Lutz type tri five all out race car, just a loud obnoxious in your face old style Pro STREET, emphasizing the STREET for its main purpose, it's a big stop light cruiser that would be one of my "bucket list" cars .?

Hey Delton, sounds like some really good idea's you got going on there.  I'll keep an eye out for your WIP.  

[Zippi]

1 hour ago, horsepower said:

I know it's too late but the little bit of space would be needed since you have to remember that you're going to need enough room to slide the rear tires and wheels off the studs and more than likely have to tip them in at the top to get them in and out of the wheel well openings and the car will move side to side over the tires when cornering not to mention how much the sidewall flex on them big ol'slicks are gonna have if you ever get even a little bit out of shape?.  

Thanks for the info Delton.  Too much space for me, Just doesn't look right on the model or the 1:1.  I want those big ole meats up close to the wheel opening like in the pic. 

 

Edited March 7, 2022 by Zippi

[Zippi]

I haven't had a lot of bench time on the 55 but this morning I'm trying to work out some problems with the engine fitment.  As you can see in the pic, I'm going to have to pull off the fan and maybe shave down the bottom belt pulley.  I've pulled a radiator (from the 56 Ford Foose pickup) from the parts box and cut out the two electric fans that I can use.  If I have to spin the radiator and put it in front of the radiator mount I'm going to use two fans.  Otherwise I'll just use on since there is not enough room on that side of the radiator.  

[Zippi]

This is the BB that will be going in the 55.  If I spin the radiator and support around I can just get the engine in without the fan.  This way I could run a dual fan setup since there is more room on that side of the radiator.  

[Dennis Lacy]

4 hours ago, Zippi said:

This is the BB that will be going in the 55.  If I spin the radiator and support around I can just get the engine in without the fan.  This way I could run a dual fan setup since there is more room on that side of the radiator.  

On those Tri-5’s the radiator position with the inline 6 engine was in front of the core support and that’s exactly what people do when fitting a Big Block so what you’ve done is prototypical. 

[bluestringer]

Looking good Bob. I'm starting my build so I'll be following yours closely, letting you lead the way. : ) I will need to get another Chevelle donor kit as I have already used some of the parts I'll need for the 55 on my pro street pickup I did. I hope HL has another one when I go back for the 40% off week. 

[Zippi]

1 hour ago, Dennis Lacy said:

On those Tri-5’s the radiator position with the inline 6 engine was in front of the core support and that’s exactly what people do when fitting a Big Block so what you’ve done is prototypical. 

Thanks for the info Dennis.  I really want to keep the radiator on the back side of the support if at all possible but, we'll see how it goes.

[Zippi]

38 minutes ago, bluestringer said:

Looking good Bob. I'm starting my build so I'll be following yours closely, letting you lead the way. : ) I will need to get another Chevelle donor kit as I have already used some of the parts I'll need for the 55 on my pro street pickup I did. I hope HL has another one when I go back for the 40% off week. 

Hey James.  You'll probably pass me on the build as this one will be slow. The wife has me painting the bathroom.

[Zippi]

It's 66° and the humidity is 32% so I decided to get the body in primer and get the chassis painted.  Turned out pretty good. 

[bluestringer]

Looking good. I like what you did to get the radiator to fit without hitting.  What color you going with?

[Zippi]

Thanks james. I did a spoon test and I'm going with the Tamiya TS-30 Silver Leaf base coat then TS-74 Clear Red over the Silver Leaf.  I'm going with the darker color on the right.  That is two coats of the Clear Red vs one coat on the left.

 

Edited March 16, 2022 by Zippi

[TransAmMike]

Looking good Buddy?

[dsummone]

On 2/23/2022 at 12:50 PM, bluestringer said:

Looking good Bob. I did a mock up just a few weeks ago planning the same thing with the extra 55 I've got. The Chevelle frame fits in good with just a little modification. My problem is I've already used the Chevelle engine in my pro street truck I did and I don't have another Chevy engine. I'm thinking of making the bow tie fans cringe and put in a Hemi engine I've got laying around. 

I love that stance. 

[Zippi]

1 hour ago, TransAmMike said:

Looking good Buddy?

Thanks Buddy.

[Zippi]

1 hour ago, dsummone said:

I love that stance. 

A Hemi works for me Dave.  

[dsummone]

12 minutes ago, Zippi said:

A Hemi works for me Dave.  

Can’t go wrong with a hemi

[DanL]

Can't wait to see that paint!

[Zippi]

9 hours ago, DanL said:

Can't wait to see that paint!

Thanks Dan.  I can always paint spoons nicely.  When it comes to the body something happens.  I'm hoping for the best and expecting the worst.  

[Zippi]

I got a little bench time this morning.  I got the suspension installed and I'm not sure about the orange.  I do like how the wire wrap worked out though.  I did a spoon test to see how the paint is going to turn out.  I primed all the spoons with Tamiya white primer, then sprayed two of them with Tamiya TS-30 Silver Leaf, then Tamiya TS-74 Clear Red.  The spoon on the left has one coat of the Clear Red over the white primer only, the one in the middle has one coat of Clear Red over the Silver Leaf, and the spoon on the right has two coats of Clear Red over the Silver Leaf.  The one on the far right is the one I'm shooting for. 

[TransAmMike]

The springs look good my Friend.   ?

[NOBLNG]

Nice work so far Bob! That red paint is going to look fantastic on it I think.?

[Zippi]

Well fellows.....the verdict is still out on this one.  I wet sanded the Silver Leaf with 10,000 & 12,000 grit due to some trash out then washed and dry.  Once I started spraying the Clear Red I could see the sanding marks so it forced me to spray a 3rd coat of the Clear red.  Still not sure why that sand paper would leave marks.  There is also heavy orange peel.  I'm going to let it level out and cure and take another look at it but at this point I'm dissatisfied how it came out. 

Edited March 17, 2022 by Zippi

[crowe-t]

I don't think the paint looks that bad.  Isn't it lacquer?  Lacquer always orange peels.  It will have to be polished.  Will you be clear coating it?

[Zippi]

29 minutes ago, crowe-t said:

I don't think the paint looks that bad.  Isn't it lacquer?  Lacquer always orange peels.  It will have to be polished.  Will you be clear coating it?

Its Tamiya paint which is a synthetic lacquer.  I'll wet sand it after I shoot the clear on.

[crowe-t]

2 minutes ago, Zippi said:

Its Tamiya paint which is a synthetic lacquer.  I'll wet sand it after I shoot the clear on.

I always get orange peel with lacquer.  It can be polished smooth.  I don't think your paint looks bad at all.