Here's a couple better pics with the masking off.

Grandpa came over to make sure we didn't screw up spraying the roof tonight. Cale shot some of the first coat of color, but I did the rest. Dad helped critique and correct some flaws in my technique, and the result turned out very good for an amateur in a home garage who hasn't painted in years and without a professional booth.

It will need a cut and buff once it dries.

I love this project!

Looking great !!
I like the old trunk lid as a set up spray out panel...:laugh:
That is a great color too.

Amazing family progress,love that color too.

First time spraying this Tamco clear, so Dad recommended we test it on something first... Still some wisdom in that old man. :)

Hey now....I think he is younger than me....:eek2:
Really nice to have a mentor. Karl has been more than patient with me, trying to teach me to block sand and "see" with my hand...

We rolled the car into the other garage to make room for doing more body work on the front clip. The fenders are coming along nicely, but the hood is giving us trouble. When Cale welded up the hood bird and emblem holes, he warped it pretty bad. I hit it with the shrinker and took a lot of that out, but still have some oil-canning and warpage that is making it hard to get as straight as everything else without having way too much filler in it.

I might call it quits on this hood, and start over with another one we have... and maybe work a little closer with Cale and give more guidance on the next one so we don't repeat the mistakes.

We made a lot more progress this week. Cale with some help from his brother AJ got the 406 and Saginaw 4spd installed into the car, and repainted and installed a vintage set of Appliance headers with 4-bolt flanges.

I block sanded both fenders multiple times, and now have them in their final coat of primer to be wet sanded for paint. Doors were also primed their last time. Core support blasted, primed, some pitting filled and sanded, and painted.

Cale stripped the extra hood and I welded up the hood bird and emblem holes.

Tonight we hung the doors, and tomorrow night I'll paint the fender jambs, then Tuesday night we'll hang the whole front clip. Hood will need some straightening and test fit on the car before we bodywork it.

Grandpa came over last night to help align the front end sheetmetal. This was a struggle that fought us every step, caused by one incorrect part.

The core support that we got with the car is for a '56
It's about an inch wider than a '55 core support. It bolted up to the 55 fenders, but we spent a few hours fighting the fender fitment before I sent Cale out to measure the core support of my '55.

Once we figured that problem out, we removed the core support and aligned things the best we could without it. Since everything moves so much without that support, the final panel gapping will have to wait for another time.

Also, the 2nd hood was a struggle as well. I think we'll be better off going back to bare metal on the first hood and spending more time hammering and shrinking.

Can’t wait to see this car!!

Very cool!!!

Well, that's discouraging. It looks like you could drill out the spot welds for the 2 end/fender mounts and move them inboard 1/2" each and be OK ?

The ends are shaped slightly differently as well. It's also a 6cyl core support that we were going to make adapters to put the 6cyl radiator in the V8 position, but now we'll just get a correct V8 one... still might need to make adapters, since we have a good 6cyl radiator, but they'll be smaller and easier, as well as being less work to change later to a correct radiator if we come across one.

On Tri-Five cars, lots of guys put the radiator in the 6 cyl. position even with a V8, especially if running a different fan set up. No room for a clutch fan with radiator in the V8 position. Even if you are running electric fans, you then have the option of using either pushers or pullers.

We're sticking with short water pump and engine in stock position (lots of guys move them 3/4" forward also) and likely will run a stock fan also. This 406 is pretty mild, so cooling shouldn't be a problem.

There are adapters you can buy to mount the radiator forward if he changes his mind later... he eventually wants to put a 409 in it, so at that time he'll probably need to move it.

That color reminds me of the time an acquaintance had his Chevelle painted by a professional in almost the identical color. I saw the car once it was back home in his garage. Dude asks me what I think of it and it looked great. Then he pulls the car out into the sunlight and asks me again ... the car looked terrible. Splotchy. Car was returned to the body shop. I believe the "repair" was to add more coats to even it out.

I polished an aluminum intake once (and only once). Intake looked fantastic in the garage. I took it outside into natural light and ... WOW, obvious scratches aplenty. Back to the basement for more polishing and outside in the "real" light to assess.

I don't know your painting experience and I am not suggesting there are issues with your job but, it might be to your benefit to verify the quality of your work with the car outside under "real world" lighting before calling it done. :)

What a great project. That is going to be a really cool '55 and your boy is going to treasure these times for his whole life.

Everybody is younger than you! Admittedly, I am just BARELY younger than you.

See you tomorrow nite hopefully. Guessing you will be helping Steve set up?

Yes sir, leaving in about 4 hours and will be there first thing in the morning. See you there, oh, and I know Bill, 67since67 is older than me...:laugh:
Derek, you loaded up and heading down in the morning ?

We're loading the car in the morning, hope to be on the road about 8am

That's about the time I plan to get there to help with Vintage Cert. I hope Steve has my creds ready this year...:wink:
Come by when you can and if I get a chance to wander a bit, I'll come look for you and Cale.

Safe travels.

Cale had an awesome experience at MCACN! He had a prime spot in the show with a lot of traffic, and the car got a ton of attention. He was awarded the "Shining Star Pick" from Level One Restorations.

WOW !!! What a great award ! Level One is a premier restoration shop. So happy for him. Thinking he is over the top hooked on MCACN now and is already planning for next year.

Congratulations to Cale,and you too Derek.

Yes, he definitely wants to bring it back next year with it completed.

Also, through the Chevelle forum we just got an invite to display it at the Detroit Autorama in 2027 "Next Gen Modifiers" sponsored by Motorcity Modified Auto Club. (their 2026 picks have already been made). Not sure if we'll be able to make it work since he'll be in college next year, but it's a very cool opportunity!

Congratulations! That is awesome!! Well deserved.
It was a pleasure meeting you and your family Derek.

----This proves that I'm blind! I thought I managed to get around pretty well, but "NO". I would have loved to see the 55. Once again, having parts to sell screws up my time and the chance of seeing everything! At least I made a couple of bucks. Thanks, at least, for the pics....Bill S

On Saturday, Lloyd took a short side trip to photograph Paul's incredible '71 442 he had a restoration thread on Yenko about. Cale's '55 was 30 ft away in the main isle and I asked if he could take a few minutes to get some good photos of it for Cale. When I get the download link, I'll send it to Derek and he can post some of them here.

Thanks for bringing this - I really enjoyed seeing it and it looks terrific. Sorry we did not get to meet.

Congrats, Bitch'in '55!

So honored to have Cale with us at the MCACN show to prove there really is a bright future in our hobby.

Congrats on the award and the recognition and consider this your "Official" Invite to join us with the finished car next year!


Bashton

Derek. Good to see you again at MCACN and view Cale's car. Enjoyed our conversation. You are young enough to be my son, and Cale could be my grandson. Proud of you guys.

You might be old enough for Cale to be your Great Grand Son : )