55 Chevy

[big gear head]

I found this '55 for Dad a few years ago. It was a 265 powerglide car. He has had several in his lifetime and wanted one last car to fix and drive. We were going to build it together. His health has gone down and he's not able to work anymore and decided to sell the car. I told him that I wanted it, so he gave it to me. I would love to get it together in time for him to drive it, but I don't know if that will happen. He wanted a 327 in it, so I built a nice mild one to go in it, along with the M20 that I built for my Camaro many years ago. I'm narrowing an Impala 12 bolt for it with 3.55 gears. The frame is finished and new floor is installed. I just have to finish my shop so I can get the car done.

[67since67]

Originally Posted by big gear head

I found this '55 for Dad a few years ago. It was a 265 powerglide car. He has had several in his lifetime and wanted one last car to fix and drive. We were going to build it together. His health has gone down and he's not able to work anymore and decided to sell the car. I told him that I wanted it, so he gave it to me. I would love to get it together in time for him to drive it, but I don't know if that will happen. He wanted a 327 in it, so I built a nice mild one to go in it, along with the M20 that I built for my Camaro many years ago. I'm narrowing an Impala 12 bolt for it with 3.55 gears. The frame is finished and new floor is installed. I just have to finish my shop so I can get the car done.

Love your '55! A long time drag racing friend has a twin '55 BelAir post he's owned since '58, solid black with blue interior. Built as 265 Powerpack, 3 Spd OD, been 327/Muncie since the early '60's.

[1967 4K]

The first car I drove was a 56 Belair two door post. I’d set in Dads lap and drive n shift three on the tree. He’d gas, clutch n brake. Days gone by but not forgotten.

[Too Many Projects]

Originally Posted by 1967 4K

The first car I drove was a 56 Belair two door post. I’d set in Dads lap and drive n shift three on the tree. He’d gas, clutch n brake. Days gone by but not forgotten.

My dad got a '55 210 2 dr, 6/3 speed when I was about 10. It was very rusted and worn out by 1966 and he bought a new Malibu that fall. The '55 sat in the yard all winter and into the next summer. Both parents worked day jobs and what is a 15 yr old boy to do with that sitting there ??? At first, I just drove it up and down the driveway, which was about 60'. Got really good at the clutch/throttle coordination, but wanted to expand into shifting the 3 speed. Eventually got brave enough to drive to the end of the dead end street and shift thru all the gears. Only risk of that was my uncles house I had to go by. Couple weeks go by and nothing from them, so it's time to dig ruts with the tire and fill them in again.

Shortly after that started, my dad requested I accompany him to the hardware store on a Saturday. I thought that was odd, as he didn't need me to go there with him, but it was a request, not an option. On the way home, he pulled over on the straight road to our road and got out, came around to the right door and told me to scoot over.... OH-OH !! He said my uncle told him I was very good at driving a manual transmission car from all my practicing with the '55 and that I should drive the last couple miles home... Nervous as hell, but did fine getting to the house, shut it off and handed him the key. He never said a word, but the '55 went to the junkyard the next week..

[olredalert]

Originally Posted by big gear head

I found this '55 for Dad a few years ago. It was a 265 powerglide car. He has had several in his lifetime and wanted one last car to fix and drive. We were going to build it together. His health has gone down and he's not able to work anymore and decided to sell the car. I told him that I wanted it, so he gave it to me. I would love to get it together in time for him to drive it, but I don't know if that will happen. He wanted a 327 in it, so I built a nice mild one to go in it, along with the M20 that I built for my Camaro many years ago. I'm narrowing an Impala 12 bolt for it with 3.55 gears. The frame is finished and new floor is installed. I just have to finish my shop so I can get the car done.

----I can't tell, but I see what appears to be a crack from the corner of the valve cover to the front exhaust bolt hole. Please tell us it isn't .....Bill S

[big gear head]

Originally Posted by olredalert

----I can't tell, but I see what appears to be a crack from the corner of the valve cover to the front exhaust bolt hole. Please tell us it isn't .....Bill S

No, it's just a casting line. These are Speedway aluminum heads. I believe they are Chinese castings. I have a set of 461 heads that we considered using, but Dad wanted to use these aluminum heads that look like the early high performance heads.