October 2011
A friend of mine had this car for several years
and gave up on the restoration, so I bought it. I certainly was not looking for
another project and did not need it but an original Gypsy Red/Shoreline Beige
’55 Bel Air hardtop is hard to turn down!
I did a frame off restoration on it with a 327, 4 speed and ‘55 rear end. I had
it back together and was about to crank it but I made a trip to Bakersfield,
Calif for the NHRA Hot Rod Reunion driving my black and white ’55 Chevy (at the
time it had a 408 small block in it and the most it ever got was 10 MPG with
straight freeway driving but we had a blast!) I decided I wanted something more
aggressive after seeing all the gassers in at the reunion so I came home and
took the entire drive train out and put in a 396 big block, Tremec 5 speed
tranny, 12 bolt Chevy rear end, changed the springs etc for the gasser look.
The 396 is an engine my son bought about 15 years ago. It was a trick NHRA stock
eliminator motor with venola pistons, trick crank and more. It had never been
run so I put in a more aggressive solid lift cam, tunnel ram and two Holleys.
The rear end is a 5:38 with Moroso positraction, Mark Williams axles and with
the 5 speed tremec you end up with a 3.44 final ratio which is very streetable.
I hope to drive it on the street some when the mufflers are installed.
I plan to go to hit the vintage races and other car shows with it. I have driven
it some on the street on back roads and it is FUN to drive!
I wanted something with an aggressive stance, aggressive look and aggressive
sound. I think I accomplished my goal!
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