Another 55 Chevy born, with a stroker 409!

[desapience]

Well, ole' guys, here I am again to update you on my favorite project of the last 6+ years....
My 1955 Chevy Black-Beauty! It's been awhile, and I admit I did get involved with also
restoring my 1987 Porsche Carrera 911 Turbo (650 h.p)... and, it is finished, and looks awesome.

But, here are recent pictures of my 55-Black-Beauty. I now have it in my own shop and I am now
able to get real progress..., and should have it running by the end of May 2015!! And, yes, I do plan on
installing the 446/409 Stroker pictured elsewhere in this string. I also plan on installing a 6-speed Richmond,
and will thus also have bucket seats in this car.... The interior will come last.

Enjoy the pictures!

 

[desapience]

[

 

[jim_ss409]

Well, it looks like you've hit another home run with this one.
Nice job, way to go!

 

[nomad59NZ]

Bloody awesome mate,

Gav

 

[desapience]

Guys,

Apparently, none of you noticed the "Vent window delete"!
The change is not subtle... it "opens up" the entire side-view of the car...
Thanks for all the kudos.... another picture update will follow next week.

Denis

 

[Austin Bubbletop]

Beautiful!

 

[desapience]

Guys,

Here's a heads-up on the planned interior treatment for my "Black-Beauty"! The final design may vary from the pictures a bit,
and there will be a very different console because a Richmond 6-speed will be likely used. Leather or a high grade vinyl is planned.

This weekend (I take 3-day weekends every week now), the plan is to completely plumb the brake system, including adapting the emergency brake to the new rear-Cadillac calipers.

A rear sway bar is also planned for install. I'm using a bypass fuel pressure regulator
as well, so, there are two fuel lines -- braided stainless 6-AN that are already in place.

One final difficulty to overcome will be to work the A/C heater hose connections at the firewall (see pictures). Once all these things are completed... the engine and transmission will be installed.

 

[nomad59NZ]

Guys,

Apparently, none of you noticed the "Vent window delete"!
The change is not subtle... it "opens up" the entire side-view of the car...
Thanks for all the kudos.... another picture update will follow next week.

Denis

Ya crafty bugger you. It's the small things that go unnoticed. Very good.

Gav

 

[Kespino]

That is one saaaaaweeeeeeeet ride!!

 

[desapience]

As promised, here is another update. Pretty much finished plumbing the brakes, and the fuel system.... as pictured.
I decided to go ahead and replace all four calipers, and was only able to get the rear El Derado calipers for this weekend. New front calipers will be here this week.
The car had been setting too long and I did not trust the ones it had (which were also brand new when installed 3 years ago).
So, next weekend, I'll finish that up. The El derado calipers have great internal emergency brake systems, and very easily adapted
to the stock Tri-5 cables. I used the much higher quality Dorman Tri-5 rear emergency brake cable. That's a FxxD 9", with 370's, 31 spline axles.

I'm also pre-emptively chasing down the fuel starvation gremlins typical of cars that do not have proper fuel-tank baffeling or a "fuel tray"
at the mouth of the in-tank fuel pickup. I've fabricated a great "fix", that should be used by all Tri-5 Chevy's running a stock
tank and sending unit only. I'll picture the fix when it is completed. The tank and straps are all stainless steel, as is the pick-up/ending unit.

If you look real closely at the 3rd picture, just above the 3rd member, you can see the stock sending unit (Pickup), and to the left of it, the return line entering the tank at the front topside. I'm obviously using a bypass regulator...

Denis

Enjoy the pics...

 

[desapience]

Okay, Guys... here I am again.., it's been about 18 months since my last update and although progress on my "Black Beauty" 55-409 seems real slow, I've actually been accomplishing quite a bit
on some of my other classics. However, this update is for only for my black-55. I'm knee deep in the wiring up of the entire car now, all in preparation for the engine install. The AC system
is in place (not so easy with a 4" recessed firewall), windshield wiper system is in place -- a tricky deal, but came out beautiful, with a very trick mounting design. My custom CNC'd billet pedal
system is also in place now, complete wit the hidden clutch master cylinder.... lots of goodies are on the assembly list, to include a backup camera, special LED lighting to light up the trunk area,
a buzzer alert for those of us who leave headlights on, and a hidden front and back camera, GPS, system... The pics here show only a couple things, to include proof that I am still above ground!
Enjoy the pics.... note the 1/8" thick polished stainless steel firewall.., and check my previous posted pics on this threads for other pics of the pedal assembly
Denis


Denis

 

[skipxt4]

Awesome, Denis.

 

[desapience]

Well, old timers, here I am again to update you on my long running project 55 Chevy... All the wiring is completed, and everything works! Presently, my interior is being fabricated at Ciadella's in AZ (previously pictured in this thread), and I'm preparing to install the drive-train this coming weekend. I've pictured the engine previously in this thread... but, here it is again on the engine test stand. I will be installing the Richmond 6-speed with it..
Enjoy the pictures. They were taken today 7-23-2016

 

[nomad59NZ]

it is looking super SWEEEEEEEEEEETTT. Looks like there has been a fair bit of work go in under the dash area.
Keep us all well updated.

Gav

 

[Jim Sullivan]

Really looks nice!!!

 

[dm62409]

Great looking car, impressive bit of engineering there.

 

[desapience]

Guys:

Here's a couple pictures of the 409/446, with the lakewood scatter shield, and the richmond 6-speed (and 11" centerforce clutch with a McLeod hydraulic throw-out bearing.
It has all been tested on a test-stand, and the engine runs perfectly.... I begin the actual install in the car this coming weekend., but, do not plan on running the care for another
couple weeks after that. Once sorted out, it goes to Tempe Arizona (Ciadella), for the interior install.

 

[Quickshift409]

That is a Fine piece of work, would take it over a new car any day.

 

[desapience]

Old Timers!

Well, my Sunday yesterday was spent installing that 409-446 stroker motor into my "B lack-Beauty '55'-- FINALLY! There's still plenty of work
yet to do, but, the progress is accelerating now. I'll be doing some fabricating on the transmission cross-member due to the rearward location
of the transmission mount when using a Richmond 6-speed.. not a big deal. I plan on having it drive-able in another week or two.... Stay tuned.
Enjoy the pictures...

Denis

 

[desapience]

Hey Old Timers!

I've made some progress since my last post above... the car runs fine and all but I have still not finished the project. The interior remains unfinished and other odds and ends remain unfinished. Why?

Well, being 71 years old now helps to explain it. I've faced some serious medical problems since October 2018, and still to this day have yet to fully recover! I'm presently planning on getting to work on it again.... slowly.

My red-white '55' BA icon now belongs to my youngest son (age 24). I gave it to him and we are going over it -=- me teaching him, since I really cannot yet do much physical work anymore. We'll bring it back to show winning shape (remember now, it won two 1st prize awards at Supper Chevy 2006).

My '31' Chevy hotrod remains off to the side under-cover. I'm still considering finishing it, but, I may sell it as is...

I did finish my '39" Ford 'standard' coupe project -- all stock (save for some minor custom changes qand safer brakes (1939 Zephyr true Bedix-style brake system, and tail-lights). My '39' is now a supre nice car, truly a time machine!! I'll post soem updated pictures of my Black-Beauty '55' later...