Hot Rods 1957 Chevy 150 Gasser Build "Midnight Special"

Engine is in! I had time on Friday to work on the car. I modified the firewall, pulled the mockup block out, and welded up all the holes for the original firewall pad retainers. I then painted the firewall with SPI black epoxy. While the paint was drying I mated the engine and trans, installed mounts, ate lunch etc. After lunch I got the engine on the hook and wheeled over and installed in the car for the final time. With the full weight of the engine the front end did finally drop some. I didn't put the fender back on, but I do believe I am going to be very happy with the stance now that the front end is down some and the rear is up some. I will have to buy shorter front shocks though.

 

Move the upper shock mount a little higher.

 

Well I haven't done a good job of keeping this thread updated, mostly because wiring and plumbing isn't that glamorous. Basically since the last post that is what I have been working on. Got the brakes done and was able to get the front disc conversion installed. First engine startup was on June 6 and I was very pleased with everything. Startup was very smooth with no issues, and it revs super crisp and quick!. It will start with one pump and instantly settle into a 600RPM idle.

I spent some time working on that last Friday. I agreed with Tickety that the shocks weren't really too short, but that they could be mounted higher, but they were leaking oil so I decided to replace them anyways. I still had the front shocks off of the Malibu so I raised the upper mounting point and modified it for a stud mount instead of a bolt through and installed them.

So last night was an epic night. The car moved under its own power in probably the first time in 40 years? I took it to a "closed course" we have near our shop and experimented blazing the tires with rolling burnouts. It is very wicked! The additional good news is that the brakes work great and it seems to steer really nicely. I need to get the windshield installed so I can take it up to a higher speed and make sure the frontend stays stable. That will be my next task.

I am very pleased with the profile of the car, The stance is great and I love being able to see the long ladder bars from the side. The slicks I have are 2" bigger so it will sit 1inch higher in the rear.

 

Some video of the alleged test.

 

Feels great, doesn't it? Cool vid.

 

Well I got the windshield in and I was able to take it out for a speed test. Everything went well. No death wobble, no bump steer, pulls straight. The steering gear has a little play in it, but not excessive, I will probably have to rebuild or replace it in the future. I am amazed at how much harder the rectangle port head/solid roller 496 pulls over the oval port/hydraulic roller 454. It feels like I picked up 100 horses easy. Of course the 454 was self destructing so that makes a difference too.

 

That 496 sounds awesome! Car looks great too.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

Awesome

 

496 is a good combo. I also have had good results with a 477 . Good build, I like it.

 

Looks and sounds great in that video !

 

Awesome!!! Brakes work too haha


Sent from my iPhone using The H.A.M.B. mobile app

 

Got all the glass in, the back windows are fixed like a businessman's sedan. I tinted the side glass green. Looks wicked. I also got all the wiring done, driveshaft loop in, exhaust done, about got the 5point harness done, slicks mounted, got the body work done. A couple things left to do this week and then I am taking it the track this Saturday for some shakedown runs. Then next Monday I am taking it a signpainter to get some stuff painted on it. Hopefully I will be able to get the side trim on it soon as well. I can't wait to see it with the side trim and the lettering.

Twins

 

Put in a long day on Friday. I got the harness done and seats bolted down officially. I got all of the trim on, headlights in. I did lots of little things and worked out various bugs. On Saturday I took it to MK John Studio to have some lettering hand painted on. I should have it back on Wednesday or Thursday. I can't wait to see what he does!

 

Nice job on it for sure, just looks tough as nails

 

Very nice! The car looks great! Except for the trim on the sides. The trim looks terrible on a gasser..... you should give it to me!

Sent from my SM-G550T using The H.A.M.B. mobile app

 

So cool!What a ground pounder!

 

Going to pick up the car from the sign painter today, he did everything I wanted, under budget. Can't wait to see it!

 

love this project, the 150 is my fave 57. best wishes on the build

 

WOW! Sign painter knocked it out of the park! It is so cool to see something that has been a vision in my head for so long become a reality!

 

VERY COOL

 

should be a great project. I have a pair of slots like yours that are 15X8 if you are interested

 

Very cool!The sign painter added a stylised version of the Southern Pacific Daylight paint scheme to the F unit GM diesel locomotive.!

 

Sure enough. I didn't specify the colors, but I knew I wanted the F unit engine.

 

Very cool!Nice touch!

 

The lettering turned out great, congratulations on that

 

Looks very nice ,thanks for sharing your build.

 

Wicked cool.
I particularly like the way the roll cage's vertical bars are tucked up close & hidden right behind the B-posts.

 

Well I made it to the Tri-five Nats with the car and it was very well received. I had to fight new car bugs all weekend. It started with the alternator on Wednesday night. We took the car out to get something to eat and a noticed that the tach started bouncing around and the temp was climbing, so I turned around and went back to camp. We charged up the battery overnight and drove it to O'reillys on Thursday morning. Replaced the alternator and battery in the parking lot there. After that we drove up to the host hotel and it was a great experience pulling in and seeing everyone's head snap and look at me. We left the hotel to get teched for racing and pulled up in front of what we thought was the tech shed just in time for a major downpour. After waiting that out we moved to where the new tech shed is and when I got out of the car one of the front tires was leaking! Stupid paper thin drag front tires! Luckily I had a air tank in the trunk so after getting teched we put some air in the tire and went off in search of a plug in the rain. After asking around we found someone who had a plug kit so we got it fixed temporarily. After finding out that the Thursday night races were cancelled we headed up to the host hotel again and to find something to eat. We had a good time at the hotel and around 8:30 it was getting pretty wild and people were lining the street to see some burnouts. As we left the peer pressure got to me and I broke in the new slicks right there to the delight of the crowd. As we pulled in to camp we were reminded of our temporary repair as the plug failed. After making the short walk back to the camper Dad and I remembered the tube that we had in the trailer so we broke down the wheel and tire by hand and installed the tube that night before going to bed.
I woke up early Friday morning excited about making my first passes with the car. After backing the car out of the trailer and shutting it off I noticed that the fuel pump didn't sound right. Sure enough electric fuel pump motor seized. So I trudge over to the show and start hitting up vendors looking for an electric fuel pump. Luckily I was able to find what I was looking for and get it installed in a reasonable amount of time.
After waiting out a few sprinkles I finally get a hit at the track about 11:30. I was the in the third set down the track. Did an awesome burnout past the lights that the crowd loved. Cut a great light and pulled about a 1' wheels up launch. Tires shook when it came back down, but I drove through it to a 11.03 @ 115 which happened to be my best ever personal pass. A great start for a new car, but I wasn't a big fan of the tire shake. We adjusted the front shocks to the loosest setting, adjusted the toe in a bit and gave it another try. Shook again and slowed to 11.23. Measured toe again and it was toed out again, so adjusted it again and tried again. Shook so hard this time I had to let out of it. Got to looking at it after the run and the steering rod was bending causing bump steer and toeing out the tires. We asked around to the vendors but none of them had anything with them, so my racing weekend was over. I parked in the gasser gathering and spectated the rest of the weekend.
Overall it was a great weekend and I enjoyed every minute of it. I had two goals and that was to get a 10 second slip and qualify for the quick 16 gasser shootout and I wasn't able to do either. But I do feel good knowing that the car was capable of doing both of those things if the steering wasn't fighting me.
I plan on making a heavy duty steering arm and getting out again this year and making that 10 second pass!

You can see here that the steering arm is bent.

 

Very Cool