Well first off iam new on here , so be a little easy on me. I picked up a 54 bel air on ebay for a steal in late October. The car was already chopped about 2 1/2 to 3 inches with the back window laid down. It was originally a 4 door and had been lowered about 3 inches up front and 2 1/2 out back. 2 bad bucket seats where inside. The only rust on her was a hole in the right side behind the back door very solid car. The motor is 500ci out of a 1975 caddy 3 speed turbo 400 trans and a dana 35 rear. Motor runs excellent, tranny had a new rebuild and the dana 35 sucks but its not broken and works fine FOR NOW. Wiring is new but sloppy and all crimp connectors . White walls had to go for now but will be replaced later in this thread. Pics are from ride home and before work was started. Many things have been done since pics and many many more to come i will keep refreshing thread. Enjoy and please add feed back- billy
Some work that has been done already is wiring all soldered up, fan relays installed , a basic one over checking if bolts are tight( and they are not at all ??) New drive shaft replaced the butcher job that was in it, brake and gas lines all new. Started from the bottom up so now the interior has been gutted and new but old black buckets will be going in . The back seat was fitted and being sent to get recovered this week to match the front, Doors where gutted and plexi installed in back. The only interior to stay is the chopped window trim. No headliner , door panel , rug will be installed. Posts and projects to still come : A bigger suspension drop, french head- tail lights, decked hood, Tj over at throttle jockeyoriginals will be punching me louvers, engine clean up, paint and light body work ,and some fresh WWW. That will probably be it till the fall ( i will be driving spring and summer) But then its back to the operating table that will include 4 link bagged rear, either mustang II or convert stock to air bag, a bumper grille change looking at 50 buick ( please make suggestions ) Some 56 packard tail lights if under 500 dollars lol. This list will grow as more things bug me. few more pics:
Nice start to an awesome cruiser! Any more pics of the engine compartment? About to drop a '76 Cad 500 into my '53, any pics you can get of the motor would be most helpful!
ha yeah gold tooth got the car like that i will be cleaning it off when body work starts. I will get more engine pics up. The area you have to watch is the left manifold its real tight by stearing linkage but it fits
i spent new years day with my father, chopping out old lights and frenching in some new buckets . Buckets are from a french kit but trim rings are going to be one off custom, i wanted to be able to do everything from the front once they are done you will not know the difference. Some severe pie cuts where needed to match up body. Have to give credit where credit is do to my father these came out smooth as hell and havent even been body worked yet
We did some valve cover work today , They had to be drilled out for the breather hole and pcv valve , and the inside had to be milled down a little bit. Its always nice to have a milling machine in your basement
I want a milling machine in my basement!! Great looking project! Keep the progress and updates coming.
well got the front pretty smooth now , one pieced the front bumper and got all the bolts off the front ,last on the list for the front is going to be the new grille
The Jalopy Journal
