Customs The Family Truckster...

Great to read how you are enjoying your ride and “seeing the USA in your Chevrolet”

Nice story and reporting.

 

Nice story and great pictures.

 

Thanks all, she's been a good car these last few months (the trip was in June/July). Since then I've fixed a few items that came up from our trip most notably the exhaust. The previous owner had put on long tube headers that went under the stock mid-mount crossmember, causing the exhaust to hang REALLY low. This is what caused the broken hanger (it actually pulled a section of the pipe with it when it snapped off) and would cause the header collectors to scrape on any speed bump or passing insect. The rear of the exhaust also rubs on the rear bumper and causes a horrible rattle at a cold idle.

I replaced the long tube headers with some short ones from patriot and scabbed up a section of pipe to connect the headers to the existing tailpipes. I ordered up the longest glass packs that I could find in 2 1/4", some 30" Smithy's and am just waiting for the USPS to find the one of the two that got lost in the mail before heading to the exhaust shop to make a final product.

In the meantime I've just been using the car as my mostly daily around town...




...and when I head up to the boatyard to work on the other (bigger) project:

 

Once the exhaust is done, and not rubbing on every pebble and rattling me insane, I'll be undertaking the route to a nice mild customization. A slight drop of 2" all around, chrome steelies, some wacky linoleum in the cargo bay, and maybe a metallic copper or bronze top above the drip rails and the same color for the interior garnish moldings and lower dash.

 

Most unusual photograph !!! We love the SF Bay area...

Hey R,

That was one of the most enjoyable road trip stories we have seen since Jeff Thisted’s cool roadtrips a long time ago. His was in a 2 door 55 Chevy wagon and your cool 55 Chevy wagon just had some similarities. My wife and I have always liked the Pacific Northwest and have gone up there, numerous times in 2000, 2003, 2007, 2011, etc. Each time it was something different to see and do. The climate was always nice to us.

This road trip you took and the photos, just brought up the cool stuff on the North-South direction this state has for everyone. When we were in Washington, just above the super tall, Astoria Bridge crossing, we just had to make a pit stop in Long Beach, Washington. It certainly is different than the coastal Long Beach, CA where we grew up. But those northern trips were always fun and adventurous.

Jnaki

I am glad your family was able to see LA fairly empty. It is a nice place when there aren’t a lot of traffic slow-downs and people taking up space. But, that is what we have been used to for 60+ years. We just adapted to the congestion and made different plans during off hours. It, too, is a nice place to visit.

You can’t go wrong visiting the famous Philippe’s French Dip Restaurant near the Union Station at any time during the year. Our dad took us there many times starting in 1953. For a little kid, finishing those French Dip Sandwiches was great! I even had half of my mom’s sandwiches each time.

You and your family were/are lucky to be able to enjoy So Cal at an oddball, restrictive time period in our whole So Cal history. Thanks for the great story line and photos. Stay safe and enjoy that 55 Chevy wagon.