Projects 1955 Pontiac gasser build

Looks great Bill....thanks for those spiders..again!!!!!

Koop

 

Wow,that baby has come a long way man.great job. now radius them wheel wells!. And for a while I thought ya shaved your door handles and I was bummed,but I noticed ya got em back on.

 

Thanks for the videos, really neat car and a Pontiac, even better, thanks for the build and pic's.

 

Here's a small update. I had to go back into the engine and reset the cam timing. I didn't have a degree wheel at the time and went ahead and installed it. It was advanced 4 degrees too far. I'll never trust a 3 way crank gear again for accuracy without a degree wheel.

I cleaned up the ports in the heads, pushrod bulge and a little bowl work , lapped the valves and put in some new seals. I also slotted the heads for a bigger rocker ratio for down the road. You can't go from a 1.5 to a 1.65 without doing this or the pushrods will rub against the heads. I didn't get back to the track yet to make sure it's all fixed. Mostly just wanted to post up this video I made running in the driveway.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5VTYG6P89g&hd=1

 

Sweeeet .

 

About time for another update, still working out a few issues with the engine. I added some 1:6 sbf roller rockers with polylocks so my rockers won't come loose again. I have another nostalgia race to go to next month and hopefully it will run what it's supposed to.

For those wondering about the wheelwells I went ahead and pulled the trigger. I want to put some shiny paint on this eventually and wanted this taken care of so I have room for some slicks like these 28 10.5's when I get my 455 done.

These are 15 x 8 Chevy truck shells with Ford centers that I reversed so I can get the tire away from the leafspring. Just mocking up for now.

Also I finished up the radius with 5/16 brake like than some duraglas than some bondo to finish it off. The front and rear of the wheelwell is pretty much stock location, I didn't want to go to high and into the side trim. I had to replace a little of the front area because of the bump in the metal for the factory opening. Thanks for looking, Bill

 

Nice work on the wheel well openings! I'm looking to do mine soon! I'd like to see some pics of the finished product.

 

I like it Bill. I think it will look much better when cleaned up and finished. You won't be sorry. Mark L

 

Liking the radius, the 28 x 10.5 is the size I run on my Henry J as well.

 

I'm so proud of you! Did you cut them yourself or did a friend do it while you looked away? Looks great!

 

The car looks great with those wheel well openings.

Nice metal work and a true looking gasser from the good old day's

Keep you the great work and keep on trucking!!!!!!!

Jimbo

 

Thanks for the comments, i've had the radius outlines drawn on the 1/4's before. But this time I started cutting before I had a chance to change my mind again LOL.

 

I made a few more changes and added some exhaust pipe off the headers hopefully to help out performance wise. I added about 20" of pipe to go thru the x frame and some turndowns. The wieirdest part now how much it has helped the idle, it would always take a few minutes of running before it would idle now only about 20 seconds.

My future 455 build is going to need some room for some slicks....

Before



After

 

Looking good...

 

YES,glad ya finally cut them! looks the part big time now!

 

Thanks, I ended up selling the cragars and put together some more steel wheels. The back are reversed 15 x 8's and made some front 15 x 4 steel wheels. This pic has 15 x 6's on it, getting the 4" wheels ready for paint. Also picked up some ET round 5 spoke fronts that will end up on there at some point.

My engine will start going together this week. .060 455 for 469 ci. Ported 670 heads and flattop Icon pistons with 0 deck will be about 11.7:1. Eagle H beam rods also along with solid flat cam will be 255/263 @ .050 and about .575/600" lift w/1.65 rockers. Once dialed in it should at least get me in the 11's and will probably start figuring in a rollcage.

Really just trying to getting the engine done and running for the Meltdown Drags. I sold the 389 to get this 455 done.

 

Wow I haven't checked on you in a while that baby has come a long way look in good

 

Looking good! What converter are you going to run with the new motor?

 

I had a 2800 with the old engine, i'm putting in a 3900 stall. Keeping the 3:73's and 28 x 10.5S slicks. If I was only running 1/8 mile I have some 4:30's I could put in. That's with the 8.8. I have a 9" to put together and if that goes in I have 3:90's for that.

 

Yup, I was thinking between 3800 and 4500, depending on your rear end gear and weight of the car. I'm guessing around 3600 lbs?

 

Nice!!!!!!!!!

 

Shipping weight was #3586 listed new, minus the f&r seat plus ft racing seats, minus lower front bumper. Also that weight is with an automatic, the 4 speed hydro is very heavy and weighs over 300?lbs I would think a th400 saves at least a 100 lbs? Aluminum radiator and master cylinder. Minus heater system. Never had it weighed yet to find out, maybe 3400-3500?

 

Here's a few updates on my ongoing build, I don't think it will ever be done lol. Got my 455 built .060 over eagle h beams and icon pistons, 11.7:1 compression. 2nd style Hurst engine mounts. Ran a best of 12.4 at the Meltdown Drags, have to go thru the carb again and the converter was too tight. Should get down to mid 11's when done.

 

Man I really like that last picture!

 

Congrats on getting to race it, seems you had a blast and that's what it's all about !

 

Bud that is one bada$$ car. I agree that last pick is cool. Be watching for more updates.

 

Beautiful!

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steelies look much better than the crags before

 

Fantastic..From Start till finish

 

what'd it turn......great car