Description: 1955Chevrolet 2 Door SedanThis vehicle was acquired in September of 1994 with an odometer reading of 63804. The car and its original owner had moved from their Texas home to a wheat ranch east of Great Falls, Montana. The owner's daughter, out of concern for his health since the passing of his wife, had them moved up to the ranch where she could better care for him. That same winter her father had a stroke and later too, passed away. The car spent the next eleven years in the barn and had yet to be titled or registered in Montana.The car, sporting Texas plates, a six cylinder and a three speed on the column was driven from its home in the barn to Missoula after most of what was left from the mouse inhabited interior had been removed. While preparing for the drive to Missoula less than $100.00 was spent getting the car ready for the trip. The addition of a new battery, battery cables, and a complete tune-up along with an oil change were all that was needed.Once the car arrived in Missoula, it was driven around town for about a month on the Texas plates, then the long process of a frame-off restoration was under taken. I decided to build the car to look like something from the mid 1960's. The car was found to be rust free and without any previous body damage. The paper jacking instructions were found still glued to the inside of the trunk along with the original spare tire, jack and lug wrench. Later, when the heater core was removed and sent to the radiator shop to be rodded out, the shop owner called to say that it wasn't necessary. He wondered where the car had come from as he doubted if the gate valve had ever been opened or the heater core had ever been wet! It was guessed that since the car had spent all of its useful life in Texas, the heater must never have been used.The following work, changes and modifications have been made to the vehicle....After the car was completely disassembled and inventoried, the body was removed from the frame, mounted on a rotisserie, media blasted, primed and painted.The frame was sand blasted and painted. The front suspension was completely rebuilt and disc brakes, new spindles, springs, shocks and a sway bar were added. The front A-arms were powder coated as well. The stock rear end was gone through and the wheel bearings and seals were replaced. New rear brakes and a sway bar and shocks were installed. A Corvette power brake master cylinder kit from Williams Classics was added. Stainless steel brake lines were fabricated with a kit from Pure Choice.Before the body was remounted to the frame with a new rubber kit from Danchuk, new fuel lines were installed. Then an Optima battery and a master switch were installed in the trunk along with one inch battery cables forward to the engine bay. A billet aluminum high torque mini starter is used to crank the engine over.The stock six was replaced with a 350 Chevrolet bored .30 over with forged pistons and a 9.5 to 1 compression ratio. An Edelbrock Performer cam and intake manifold were used.A Holley 570 cfm Street Avenger carb, Holley fuel pump, remote canister fuel filter and Holley fuel pressure gauge were plumbed with stainless steel tubing. A Pertronix Electronic Billet distributor and an MSD Blaster II coil serve the ignition system. A Muncie four speed with a Hurst shifter that was available in the 60's was employed. The reconditioned stock drive line along with new u-joints used to complete the assembly.The exhaust system begins with new '62 Corvette fuelie rams horn manifolds. The lead to custom built 3 1/2 inch dump tubes with stainless steel caps through 3 inch tubing. The remainder of the exhaust is run through 2 1/2 inch aluminized pipe and mufflers out the rear of the car.The steering is handled with a new Mullens OEM type gear box with a rag joint and an Ididit tilt column and LeCerra three spoke, leather wrapped, billet steering wheel.I decided to upgrade the level of the interior to Del Ray, a model above the original 150 style, instead of having a period tuck n' roll done. Before the Del Ray OEM interior kit ordered from Cadila's could be installed, sound dampening and thermal insulation materials were installed through out the interior cabin including the firewall, floor and roof area as well. The trunk was carpeted and seat belts from Juliano's were also added at this time. Other additions to the interior include kick panel lighting, a new electronic but stock appearing clock and Bel Air dash trim. A compliment of Moon Eyes gauges in a billet under the dash panel and a matching column mounted Moon Eyes tach were added too. The stock radio location is filled with a Customs Sounds' Kenwood AM/FM radio, cassette player with a remote 6 disc CD player hidden under the front seat. The sound system is powered by a Rockford Fosgate 300 watt amplifier mounted in a base box in the trunk. The sound then comes through six matched Clarion speakers.An American Wire Works '55 Chevrolet wiring kit was used to completely re-wire the car. The deluxe kit was used which includes a 22 fuse panel so that other accessories such as air condition, power windows, seats and even a fuel injection system could be added in the future by just plugging them in. This kit included ignition, light, dimmer and heater control switches. Unlike the other manufacturers, this kit also provided for the re-use of the original ignition key for all stock lock functions. Only the rewired dome light fixture and gas tank sender remain as original equipment in the system. The headlights are new Halogen units. The parking, signal and tail lights are new LED units and the stock horns were replaced as well. A third brake light has been mounted to the package tray too. All the connections that are not factory made were soldered and protected with a heat shrink tubing during installation. All wires are neatly bundled and secured with wire ties.Other modifications that come to mind but not limited to are...all new rubber was installed prior to the glass including cat whiskers. The front and rear windshields were replaced with new pieces. All door handles and window cranks are new OEM reproductions. All new OEM screws and fasteners were used during re-assembly. The air vents have been rebuilt. All heater and vent cables and ducting are new as well.Lokar satin finish dimmer switch, brake and clutch pedals were used as well as their accelerator pedal assembly and throttle cable kits.In the highly detailed engine bay you will find a new radiator with the addition of a fan shroud. The engine sports period detailed Corvette finned aluminum valve covers, aluminum wire looms, chrome oil pan and timing cover, 100 amp chromed alternator and bracket and a Billet specialties air cleaner with a KN filter element. The hose connections were made with new black heat shrink clamps instead of the typical metal clamps for a cleaner look. Stainless steel nuts, bolts and fasteners were used throughout, where ever appropriate. Rather than the stock black, the entire engine compartment was painted to match the exterior of the car when the vehicle was disassembled. This adds to its clean appearance.The wheels are 8 inch American Torque Thrusts with aluminum center caps for that sixties look. The rear tires are P235/70 15's and the fronts are P205/60 15's. The Fatman's front springs and spindles lower the nose of the car 2 inches from the stock ride height.The interior upholstery color is the stock Del Ray green and beige combination. The interior and exterior paint colors were changed from the stock green to Champagne Beige. The RM Diamont base/clear 3 stage paint system was employed. Pearle silver ghost flames run from the nose of the car through the hood and down the sides into the doors and are tipped in light teal to play off the green found in the car's interior. Prior to painting, the only modifications made to the body were that the rear license plate bracket was removed from the deck lid and the script Chevrolet was also removed from both front fenders and the holes filled. The 150 model stainless side body moldings were also replaced with Bel Air pieces.Please contact Lloyd for more information. Lloyd Bruce 406-721-9889 54358@ads.ClassyAuto.com
