Like I need another project, but when I saw this '55 4 door, the price was right, it was basically solid, couple of rust holes, but doors, hood, trunk all solid, nothing wimpy about this car, she's just old, but Old Gold as far as I can see, and had been a local guy's fishing car for a lot of years, before he parked it in a pasture for 16 years! Well, my initial thinking was that I'd keep th 235 six and 3 speed, she wouldn't be fast, but there's been so much horsepower around my place lately, it will be fun to sort out a six, haven't done that for at least 45 years.....
But then the "Gasser" bug hit, watched "2 Lane Blacktop", then watched it again, and just got drawn in that direction.....
Then my buddies got together and got me my own personal copy of "2 Lane Blacktop" that resides in the DVD player in my shop, where I can crank it up from time to time if I need some encouragement.....
OK, now that the "Gasser" bug has bit me, and as I have some willing buddies around that are available to help; and a whole lotta parts scattered/stashed around here and there, it looks like this five-five "more-door" is gonna get a solid front axle, and the blown Olds motor I've been working on occasionally, when I can find a few "spare" minutes....
'55 gasser drawing courtesy of Bill Stinson.
Well, after a lot of "research" (several fridges full of beer over a couple of weeks of work on the car) the name "Hip Shaker" has evolved. Several Hawaiian language versions of that, the one that appeals to me the most is KIKALA HO'OLULI, with ho'oluli being "extreme body shaking"....
With one of these hula dolls shaking away on the rear package shelf....
"Shakey Puddin' ", a '55 Chevy gasser very nicely done (I particularly like the injector stacks sticking up through the hood...) is an inspiration for me. I've been in contact with the owner/builder, a really nice guy. He put a nice build thread on the "HAMB", the photos below are links to that thread if you're interested.....
LINK TO THE SHAKEY PUDDIN' 55 GASSER BUILD
Car runs a 9.80 at 132, Impressive!
The Latest Updates on the "2Loose Gasser Project" start here:
Besides the parts to build up a 6-71 blown Olds 425 motor, I also have a Doug Nash (nowadays Richmond Gear) five speed tranny left over from another project, perfect for a street gasser like this rig......
Here's some links to many pages on this project.
Both the photos and the text are links to the other pages, please click on either to open them up. I will update them as often as I can:
UPDATE: Got the ignition, fuel system, tranny shift linkage, throttle linkage, radiators hooked up and working enough to fire up the motor and do a couple of burnouts. Unfortunately we forgot to take the camera along, so only got these cell phone shots one guy finally remembered he could do. But it fired upnicely on the first try, sounds nasty, and burns the ET cheaters with surprising ease....
UPDATE LINK: Did Some Smokey Burnouts!
LINK to youtube video on STARTIN' THIS MOTOR UP!!!
UPDATE: side glass in the four doors needed replacement, so working on that, and the cooling fan motors were way too close to the blower drive belt, so moved them as far apart as I could on the radiator....
UPDATE LINK: Final Build, Let's Get This Car On The Road (page 1).....
The motor and tranny are together and in the car,now hooking up all the vitals.....
UPDATE LINK: Olds 425 Motor Final Build (Page 5)
Assembling The Blower Motor (Page 2)
Reworking an Olds 425 to take a 6-71 huffin on it. (Page 1)
Trying to get the wiring done on my ol' gal here....
Putting In the Gages and Electrical System......
Loaded the car up and headed to the track for my NHRA Chassis Certification....
GOT IT! Am chassis certified to go for 8.50 seconds or slower....
First Trip To The Maui Track.....
Gettin The Front Brakes to Work .......
More Patches, More Patches (page 2).......
Pulling the old upholstery off the front and rear seats, wire brushing, and hand painting POR15 on the seat springs, Nasty Stuff, and covering them with some tasty vinyl.....
Interior Views, Seats Modified and Upholstered!!!
Fabbing A Pair Of Drive Shaft Safety Hoops
Patching Up All The Sheet Metal Holes (page 1).....
Building A Set Of Fenderwell Headers....
Twelve Point Cage Build Coming Along, Finally Done....
Dog Dish Hubcaps? Air Filter Rain Covers? Looks Good To Me........
Setting Up The Rear Axle and Suspension page 2
Setting Up The Rear Axle and Suspension page 1
Cutting A Hole In The Hood, and Setting The Fenders....
Bunch more updates here, adding new pix as the project progresses:
Setting up the suspension and steering page 2
Setting up the suspension and steering page 1
Fabbing spring supports, welding it all in place:
Fitting the New Front Frame and Setting Up the Axle
The Mad Frame Whacker Attacks......
Starting to Fit Parts Here and There
OK, so I just had to play with this photo a bit.....
"Cut and Paste" the Front Axle, It Was Too Wide !!!
When I Found This '59 Ford F100 Front Axle, The Price Was Right....
Trial fit for the 6-71, a Don Hampton special.
Pulled apart a '67 Olds 400 motor for spare parts.....
Did Some Porting Work on some Edelbrock Olds Heads
Page Two, Started Thinking Restoration...... But Only At First.....
Page One, this is how I found this ol' sweetie....
Here's a Road Worthy Cherry Picker, great for moving motors around over rough ground....
More later.....
Willy
