55 Chevy Belair Information

Car	1955 Chevy model 150 with Belair trim VIN: R20455VA Purchased September 2002 from Pat Flack in Leesburg, FL – 352-787-9039 Cowl tag: Style # - 55-1211 Model 150 2 door sedan Body # - 8200 Trim # - 500 G Light gray pattern cloth Paint # - 683 Cashmere Blue Note: cowl tag may not be original tag
Paint	Two tone Maroon and White Date painted - unknown Maroon – paint code unknown, could be 63-64 Chevy Maroon White – paint code unknown
Engine	Small Block Chevy 305 from 1985 Chevy Caprice station wagon donor car Engine ID: K1101CDD K - engine manufactured at St Catherins, Ontario Canada 11 - November 08 - 8th day of November CDD - Engine Suffix Code CDD is one of the following: FY Stamp CID Application VIN HP BBLS Body/Comments ---- ----- --- ---------------- ----- --- ---- ------------- 1972 CDD 350 t/h NB2 L48 200 - Camaro/Impala 1972 CDD 350 tur hydro, Calif 175 4 Chevelle 1972 CDD 350 t/h NB2 165 2 Monte 1982 CDD 267 Roch E2ME carb. J - 2 B G/Omega 1985 CDD 305 Roch E4ME carb. H LG4 150 4 B G F References: http://www.nastyz28.com/sbchevy/sblock.html http://www.nastyz28.com/sbchevy/spcode1.html (note: search for CDD) Heads – stock from 1985 SBC 305 Intake – stock from 1985 SBC 305 Carburetor – stock from 1985 SBC 305
Starter	Probably came from donor 1985 Caprice engine
Battery	Optima Batteries Part # - Red 34/78 Model # - 9083547 Spiracell technology – maintenance free Installed – unknown
Alternator	1-wire Replaced October 2002, purchased from Autozone.
Ignition	HEI - believe to come from donor engine Spark plugs – unknown
Fuel Delivery	Stock fuel tank with stock fuel sender Fuel line – 5/16” inside frame (not good) Fuel pump – unknown, believe to come from donor engine
Cooling	Water Pump Stewart Stage 1 long water pump – new Dec 2002 Radiator Appears to be the original radiator – probably has been re-cored at some point Dec 2002 – flow tested, flushed, flow tested, pressure tested to 20psi – all ok Lower hose – Gates 20974, remove 1” from radiator end, 2” from WP end Upper hose – haven’t located a replacement yet Thermostat Mr. Gasket 180 hi-flow thermostat (aka Robershaw) – new Dec 2002 Fan Derale 17” Flex Fan with 2” spacer
Belts	37 inch for PSP (crank to PSP) 46 inch for alternator (crank-water pump-alternator)
Suspension	Front Disc brakes believed to be from 69-72 Chevelle donor car Passenger wheel bearing replaced Nov 2002 BCA bearings - (outer=A2, inner=A6) Driver wheel bearing replaced Jan 2003 Timken bearings – (outer=SET2, inner=SET6) Rear GM 12 bolt, 3.73 gear ratio, posi-traction Completely rebuilt Nov 2002 by Advanced Driveline, Orlando FL Drum brakes Both rear wheel bearings replaced Nov 2002 with rear end rebuild Shocks Front – unknown Rear – Monroe air shocks Shock bar is recommended for rear – see future projects
Steering	Tilt steering wheel Power steering box from 69-72 Chevelle donor car Power Steering Pump GM Saginaw - probably from Chevelle donor car.
Brakes	Power front and rear: Front – disc, Rear – drum Front disc pads replaced Aug 2002 by Pat Flack Rear pads – good shape as of Nov 2002, see pictures from rear end rebuild Disc brakes believed to be from 69-72 Chevelle donor car.
Transmission	GM 700R4 from 1985 Caprice station wagon donor car Gear ratios: 1^st – 3.06 2^nd – 1.62 3^rd – 1.00 4^th – 0.70 All external seals and gaskets replaced by AAMCO October 2002 to fix transmission leak.
Wheels	Cragar Series 61 S/S Super Sport – all four Front – 14x8 Rear – 14x8
Tires	All four - Goodyear Wingfoot HP P225/70R14 Unknown when they were installed http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Goodyear&tireModel=Wingfoot+HP
Exhaust	Dual exhaust Headers – unknown Mufflers – unknown
Stereo	Head unit – Sony CDX-MP70 Amps: Precision Power Inc (PPI) Driver side – 75x2 channel, drives subs Middle – 35x4 channel, drives front and rear Passenger side – 75x2 channel, not powered up Subs: TBD Rears: TBD Fronts: MB Quarts Centers: MB Quarts Tweeters: none Amps and speakers came with the car when I purchased it. Sony head unit was purchased/installed Nov 2002.

Project/Repairs completed

· New alternator and belts – Oct 2002, self-installed

· New ignition switch and lock – Oct 2002, self-installed

· New gaskets/seals for transmission – Oct 2002, work done by AAMCO in Orlando, FL

· Rear end rebuild – Oct 2002, work done by Advanced Driveline in Orlando, FL

· New stereo head unit – Sony CDP-MP70 – Nov 1^st, 2002, self installed by Ian Cole with assistance from Jeff.

· Dec 2002 – redo tail light wiring, install new bulbs, install new tag light assembly

· Dec 2002 – new Stewart Stage 1 water pump, new Mr Gasket thermostat, new lower radiator hose, radiator flushed, flow tested, and pressure tested to 20psi.

· Jan 2003 – replaced driver front wheel bearings

Future Projects – drivability/reliability/safety

· Engine

new intake – Edelbrock Performer non-EGR (#2701)

new carb – Edelbrock Performer 600cfm, electric choke (#1406)

valve covers – Edelbrock Elite series (#4248)

fuel pump – Edelbrock Performer Street (#1721)

all above already purchased - $700 from Automotive One Speed Parts

· Fuel delivery

replace fuel line end to end to fix a leak mid-frame

new fuel tank and sending unit (new tank is $140, sending unit is $70)

· Front suspension

at a minimum replace ball joints – left and right ($TBD)

professional alignment - $62 from Robert at Tredalign

front end kit from Performance Suspension Technology www.p-s-t.com ($219)

PST sells a 68 minute how-to video for $20

· Neutral safety switch ($50)

· Gas pedal – adjust for better control, possibly replace with billet pedal ($TBD)

· Brake pedal – research that bolt problem that Ian found while working on the under dash wiring ($TBD)

· Halogen headlights – possibly requires relay ($40)

· Spare tire and jack

Cragar wheel (14x8) - $111 from Summit CRR-61816

Goodyear tire - $60

scissor jack - $40

· Shock bar – the shocks are currently mounted to the body, not good according to comments on Chevy Talk ($40)

http://www.classicperform.com/product-pages/fullsize/1955-57-Universal-Rear-Shock-Crossmember.htm

http://www.classicperform.com/5557USC.html

· 3-point seat belts

$90/each for belts from Juliano’s plus welding

how-to install - http://www.julianos.com/how2_55chev.html

would do fronts first

possible solution is new seats with integrated seat belts but that introduces re-upholestry

· Brakes

Front disc rotors – turn/replace - they both have a “groove” on both sides (AZ says $55 each for new rotors)

Rear passenger wheel cylinder is leaking

Emergency brake – does it work? ($TBD)

Future Projects - cosmetic

· Stereo – replace blown driver side MB quart ($50)

· Get odometer working – probably requires new speedo gears ($TBD)

http://www.chevytalk.com/tech/transmission/speedo_gears.html

· Quarter windows – get them working ($TBD)

· Hood lock from Danchuk ($30)

· Security system ($TBD)

· Adjust trunk lid for better fit (hopefully $0)

· Trunk interior (carpet $TBD, lid insulation $30)

· Redo amp mounting in trunk to make room for spare tire ($TBD)

· Weather striping and window felt ($350 for kit from H&H Classic, $125 for just the fur kit)

Mr Nomad (www.mrnomad.com) - $222

Window channel kit - #10720 - $99

Vent window seals - #10287 - $49

Door rubber – #10022 - $44

Door J seal –#10253 - $12

Trunk rubber – #10185 - $18

· Vintage A/C – need before summer 2003 ($1,200 plus god only knows what for new accessory brackets and pulleys)

· New outside mirrors – driver and passenger side ($20/each for non-show quality mirrors)

· Window tinting – need to fix quarter windows and window felt first ($150 est.)

· Sway bars – front and rear ($TBD, Kantor sells sway bar kits $135/each)

· Fan shroud – standard shroud from CCI won’t work because radiator support has been cut (drivers side) to make room for steering box from Chevelle donor car.

· Exhaust – new headers and Flowmaster exhaust ($TBD)

· Replacement console – better gauges, possible removal of custom console today with three gauges and stereo ($500-$600)

· Front seat re-upholstery ($TBD)

· New dash trim ($100-$150)

· Locks – re-key to all be the same (local locksmith $TBD)

· New interior – replace black with either gray or white ($TBD)

· New hood bird ($125)

Links

Jeffrey Phipps – Custom Hot Rod Interiors

http://www.phippsproducts.com/Custom%20Interiors.htm

Interior

http://www.picturetrail.com/thadd

seats from an El Camino – not sure what year

owner - thaddspad@cox.net

http://www.seats4cars.com/products/sportseat.htm

http://www.seats4cars.com/products/gtb.htm

3 Point Seat Belts

2002 Buick Lesabre – have integrated 3-points both front and back (front doesn’t fold forward)

Oldsmobile Aurora – has integrated 3-points