1955 Chevy Bel Air Project Update - Adding the Shiny Stuff

"camaroboy68ss" (camaroboy68ss) 01/29/2018 at 23:50 • Filed to: Project, Restoration, Chevrolet, Chevy, Tri-five, Bel Air, Sbc, save the manuals

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Its been a few month since the last update on the 55 Chevy project, but a lot of progress has been made! The big things have been getting the hardtop “flappers” adjusted and working, getting all the glass and trim on and then reassembling the front end of the car. Currently waiting on new hood hinges to shop up to be able to mount the hood. Interior is the biggest hold up currently with issues in materials not matching and then finding a chrome shop somewhat locally to plate the Bel Air specific headliner bows.

Also have gotten the motor fired up but wont stay running and will not idle at all, so troubleshooting that at the moment.

Here are some more progress pictures.

lone_liberal > camaroboy68ss 01/30/2018 at 00:11

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Absolutely beautiful. How are the springs for the hood hinges? When I changed hinges on my Camaro I had to use my damn engine hoist to expand the springs enough to install them.

camaroboy68ss > lone_liberal 01/30/2018 at 00:20

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Dont know, we sold the stock hinges with the springs still attached. We orderd chrome springs and waiting on the polished stainless hinges currently. Though usually chrome springs are a little weaker. I have also pulled springs off other hinges with a vice and screwdriver to get one end to slip off.

lone_liberal > camaroboy68ss 01/30/2018 at 00:55

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I got them off the old bent hinges ok but couldn’t quite get them to hook over the new hinges no matter how I pulled. Close, but not quite. Some hydraulics took care of it. I wouldn’t doubt that the pretty stuff would be a little less stiff and, really, I never had ones as bad as the ones for my Camaro.

Rustholes-Are-Weight-Reduction > camaroboy68ss 01/30/2018 at 02:49

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Nice work! Also: jealous of your progress, I keep on having setbacks on my ‘60 project

pip bip - choose Corrour > camaroboy68ss 01/30/2018 at 03:47

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please excuse my ignorance but what are these “flappers” that you mention?

camaroboy68ss > pip bip - choose Corrour 01/30/2018 at 06:43

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On a few GM hardtops chrome piece on the top above the drivers and passenger door is actually hinged and spring loaded. You open the door and the flap goes up giving you a little bit more room to get into the car. When you shut the door the wing window hits a tab and then pulls the flap down

crowmolly > camaroboy68ss 01/30/2018 at 09:58

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Looks amazing. Going to be another magazine feature car I hope.

CaptDale - is secretly British > camaroboy68ss 01/30/2018 at 18:34

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Wow just beautiful!