Ironworks & Fairway Chevrolet build a 55 Chevy street sleeper monster.
 

After we got the Chevelle wrapped up and she got all the press she did for a 16 year old paint resto project, the guys from Fairway Chevrolet asked about building another project. But this time step up the game just a little bit. I suggest a 55 chevy project I had been gathering parts for for many years. Greg's main concern was the driveability of the car over long distances. So when this project began discussion last fall Greg's main concern was being able to drive the car from Las Vegas to Bakersfield of Scottsdale and having the same driving experience the Chevelle has but this time with a bit more "BLING". That Chevelle is awesome to drive, Ask me how I know......

So the discussion of the building a 1955 Chevrolet that was very subdued was talked about. Basically try to out due the stance on the Chevelle with a 55 Chevrolet. Well the 55 I had need a quarter panel and I always knew these cars would take what's called a "wedge section" to make them look proper. The Wedge Section will thin out the entire car from front to back. But with this car we cut the body through the back side of the front wheel opening. And then dropped the front frame horns to get the front headlight and grille assembly to come down 2.5" and make the bumper even with the rocker from the side profile. In this picture below you will see what I'm talking about.

http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...ary2011021.jpg


And here is the direction we are going with the car in this rendering. You will notice that the bumper is now down quite a bit in this rendering to effectively lower the front of the car and tuck the front wheels 2.25" further into the car without really disrupting the visual appeal of the 55 Chevrolet.

http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...chev_100_4.jpg


Alright enough of the blah blah blah. Lets get to the fab work.

Uhhh, Roger....that Chevelle is gonna be damn hard to beat. :thumbsup: I'll be watching.:popcorn2: :popcorn2:

In my eyes all we did was turn this car.

http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...hoppics003.jpg

Into this......

http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...HRsideshot.jpg

I wish it was really that easy. There is actually a ton of work in this car to get it to run and drive and work like it does. I'm just stoked on the results and glad the customer is so happy he let as build something else for him.

Thanks Again. My guys did a kick ass job on this car.

So let me explain the wedge section with pictures. It is alot of work and can be quite a task. We paint stripped the car on the outside and only on the inside where we were going to make the cuts. We knew the floors needed to be replaced and wanted to do that after so we could make the interior sheetmetal fit the car and look factory when the door panels and such are removed. We do not local access to a dipping facility and we knew this car was going to have alot of panels replaced so we elected to clean it up by hand as we went and we will get whats left blasted here shortly to access part we would not have been able to get before.

Here is the stock car all mocked up

http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...hoppics002.jpg

Here is the car when it is all stripped down to make the cut.

http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...hoppics008.jpg

Here is the manifold to cowl height difference before and after the cut.
http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...hoppics006.jpg

We 2" out of the firewall and dropped down to get this.
http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...oppics2013.jpg

http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...hoppics018.jpg
http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...hoppics019.jpg
http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...hoppics020.jpg
http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...oppics2001.jpg
http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...oppics2002.jpg
http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...oppics2003.jpg
http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...oppics2004.jpg
http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...oppics2005.jpg
http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...oppics2007.jpg

http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...oppics2008.jpg
http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...oppics2009.jpg
http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...oppics2010.jpg
http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/t...oppics2011.jpg


The layout and precise cutting is the toughest part of this project and making sure you have a nice game plan to make it go back together.

I noticed another '55 in the background.

It will be interesting to see them both side-by-side when they're completed.

Along side the 56 and the 57 that will be done later this year. Its tri-5 land right now.

Rodger, I have no doubt you and your guys will do an amazing job on this 55. I love the rendering and design goals. Good luck with it. Also, thanks for showing us the details of wedging the car. This is the first time I've seen the process. It really helps give a better appreciation for what is involved instead of simply reading that the car was wedged.

Awesome work guys! :thumbsup:

Thanks Guys. I will try and get some other pictures posted up very soon. We are quite a ways ahead of these pictures.