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1955 Chevy Projection Turns Into Barn Notice Gold: Episode 1

Ron Kidd stands inward the engine bay of his  1955 Chevy Project turns into Barn Find Gold: Episode 1

Prospects are high for our 1955 Chevy Bel Air hot rod. “Whatever became of the dark ’55 Chevy that Junkyard Life rescued from a pole barn vii years ago?” That inquiry commonly gets directed to me (Ron). Life, not the cool Junkyard Life, only gets inward the way sometimes. Hold on, before I present you lot where nosotros are similar a shot - allow me give you lot a brief history. You may non fifty-fifty recollect this car. 
  When I brought it home, I was exclusively form of sure it was black. With our hot rod hearts fluttering, nosotros began the adventure. But first, what is this?


Ron Kidd stands inward the engine bay of his  1955 Chevy Project turns into Barn Find Gold: Episode 1
The ’55 Chevy landed amongst all the barn discovery goodies inward place. Rust, rodents as well as some pocket-sized floorpan rot.


Decoding cut down tag
  Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 petty Junkyard Life divulge decoding revealed this equally a 1955 (we knew that!) 2-door Bel Air Post Sedan. Factory born inward solid white (India Ivory) pigment as well as powered yesteryear a half-dozen cylinder engine backed yesteryear a manual 3-speed transmission.
  Purchased novel inward Birmingham, Alabama, the automobile changed hands yesteryear the mid-1960’s. Sometime around 1969, it also has a alter of personality as well as received a apartment dark pigment job, a hot-headed 327, as well as a 4-speed. 
  It raced around local haunts as well as drag strips until sidelined inward the mid-1970s due to a balancer bolt on the crankshaft that gave the possessor fits. For 3 decades it was parked nether a homebuilt shed until I declared, “Your coming amongst me!” as well as pulled it upward on a flatbed to embark on a novel life. I bought it!


Ron Kidd stands inward the engine bay of his  1955 Chevy Project turns into Barn Find Gold: Episode 1
After a appointment amongst the push clit per unit of measurement area washer, the ’55 Chevy is shiny as well as clean.

Now, for a trip dorsum inward time
  Under the greenish pigment was indeed a dark sedan. How cool! The trunk was inward considerably skillful status amongst only a few things to worry about. I wishing I would have got left it similar this. Oh no, non me. I must tear it downwardly a little. That couldn’t move wrong, could it? Ask me in 1 lawsuit again inward 2018.


Ron Kidd stands inward the engine bay of his  1955 Chevy Project turns into Barn Find Gold: Episode 1
Turquoise as well as white interior is master copy 1955 effect but non master copy to this automobile according to cut down tag.

Ron Kidd stands inward the engine bay of his  1955 Chevy Project turns into Barn Find Gold: Episode 1
Aerial stance of Ron Kidd as well as some of the Junkyard Life crew.

Time to yank the 327 as well as 4-speed 
Dare we? It was locked upward tighter than a lawn tennis racket, so, yes. Lets do.


Ron Kidd stands inward the engine bay of his  1955 Chevy Project turns into Barn Find Gold: Episode 1
Ron Kidd outmuscles the 327 Vette engine.

Done! MD Yank’em wins again!
  Somewhere around this betoken was where I had the vivid thought to redo the interruption as well as brakes. I create desire the automobile to wind in 1 lawsuit again as well as halt safely. Well, the exclusively way to create that is to take the trunk as well as run it from the frame up! Well, that was our thought procedure at the time.



Ron Kidd stands inward the engine bay of his  1955 Chevy Project turns into Barn Find Gold: Episode 1
A hot 283-V8 engine awaits delivery into the engine bay.

Calling all engines
  I could non discovery a useable 327-cu. inch engine to supersede the 1 works life inward the car. I wanted (actually purchased) a 454 large block, exclusively to realize my other swain hot rodders amongst ’55 Chevys as well as large blocks must have got a shoehorn as well as a grade inward Chinese jigsaw. I knew it would fit, but please... To relieve myself from removing the brake booster only to alter a valve encompass gasket, I hunted as well as works life a 283-V8 from a 1966 Impala amongst Powerpack heads as well as a decent cam. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 high-revving 283 seemed appropriate for our hot rod.



Ron Kidd stands inward the engine bay of his  1955 Chevy Project turns into Barn Find Gold: Episode 1


Pans needed
  Before the trunk came off, I sent it half-naked (Editor’s Note: the CAR was half-naked, non Ron himself. See Fun Facts) to have got flooring pans installed. Why before? Well, for those of you lot inclined to create a frame-off on a car, it is wise to create the pans before the trunk comes off. Thus, helping insure the darn affair volition fit dorsum on. So, off it went!



Ron Kidd stands inward the engine bay of his  1955 Chevy Project turns into Barn Find Gold: Episode 1
With the forepart goal removed, the ’55’s master copy white pigment is visible on firewall.


Ron Kidd stands inward the engine bay of his  1955 Chevy Project turns into Barn Find Gold: Episode 1
355 geared rearend cook to wind nether the 1955 Chevy frame.

Out back
  My sincere parent that volition e'er follow me (unless something goes horribly wrong) is form of a funny story. I was going to social club the brakes (disc all around) as well as they asked me which carrier I had. Hmmm... I hadn’t shopped for that notwithstanding as well as had a few inward mind. That is non specific plenty to say an aftermarket brake salesman. They had to know now! So I answered amongst the exclusively parent I had for it... the master copy 1955 unit. Eaton provided a 3:55 posi as well as novel internals. 
  This came afterwards a failed lesson on “planetary gears.” What are those? Ask your granddaddy. We for certain didn’t know. Now, I may live the exclusively guy inward town amongst a ’55 parent carrier amongst four-wheel disc brakes!



Ron Kidd stands inward the engine bay of his  1955 Chevy Project turns into Barn Find Gold: Episode 1
Ron Kidd, left, as well as Michael Clay instruct cook to jump into action.

Who needs a jump compressor when you lot have got Ron as well as Mikey? 
(editor’s note: The reply to that inquiry is “They did.” They needed 1 bad. Those are a lot stronger than you lot think as well as tin privy live somewhat dangerous)

Ron Kidd stands inward the engine bay of his  1955 Chevy Project turns into Barn Find Gold: Episode 1
’55 Chevy frame is a dirty, rusty mess. Time to run as well as clean-up the frame for pigment as well as novel components.


Dirty work
  Off comes the trunk as well as similar a shot time, attention, as well as a boat charge of coin move into the frame. New suspension, novel brakes, novel bushings, a relocated parent daze couplet mounted inward the frame rails, novel foliage springs, novel curlicue springs, modern motor mountain install, ability steering box install as well as much more. Including sandblasting as well as novel coating!


Ron Kidd stands inward the engine bay of his  1955 Chevy Project turns into Barn Find Gold: Episode 1

Ron Kidd stands inward the engine bay of his  1955 Chevy Project turns into Barn Find Gold: Episode 1

I have got been framed! 
  That only doesn’t halt existence funny. Here it is shown amongst 15-inch steelies wearing 1949 Bel Air hub caps. They await evidently from here, but are genuinely quite unique. On the trailer amongst the parent goal mounted, the brakes as well as interruption inward identify as well as the 700R4 transmission. I have got notwithstanding to alternative a converter. I am genuinely looking forrard to what they come upward up amongst for a high-revving 283-V8 amongst 3:55 gears.  


Ron Kidd stands inward the engine bay of his  1955 Chevy Project turns into Barn Find Gold: Episode 1
1955 Chevy trunk stripped of pigment equally it sits on homebuilt woods stand upward cook for  a coat of primer. Notice the remnants of turquoise paint?


Unoriginal pigment nether the paint
  Meanwhile, dorsum at the ranch the trunk run begins. But hark! The Junkyard Life Automotive Archeology Department uncovers evidence of notwithstanding some other life! It seems this Bel Air spent some fourth dimension cleverly disguised inward a turquoise as well as white two-tone. When was this? We knew the ’55 was purchased novel yesteryear an older lady inward solid white pigment as well as yesteryear the belatedly 1960’s, it wore a apartment dark during its street racer/street machine days. So, which possessor painted it this rattling pop color combination? Whoever did, also went to the problem of installing a matching interior. We knew the spot was for a 1955 Chevrolet, but according to the cut down codes, non THIS 1955 Chevrolet. What else is this automobile non telling us?


Ron Kidd stands inward the engine bay of his  1955 Chevy Project turns into Barn Find Gold: Episode 1
A squad of Junkyard Life friends as well as describe solid unit of measurement elevator the ’55 trunk dorsum onto the refinished frame.

Body ON!
  After endless chemic stripping, sanding, primering, patching, augmentation, sneezing, swearing, bespeak myself, “why?,” trunk filler, to a greater extent than sanding, the fourth dimension finally came to set the trunk dorsum on. So, I called everyone I knew as well as nosotros heaved that Bel Air dorsum onto the frame where it should have got been the entire time. My entourage included Ford guys, reckoner automobile guys, onetime schoolhouse hot rod guys, drag racers, as well as most other genres of the hobby. Thank you lot all thence much!


Ron Kidd stands inward the engine bay of his  1955 Chevy Project turns into Barn Find Gold: Episode 1
Primered trunk on as well as novel flooring pans shine.

Back where you lot belong! 
  Welcome home! Now the side yesteryear side stumbling block was me. I e'er felt the automobile was non cook for paint. I was never completely happy amongst my amateur trunk work. That was the confusing part, because I never wanted to it live perfect. I only wanted it to live ready. And was it cook for paint?  

Color chosen 
  During my inquiry for the perfect hot rod hue. I savage inward beloved amongst the matte finishes as well as the wonderful things people were doing amongst apartment finishes. I am a hardcore Pontiac guy as well as I have got e'er loved every hue of aureate that Pontiac ever used. I chose 1966 Pontiac Tiger Gold. All that glitters...


Ron Kidd stands inward the engine bay of his  1955 Chevy Project turns into Barn Find Gold: Episode 1


Spray time
  This was non a natural progression inward the resurrection of this Bel Air. If non for longtime gear caput friends, Gavin Parks as well as Jason Trammell, this wouldn’t have got happened. We marked-off time, bought spray guns as well as went to town. By “town” I hateful the driveway — as well as yesteryear the painter vested inward me — nosotros painted it!


Ron Kidd stands inward the engine bay of his  1955 Chevy Project turns into Barn Find Gold: Episode 1
First, the firewall as well as jams are painted. Under the fenders, nether the deck lid, behind the ears as well as everywhere.



Ron Kidd stands inward the engine bay of his  1955 Chevy Project turns into Barn Find Gold: Episode 1
Underside of forepart clip painted spell off the car.

Ron Kidd stands inward the engine bay of his  1955 Chevy Project turns into Barn Find Gold: Episode 1
Keith Lively as well as I bolted the forepart clip dorsum on as well as the ’55 Chevy as well as it looked similar a automobile again!


Ron Kidd stands inward the engine bay of his  1955 Chevy Project turns into Barn Find Gold: Episode 1
The 1955 Chevy was rolled into Junkyard Life’s outdoor pigment booth.


Ron Kidd stands inward the engine bay of his  1955 Chevy Project turns into Barn Find Gold: Episode 1
Kidd as well as Trammell are determined to lay some pigment on the ’55.

Now to pigment the outside
We decided to create a Hot Rod two-tone amongst a apartment dark roof. 


Ron Kidd stands inward the engine bay of his  1955 Chevy Project turns into Barn Find Gold: Episode 1
Jason Trammell sprays the roof of the ’55 Chevy.


Ron Kidd stands inward the engine bay of his  1955 Chevy Project turns into Barn Find Gold: Episode 1
My “One Lane Black Top. Now to move for the aureate (pun intended! High-five to self).


Ron Kidd stands inward the engine bay of his  1955 Chevy Project turns into Barn Find Gold: Episode 1
Painting the hot rod 1955 Chevy Junkyard Life style.


Ron Kidd stands inward the engine bay of his  1955 Chevy Project turns into Barn Find Gold: Episode 1
Junkyard Life is all almost budget-friendly hot rods. 


Layer afterwards layer was applied. Then the matte goal clear coat again. Layer afterwards layer until finally Junkyard Life had a two-tone dark as well as aureate ’55 Bel Air hot rod, circa 1965. Just equally it would have got looked equally a hand-me-down street machine, similar you lot would discovery inward a high schoolhouse parking lot! 



Ron Kidd stands inward the engine bay of his  1955 Chevy Project turns into Barn Find Gold: Episode 1
Tiger Gold pigment dried as well as record removed.

Ron Kidd stands inward the engine bay of his  1955 Chevy Project turns into Barn Find Gold: Episode 1
The 1955 Chevy inward newly painted Tiger Gold amongst a dark roof.



The Prospector
  This is the betoken where I lost focus somewhat. I got obsessed amongst 1960’s gassers. Jody as well as I could non come upward up amongst a “gold” topic that has non been done several times over. It needed something that would have got a cool Junkyard Life representation. Then came the thought for “The Prospector.” We finally came upward amongst a graphic symbol that was non gonna crusade a copyright infringement lawsuit. All nosotros needed was a professional person painter that could push clit it off as well as would stripe the automobile similar they did inward the sixties. 
  In steps Michael Swann of Swann Graphics. We all hitting it off correct away as well as may have got gotten a combat carried away amongst the prospector theme. (Video coming shortly of the art.)

Ron Kidd
— Junkyard Life



Ron Kidd stands inward the engine bay of his  1955 Chevy Project turns into Barn Find Gold: Episode 1
Artist Micheal Swann delivered “The Prospector” artwork. We dig the sixties as well as onetime schoolhouse hot rod art. 


Junkyard Life’s 1955 Bel Air Restoration Fun Facts:
  • Everyone who worked on the automobile signed their refer nether the deck lid.
  • The “half-naked” editor’s banking concern annotation before inward the story is a reference to this incident: Ron got expelled from an auto-body cast when the teacher said to “strip the car.” Ron thought he said “strip inward the car.” 
  • The Prospector graphic symbol on the deck lid was originally going to live almost one-quarter size of what it genuinely became.
  • After nosotros painted the roof, nosotros covered it amongst paper to protect it when nosotros painted the trunk gold. Unfortunately the paper settled into the black. Leaving us amongst 1990’s funny pages as well as subdivision store ads melded into the paint. We thought almost clearing over it as well as keeping it that way.
  • The relocated daze tower couplet changes the location of where the top daze bolts as well as bushings live. Originally, they genuinely went into the trunk of the car. The harsh bumps were genuinely softened yesteryear the trunk of the car. Bad idea. Your friends inward the dorsum spot improve hope the route is smoothen or they usage stadium cushions. 
  • In the quest for unique hub caps several interesting things happened:
A: The foremost 1 was works life on Anthony’s garage wall as well as I wanted it.
B: Jason solved the mystery of what they were. 1949-1952 Bel-Air fully dressed hub caps when equipped amongst rare 15-inch wheels.
C: I bought 2 to a greater extent than for $50 EACH from a collector who knew what he had as well as how bad I wanted them. I have got no poker face.
D: Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 dealer inward Charlotte had a set, but refused to sell them to me because they “didn’t demand to live wasted on a 55.” He was a purist.
E: I finally bought an entire laid to consummate the ¾ laid I had acquired. That whole laid was $20.00. I similar a shot have got 3 spares hub caps.
  • The headers were installed several times. Interestingly, they were exceptional ordered for a ’55 Chevy amongst ability steering, which I added. They fit awesome on the side amongst the ability steering box. It was the rider side that gave us tantrums as well as things had to live cut, trimmed, bent, as well as compromised. Jody Potter/Ron Kidd/Cutting Wheel/Big Hammer Solutions Inc!
  • Going amongst the gasser topic pigment accents, nosotros researched what cast this full-bodied sedan would have got raced inward dorsum inward the twenty-four lx minutes current as well as came upward amongst "B" cast stock. Only nosotros didn’t desire to set “B/S” on the side of the car, thence nosotros went amongst “B/GS.” The exclusively affair is nosotros don’t know what that means. Hopefully non “big girls” or “bacon grease salad.” 
Ron Kidd stands inward the engine bay of his  1955 Chevy Project turns into Barn Find Gold: Episode 1
  • The trunk of the automobile was significantly lighter than what nosotros anticipated. The dark nosotros initially took it off, nosotros had almost v guys per side as well as on the count of “three!” nosotros almost tossed it into the rafters.
  • After sandblasting the frame as well as before the novel materials was installed. I wanted to coat the frame. However, nosotros are Junkyard Life as well as on a budget thence nosotros did it amongst with spray on bed liner. Spray on as well as brush on. Again, ventilation is important. Just inquire the giant talking bunny that helped us. 

Ron Kidd stands inward the engine bay of his  1955 Chevy Project turns into Barn Find Gold: Episode 1
Ron Kidd’s 1955 Chevy inward primer, stance from the rafters.


Ron Kidd stands inward the engine bay of his  1955 Chevy Project turns into Barn Find Gold: Episode 1
Project cars tin privy accept on a life of their own. What else would nosotros create if nosotros weren’t working on cars? 

Ron Kidd stands inward the engine bay of his  1955 Chevy Project turns into Barn Find Gold: Episode 1
Not the safest method to pigment the roof of a ’55 Chevy? How would you lot create it?


Ron Kidd stands inward the engine bay of his  1955 Chevy Project turns into Barn Find Gold: Episode 1
This was the foremost of what has move a seven-year journeying amongst a barn discovery ’55 Chevy. Stay tuned equally “The Prospector” continues its route to gold!


Flashback!
Look dorsum at master copy story of when nosotros works life the Barn Find 1955 Chevy.



Do you have got a smashing classic or musculus automobile barn discovery story? Send us details as well as we’re on the way!  Send emails to Jody Potter at junkyardbull@gmail.com & Ron Kidd at Kidd403@bellsouth.net





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