Thread: Help 55 Belair Nopost

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Ok, so I bought a nice 55 Belair fixer upper off e-bay. My plan was to put a crate motor modify the suspension and generally make it look original, with some minor mods.

So, I get the BelAir delivered last night, and everything is original. Right down to the front drum brakes... Matching numbers all trim seats, even the tire jack.

It only has the 6 cylinder engine and the 6 volt system.

My question is: Should I change this? I have not seen many that are all stock?

View one: Cars are only original once and should be kept the way they were originally were. When we find such cars we in effect become their care takers.

View two. It's my car and should be changed to reflect my personality/desires.

View three. Well, I can keep all the old parts and not make any changes that can't be undone so someone in the future can put it back to original. (Truth is once a car is modified especially a 6 cyl car it is seldom is ever put back to original).


OK some people love original/restored cars and others are hot rodders. Personally, I'm a hot rodder so my view is slanted in that direction.

In the real world, 6 cyl cars are not as desirable as V8 cars (don't believe me, look at any old car value guide). Two of my current projects (57 Plymouth/64 Ford) both started out a 6 cyl cars that were reasonably complete and restorable. They are both getting big V8s, disc brakes, suspension upgrades, custom touches etc (basically the same things you want to do). Bottom line is I am putting these cars together the way I want to so that I have cars that are fun for ME to have and drive. I just would not be happy with an original 6 cyl car.

What's going to make you happy.... you're the one that will have to drive it.

If you are going to put it in a museum, leave it alone. If you are going to use the car, make the changes you want.

Since the 55 model is known for the introduction of the smallblock V8, a six cylinder will always be seen as a "lesser" version. Besides, I am willing to bet it will be worth more modified.

Thanks, this is all great food for thought. I appriciate it. Just happy to be a 55 chevy owner!

Like I've said before, it's your tin, whack it if you want! The previous comments about relative values of a sixbanger or a modernized V8 are bang on. "Every one I chop up makes those that are left worth that much more!" So you're really doing the restofreaks a favour!

'55 chebbie six cylinder wheezers weren't any good when they were new!!! Why bother restoring it??? Build something you want. When the resto guys complain, just tell them they should of bought the car before you found it.

Build it the way you want"the only person you have to please is yourself". It should also be a 12 volt system--55 was the first year for the 12 volt system in Chevrolet. Would definitely pick up the 55 shop manual and assembly manual if possible. good luck and enjoy it.

Ken, I was corrected on this a while back. The 6-bangers came with a 6-volt system, V8's with 12-volt.

Tech...Seen dozens of '55 Chevys, all were 12 volt, six or eight. Maybe up here in the frozen North they were different?

Never seen a passenger car with 6 volt system--all literature and my shop manuals don't even cover the 6 volt systems. I could be wrong though. Some of the first series trucks were 6 volt systems though.

You have gotten my curiousity up. time to do some more research.

I guess it's not going to matter what it was originally,almost any thing you can get to put in would be 12volt anyhow. Do it up any way you choose,it's your car,and has been said,will probably be more valuable modified.Have you priced out genuine parts lately,they make super trick billet crap look cheap.

Well, then I am going to put a better engine in it. I guess I can always keep the original right?