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Thread: What do I need
          
   
   

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  1. #1
    gan_nair is offline CHR Member Visit my Photo Gallery
    Join Date
    Nov 2006
    Location
    Burnet
    Car Year, Make, Model: 55 Chevy Bel Air
    Posts
    8

    What do I need

     



    I am going to make my 1955 Bel Air a performance vehicle, this is what it has right now

    straight 6 engine, upgrading to a performance 350
    3-speed column shift trans

    And everything else is stock for this set up, I figured I would have to beef up the rear end, put a different trans in, hoping to find a 3 speed out of a truck I can use. But what kind of things will I need to replace or upgrade to have a great performance running Bel Air? Like cooling, suspension, drivetrain, etc. Thanks for the advice.
    Chaos, disorder, anarchy. Now thats fun.

  2. #2
    lucforce is offline CHR Member Visit my Photo Gallery
    Join Date
    Jul 2006
    Location
    Mobile
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    129

    Since you are upgrading, what is the condition of your original three-speed and are you willing to part with it?

  3. #3
    Dave Severson is offline CHR Member/Contributor Visit my Photo Gallery
    Join Date
    Jul 2003
    Location
    Madison
    Car Year, Make, Model: '67 Ranchero, '57 Chevy, '82 Camaro,
    Posts
    21,160

    Why not go to a Mucie or T-10 4 speed, or maybe a Tremec with 5 or 6 gears??? If you're going to make it a driver, might want to go to an overdrive type of trans. You can run 4:11 or so rear end ratio, then with an od in 5th gear can cruise down the highway at a reasonable rpm....

    Might want to include a front disc brake conversion, too. Got to be able to haul the beast down safely, too.

    Find a buildable 350, get a 383 stroker kit and some good heads. Lots of low rpm torque works great on the street.

    As for the differential, use a 9" Ford or a 12 bolt chevy, they are reasonable priced and will stand up to reasonable horsepower applications without a lot of high dollar mods.
    Yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, Live for Today!
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