The first repair done on the car was the brake
system, followed closely by the front suspension.
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In preparation for the brake conversion, the original master cylinder
was removed to expose the mounting plate.
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The mounting plate was removed as well, since it was in the wrong location.
And the generator and power steering pump were also removed.
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First Kurt routed the brake lines to the new proportioning valve.
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New brake lines routed correctly, below the engine following the cross
member.
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The original A arm still had the original riveted upper ball joint!
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Close up of the riveted upper ball joint. For a 47 year old car to still
have the original factory ball joint was very surprising.
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The new spindle for the disc brakes.
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Of course, Kurt was too into upgrading the
front suspension to stop and take pictures. Then a short time later,
when the rear wheel bearings went out and he replaced the rear end,
again too busy. The photographer was at work during this phase.
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But before the engine could be put
into the chassis, the engine bay had to be cleaned up. The front clip
was removed, everything
was degreased and POR 15 applied. Of course the front end bushings were
shot, so they were replaced as well with polygraphite ones along with
3 of the 4 ball joints and coil springs. (The fourth ball joint looked
newer than the rest and besides that, no one had a second upper in stock.) |
Kurt removing the front clip. Someone had welded the front fender to the
rocker panel on the driver side. A cutting disk remedied the problem.
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Front chassis before.
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Front chassis after.
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Front clip is back on (almost). You know the drill
- add a shim here, remove a shim there, push, pull, etc.
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But the new wheel bearing went
out again very soon. Kurt discovered that the rear end had been "tweaked" and
bent just slightly, causing problems. He finally replaced the entire
rear end assembly with a '57 Chevy rear end and an Auborn posi unit
with 3:55 gears. |
The brake system had to be upgraded.
This car originally had the treadle-vac power
braking system with 4 wheel drum brakes. Disc brakes were installed on
the front, but manual disc brakes required more muscles than his wife cared
to develop. So, Kurt installed a power brake
booster. Both the front suspension and power brake kit were ordered from
Ol' 55 East Coast Chevy. |
Original treadle-vac, untouched (and shot).
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Replacement
power brake, dual master cylinder. A lot of work went into this
system.
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Close up of the power brakes system. Plenty of room for the original
voltage regulator on the fender, but the original power steering
pump had to be removed due to lack of room. A pitman arm bearing
was installed, commonly called "Poor Man's Power Steering", instead.
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A view few get to see, the bottom side of a car. Flowmaster Series 40 mufflers
provide the hot-rod sound for the exhaust. Air shocks help the weakend
leaf springs. The gas tank developed a hole during the years and was replaced.
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Kurt is a true car guy - he gets car parts for Christmas presents.
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