1954 Chevy Project Recap

	54-Chevy
Home How It Began The Plan First Step Front End Engine Power Brakes Dashboard AC Recap Links	When I started this project I wanted to restore to show quality what had been my Mothers 1954 Chevrolet Bel Air 2 Dr. What stopped me. The stock engine smoked. I did not want to pay for custom made engine parts. I did not want to put all the money and effort into building a trailer Queen. I am and always have been a Hot Rodder at heart I wanted to drive it year round. I lived in Phoenix, Arizona with 115°+ summers and 70+ MPH freeways. I thought it would be cost too much to restore it. The body was not a pristine as I had first thought. Hurdles to overcome. The car had been parked in the desert for 23 years. All of the seats were removed and put in my stepfather's tack room 30 miles outside Tucson, Arizona and the heat, pack rats and other critters destroyed everything that wasn't metal, including the seats in the tack room, and even did some damage to the metal. The last five years before I started the project it was used to store trash waiting to be hauled off. The back window was broken out so every time it rained the trunk filled up with water. No it doesn't rain often in Southern Arizona but this was for 23 years. Lessons Learned Along the way.	The Wall of Fame This is a list of companies that provided products and assistance and how I rate the quality they provided. Bow Tie Overdrive 5 stars Walton Manufacturing 4.9 stars Summit Racing 4.5 stars Heidt's Hot Rod Shop 5 stars National Chevy Assoc. 4.9 stars Old Air Products 4.9 stars Checkers Auto Parts 2.0 stars If you want to know the why send me an email for details.
1. I am not a painter. 2. I am not a professional welder but nothing has broke..........yet. 3. A project like this is never finished. 4. I get tired a lot quicker than I used to. 5. Never! I say again Never! attempt to do a project like this by yourself. 6. Don't be afraid of computers. (I should have gone with the 4.8 Gen III engine) 7. Every project will have blood, sweat and your wife's tears in it. 8. It will be harder than you will ever believe...But MAN is it worth it when people stop and stare when you drive down the street. Yeah it is all about ego! 9. If the electric fan is big enough it is also too loud. 10. Don't ask a cheap muffler shop for quiet mufflers 11. Just because a mechanic has a radio show doesn't mean he does good work. 12. Some things MUST be done by a professional. I made a lot of mistakes along the way, but I also had a lot of successes as well. Being able to say "I DID IT MYSELF" means a lot. I could have taken it down to the local Hot Rod builder and said build it, but the only pride there is that I had the money to do that. If I was going to do it that way I might as well have bought a Corvette. When I get a few more of the important details finished I AM taking it in for a real paint job and bodywork.

54-Chevy

When I started this project I wanted to restore to show quality what had been my Mothers 1954 Chevrolet Bel Air 2 Dr.

What stopped me.

The stock engine smoked.
I did not want to pay for custom made engine parts.
I did not want to put all the money and effort into building a trailer Queen.
I am and always have been a Hot Rodder at heart
I wanted to drive it year round.
I lived in Phoenix, Arizona with 115°+ summers and 70+ MPH freeways.
I thought it would be cost too much to restore it.
The body was not a pristine as I had first thought.

Hurdles to overcome.

The car had been parked in the desert for 23 years.
All of the seats were removed and put in my stepfather's tack room 30 miles outside Tucson, Arizona and the heat, pack rats and other critters destroyed everything that wasn't metal, including the seats in the tack room, and even did some damage to the metal.
The last five years before I started the project it was used to store trash waiting to be hauled off.
The back window was broken out so every time it rained the trunk filled up with water. No it doesn't rain often in Southern Arizona but this was for 23 years.

Lessons Learned Along the way.

The Wall of Fame

This is a list of companies that provided products and assistance and how I rate the quality they provided.
Bow Tie Overdrive
5 stars

Walton Manufacturing
4.9 stars

Summit Racing
4.5 stars

Heidt's Hot Rod Shop
5 stars

National Chevy Assoc.
4.9 stars

Old Air Products
4.9 stars

Checkers Auto Parts
2.0 stars

If you want to know the why send me an email for details.

1. I am not a painter.
2. I am not a professional welder but nothing has broke..........yet.
3. A project like this is never finished.
4. I get tired a lot quicker than I used to.
5. Never! I say again Never! attempt to do a project like this by yourself.
6. Don't be afraid of computers. (I should have gone with the 4.8 Gen III engine)
7. Every project will have blood, sweat and your wife's tears in it.
8. It will be harder than you will ever believe...But MAN is it worth it when people stop and stare when you drive down the street. Yeah it is all about ego!
9. If the electric fan is big enough it is also too loud.
10. Don't ask a cheap muffler shop for quiet mufflers
11. Just because a mechanic has a radio show doesn't mean he does good work.
12. Some things MUST be done by a professional.

I made a lot of mistakes along the way, but I also had a lot of successes as well. Being able to say "I DID IT MYSELF" means a lot. I could have taken it down to the local Hot Rod builder and said build it, but the only pride there is that I had the money to do that. If I was going to do it that way I might as well have bought a Corvette. When I get a few more of the important details finished I AM taking it in for a real paint job and bodywork.