Joe Gateley
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
1955 Chevrolet 150
Chassis
The stock frame is still under the sedan but has been extensively modified. Joe started by cutting it off at the firewall and adding 2x4 steel tubing (stretching the wheelbase slightly) in its place, tapered at the front to match the original framehorns. New custom center crossmembers were built incorporating a driveshaft hoop and ladder bar mounts. It was then all smoothed and shot in gloss black. The parallel leaf front suspension started as a Speedway Motors kit to which Joe made a few tweaks. The straight-axle features '40 Ford-style spindles with 11-inch GM disc brakes. A new Vega box handles the steering chores. The front end components were painted with Alsa's chrome paint to contrast with the gloss black. The rear suspension consists of custom 60-inch ladder bars and Camaro leaf springs.
Drivetrain
A wicked small-block can make just as much of a statement as a big-block. Joe sent a 350 over to Dave Pearn at the Corvette Clinic in Oklahoma City and had him bore and stroke it to 365 ci with Eagle 6-inch rods and lightweight 11.5:1 pistons. He added Holley aluminum heads and painted them because they didn't have aluminum heads in the '60s. An Edelbrock tunnel ram with two Holley 450-cfm carbs tops the little screamer. An automatic wasn't going to cut it for Joe, so he backed it with a Muncie M21 close-ratio four-speed with heavy-duty shafts and syncros. A Centerforce clutch, aluminum flywheel, and hydraulic throwout bearing complete the package. A '59 Oldsmobile rearend with a 5.14:1 spool finishes the retro theme.
Wheels & Tires
Majestic Cruzers (15x4 and 15x10) look right at home wrapped in Coker 5.60x15 wide whites and Firestone Dragster 10.00x15s.
Body & Paint
Joe spent most of his time getting the rusted sedan back into shape. The only body modification is the radiused rear quarters. Joe knew he wanted his Gasser painted from the start, and his choice of Alsa Nuclear Yellow works perfectly with the '60s theme. One-piece taillight lenses from Mooneyes and a Nomad rear bumper add just the right amount of custom touches.
Interior
Joe managed to put together a just-right combination of street and strip in the '55. The stock dash with a radio delete plate was retained, but VDO gauges were installed in a custom aluminum insert. An ididit tilt column was capped with an old Grant gold metalflake wheel. A '55 four-door bench (non-folding) was installed and covered in white vinyl with gold piping by Gerald's Auto Trim in Blanchard, Oklahoma. The rear seat area was filled with a roll bar and carpet.