zenndog Posted May 5, 2009 Report Share Posted May 5, 2009 1960 Bel Air 2dr Sedan I think I am going to get this puppy road worthy. It actually runs great but needs uhpolstery, needs some paint, some minor electrical, The three on the tree sucks so I either need to fix it or throww in a muncie I have sitting around. I will start discussing it over the next couple of weeks. I have alot of stuff for this car. Major obstacle is uhpolstery because I am broker than broke so I will have to get creative. I want to drive it daily for a while and I need to put seatbelts in it, It still has none. Here is the start. Encouragement welcome! Quote Link to comment
DISLEXICDIME Posted May 5, 2009 Report Share Posted May 5, 2009 is it a 348under the hood ? Quote Link to comment
zenndog Posted May 5, 2009 Author Report Share Posted May 5, 2009 (edited) No, just a 283. which is fine by me. My brother has a 1961 conv with a 348, tri power, and a 4 speed, all stock. But that is way to rich for my taste. I like to drive my cars and a 61 gets way to much attn. I will try to get some more pics up and I am going to lay out my strategy. This may not exactly be a ratsun but it will be freshened up on a ratsun budget. I have owned this car since 1998 andd I have collected many parts for it and now is time to throw away the boxes and bolt them on. The biggest challenge will be upholstery, I think the door panels will be aluminum and then I think I will do some mexican blanket seats. The front and back need new foam first. I have never done seats and I can't pay so I guess I am about to learn. I need a daily driver for a while and this car is mechanically sound but needs alot of details to be nice to roll in. Edited May 5, 2009 by zenndog Quote Link to comment
DRIVEN Posted May 5, 2009 Report Share Posted May 5, 2009 It's the car from Jeepers Creepers! Does it have the magic 3-speed that changes to an automatic from scene to scene? Seriously, love that car. I wouldn't change a thing. 283s rock - even with column shift. Is it the transmission that you don't like or is it the linkage that sucks? Quote Link to comment
datzenmike Posted May 5, 2009 Report Share Posted May 5, 2009 is it a 348under the hood ? Impressive you would know enough to ask about the 409s little 348 brother. I'm afraid you're showing your age though. :D Quote Link to comment
DISLEXICDIME Posted May 5, 2009 Report Share Posted May 5, 2009 Impressive you would know enough to ask about the 409s little 348 brother. I'm afraid you're showing your age though. :D lol i like 283's also when i got my first 510 i wanted to putt a 283 in it Quote Link to comment
slodat Posted May 5, 2009 Report Share Posted May 5, 2009 Yea Mikey, you are getting old!!! Quote Link to comment
Wharf Rat Posted May 5, 2009 Report Share Posted May 5, 2009 Nice ride and it's my year too ! I had a 63 with a 283, one of my all time favorite cars :) Very COOL :cool: Quote Link to comment
jrock4224 Posted May 5, 2009 Report Share Posted May 5, 2009 Hey got one of those two .......its a impala though with a 348 making me wanna dig it out and work on it . Quote Link to comment
zenndog Posted May 5, 2009 Author Report Share Posted May 5, 2009 I love the 283, I am shure it is the shifter. It needs some tunning it the linkage, how about hiem joints! But my suspiscion is that the colume mechanics are funky. The first thing I would do is take out the colume and go through it, but the issue is what parts are in there, what wears out and can I find another one. I will post pics what ever I do. I am out! Quote Link to comment
DISLEXICDIME Posted May 6, 2009 Report Share Posted May 6, 2009 I love the 283, I am shure it is the shifter. It needs some tunning it the linkage, how about hiem joints! But my suspiscion is that the colume mechanics are funky. The first thing I would do is take out the colume and go through it, but the issue is what parts are in there, what wears out and can I find another one. I will post pics what ever I do. I am out! those bushing always go bad Quote Link to comment
fivetengarage Posted May 6, 2009 Report Share Posted May 6, 2009 That's going to be a cool driver.Big 60s Chevys rock. Quote Link to comment
datsun 160J SSS Posted May 6, 2009 Report Share Posted May 6, 2009 I am sure you dont need seat belts if the car did not come with them .I was in my buds 50 ford pick up .CHP pulls us over for only one tail light .he states to the offcer the truck only came with one STOCK , and he looked it up and let us off and we did not have seat belts . fricken dick Quote Link to comment
Wharf Rat Posted May 7, 2009 Report Share Posted May 7, 2009 Forgot to say just buy a Hurst three speed floor shifter and loose the tree shift. :) Again nice Ol' Chevy mon :cool: Quote Link to comment
zenndog Posted May 8, 2009 Author Report Share Posted May 8, 2009 wharf rat-I didn't think about buying a floor shifter for the three speed but I also have a muncie with a hurst shifter I have had sitting around for a very long time, if i decide not to mess with the colum shift I will probably put in the 4 spd. datsun 160j- I don't need to put seatbelts in the car by law but I am a dad and I need to strap in the goos so seat belts are actually one of the main priorities. Quote Link to comment
Weaver Posted May 8, 2009 Report Share Posted May 8, 2009 Wow, that's in great shape! I've always liked that body style, looks like a rocketship.:lol: Have fun working on her, and good luck. Looks like it just needs a bit of tlc... Quote Link to comment
mike Posted May 9, 2009 Report Share Posted May 9, 2009 They might still sell the plastic shift linkage bushings at the chev dealership... I got some for my 68 pickup for damn near nothing. On the 3 speeds, after you have checked the bushings on the linkage, check the linkage on the transmission. There is an alignment hole and I think it was nuetral??? If you could slide a screwdriver through (if they lined up) you were golden. It would shift like butter. Its been over 10 years so Im a bit foggy but when I was done on my 68 I could shift it with my fingertips while smoking a cigarette and drinking a cup of coffee... If it were me Id fix the column shift... Old school cruiser all the way.:cool: Quote Link to comment
610SSS Posted May 9, 2009 Report Share Posted May 9, 2009 Awsome mate, i love the 59s Quote Link to comment
Wharf Rat Posted May 9, 2009 Report Share Posted May 9, 2009 Owww ya 59 had them big tear drop tail lite lens :) Quote Link to comment
610SSS Posted May 9, 2009 Report Share Posted May 9, 2009 Thats what i like, they look like evil eyes with eye brows:cool: Quote Link to comment
zenndog Posted May 10, 2009 Author Report Share Posted May 10, 2009 Yeah, I tend to agree. I have had the car since 98 and the muncie since 97, but I have never been able to bring my self to give up on the original three speed. I don't know why I would start now. Quote Link to comment
zenndog Posted July 11, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 11, 2009 Hey you goons, Anyone out there want to trade a 510 goon for my 1960 bel air 2dr sedan? I am serious, maybe a bit picky, I am in Santa Cruz, car is in LA. The car is registered and drivable and I am looking for the same at least but if you are interested then let me know. I have owned the car since 1998 and I don't take anything personal so give it a go. Might consider a 4 door, but I really want a goon. Z Quote Link to comment
bonvo Posted July 12, 2009 Report Share Posted July 12, 2009 im lovin this car my favorite bodystyle belair/impala old chevy ftw Quote Link to comment
MikeRL411 Posted July 13, 2009 Report Share Posted July 13, 2009 The only problem I ever saw with this model is that when you pull the license plate forward in the rain and try to fill up on gas the fins does a devilishly good job of directing the rain straight into the gas tank. Check your gas tank, you might have a good deal of rust laying on the bottom! Quote Link to comment
zenndog Posted July 13, 2009 Author Report Share Posted July 13, 2009 (edited) The only problem I ever saw with this model is that when you pull the license plate forward in the rain and try to fill up on gas the fins does a devilishly good job of directing the rain straight into the gas tank. Check your gas tank, you might have a good deal of rust laying on the bottom! Don't know if that is why it failed finally but it did get a pinhole leak caused by rust on the bottom of the tank. Dam thing held up for over 40 years either way so no complaints from me. I found a new tank on e-bay for $139.00. Took an hour to install, hardest part was loosening strap bolts and they weren't really hard. Edited July 13, 2009 by zenndog Quote Link to comment
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