1955 2nd Series Chevy 3100

	Owned by Rick Thompson

14 July 2008
# 2380

From Rick :

           Here is my 1955 2nd Series Chevy 3100.

           I picked the truck up from a friend who owed me money (around $2000). It had a solid body and with a little work on the 235 inline 6, I had it running well enough to use it on the weekends running to town, getting parts and taking my dogs for a ride. But with a top speed of 50 mph and with a gear ratio of some where between 4:56 and what you would find on a John Deere B, I really had to get to work and build some thing that could keep up with traffic. Besides, the dogs were getting a little embarrassed by all of the Fords that were passing us.

           What started out as just a motor swap turned into a full body off build. It has taken a full five years to get it to this point and it still not done. The updates are a Mustang II front end with power steering, a 350 4-bolt dynoed at 410 hp (at the crank), 350 turbo hydro trans with a 3500 stall converter hooked up to a 3:55 final gear. The steering column is out of a Chevy S10. All new wire harness from EZ wire and a Lokar shifter. I still need to finish the floor in the bed and come up with an interior, gauges, etc.

           But for the most part, it is more than driveable.It will do the quarter mile in the mid 13’s. More than that, the dogs are happy and are peeing on the Fords again.

           It is quick and fun to drive.

           I thought you also might get a kick out of my wife's 50th birthday present. I built this [ pix ] with an old snapper lawn mower and a Suzuki 185cc front end. It mows well enough to do the garden paths and the trails in the back 40.

           I know what you Stove bolters are thinking, "Man this guy sure loves his wife" and you are right in thinking that. Besides she looks like a bad a$$ when she is riding it [ pix ] .

Rick Thompson
Wolfgang Publications

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