'55 Chevy Bel Air Hardtop - ID & Swapping a 411 Posi, brake shoe and axle gasket replacement.
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- čas přidán 7. 04. 2022
- Time to head over to Howie's Garage (Dad) and help get his '55 Chevy Bel Air 2 Door Hardtop back on the road! Howie has owned this car since 1964, that's 58 Years! It was the primary family car until 1971 when the 283 Corvette Engine broke the crank in 2 pieces. Howie, after a 30-year career as a Firefighter, did a frame- off restoration as his first retirement project in 1997 when he was in better health. Howie has been battling Parkinson's Disease for the last 40 years and is declining in health. The car has sat after occasional drives and car shows. Now that I am retired from the Fire Dept. it is time to get my Dad out in this car again, even though he no longer drives. We hope to start enjoying the Hardtop again as it was meant to be driven! The Hardtop is Corvette Torch Red, has a ZZ-4 350 Chevy Crate Engine, an M-20 Muncie that came out of his old D/Gas '55 Chevy and a 4:11 10 bolt Posi.
- Auta a dopravní prostředky
Sorry about your Dad dealing with health issues. You are a good son.
Thank you and thank you for watching!
Probably a little beyond my handy work, great info.
Also able to see the fuel sending unit location which is right up my alley.
Very Cool! I just did a recent fuel system rebuild on my other '55 Chevy about 2 weeks ago. I did a lot with the fuel tank, the fuel sending unit and a fuel line replacement. Thanks for watching!
I love this channel… thanks👨🏽🔧👍🏽🏆
Thank you Paul! Hopefully, I can bring more videos to you that keep you watching! Thanks again and it's great to have you aboard! Take care!
I'm not running the stock rearend in my 55 but still a good bunch of information to know. Now my brain is a little more crowded with info that I Might need some day if I can retrieve it. 😂 thanks Hubie 👍
I know, I hear you! We used to say at work, everytime we learn a new, uneeded piece of info, another childhood memory is erased to make room! Have a good one and take care!
Beautiful 55 Bel Air, thanks for sharing, i will look for a drive video with the Posi
Thank you! Hopefully it will be soon! We did have a setback with the posi again where it locked up and acted like a spool. I hope to have the posi done next week and have the video out that explains what happened and a test drive down to the beach. Thanks for watching!
@@hubiesgarage I have heard of some problems associated with the Posi in the 55 stock rear end housing, please let me know, and i will keep an eye out for your next one, i will be doing a R&P swap in my closed diff in my 53 1/2 ton soon, should be very interesting
Will do! The tear down starts tomorrow and if there are problems, we will convert it to an Eaton Posi. I should know more by the end of the week
I had a '66 Buick and the positraction rear would affect the rear wheels in the rain. Every month, you had to drive the car to an empty parking lot and drive in figure 8's the get the lube into the possi clutches so that they'd slip just enough.
Cool car! My buddy in HS had a red '66 Buick Skylark. I don't know if he kept it. Unfortunately for this posi, we went to do figure 8's in a nearby parking lot for the test drive and it locked up like a spool. We took it out for a third time and the posi is just not repairable. We have ordered an Eaton Posi and are waiting for the parts now. I hope to do a follow up video when we get it back together. Thanks for watching!
Great video man! Lots of good info on the tri5s! Really nice hardtop I dig the solid red. Catch you later ✌️
Thank you Don! This was the one that got me hooked on Tri Fives at a young age as this was our primary family car when my parents got married. My Dad did a frame off in '98 after he retired from the fire dept. That Corvette Torch Red came out great! Unfortunately, we had to take the posi out again when it locked up and started acting like a spool. I will do another video showing what happened and finish out the test drive with Howie. Thanks for watching and I always appreciate your encouragement! Thanks again and have a great week!
@@hubiesgarage That's pretty sweet you have the history on that old 55 Chevy! It's a great looking car man. Have a good one ✌️
When you first took the car out did you drive in right hand circles about twenty times followed by twenty left hand circles ? That was the wy we used to get the gear oil nto the clutch plates in a posi , and keep them from popping and snapping . You just need a quiet parking lot , early Sunday morning works well .
Yes, we were about to do 3 circles to the left and 3 to the right as well as having the recommended 2 bottles of posi additive. Unfortunately, the posi locked up before we could complete one circle in it. The posi is out of the car again, getting a new clutch pack and we are grinding down the axles further as they were not ground down enough initially for proper clearance. I hope to have it back in with a follow up video soon. Thanks for watching and the great reply! I always like hearing the old school way of how it was done!
I broke a couple of those back in the 60's....
I have been very lucky, I have been using them for 40 years and luckily, I have only broken one. With a mild engine, automatic, after market axles and a billet steel cap on the driver side, they can do pretty well! Thanks for watching!
Good filming and some great tips, especially about the axle length with Posi. I just had my axles and gearset out this week for to rectify a issue with binding. Had to remove the smallest amount, maybe .030" on the driver side axle only using an aftermarket, Eaton Posi. I've got the same car, same color, same wheels! Also, let us know how the equal length brake shoes perform - I've never seen primary and secondary linings the same.
Well, the good news is the brake shoes are fine, I even called Friction Materials in Long Beach (who did the shoes) and they assured me they were fine. The bad news is I messed up and had to take it apart again. The posi is still binding so, I noticed my Dad had not taken enough off the axles years back and will need to take more off. In the video, you can see the axle bevels are still showing. I will grind them off completely and try again....I knew better as I had done my Bel Air Sedan that way with no problems. The brake shoes had good wear. I will film a follow up for sure. Not everything goes perfect with these cars and as they say, that's hot rodding! Best wishes on your '55! It sounds like you have great taste in cars! I hear great things about that Eaton Posi too! Thank you for the compliments and the words of encouragement! It is greatly appreciated!
Beautiful 55!! 4.11s are more fun
Thank you Dennis! Very true on the 4:11's! The car needs bigger, stickier tires! The car sounds real docile but, it is a beast when you jump on it. That ZZ-4 with the Comp Cams Hydraulic Roller is a really great engine! I have enjoyed your latest postings! Keep up the great work!
Could you plaese share the company info that made the brake shoes for you? I'm really tired of buying the type of shoes you described in the video from the Auto Parts stores.
Absolutely! These guys have been in business since the 1920's and I believe the 3rd generation of this family owned business is running the show now. I just called them and they do mail in work too. They just got some brake shoes in the mail today to reline from Texas. Here is their info:
Friction Materials
1609 West 14th Street
Long Beach, California 90813
(562)436-4224
Great instructions but your rite bad camera
Thank you Edward! You are right on the camera! I watched it again and realized this was my very first full youtube video. My cellphone was out of memory so, I borrowed a relative's IPhone and accidently filmed it in portrait. Hopefully things will be better as I just bought a new GoPro9. Thanks for watching!
Nice work! Got to like having the posi back in.
That's one good looking 55 she sounds good to.
Why does the bearing retainer gasket have the hole in it on the bottom it's on the brake backing plate to.
Mine was whipping a little gear oil out of it. Just was wondering if mine was to full.
Have a great weekend👍
Thanks Chris, yeah, Howie did a great job restoring this one and this was our family's first Tri-Five that got me hooked on them! As far as the bearing retainers and the hole at the bottom, my guess is to divert any oil away from the brake shoes if they leak. I have a good buddy who is legendary in the Tri Five world and I just texted him the question. He does all my 3rd members and 4 speeds. He has massive amounts of tri five (mainly '57) and is a walking dictionary on these cars. I should hear back in the next day or two as he is usually busy working on one of his '57's or early 'Vettes. I hope it's warming up for you guys and you have a great weekend! Love the videos you are puting out and the '55 looks awesome!
@@hubiesgarage
Thanks! I'll be looking forward to see what he has to say. Sounds like he knows his stuff. Thanks again have a good one!
Well, Tom was quick to text me back today, here is his reply:
The idea is that if the bearing leaks, the gear oil will go out to the backside of the backing plate, rather than on the brakes.
Tom is on FB (Tom Ordway), sells stuff on Ebay and a few others. He is a great guy and is always my "go to" guy when I don't know. I met Tom back in the 80's through a mutual Tri Five Buddy who used to drive Project X when Pop Hot Rod first got the car. Hope you guys have a great weekend!
@@hubiesgarage very interesting. I wonder why mine would leak then has new seal bearing and gaskets. Not sure thanks for the reply👍
@@IronheadGarage I have dealt with those leaks too...they aren't fun! If I remember right, you are running the original '55 10 bolt too. Things I checked on mine were if the axle tube inside diameter is clean, has a burr or had past damage. Some of the axle tubes just plain wear out when the clearance gets too much or if it had spun the bearing in the housing in the past. I also wonder, some of the bearing brands did have a thin o-ring on them, maybe it is missing or damaged. Also, there are some junk overseas parts out there that are not properly identified on the boxes when we install them. Hopefully, you have good bearings. It is a daily battle for me either finding good quality parts for the tri-fives or waiting for the backorders to finally come in. I hope you find it. It's all part of the fun! Your gasser looks great with the stance, the attitude and the patina! You have a great channel and keep up the great work!
Thanks for the info. I didn't know that 3-55 gears were stock powerglide gears. Do ypu know if a4-11 posi unit will work with that gear raito. Thanks for the vidio hopefully it will help me on my 55. I have a 2 door post car 350 with a turbow 350
As long as you have the stock rear axle, you can get a 4:11 posi front drop out gear carrier for a '57-'64 Chevy 10 bolt and swap it with the 3:55 you have in it now. Good luck with your '55!
@@hubiesgarage thanks
Great info and filming. I have a '55 Belair that I bought like 25 years ago already done. I went through a divorce, so just put the car in my non-climate controlled garage where it has just sat. I plan on replacing the entire fuel system, brake system, install power disc brake conversion and power steering conversion. Also thinking of yanking out the 327 that's in it, and replacing with crate 350 or 383. Was wondering if you have info on your engine or who built it? I love the sound. Also info on the headers and exaust if you can remember that. I will be 73 next month, so need to get it done quick. Thanks for any advice you can offer. You have an awesome ride there.
This was a GM Performance ZZ4 350 Chevy. It was rated at 350 hp but, we added a bigger roller cam for a more lopey idle. The car has a set of Earle Williams Headers built by Smiley. Smiley retired so, I would call Earle at Williams Classic Chassis in La Verne, Ca. He may have an updated builder...I hope! They are great headers! I can't precisely remember the mufflers. They are not Flowmasters. They are either Borla or Magnaflow...I think Magnaflow.
I am actually doing a resurection video of my '55 Bel Air 2 door sedan that has a 327 and has been sitting for over 20 years. It is a how to video that will cover much of the same items that will need attention on your '55. I should have a series of videos on this car that should be out within the next week or 2. Best wishes with your '55 and thanks for watching!
Thank you so much for the fast reply. Right now I am in the parts shopping phase. I will try to get some of this done this winter. I have a detached garage with no heat, and have to get some kind of heat out there. Gas is out of the ? due to distance from house. I really look forward to your next videos. Keep us posted. Have fun, and thanks again.
@pythononemo Awesome! I'm glad you enjoy them and sounds like you have a great project yourself! I think DD Speed Shop uses a forced air propane heater for his detached garage like the ones at harbor freight. I have always been leary of using them in the shop with all of the fumes and the heavier than air characteristics of propane after being a firefighter for 35 years. Many guys carefully use them, though and they seem to work fine. Thanks again for watching and take care!
Buddy, I hate to keep bugging you with questions, but was looking at power steering upgrade today (got a offer for a system with chrome tilt column and 500 series box) from Tomsclassic on ebay today. Your steering box looks way different. Is yours a 500 or 600 series box. Also just looked at my dash a while ago, and noticed I don't have the temp. control panel next to the ignition switch like yours. Just a knob on mine. Geez, shows how much I have even paid attention to stuff on this car. :(
I am pretty sure my Dad used an older 605 Power Steering Box on this one. The 500/600 boxes are a newer upgrade from the 605. Also, the heater knob you mention says that you have a Standard Heater System. The one on the hardtop here with the control panel is a Deluxe Heater System. They both have similar boxes that will fit under the dash. The deluxe has an internal temp valve and also has a recirculating air option. The standard heater just heats the air from the core and has a fan with speed control which is the knob you have on the dash. Hope that helps!
Any leaking with gasket only? I was going to do gasket and gasket maker cream
I think at some point, the gaskets eventually weep. The Fel Pro gasket uses a good gasket material. I had used Gasgacinch or Permatex Gasket Sealant with the gasket in the past but, they eventually weep too. I have never used a gasket maker or silicone before. If this one does eventually weep, I may try that. Let me know if you use this and have any success! Thanks for watching and best wishes!
Thanks for the reply. My kit came with a gasket (not fel pro) and gasket maker.
The torque spec you for the differential nuts, is that factory spec or just what u do from your experience. Building my first one so want im hoping it doesn’t leak. Thanks
That was the factory spec range listed in the '55 Chevy Shop Manual if I remember correctly. Hopefully, the gasket kit you have is a good quality kit. It sounds like it should work fine. Best wishes on the project!