Bill Eaton's (427TJ's) Newest Ride!

[x Baldwin Motion]

Bill, congrats on the new ride and good luck !!

oh yeah,



"....327 with 10.5 pistons and 4-bolt mains (conversion)"

help me out here, is that just drilling the block and using 4 bolt caps? is it that easy?

[427TJ]

Thanks guys for the compliments on the car. I am still in disbelief that it's actually in my garage and I keep going out there and looking at it and sitting in it. My buddy (with the Rat-powered '55 ex-gasser) came over on Saturday night and looked the car over and he kept seeing neat things about the car and just shaking his head at what a time capsule it is. (During the auction he told me that if I wasn't going to buy it then he would.) He also gave me a new/repop set of license plate frames that say "Lions Drag Strip." They will go well with the car since it is from Long Beach.

I have not confirmed that the mains are actually converted to 4-bolt but that's what the seller told me on the car's history write-up he sent to me. The engine was built by a speed shop in SoCal back in the '70s. A 4-bolt conversion involves new main caps and an align-bore to make sure everything is straight before the crank goes in and I think it was a pretty common modification to 283s and 327s back in the day. Maybe some of the "geezers" can elaborate on that?

I'm out on the road again this week for four days and I can't wait to get home and see the car again. It's like being a kid with his first car all over again.

[427TJ]

[ QUOTE ]
Somebody is getting close to the "Spoiled Brat" catagory

[/ QUOTE ]

I've said it before Ken: I just want to be like you when I grow up!

[Belair62]

Bill I love your car.55's are awsum.No other car looks as badass in gasser style besides maybe a Willys...I have never had one.Someday I will find the right one...Mark Johnson has a cool old gasser ....this one is better than Viagra

[markjohnson]

Now that is a good lookin' Double Nickel! Of course, I guess I am a little partial to these things. Gotta tell ya' I've had a lot of neat cars, Chevelles, Novas, Camaros, etc, but there's just something utterly cool about a bad ass '55 Chevy. Maybe it's the fact that it's the debut of the small block and the 12 volt electrical system or the fact that EVERYBODY has owned one or has great stories of riding in a friend's fast '55. Yep, the '55 Chevrolet is where it all began and signaled the start of Chevrolet's performance era. Here's a coupla' great photos of mine that somebody snapped at the last Supercar Reunion. Hope they don't mind me re-posting them. Thanks.

[markjohnson]

One more.

[Z-11 396]

+++ Bill +++ Fantastic car, sounded wonderful to these ole ears, My first car was a 55 red, and cream convt. never sounded as good as your's but alot more than that silly Vair I got now... . Congrats on a great new show, and go machine.....Kasey ..

[427TJ]

[ QUOTE ]


[/ QUOTE ]

I love hardtops but there's just something about the B-pillar and roofline of a coupe. Maybe I'll get some red-tint plexiglas side windows??? Naah! I am going to add a few vintage speed decals to the rear side windows--nothing gaudy, just proper mid-60s stuff. 15-inch original 1960s TTs and fresh (belted) tires are on the way. It $ucks being gone all week on a trip! I brought several photos of the car with me to look at--kinda' like a kid with his first girlfriend...

Thanks again for the compliments guys!

[ORIGLS6]

[ QUOTE ]


I love hardtops but there's just something about the B-pillar and roofline of a coupe.

[/ QUOTE ]



[ QUOTE ]
I am going to add a few vintage speed decals to the rear side windows--nothing gaudy, just proper mid-60s stuff. 15-inch original 1960s TTs and fresh (belted) tires are on the way.

[/ QUOTE ]

NOW WE'RE TALKIN!!!!!!!

[Verne_Frantz]

I don't know Bill.......I kinda like the look of the old slots. You could try to polish them up and see if you like that look before changing them..

Verne