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By Nighthawk756 - 12 Years Ago
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Just thought I would share some pics of the Vic I just bought....completely restored, power discs, power steering, tremec T5, Vintage A/C etc. I'm planning on going just a touch towards a pro-touring style with it. Going to do some minor front suspension mods/lowering, go with some more modern wheels tires and maybe 4 link the rear. Need to tighten her up a touch so she handles a little better. 
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By MoonShadow - 12 Years Ago
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Nice looking ride and it seems to have the right stuff. Keep us posted on the updates. And welcome to the website. Chuck
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By bird55 - 12 Years Ago
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Sweet!
I think i'd have to drive that sucker a LOT before I started taking it apart!
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By Nighthawk756 - 12 Years Ago
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Thanks guys! She still has some other very minor things to tweak to get right. It's only had about 1500 miles on it since the total restoration so I've got to get some of the minor bugs worked out. I drove it almost 100 miles just yesterday so she's gettin' driven for sure. It's what I like about this car compared to most of my other projects....I can drive this one while I slowly make modifications. UNlike my other projects that were from the ground up. 
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By Talkwrench - 12 Years Ago
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Haven't seen those wheels before..not bad , personally I wouldn't be changing much on it looks damn sweet! Well done, if you dont mind me askin what did it set you back?
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By 55vickey - 12 Years Ago
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Lookin good, its nice to see another 55 Vickey out there, they're rare in Wisconsin
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By pegleg - 12 Years Ago
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Looks like the small pre 57 manifolds in the picture. I might change that to the '57 up but that's all I'd do except wax it. And wash it, And wax it again. Beautiful 55.
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By MoonShadow - 12 Years Ago
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As far as the ride quality goes if you lower the car the change in ride characteristics will be pretty good. I used the 1" blocks that go on the lower A frames t drop the front. It was about 2". I took the car to an alingment shop after installing the front drop and the alingment was still dead on. They just move the lower spring location by an inch. I'm using 3" blocks in the rear but going that low did cause some bump problems on rough roads. Not bad but its there. I plan to add ladder bars someday but unless you just want a 4 link I'm not sure its worth the wok k.r Maybe 2" blocks in the rear with the Granada or Versailles spindles disc conversion in the front. The spindles will drop the car a couple inches naturally. You can use a 57 or so Ford 9" rear with little effort or the later Mustang or Cougar's. One of the weak spots on these cars seemed to be the rear axle. I'm still using the stock rear with a Detroit Gears posi I was lucky enough to find and havn't had any problems with it so far. Anyway thats a few of my observations on ride etc. Hope this gives you some ideas for your. Chuck
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By Nighthawk756 - 12 Years Ago
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Thanks Chuck and Peg! And thanks for all the compliments! She's a great one! Chuck, the spindles option was the route I've been eyeing. Fatman makes drop spindles for reasonable money and I think that's the route I'm going initially and see how it does. It has what appears to be 3" blocks in the rear already....might change it to 2" blocks once I lower the front depending on how it sits. The 4 link IS a lot of work and it's certainly just a distant option I'm considering if I still want a little more. What would you suggest on the spindles? 2" drop? I don't want to be too low but low enough that it helps handling and looks better.
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By MoonShadow - 12 Years Ago
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I dont know how much drop is in the Fatman spindles. Not sure if a 2" lower spindle computes to a 2" drop. If you can find a set of Versailles fronts they are a bolt in with no modification and will drop the front a couple inches. I'm still trying to understand how a 1" square block between the lower A frame and spring plate results in a 2" + drop. I still have the stock front on mine and with the 3" drop in the rear it has a slight down in front attitude. Check out the length of those lower A frames! Those cant help but handle well. One of Shelbys Cobra Mustang mods was to use mid size car A frames to improve the handling. Seems to me the 55-56 already had them. Chuck
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By speedpro56 - 12 Years Ago
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Looks like the one my uncle John Burnette drove thru the 1950s and 60s. He told me he put a 312 in it after the 272 was worn out at around 150,000??? miles maybe more and this was I think in the mid 60s. Be interesting if the title was researched and found out it was actually his. When he sold it to a friend Jean Banks he passed away then Earnest Anderson got it and sold it to someone I think in the western part of the country??
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By Nighthawk756 - 12 Years Ago
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speedpro56 (8/11/2012)
Looks like the one my uncle John Burnette drove thru the 1950s and 60s. He told me he put a 312 in it after the 272 was worn out at around 150,000??? miles maybe more and this was I think in the mid 60s. Be interesting if the title was researched and found out it wasactually his. When he sold it to a friend Jean Banks he passed away then Earnest Anderson got it and sold it to someone I think in the western part of the country??
I'm not sure that this is the same car. It did come from the "west" out of Arizona. But it was restored here in north Alabama. It was an original regency purple/white car with a conti kit. He just didn't care for the original purple even though it was rare so he went with black instead.
I have a copy of the last time it got titled out there....think it was '71 maybe? I'll post who's name it was registered to when I get back in town next weekend.
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By The Master Cylinder - 12 Years Ago
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Nice looking car, love '55's. You mention you have disc brakes. What are the disc brakes off of? The reason I ask is you may already have the Granada spindles on the car if you have Granada discs. It sits pretty level for having lowering blocks on the back without lowering the front by some means. By the way, I love the LeCarra steering wheel. I have the same but in black with a smooth horn button.
MoonShadow (8/9/2012)
I used the 1" blocks that go on the lower A frames to drop the front. It was about 2". They just move the lower spring location by an inch. Chuck
Chuck, I'm not doubting you but I'm a little confused by your statement. If the 1" spacer on the lower A arms "just move the lower spring location by an inch", how does it drop the front about 2"?
My front end is dropped just under 3" with the 1" spacers and Granada spindles.
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By MoonShadow - 12 Years Ago
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I have no idea but it does. With 3" blocks in the rear my front end is slightly downhill in stance. Other folks have had the same experience. You are relocating the lower spring bucket when you use these blocks. Chuck
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By Nighthawk756 - 12 Years Ago
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The Master Cylinder (8/11/2012)
Nice looking car, love '55's. You mention you have disc brakes. What are the disc brakes off of? The reason I ask is you may already have the Granada spindles on the car if you have Granada discs. It sits pretty level for having lowering blocks on the back without lowering the front by some means. By the way, I love the LeCarra steering wheel. I have the same but in black with a smooth horn button.
It's a kit from master power....just bolts to the stock spindles. I thought it was 3 inch blocks on the back but he said they're 2 inch.
Yeah, I love the steering wheel too. I've been eyeing the same wheel for my '56 F100 build and was happy this one already had one.
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By speedpro56 - 12 Years Ago
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Brad, my uncles was original blk and white .
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By Nighthawk756 - 12 Years Ago
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speedpro56 (8/12/2012)
Brad, my uncles was original blk and white .
Nice!! Best color IMO!
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By miker - 12 Years Ago
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Gorgeous car. I used one of those L.C. Wheels for years, most people didn't know it wasn't stock. Two thoughts
Check the other forums, I think the aerostar springs lower a full size car about 2 inches, and the stiffer progressive rate really improved my bird.
I might be a bit biased since he's local to me, but the Art Morrison's triangulated 4 bar and anti roll bar parts are really nice. But it's a lot of work. On the other hand, I can't get my finger tip between the 235 tires and the fender lip, and they slide before they rub. Setting ride height's pretty easy, too.
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By FAIRLANE '55 rat - 12 Years Ago
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Cool car, one day I'd like to buy one of those
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