1949 Chevy Gasser Build

[GlennLever]

Well I have had this Gasser project floating around in the garage since 2011.



My wife and I have finally decided to make some progress on this project.

My son used it as his project when he attended the Hot Rod Institute.

He did quite a bit of chassis work which was impressive. This is the center section that has been dropped down into the original chassis.



as seen here



He also did a great deal of body fabrication to get the rear slicks to fit in the wheel well opening and look like that was the way it came from the factory. This entailed fabrication on the rear door as well.



He got to this point.



Once he returned from the Hot Rod Institute the Gasser sat (4 years) with no further progress.

This evening new progress was made. A gen V Chevy 454 was purchase to liven up the time line of the build of the Gasser.

It is currently sitting in the back of the pickup, and in the morning will be brought into the garage for transformation into a engine to sit in the gasser frame.

[ricardo1967]

A+ work, congrats to the whole team!

[GlennLever]

We had six people show up which is a good turn out for a normal Cat Nuts Meeting.

My wife had cookies, coffee, and pop out for the guys.

The cookies disappeared.

Frank was drinking his usual cup of coffee, and we had the normal texters.

We got the engine out of the back of the truck and into the garage and on a stand.

We did minor surgery to see the condition of the inside of the engine.

We were very happy with what we found.

The engine is very clean, cam has very little wear (one lobe is worn all the way across).

The plan is to clean it up, paint it, powder coat the valve covers, timing chain cover, and oil pan.

Replace the timing gear set with metal gears.

Put it back together and put it in the gasser.

Instead of replacing the heads with performance heads, I might go the blower route and force the air into the peanut heads.

We have to do the conversion from the remote oil cooler, which I have read up and is not a big thing.

I’m very happy with this purchase.

It came complete top to bottom with carburetor, 427 aftermarket intake, new distributor, starter, etc.

This will go into the Gasser pretty much as a stock engine the first time around, we will see.......

[GlennLever]

parts ordered, will try and get the block cleaned up and painted this week for a reassemble this weekend.

Timing Chain is in the works, no cam change.

I will update Car Nuts meeting on Saturday, Wednesday night depending on painting progress.

ARP-535-9501
Engine and Accessory Fasteners, Stainless Steel, 12-Point, Chevy, Big Block, Kit

SLP-260-1635
Gaskets, Full Set, Chevy, 7.4L/454, Set

TAY-73055
Spark Plug Wires, Spiro-Pro, 8mm, Black, Straight Boots, Universal, L8/V8, Set

[Paul New]

Cool project Glenn but you say"no cam change" and you also say "one lobe is worn all the way across"
In my opinion especially with a BBC you need to do a cam change!

[GlennLever]

Cool project Glenn but you say"no cam change" and you also say "one lobe is worn all the way across"
In my opinion especially with a BBC you need to do a cam change!

Yes one lode is worn all the way across.

I'm going to hold off on the cam change until I swap the peanut heads out for oval heads.

I suspect that these heads will only be on to have a running Gasser, before it goes to the track I will swap heads, intake, carb,  and cam.

[JeffV8]

That new part of the frame is awesome. It's nice to have friends come over and help.  I do it solo lol. I got my small garage cleaned up and started working on my falcon more. I will post pics on my thread with more progress.

[GlennLever]

Great, would like to see more action in this category.

[GlennLever]

Spent some time in the garage today with son number one.

We unpacked the stuff that was in the 49

And moved it all to the shed out back.

Lifted the body off the frame

And the plan is to work on the transmission cross member while son number two is here for Thanksgiving.

Tomorrow morning I will send some time cleaning up the engine and getting some paint on it, then I will sand blast the valve covers, oil pan, timing chain cover and powder coat them

[Tim Jones]

Very Cool project Glenn,,   Tim Jones

[GlennLever]

Ok, between my wife and myself we have put up a new page on the web site for the most recent work on the 49.

We are still learning the new software (Microsoft does not support Front Page any more).

This is the link to the new page

http://www.lever-family-racing.com/lever-family-racing-home/family-vehicles/1949-chevrolet-gasser/1949-chevrolet-gasser-progress-2015-11-20-11-28

[grapro]

Pretty cool. I always like to start the engine as early as possible it gets the build going, more motivation  for me.

[GlennLever]

Summit racing is having Cyber Savings Week November 23-30 (I also get the NHRA licensed driver discount (Pro Shop)). I do not think they combine the discounts, but my plan is to order a bunch of stuff (ignition (MSD 6al-2), fuel (tank, pump, filter, bypass regulator), Gauges, racers switches (5) with fuses and relays, harmonic balancer, electric water pump.

[GlennLever]

There is a new web page out showing this weekend’s Car Nuts Progress on the Gasser.

 

We bolted on some new parts.

 

Removed some weight.

 

And got the body, engine, and chassis together again

 

We were happy with our progress



You can caught up on the missed episodes on demand at this link

http://www.lever-family-racing.com/lever-family-racing-home/family-vehicles/1949-chevrolet-gasser/1949-chevrolet-gasser-progress-2015-12-05

[GlennLever]

There is a new update on the Gasser out on our web site. The exhaust system, exhaust manifold to the tail pipe have been completed. It took a long time to complete, it fought us all the way, also remember this is a gen IV 454 going into a 1949 Chevy Fleetmaster Deluxe chassis.



You can see the new page at this link.

http://www.lever-family-racing.com/lever-family-racing-home/family-vehicles/1949-chevrolet-gasser/1949-chevrolet-gasser-progress-2016-01-03


It was not without it's trails and tribulations.