'55 Body on Frame

Today on horse power, our cool 55 comes together body

and

soul, so to speak. Hey, welcome to the shop. A couple of weeks ago, we launched a totally unique project for us. One. We call our super shoe box.

We started with Art Morrison's new GT sport classic chassis

and of the curry track nine rear end,

strange coil over suspension

will with this brakes all the way around. And for power,

we dropped in a GM performance parts 502 backed by a TCI four LAE tranny.

Ben made it a true roller with nostalgia GT wheels and BF Goodridge rubber.

We also went to the place where this project was born, Bohannan concepts of Cookeville Tennessee and well, that's where the fiberglass chop top body was built. And the later you're gonna see how we made it to the frame before we can do that though. We've got other things

handle like fuel and brake lines, the drive shaft, and of course accessories for this big block here.

We installed one of these front runner drive systems on Chuck Chevelle wagon recently and we thought it'd be a good piece to use on our super shoe box. Now the kid uses his main bracket that bolts up to the block using the four water pump studs and all the accessories mount to it.

Now, the kit includes all your brackets pulleys belt and all your necessary hardware to install it. It also includes an aluminum reverse rotation water pump from Stewart performance.

That sand and mini compressor for the AC might just bolt it up and

this 100 amp one wire alternator which bolts up next. There you go.

Then slide the water pump over the four studs.

E both the crank pulley

to the harmonic balancer.

The next thing to go on is this power steering bracket.

Now, we can slide this assembled main bracket over the four studs

and we're gonna secure it with two nuts on the driver's side only.

Well, next we're gonna install the belt tensioner and bracket over the passenger side water pump studs.

Finally, I bolted up the power steering pump we got from a GR and once it's tightened down, all we have to do is install our belt

man. What a sweet looking set up, especially after the chrome work we got done in advanced plating. Let me check it out everything from this intake and valve covers, control arms, coil overs and well a whole lot more. But after all, we do want our shoe

to be the go in the show in the shiniest 55 on the road.

Yeah, but we also need those big will wood brakes to bring this car to a halt. So we're using stainless steel lines and fittings from pure choice. Now, if you've never done this before, the only tools you'll need are a tube cutter, a

flaring tool and a tube bender

to use the tube bender. All you need to do is load it up,

find your angle and make the bend.

Well, that's it for the brakes. Now, notice how we use stainless steel clamps along the frame rails to hold all of our lines snugging in place. Oh, and one more thing, we even mounted our proportioning valve here on the frame rail for easy access.

A great job with those brake lines. But here's a little tip for you guys that might be new to this. You wanna connect those hard lines here at the brakes to about 15 inches of steel braided line. Now, that's to allow for movement in the suspension and steering man, you are on the ball today. So,

hey, we're also using pure choice fuel lines. These are 38 diameter and as you can see, we're running them on, on top of the frame rail

all the way up to the fuel rail.

Once we get our fuel tank installed a little later down the road,

we'll run a short piece of braided line from this fuel filter to it

and that'll prevent any vibration from causing a line break or leak. Now, of course, with fuel injection, you gotta have a return line and we'll run our parallel to this fuel delivery line we just installed.

Now, no matter what kind of mount you're using, your engine is always gonna get some torque movement. Now, we're using a stainless braided line here to feed our big 50 twos fuel rail. Now, this line is flexible. So just like out back, that'll help prevent any line breakage or leaks.

Now it's time for us to take a break. And with any luck, my buddy back there will finish that return line without springing the leak himself. We'll be right back.

He's a legend. You know,

I mean, as far as drag racing goes

and uh oh,

we just love him.

His name is George Ray and his Wildcats drive in Arkansas is the last of a drag racing. Dying breeze.

We'll take you there for some wild heads up pandemonium later in the show.

Hey, welcome back to the shop where we just finished running the fuel and brake lines on our super shoe box right now. What do you say? We take care of the missing link to our drive train a

couple days ago, we made some measurements and ordered this aluminum fully balanced drive shaft from dyno

Tech. Now, this thing uses Spicer U joints

and a

1350 Yoke.

We're about ready to drop the body on our shoe box chassis. But first check this out in order to eliminate any vibration or noise travel. The body is an arrest on these reproduction rubber mounts from Classic Chevy.

Yeah. But right now I know what you might be thinking.

How are those two guys gonna lift this body and place it on that frame without getting help or a hernia?

Good question. I mean this thing is fiberglass, but it's gotta weigh about 500 pounds.

We got the answer right over here.

You all say it back there,

John Bohannon. Of course, the man who created our 55 ss body also

fed up this custom hoist

that uses two electric winches. It's gonna make mounting that body through the frame a snap. Plus it'll help prevent any damage to the fiberglass body. And the paint on the chassis

looks pretty good. Let's get it over there. All right, here we go.

But right there, I think

the body attaches to the frame from the inside using 3.5 inch bolts.

Well, there it is all together. I tell you what I love the way this 55 is sitting. Nice stance. Huh?

Yeah. It's nice to see our super shoe box take shape. Now, next time we have it in here, we're gonna mount our master cylinder brake booster. Take care of some of the wiring

and hang some more body panels. Oh, yeah. Plus we'll show you how we rig up the power windows. We'll hang some doors and pretty much get this thing ready for the paint shop.

Well, I hope you're ready for a special ride down the fast lane of muscle car memories buckle up because we're coming right back

and they ain't no bracket racing. When the, when the light turns green, you better get.

His wildcat drag strip has become a little legend in the world of down home. Heads up racing

next, a birthday salute to George Ray. One of the unsung heroes of American Hot Rod

morning.

Mhm.

Going to George

Wilder

and

I'm he

to see your trade.

Got them.

And here's a place where time pass slowly while the cars have gone faster.

Where an unassuming former mechanic. Now, horsepower hero carries on a timeless tradition

every Sunday

the way he has since 1961.

George Ray, like many of his friends was caught up in the Hot rod hysteria of the late fifties and early sixties.

What possessed you to open up a drag strip?

We go off other places and they wouldn't be nice to you.

You know, all they wanna do, get your money when you came in

and uh

we was at this place and uh

footing come up and I said, well,

I'll just go home, build me a drag strip

and build one. He did

change it.

He never did

at least very much

and I'd line them up.

Are you ready? You ready?

Pull the flag

first came out here. I had a 56 Chevy two door hard top and, uh,

it had a three speed transmission in it and we ran eight stock stick automatic

and, uh, we had a lot of fun racing out here.

Yes. Uh, there was a little betting on the side and sometimes some pretty good scrimmages, but

it, uh, usually ended up pretty good,

but you'll find anything and everything.

It's

always been that way. I guess

it

was day one.

We came to visit George Ray a day before the race, only months after he broke both feet after falling from a tree.

Of course, he's always got his trademark hand belts, hot rod to get him around the strip

this time out over in that boy.

These are straight pipes back here, aren't they?

Sounds good.

How did you get the name? Wildcat drags

through

all along,

all along

like a wild cat, huh?

Ok.

And people know all over the doggone country, you know, come to George Rays and you get in, you run for like six bucks and, and, you know, spectator or not. And it's just a lot of fun. We don't make a lot of money. It's just more fun for him than anything.

Now, for my part, I might raise the price. Look.

No, I never had much money. I don't need no money.

I just, I just need a good crowd and drag race. All I need.

This is a good place to come race. Anybody that ever, ever been to George Ray. You come up here one time, he treats everybody the same. He

has no favorites

just, you know, everybody's on the same level.

Now, here's how it works at George Rays. Everybody leaves off this 4/10 pro tree. That means they leave at the same time. And while there are some index classes where you can break out, it's all heads up

the way it's always been

and there ain't no bracket racing when the, when the light turns green you better get.

Now, here are some quick observations we made at George Ray's first. A ball lights up over the lane of the winning driver.

Also in true run what you run tradition. You see every kind of car and truck imaginable racing

for which you must furnish your own water for the burnout box.

If you're claustrophobic, a little eight mile track takes a little getting used to,

especially if you offer one of the all out wide open classes. Usually wide open is anywhere from 5, 10 to 540.

Thanks.

Now, the driver of the Chevelle was only a little shook up after his contact with the vets

and after cleaning up a few loose parts, the racing resumed

automatic

23

and

83.

While anyone with six bucks and a will to race can come and have fun. Better bring some brawny power to the top wide open glass.

Ronnie Pritchard's winning weapon is a vet with a naturally aspirated 600 cubic inch engine.

It's got racing heads, a power glide and a 516 gear out back. I love going fast.

I can go.

You still get a kick out of it.

Oh, yeah.

Yeah, I love them people.

They'll come up and hug me

and most of all is hugging to win it.

I like that.

And there are a bunch of them and

they're all glad to see me hug.

Oh, they are classic.

Well, as the afternoon wears on the cars get faster, the crowd gets wilder and the competition for Sunday's bragging rights at George Ray's heats up to a boil.

We'll discover what it takes to win today and always here at George Ray's Wildcat Strip when we come back.

Welcome back to the show where it's hot here in Northeast Arkansas in more ways than one. Speaking of that, about time for finals, let's see what it takes to win here at George Ray's and a couple of our favorite classes

in the all out heads up clash. Terry Bennett from Little Rock rocked his way into the finals with his home built super

contraction.

His opponents none other than racing. Vet veteran Ronnie Bridge.

And here they go as Terry Trumps the vet chasing him down with a 530 to Ronnie's 548 here on this eight mile Wildcat strip. I'm real proud to win today. Uh

I had a lot of fun and that's what George Ray's is about mostly. Is fun.

Well, it's about time for all of us to go home as the sun sets on yet another Sunday at George Ray's Wildcat strip.

A little piece of still living drag racing history that in some small way captures the whole spirit of high performance. For me. This horsepower homecoming has been a 40 year old dream fulfilled.

Coming back to this landmark strip that once represented just about everything about those rebellious car crazy, younger years here in my hometown.

And the best part finally getting to meet this icon of heads up down home drag racing.

A legend if you will, who keeps an all American tradition alive here in Paramount?

So you're gonna keep good as long as you can.

And then what?

Yeah, go to folks home. Guess

what would happen to the strip though?

Now that's gonna be a question.

Make sure you feel me. Ok. We'll see you all later. Now

my head,

see George Ray,

drop them off

one

B.

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Oh,

I did it last week,

I guess. Seniority rules.