1949 Chevrolet Gasser Move In

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Arthur Lever’s project car for class work at The Hot Rod Institute in Rapid City, South Dakota.  He wrote:

Work has started. Remember this is a learning experience for me. I have been working on cars since I was 14. See my 1969 Oldsmobile build on this site http://www.leverfamilysite.com/1969_Oldsmobile_Cutlass.htm . I did not document that build completely as I should have but plan on doing better job here. I have also been helping my Father on the other builds on this site.

This is my first semester here at the Hot Rod Institute http://www.hotrodinstitute.com/ . I am taking the suggested first course Hot Rod Chassis Fabrication http://www.hotrodinstitute.com/siterun_data/class_summary/doc8586138251227501855.html

The project I have taken on is to convert this very nice stock 1949 Fleetline DeLuxe 4 Door Sedan style 1009 – 1208 (Special) in to a fire breathing 500HP Gasser.

The first step is to get it into the shop, get the body off and see what I have to work with.
       

Let’s pull the hood and front fenders off and see what is under the sheet metal
     

       

The chassis and body seem to be outstanding.  With a little bit of searching, some good negotiating and $1,000, I have come up with what appears to be a WINNER!

Let’s look further at the body.      
       

Next, I have to get the body off the chassis so I can start the class project that fits the class name “Hot Rod Chassis Fabrication”

   First task is to be able to move the body around easily.  I built a simple 2X6 frame with casters to set the body on.

       
   The body was stored in a trailer so I had room to work.

   This is what remains – raw material for the chassis of the fire breathing Gasser!