Classic Performance Products, Inc.(CPP) Super Chevy Magazine Week to Wicked - Presented by Golden Star Classic Auto Parts raises the bar once again for an "all-new" challenge. This time around the build crew set out to build a sweet "1955" Chevy crafted together from a body out of new sheetmetal from Golden Star, sitting on a completely new aftermarket chassis provided by CPP and a huge list of aftermarket bits -- in less than 7 days! The end result is a 1955 created from 100-percent new parts! No rust, no damage from time and Mother Nature. Powered by a modern drivetrain including a 455+ HP Gen V LT1 mill backed by a manual 6-speed Magnum, the '55 is loaded with modern amenities throughout the cabin and chassis for upgraded comfort on the street and performance at the track. Be sure to follow the week-long build to see how a bare new frame, brand new body, and a shop full of the best products available on the market turn into one wicked Tri-Five!
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Starting from the freshly prepped "1955" body there was no tear down for Day 1, but a ton of parts had to get ready to install onto CPP's New OE-style 1955 Chevy frame. The new frame is based on a factory-style chassis (along with a few upgrades) helping make most of the new parts ready to bolt-on. Up front, the CPP Totally Tubular Control Arms and Viking Dual-Adjustable Coil-Over Kit went in, along with CPP's New Corvette-Style 2" drop spindles and modern heavy-duty sealed bearing hubs, followed by CPP's 14" Pro-Series 6-Piston Performance Big Brake Kit. In the rear, CPP's brand New triangular four-link setup incorporates Viking Dual-Adjustable Coil-Overs to complete the set on all four corners. CPP's High-Clearance front and rear Sway Bar Kits and CPP's 500 Series Power Steering Box bolt in place to further sharpen the handling of this '55 corner-carver. Stay tuned for more!
Day 2 was all about bolting on parts. One team was focused on the body, installing the AC System and starting the big job of wiring, while the other had their attention on the New CPP OE-Style 1955 Chevy Frame. Final installation and brake line plumbing was completed to both front and rear CPP 14" Pro-Series 6-Piston Performance Big Brake Kits, ensuring this shoebox will stop on a dime. The huge 29-gallon CPP EFI Aluminum Fuel tank was installed along with a host of CPP EFI Fuel System components and ready to feed the incoming new Gen V LT1 small-block V-8 powerplant mated to a T56 6-speed manual transmission.
The tone set for Day 3 was to wrap-up any loose ends before reaching the main goal of bringing down the '55 body to its home on the new CPP chassis and modern drivetrain. Final connections to wiring for engine management on the new LT1 and E-Stopp Electronic Parking Brake were made on the chassis, while further wiring continued in the body for lighting and creature comforts such as power windows and audio system. The aluminum drive shaft measurements proved to be correct and now connected the Magnum 6-Speed transmission to the limited-slip rearend. A big step of the build progress is made as the crew worked hand and hand bringing together the frame and body for the first time, but there's still more in store before the '55 reaches its final form. Stay tuned as Week to Wicked continues!
Thrashing through Day 4, the crew continued to knock out the busy laundry list of details getting a big step closer to our goal. Crunching a full custom interior install into a matter of hours is no simple task, but as the cabin came together so did the AC system, core support and cooling, tail-lights, and exhaust system. A set of American Legend Wheels get prepped, but there's plenty more to complete before final pieces of the puzzle are set in place. Stay tuned for the final build day!
Day 5 of Week to Wicked typically ends as a day of "firsts" such as firing the engine followed by smokey burnouts, but in this installment we find ourselves heading into Day 6. This car is being done the right way and not a "slapped together to look done enough for video" way, so when the all-new '55 drives out of our Motor Trend Tech Center it really will be a done car. The main focus of the day was more wiring, which is always one of the toughest aspects of these builds, but we also installed the CPP Hydrastop Hydraulic Brake Assist System and plumbed it into the CPP 500 Series Power Steering Systems. Falken tires were mounted to a set of Racer American Legend wheels and we started prepping the fenders for final install. Stay tuned for more Week to Wicked!
THAT'S A WRAP! -- Day 6 ends the build week with an all-new 1955 Chevy that's ready to hit the streets, shows, and the track. The crew buttoned up the final pieces and fired up the engine (in a complete car!) for the first time. It's hard to imagine that in less than 7 days it all started from a bare new frame, brand new body, and a shop full of the best products available on the market.
The CPP Week to Wicked 1955 Chevy build was completed in less than 7 days, and not just looking "done". With everything dialed-in and functioning, including the freshly charged AC system, a basic wheel alignment and the audio system tuned, the '55 was looking more ready for a long road trip on the 8th day. Get a closer look of the end result as the crew over at Hot Rod Magazine recaps the build week and captures all the beauty of the final build. Read the full story and check out the gallery in the link below.
All new metal is prepped and assembled for the Week to Wicked '55 Chevy. Check out the step by step process and photo gallery at the link below.
Installing a late-model engine and transmission into a Tri-Five Chevy has become even easier. Check out the process at the link below.
The new metal for the '55 gets prepped and painted. Check out the step by step process and photo gallery at the link below.
Photography and video coverage has been provided for use with permission courtesy of Motor Trend Network.
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