Doug Coopers 55 chevy

[55chevyman]

does anyone know what suspension upgrades he has made or any info on his car? because that is one bad tri five

[dropit69]

i do know its a art morrison full frame chassis ..follwed it on part of power tour and is a bad ass car..was really working the bugs out of it on power tour..

[55chevyman]

yea i saw it yesterday at the goodguys show it atlanta, its bad

[datsbad]

It has a full ART MORRISON chassis, 6 speed trans, 540 Dart Block engine with 700 hp, AC , Navigation and a original 55 body with no rust .

super clean original car .
Still had the faded original paint and interior.

[MSchu]

Still had the faded original paint and interior.

Now I really want to see it.

[dropit69]

here ya go !!

[dropit69]

[va72mlibu]

After talking to Doug at length, it started out as an Art Morrison frame, but has been substantially modified. NOTHING on the car hangs below the crossmember. How's about some video?
Click here to watch Dougs--Alan-Johnsons-Hot-Rods--55

[MrQuick]

sweet ride for sure...damn thats a teezer vid...lol sounds bad ass

[Bow Tie 67]

It not only sounds great but hauls butt. I had the opportunity to play cat and mouse a little on expressways and on ramps during the HRPT, very cool car. Oh and Doug is a very nice gentleman as well, it was a pleasure meeting him.

[55chevyman]

love the teezer vid and the pics. thanks guys for all of the info. doin a 55 here and have a 420 horse 355 small block. I am 14 years old years old and know a good bit about cars for my age but deffinatly not as much as all of you guys. love all of the protouring cars and thats what im shooting for. i am wanting to put either a 5 or 6 speed in it though dont know what kind or which one or what shifter. we are eventually going to put a 9 inch backend under it that we have lying around. its a bench seat car and im going to keep it that way. um tubular a-arms in the front with 2 inch dropped spindals. um not sure what to do for the rear suspension, i have been looking at air bars and everything else and not sure. but if you guys have any suggestions, tips, general no-how or anything else let me no.

[Zeventy1Z]

that car is SWEEEEEET!!!! Great Job!!!

[MSchu]

Too cool!

[rocketman]

Did Alan Johnson build that car? He has some bad ass hot rods,like that 32 Ford with a SB2.

[dropit69]

yep was built by Alan and i believe was only done like a few days or a week before the power tour..was a very cool ride and Doug is a cool guy also..

[CraigMorrison]

After talking to Doug at length, it started out as an Art Morrison frame, but has been substantially modified. NOTHING on the car hangs below the crossmember.

Eric- That's the way we have designed this chassis, so nothing hangs below the crossmembers (through frame exhaust). Here are a couple pics of our 55 with our "off the shelf" chassis.






There are 4.5" of ground clearence under the frame by front fender/front door jam area, and with 7200 miles on the car there have only been a few bottom out times.

[Doug Cooper]

Thanks Guys for all the kind words I really appreciate it!

To answer/clarify a bunch of the questions:

Yes Alan and the talented craftsmen at Johnsons Hot Rod Shop built the 55. In fact the frame and all the components came back from the powder coaters 2 1/2 weeks before we left the shop headed for Cleveland to start the Power Tour. When we arrived at the IX center the car had approx 850 miles on it,107 test miles around Gadsden Al. and 750 to Cleveland, we had logged 2400 on it when we got back to Alans.
The guys put in some serious hours to get the car done in that time frame. Besides having to assemble the entire chassis and drivetrain the body was without an interior, needing dynamat, wiring, stero system,,vintage air etc... it was pretty much a bare shell 17 days before we drove it to Cleveland.
A big "Thank You" goes out to all the guys at JHRS!

The Chassis is in fact a Morrison piece with no suspension modifications. When Alan And I were mocking up the car installing the body on the chassis for the first time we where very impressed that everything lined up on the Morrison Chassis perfectly. Every nut and bolt when in by hand without the need of any persuasion. If you are building a tri five I highly recommend Morrison's Chassis the car handles like a dream. Jason [fuel] and I ran approx 30 miles between 100 to 125mph on the power tour through sweeping corners and straights the car handled like it was on a rail, very predictable. JHRS did change the engine and trans mounting points, so that we could use a Vintage Air front runner set up and raise the [big block] oil pan above the front crossmember. Nothing hangs below the frame!

Alan's shop made a new fire wall that appears stock and a new trans tunnel to accommodate the Big Block engine and trans location. Tony Inman [JHRS] widened the stock wheel tubs to fit the 335/20's in the rear, he did this is such a way that they still look stock, viewing them from the trunk even the seam sealer is stock and original.

Sitting in that Morrision Chassis is a Dart 540 cid BB 700 hp 9.5to1 comp, Holley dominator, callies crank and rods, dart block and dart Aluminum heads, comp hyd roller, Rockland Gear 6 speed tremec trans and a strange 9" w 4:11's Willwood Brakes, Americans w/Michelin Tires 245/18 frt 335/20rears

The car will stay true to it's theme and keep it's original paint and interior. The attention the car has received from enthusiasts and the lack of attention I've had to give it, NO[1]washing, No polishing and or caring about rain, rock chips etc... has convinced me this is definitely the way to go. I have enjoyed this hot rod immensely in a very short time period. So don't be surprised if you see it being driven in your state!
I will be buiding/owning other cars with Patina in the future, but that won't stop me from buiding, driving and beating my slicked hot rods.

Also A THANK YOU! goes out to Bret and the air ride Crew for selecting the '55 to receive the "Low Smooth and Cool" award at this past weekends Good Guys event in Atlanta!

[rocketman]

Hey Doug how's the 32 coming,will it be at Columbus?

[Doug Cooper]

Hey Doug how's the 32 coming,will it be at Columbus?

The B400 ['32] has become a step child. It was cast aside for Bob's Cuda than another customers '32 and then pushed aside for the "55 construction. It's playing second fiddle to Bob's XLR right now, So NO it won't be in Columbus it might be out late this year maybe next year.

But the '55 will be in Columbus!

[55chevyman]

hey doug what kind of mufflers and shifter do you have in your 55?