Doug Coopers 55 chevy

[Doug Cooper]

Alan said yours liked 42 total...sounds like it might be a bit fat if it likes 42..

They put a port in the manifold so the carb can be adjusted using a vacuum guage. Bob Book built the carb he should be able to get it close to perfect.
I hope it feels strong [700HP on the dyno] next time I get in it, or it's getting a bottle!

[55chevyman]

Here are some of the pics that I took at the Atlanta Goodguys Show. Sorry that it took me a while to post them. Me being a noob I just figured out how to post them.

[va72mlibu]

So Doug, what was the final solution for preventing sparkplug damage?

[BRIAN]

That is sharp ride. Those wheels just make the car. Sometimes less is just the way to go. Funny how a basic style car with the right combo can just be so right.


Is that car at any of the cruise nights on Long Island???

[73z-6sp]

DANG!! I absolutely love this car. I have been wanting a 55 post for so long and to do it with the AM frame is my dream!

Ahh...to dream!

[Bob Johnson]

did Alan make the headers? Look like they're a very nice fit if they are off the shelf..can't see the bottom side..that would answer my question

[Doug Cooper]

So Doug, what was the final solution for preventing sparkplug damage?

Eric, do you mean the spark plug wires? The piece that was holding the wires had broken and that's why the wires were laying on the header. Simple Fix... new wires new wire loom and some safety wire!

[Doug Cooper]

That is sharp ride. Those wheels just make the car. Sometimes less is just the way to go. Funny how a basic style car with the right combo can just be so right.


Is that car at any of the cruise nights on Long Island???

Brian, The plan is to drive the car home from Columbus Ohio Good Guys July 15th [it's in Alabama right now]then you will be seeing it around Long Island and Westchester County at cruise nights/just being driven. Places like OBI Sunday mornings, Oyster Bay Tuesday nights, maybe Bellmore, Coles,and at least once to Bald Hill!
I might drive it to the Syracuse nationals?
It will be at Westchester Street Rods Event at Playland. I grew up in Westchester so that show's like a high school reunion for me.

So the point is I'll be surprised if you don't see it!

[Doug Cooper]

did Alan make the headers? Look like they're a very nice fit if they are off the shelf..can't see the bottom side..that would answer my question

Yes Bob Custom headers, nobody makes an off the shelf header in 2 1/4" with that engine location. Everything on this car is modified, there are very few out of the box stock parts, it's just made to look SIMPLE! That was part of the theme we wanted to achieve.
One of the guys started the headers and Alan Finished him and then the headers, he put the Johnson touch on them.

[Bob Johnson]

I looked at the exhaust that Joe Granatelli did for the 34 5 window at Alan's...that Joe can do some kind of welding..I love the simple understated look..bunch of billet/chrome/braided stainless/etc etc just doesn't trip my switch.

[Doug Cooper]

I looked at the exhaust that Joe Granatelli did for the 34 5 window at Alan's...that Joe can do some kind of welding..I love the simple understated look..bunch of billet/chrome/braided stainless/etc etc just doesn't trip my switch.

Yeah Joe's a keeper Alan has landed another key element in his arsenal. So he can continue his assault on the Hot Rodding World.

[Rybar]

Thanks! Your camaro looks sweet. I really like that red. What brand paint and color is it?

Thanks Doug, I don't remember the brand but it is a candy red over a silver base tri-coat.

Again, LOVE your 55. It's just plain awesome.

[Bow Tie 67]

Hey Doug I see you sold off the Grapefruit cooler.

[Doug Cooper]

Hey Doug I see you sold off the Grapefruit cooler.

Hopefully no more grapefruits are needed for a heat sink! pretty good idea who ever thought of that one.
An electric pump is only a day away, we will see if that and some rerouted fuel lines solve the vapor lock.
Part of that vapor lock issue was the timing being too low making the car run hot, that's fixed.

Almost all the teething problems that the Power Tour uncovered are resolved!

[Bob Johnson]

word to the wise...don't drive a car on the Power Tour that's been finished the day AFTER you should have left...with 15 miles on it...these aftermarket junk parts will always let you down..it's unbelievable to me how junky most of these parts are...no matter what you pay, they're mostly no where near NOS quality..nothing like a factory part in my book..

[Doug Cooper]

We have had more than our fair share of components that failed and needed to be replaced and or pieces that just haven't performed as intended. Several "bolt on" aftermarket parts that didn't bolt on had to be massaged to fit and work.
I'll tell you what if you were in your typical enthusiasts garage you might not find a lathe, welder, grinders etc... to modify a
"blank" that didn't fit/work. You would send it back thinking it was a defect and then another one would show up a week or two later and you'd have the same problem. Not a good situation.
This is a very frustrating situation when it occurs and a costly one.

It's very much appreciated when you call a manufacturer or distributor with a problem and you get a solution! [not a hard time] that's good customer support and service!

These situations make me more loyal to the companies that produce a product that performs out of the box as intended! They will get my business and recommendations from me everytime over and over!

[Bob Johnson]

I asked Alan why he bought that CNC Mill with all that tooling..expensive stuff...he said he was tired of getting bad stuff that didn't fit...i guess he's going to make a line of things with it to sell. It's tough when you can't buy something that's quality and fits. When you go to a machine shop to get it to work there's a long wait..Unfortunately price seems to dictate what people will buy...If it's cheap and won't work, it's not cheap. most of these guys you see selling knock off air bags, suspension pieces, wheels, etc. in the full page magazine ads are junk that they have sent to China and tried to make a copy of a tried and proven piece...I know a guy that sells that stuff and it is absolutely trash..frustrating part is when you buy supposedly good high quality parts like you and I do and still have constant problems with part failure..winds up making us look dumb...er

[Doug Cooper]

word to the wise...don't drive a car on the Power Tour that's been finished the day AFTER you should have left...

Bob, I wouldn't recommend going on the Power Tour with an unproven car, but I would do it again! The reason, we made some great friends, unforgettable memories and a list of what the car needed. It could have taken five times as long to debug the car, why not cram it in and get all the bugs worked out!
That's ambitious not wise!

[Bob Johnson]

Probably not so bad if you've got Datsbad and his dad along...without Datgsbad's wrench, and his dads roll back..talk about being up shi* creek... take those 2 out of your equation and you wouldn't do it on a bad bet...you couldn't hire what that they did for $5K..and that's being very conservative...luckily the Cuda didn't goof up when I took it on the tour..my Camaro blew a hose off which with the help of a couple guys that stopped, we got it fixed real quick in 03 when I long hauled the tour. But it's awfully reassuring to know a rollback is riding along...and it cost big buckos to bring that truck from the northeast and long haul it and bring it back home...over and beyond the call of duty..we all owe them..even if we didn't have to use them...damn good guys even if they are frikken yankees..lol

[Doug Cooper]

[quote=Bob Johnson]Probably not so bad if you've got Datsbad and his dad along...without Datsbad's wrench, and his dads roll back..talk about being up shi* creek... [quote]

Yeah Bob, Jason and his dad Ron really saved the day on more than one occasion. I really appreciate everything they did, they made the Power Tour quite a bit easier than it would have been for me and a couple of others!
You couldn't ask for a more genuine couple of guys, they would do anything for you!

Thanks Again Jason and Ron.