Summary

Custom, professionally built Bel Air. Thousands of hours of labor and an extensive list of parts. Magnificent 7 recipient at Houston Autorama in 2017. 1,200 miles since completion. Powered by a 376ci 8-cylinder engine and a 6-speed manual transmission.

Details

This custom Bel Air was professionally built by some of the best specialists in the hot rod restoration business. Thousands of hours of labor and an extensive list of parts went into this 3-year project, which was completed in 2017. The car has less than 1,200 miles since its completion and was a Magnificent 7 recipient at the Houston Autorama in 2017, including receiving First in Class and an Outstanding Custom Award for the first and only showing of the car. Features include a professionally designed/engineered custom chassis with adjustable coilovers, DSE power rack & pinion, sixth-generation Corvette spindles and a 1' sway bar up front; out back there's a 4-link rear suspension with aluminum Panhard bar holding a custom 9' rear housing with a Moser center section containing 3.89 gears, Truetrac differential and Moser 31-spline axles. A brand-new 376ci LS3 hot-cam engine with over 500hp was installed under the hood and is backed by a Tremec T-56 6-speed manual transmission. The engine has a polished front serpentine system, custom-made aluminum valve covers, cold-air intake and coil relocation brackets to hide the coils. The body was removed from the old chassis and stripped to bare metal; a custom firewall, inner fenders, transmission tunnel and trunk floor were fabricated, then everything was painted with PPG single-stage black; the new chassis was powder-coated black before it was assembled. A custom interior was installed by Sid Chavers using Hydes leather and chrome was refinished. A custom audio system was installed using the highest-grade Mosconi and Focal components available, while custom-designed Dakota Digital analog gauges and a custom steering wheel made by EVOD to replicate the original finish off the interior nicely. Other features include Wilwood brakes, custom stainless exhaust with MagnaFlow mufflers, all-new wiring products from Ron Francis with custom mil-spec connectors used in the engine bay, Rick’s Tanks stainless fuel tank with all-stainless fuel and brake lines, AutoRad aluminum radiator/core support with twin 14' cooling fans, Ringbrothers hood hinges, Flaming River tilt steering column, Vintage Air, Rain Gear wipers, Dynamat insulation and ARP bolts. Budnik Remington L wheels are fitted with Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 tires.