Thanks Robert! Man if you ever wanted to do a nice convertible conversion this video covers alot of areas you will need to cut! Have a good one Buddy 👍
Thanks Rich! DD speed shop builds some cool cars and build them quick! I've always like my cars close to stock with minor engine and 4 speed upgrades. Nice set of wheels and stance also. Have a good one Buddy 👍
Danchuk, has many convertible parts even the X cross for frame, I just found out they are reproducing the 55 Nomad eyebrows chrome surround but I didn't the company name, thanks showing us the difference
Hey Edward! Danchuk is a great place to get tri5 parts for sure. They've got a bunch of my money through the years. Lol I'll check out the eyebrow chrome you mentioned. Later man ✌
I have lots of cars but since I was a kid in the 60s living in Los Angeles my neighbor had a Sierra gold and Adobe beige. I use to get driven in it to Little league as a young kid. My 2 door hard top is restored and the convert is 50% done. Its factory black. You my know more about options. My convert has all options to include A/C the cowl tag has XXX still have not found out what that means. The nomad has been off the road since 68 with zero rust. It is also Sierra Gold and Adobe beige.
Whoa Mel! Youve got a gold mine in classic cars and live in the perfect weather to enjoy them! Very cool stuff man and the sierra gold looks absolutely gorgeous on a 56 Chevy Belair. I have not seen a cowl tag with xxx on it before. Where is the xxx at on the cowl tag? Have a good one Buddy 👍
Nice 56 vert these cars are a lot of work when you get done you get to appreciate your hard work and drive them you mentioned real deal steel the cars are nice but all the fun in fixing up the car is done I like what you did you didn't go buy ney parts it's all gm original thank you for your videos they are very helpful in fixing up mine and my brothers cars I'm used chevelles and nova's
Hey Stacy! I try my best to keep as much original GM stuff as possible. Your right building them back up to driveable safe cars is part of the enjoyment. You say you build chevelles and novas? Later Buddy ✌
Hey Don! Yeah my buddy has that car now and is currently restoring it! I didn't want to sell it but he's a old friend and drove me nuts about the car! Catch you next time 👍
Thanks Mark! Yeah I can't build everyone but I can play with alot of them! The guy that bought the car has it off the frame and is doing to metal work on it right now! Catch you next time 👍
Yeah I heard that. I hate to sell any of them to be honest. Ive told this guy many times I would rather keep the car. But he's a old friend I've known since I was really young. Lol I work 6 days a week so I don't have to sell any but this one is going to a good home. Talk to you later buddy!👍
That’s going to make a nice car when it’s done. Everything you did looked great. Lots of work but will definitely be worth it when it gets done. Hopefully the guy you sold it to stays on it strong. See you on the next one.👍😎✌️
Thanks Kevin! It has the potential to be a really nice 56 convertible. I didn't really want to sell the car but this guy is a old friend of mine! Ive known him for almost 30 years so it was ok to sell it. Hes 60 and said he'll build it to show room condition. Catch you next time 👍
Cost alot money restored one !!! They are getting harder find !!! Check out country classic auto & copart classic auction !!! The price old cars going up !!! To find some one do it right & points car !!!!! There is tri- five club & goodguys too!!
I have spent most of my life building cars fabricating body work and painting and your one of the few people I have seen do a correct conversion by doing the tub and windshield pillars much respect on your knowledge of knowing how to do a correct conversion i have seen many half assed and chopped up conversion where they never swapped over the x frame or used the rear tub sections instead they would make inner panel sections to mount the rear top frame robbing the car of having its structural integrity your knowledge and understanding is well beyond your years and again much respect to u my friend for your videos educating people on the correct way to safely do a hard top to rag top conversion I'm from Ohio as well I'm in the same town as wright patterson airforce base what part of Ohio are in
Thanks Mike! I always try to keep the cars as close to factory built as possible. Real convertible are very very strong in that tub area. It's built to withstand the heavy top flexing up and down. Plus the way the factory built the convertible it's built strong to keep the quarter area in position for door and window alignment. Body flex in a major concern on any convertible and GM knew that. Convertibles had there own special body mount that looks like it was made from very compressed cardboard or rubber. While other model tri5s had large rubber biscuits. Sounds like you live down by Dayton I live about 15 minutes east of Columbus. Talk to you later man have a good👍
I wouldn't mind having a tri-five convertible but I'd want mine to have a hard top like the Corvette and Thunderbird had, just un-bolt it and Set It Off.
All the work that you did looks great, that fella is going to get a great 56 convert project! Always liked the 56's, seems like the 55's and 57's sure outnumber them here in NC snd in every body style too. Great video, thanks for sharing.
Thanks Jazz! The guy is a old friend of mine and ive known him since I was real young. Ive told him many times I would rather keep the car then sell it. But I have enough ro keep me busy for a while. I agree with your there's many more 55 and 57 Chevys around compared to a 56! Have a good one Buddy 👍
Man what a project looking like you did it the right way. You Never would be able to tell when it was all done Nice work brother. It does seem like most people want a 55 or 57 But the 56s or nice to Just don't see to many around. Have a good one Man👍
Thanks Chris! I think rhe car will turn out really nice. This guy is a friend of mine ive known for many years. He restores cars and has a restored 57 convertible so it will be in good company! Your right man theres alot of 55 and 57 Chevys around but not to many 56 chevys. Have a good one Buddy 👍
Hey Don 👋 I have owned a 56 Chevy when I was a teenager so I do like the 56s. I have owned two 55s including my current one and love it. Hard to say if I had to choose one over the other.
You should of just stuck it out, the people at real steel, only offer 55 and 57, the one you had could actually be something if it was finished right. My self I have a 56 sedan delivery and you are correct on the amount of money that can go into restoring one, I'm at $25k and climbing, and the car is still in airasol primer so far.
Yeah Elmer I know your right man! I wanted to keep the old 56 convertible but this is a guy ive known forever and felt it was the right thing to do. Sounds like you have a real good 56 sedan delivery your working on now. That is one rare car anymore and is worth what youve been putting into it. Good luck with your 56 Talk to you later buddy!👍
@@donshotrodgarage1717 you know if he does put the real steel body on it, you should buy back the old one and finish it, while it would be off the frame, it you be a great time to finish it even if it is just the body, you could in make a lot of money from someone who actually would need it. There are a lot of people out there who just have a rusty mess on their hands, Danchuk might even buy it from you, and your right not a lot of 56 stuff out there especially ones in good shape, they are either junk or show cars, I know I'll never part with mine, the only major thing with mine was the floor wich I have now and a slightly bent passenger side fin wich was easy to straighten out with a stud gun. Any way dont let your friend scrap it in the body swap that would be a shame, the other car I'm holding onto is a 1966 Buick skylark gs California special that was assembled at the GM nascar plat at long beach ca. That car will just be sweet if I ever get around to building it and the body on that thang is solid, I'm afraid if I sell it it would some how get scrapped, we all need to protect old cars and their sheetmetal before all we have left is destroyed or show cars out of everyone's price range with the exception of major corporations buying them.
Thanks man! That means alot to me. I've work 6 days a week for many years to raise my kids and just over the last 5 to 10 years ive been able to start buying the cars i really want. Thanks for checking out the video! Have a good one man👍
Lol Thanks Howie! I like the rhyme also. The Delray is such a cool car. If I remember it was a 210 or 150 with the Delray interior. Is that right? Thanks for watching and have a good one👍
@@donshotrodgarage1717 tag says it’s a Delray and had a black and white interior. It also said the car was originally black and white , and had a six cylinder .
Hey Don, the reason 56 Nomads are harder to find, they were the least ones built, just like the 210 hardtops. Me and my brother have had several Tri5s but back then we never kept any of them, sold them and built other car, big mistake on our part. I currently have a real steel 2 door 1938 Willys sedan I'm still working on and just got my 1961 Chevy Biscayne 2 door sedan up and running. Should have kept some of the Tri5 but as we said they will be everywhere but there not as easy to find anymore. So as you say that is a good one to put back together, might be a lot of work but it's another one back on the road again. Hoping the parts you need for the 57 come around for you. Happy building!!!!! Rodhot38
Hey Tony your right about low production numbers on the Nomad and the 210 hardtop. That 38 willys is one rare car. I think they was built a few hours north of where I live when new! That 61 biscayne is another really rare car and a very cool looking car also. And man your right on the money we all miss the cars we had years ago. But they help buyand build the next hotrod! Catch you next time 👍
cool video Don .thats what i was going to do , but i decided to keep my 56 coupe whole and find a 55 body for the 56 convertible parts car . i had to get a cheap 55 belair 4dr so i cut the 56 tub out with the 1/4 panels to cover where the rear doors were . after that i bought all of the floor new and new inner quarters . i got some 57 coupe doors and new door skins and a bunch of other new and used parts . im not doing a restored type of car. more of a old school 4spd hotrod convertible with a nice body .
Thanks Jim! Youve got a great convertible project on your hands. I would love to see the car. This particular car I have was chopped up many years ago. The guy I bought it from try for over 6 months to sell the car on Facebook Market Place. No one wanted the 56 with the top cut off and anyone who did call him was Talking about building it into a roadster. For me personally it was the quickest way to build a convertible. Talk to you later man have a good one👍
You couldn't force me to take on that project with a gun to my head. Man that's a ton of work props to the man if he pulls it off. If it was a 55 and I had the money I'd buy the convertible firewall if it still had the upper part you cut off and the top frame then buy the real deal clipster for 10k and build what would be on paper a real 55 convertible. I'd take my sweet ass time it'll cost a fortune tri5 body parts are twice the price compared to what it cost me to do my 64 chevelle but in the end if your like me and do the majority of the work you'll make money if you sell the car. 56 I just don't like I don't know it's to me ugly I think Chevy tried too hard making it different. The 57 it's just classy but not my style. The 55 they got it right the first time.
You should have swapped the entire firewall with the door jambs so when you were done it would be a convertible according to the VIN and build tag. If you still have that one part it's valuable all by itself.
Yeah man but everything was so dam rusty on the original convertible! I mean scrap metal rusty. I sold that car to a friend of mine and gave him the old firewall and everything I had to the car. He plans to take his time and restore all the original parts. Good luck to him. Have a good one Buddy 👍
Awesome job sir, I have a 61 Impala hardtop that I want to convert into a convertible. I was told I can use a 61 Buick lesabre or a 61 Pontiac Catalina to convert it, do you know if those car’s have the exact part’s? Thanks .
Thanks man! I would say the Pontiac would be a very close interchange with the 61 Chevy Convertible! There is a guy on TH-cam called impala Chris he will be able to tell you if the Buick will work! Talk to you later buddy!✌️
Hey Don, You did a great job on this 56. That's a lot of work to do. Did you also change the frame on this as you did say anything about it? How many tri-fives do you have, no wonder they are hard to find, you have them all? lol A video in the middle of the day, what's going on? lol Keep them coming buddy - later
Thanks Marvin! It still has the stock hardtop frame but I have the X and the extra body mounts to weld to the frame. I have a few Belairs right now! Lol I rhink 6 or 7 of them. But your right there hard to find anymore, most of them are restored and way out of my price range! Talk to you later buddy!👍
Thanks Mike! I still have more surprises in the future. Only so much time in a week and so much space at my house! Thanks for watching and have a good one Buddy 👍
Don, you are an inspiration! Some guys are dreamers, and some guys are doers. Your Tri five knowledge is amazing and you make me want to go find a survivor car, and start wrenching! Always a pleasure, and keep the videos coming! 👍
No sorry man the car has been sold. He gave me have down and the other have we he picks the car up! I did not want to sell the car but this is a friend I've known for many many years. Thanks for watching👍
Bob the hardtop does not have a factory x frame! I have the X and the extra body mounts to weld to the frame. Just never got that far on the car. Thanks for checking out the video! 55s forever 👍
It's funny, I find myself starting like/want a 56 a little more every day. Even funnier, back in the early/mid 90's, when I was a 55 only guy, I had a 56 Nomad, (a little rough, but complete, paid $225.00 for, sold it for $450) and 57 handyman 150 ( clean straight body and floors, no interior, took it in a trade, had absolutely $0.00 in it,sold it at Englishtown NJ. for $200.00. The guy that bought it ,took the title, came back 20 minutes later, with a hacksaw and literally cut the drivers side windshield pillar out of it and left the rest of it there.) Funnier still, is how things change. The hoops I would jump through now, for either one of those cars.
Man what a great story of your life. Truly priceless and brutally honest! I've always been a 55 guy and 56 is a very close second. 57 Chevy have always been odd to me for whatever reason. But now I have a 57 nomad project I working on so the 57 is starting to grow on me. Have a good one man!👍
@@donshotrodgarage1717 ye its great to see the diffrence in hard top and ragtop. But I think the original rag would be the one that's worth the money just in document status. I like a hard top tri five. Lot of work changing the chassie and welding in bits on another chassie. Think they made two diff chassis. California chassie. Tell us the diffrence in them if you don't mind. Maybe you still own the ragtop vehicle. Can you show us that. But you did a cool convertion. Think I would have found a roof for the hard top put it back standard. Still a highly collected car. But ye man. Find um flip um work on um. You got great knowledge. But at the end of the day just cruise um. Have a good day Man. Adios.
Yes Adrian your right man! The true factory built convertible cars are the way to go. They will always be worth a premium because there the real deal. The guy I bought this car from tried to sell the car and another very rusty 56 chevy 2 door hardtop for over 6 months on Facebook Market Place. No one wanted the car and anyone who called him wanted to just build a roadster out of it. I'm fact he still has the other ruff 56 hardtop and he can't get anyone that wants to restore it. Sometimes it's a very limited market for some cars even the 2 door Belair. Thats a great thought on explaining the "California Frame". There's a big misconseption on California having the boxed frame. Thanks for watching the video and have a good one man👍
@@donshotrodgarage1717 well Don buy low sell high. Lol. The banks charge you to keep your money. Somebody will want the rusty 56 one day. Pays better than the banks. Or its good yard art. I got a yard full of yard art. I luv it. I was wondering where you got the convertable rear tub from. But yep man keep finding um. Have a good day man.
Yeah man I agree! Some people spend big money on rocks and landscape. I'll take the cool old cars. I had a very ruff 56 Belair Convertible that I got the convertible tub and all convertible parts from. I mean ruff I mean when both the doors were open and the top was down it literally broke in front of the rear axle and laid down touching the ground. It had sat for probably 35 to 40 years in the woods with no top material! And the only wish I can find them cheap and sell them high. Everybody I mess with is firm on there price, it takes all the fun out of haggling. And the opposite when I sell them, most people don't even show up and whem they do show up there in a car! Like how could you haul anything with that car. Lol Talk to you later buddy!👍
Need to finish it up and enjoy it. You have done most of the hardest things already.
I agree its just waiting it turn right now. To many projects not enough time. Have a good one Buddy✌
Great video ! Very informative, good job
Thanks Robert! Man if you ever wanted to do a nice convertible conversion this video covers alot of areas you will need to cut! Have a good one Buddy 👍
Its a lot of work. 56 is my fav so much I have a nomad, hardtop and convert
Hey Mel! That's awesome man and yeah I love a 56 Chevy! You got one hell of a line up! I'll talk to you later buddy! ✌
Don: DD Speed Shop’s got nuthin on you!
Rich in Cleveland
Thanks Rich! DD speed shop builds some cool cars and build them quick! I've always like my cars close to stock with minor engine and 4 speed upgrades. Nice set of wheels and stance also. Have a good one Buddy 👍
Having the correct donor parts makes the difference. Looks good, forge on.
Thanks David! Yes a donor car is a must to do a correct convertible conversion! Have a good one Buddy 👍
Cool vid man !
Thanks Buddy!
I love a 1956 best
Yeah man its one of my favorite years as well right there with a 55 chevy! Have a good one Buddy 👍
Danchuk, has many convertible parts even the X cross for frame, I just found out they are reproducing the 55 Nomad eyebrows chrome surround but I didn't the company name, thanks showing us the difference
Hey Edward! Danchuk is a great place to get tri5 parts for sure. They've got a bunch of my money through the years. Lol I'll check out the eyebrow chrome you mentioned. Later man ✌
I have lots of cars but since I was a kid in the 60s living in Los Angeles my neighbor had a Sierra gold and Adobe beige. I use to get driven in it to Little league as a young kid. My 2 door hard top is restored and the convert is 50% done. Its factory black. You my know more about options. My convert has all options to include A/C the cowl tag has XXX still have not found out what that means. The nomad has been off the road since 68 with zero rust. It is also Sierra Gold and Adobe beige.
Whoa Mel! Youve got a gold mine in classic cars and live in the perfect weather to enjoy them! Very cool stuff man and the sierra gold looks absolutely gorgeous on a 56 Chevy Belair. I have not seen a cowl tag with xxx on it before. Where is the xxx at on the cowl tag? Have a good one Buddy 👍
Nice 56 vert these cars are a lot of work when you get done you get to appreciate your hard work and drive them you mentioned real deal steel the cars are nice but all the fun in fixing up the car is done I like what you did you didn't go buy ney parts it's all gm original thank you for your videos they are very helpful in fixing up mine and my brothers cars I'm used chevelles and nova's
Hey Stacy! I try my best to keep as much original GM stuff as possible. Your right building them back up to driveable safe cars is part of the enjoyment. You say you build chevelles and novas? Later Buddy ✌
Someone is going to have a nice car with its done ✔️
Hey Don! Yeah my buddy has that car now and is currently restoring it! I didn't want to sell it but he's a old friend and drove me nuts about the car! Catch you next time 👍
Hey Don keep saving those tri fives your doing a great job lots of work and time but will make someone a real nice ride 👍
Thanks Mark! Yeah I can't build everyone but I can play with alot of them! The guy that bought the car has it off the frame and is doing to metal work on it right now! Catch you next time 👍
Awesome 💀🔧🔩🔥🔩🔧💀
Thanks man it turns out real great for a conversion. Talk to you later buddy!👍
Kool
Thanks John👍
Fixem or Flipem. Either way it makes the car world go round.
Yeah I heard that. I hate to sell any of them to be honest. Ive told this guy many times I would rather keep the car. But he's a old friend I've known since I was really young. Lol I work 6 days a week so I don't have to sell any but this one is going to a good home. Talk to you later buddy!👍
That’s going to make a nice car when it’s done. Everything you did looked great. Lots of work but will definitely be worth it when it gets done. Hopefully the guy you sold it to stays on it strong. See you on the next one.👍😎✌️
Thanks Kevin! It has the potential to be a really nice 56 convertible. I didn't really want to sell the car but this guy is a old friend of mine! Ive known him for almost 30 years so it was ok to sell it. Hes 60 and said he'll build it to show room condition. Catch you next time 👍
@@donshotrodgarage1717 awesome sounds like it’s in good hands 👍
Cost alot money restored one !!! They are getting harder find !!! Check out country classic auto & copart classic auction !!! The price old cars going up !!! To find some one do it right & points car !!!!! There is tri- five club & goodguys too!!
People put live saving to build one or purchased one that been fixed up or restored
I have spent most of my life building cars fabricating body work and painting and your one of the few people I have seen do a correct conversion by doing the tub and windshield pillars much respect on your knowledge of knowing how to do a correct conversion i have seen many half assed and chopped up conversion where they never swapped over the x frame or used the rear tub sections instead they would make inner panel sections to mount the rear top frame robbing the car of having its structural integrity your knowledge and understanding is well beyond your years and again much respect to u my friend for your videos educating people on the correct way to safely do a hard top to rag top conversion
I'm from Ohio as well I'm in the same town as wright patterson airforce base what part of Ohio are in
Thanks Mike! I always try to keep the cars as close to factory built as possible. Real convertible are very very strong in that tub area. It's built to withstand the heavy top flexing up and down. Plus the way the factory built the convertible it's built strong to keep the quarter area in position for door and window alignment. Body flex in a major concern on any convertible and GM knew that. Convertibles had there own special body mount that looks like it was made from very compressed cardboard or rubber. While other model tri5s had large rubber biscuits. Sounds like you live down by Dayton I live about 15 minutes east of Columbus. Talk to you later man have a good👍
I wouldn't mind having a tri-five convertible but I'd want mine to have a hard top like the Corvette and Thunderbird had, just un-bolt it and Set It Off.
Hey Vation! Yeah that would be cool to see a hardtop on a ragtop! I like them how they are! Catch you next time 👍
Awesome job. Hope the guy you sold it to puts the work on TH-cam. There would be a lot of followers. 56 is the most beautiful!
You sure do know your way around Tri-5s.
Thanks Bob! Ive spent many of days around tri5 chevys and hope to soend many more! Catch you next time 👍
All the work that you did looks great, that fella is going to get a great 56 convert project! Always liked the 56's, seems like the 55's and 57's sure outnumber them here in NC snd in every body style too. Great video, thanks for sharing.
Thanks Jazz! The guy is a old friend of mine and ive known him since I was real young. Ive told him many times I would rather keep the car then sell it. But I have enough ro keep me busy for a while. I agree with your there's many more 55 and 57 Chevys around compared to a 56! Have a good one Buddy 👍
Man what a project looking like you did it the right way.
You Never would be able to tell when it was all done
Nice work brother.
It does seem like most people want a 55 or 57
But the 56s or nice to
Just don't see to many around.
Have a good one
Man👍
Thanks Chris! I think rhe car will turn out really nice. This guy is a friend of mine ive known for many years. He restores cars and has a restored 57 convertible so it will be in good company! Your right man theres alot of 55 and 57 Chevys around but not to many 56 chevys. Have a good one Buddy 👍
Hey Don 👋 I have owned a 56 Chevy when I was a teenager so I do like the 56s. I have owned two 55s including my current one and love it. Hard to say if I had to choose one over the other.
Hey Big Block Kings! Yeah man I like them all. Most people choose 55 or 57! Have a good one Buddy 👍
You should of just stuck it out, the people at real steel, only offer 55 and 57, the one you had could actually be something if it was finished right. My self I have a 56 sedan delivery and you are correct on the amount of money that can go into restoring one, I'm at $25k and climbing, and the car is still in airasol primer so far.
Yeah Elmer I know your right man! I wanted to keep the old 56 convertible but this is a guy ive known forever and felt it was the right thing to do. Sounds like you have a real good 56 sedan delivery your working on now. That is one rare car anymore and is worth what youve been putting into it. Good luck with your 56 Talk to you later buddy!👍
@@donshotrodgarage1717 you know if he does put the real steel body on it, you should buy back the old one and finish it, while it would be off the frame, it you be a great time to finish it even if it is just the body, you could in make a lot of money from someone who actually would need it. There are a lot of people out there who just have a rusty mess on their hands, Danchuk might even buy it from you, and your right not a lot of 56 stuff out there especially ones in good shape, they are either junk or show cars, I know I'll never part with mine, the only major thing with mine was the floor wich I have now and a slightly bent passenger side fin wich was easy to straighten out with a stud gun. Any way dont let your friend scrap it in the body swap that would be a shame, the other car I'm holding onto is a 1966 Buick skylark gs California special that was assembled at the GM nascar plat at long beach ca. That car will just be sweet if I ever get around to building it and the body on that thang is solid, I'm afraid if I sell it it would some how get scrapped, we all need to protect old cars and their sheetmetal before all we have left is destroyed or show cars out of everyone's price range with the exception of major corporations buying them.
Sad to see the 56 conv, go , but your current inventory/ collection is still pretty much legendary to most tri-five guys.
Thanks man! That means alot to me. I've work 6 days a week for many years to raise my kids and just over the last 5 to 10 years ive been able to start buying the cars i really want. Thanks for checking out the video! Have a good one man👍
Looks like you were doing it the right way . Love my little 56 Orphan Delray ! Hey that rhymes !🤪
Lol Thanks Howie! I like the rhyme also. The Delray is such a cool car. If I remember it was a 210 or 150 with the Delray interior. Is that right? Thanks for watching and have a good one👍
@@donshotrodgarage1717 tag says it’s a Delray and had a black and white interior. It also said the car was originally black and white , and had a six cylinder .
Right on man! Sounds like it was really cool looking when it was new. What color is the car now still black? Talk you later buddy!
@@donshotrodgarage1717 maroon and India ivory. It is on BWs 55 gasser page , or check out my Facebook page .
Ok I'll check it out! Talk to you later👍
Hey Don, the reason 56 Nomads are harder to find, they were the least ones built, just like the 210 hardtops. Me and my brother have had several Tri5s but back then we never kept any of them, sold them and built other car, big mistake on our part. I currently have a real steel 2 door 1938 Willys sedan I'm still working on and just got my 1961 Chevy Biscayne 2 door sedan up and running. Should have kept some of the Tri5 but as we said they will be everywhere but there not as easy to find anymore. So as you say that is a good one to put back together, might be a lot of work but it's another one back on the road again. Hoping the parts you need for the 57 come around for you. Happy building!!!!! Rodhot38
Hey Tony your right about low production numbers on the Nomad and the 210 hardtop. That 38 willys is one rare car. I think they was built a few hours north of where I live when new! That 61 biscayne is another really rare car and a very cool looking car also. And man your right on the money we all miss the cars we had years ago. But they help buyand build the next hotrod! Catch you next time 👍
cool video Don .thats what i was going to do , but i decided to keep my 56 coupe whole and find a 55 body for the 56 convertible parts car .
i had to get a cheap 55 belair 4dr so i cut the 56 tub out with the 1/4 panels to cover where the rear doors were . after that i bought all of the floor new and new inner quarters .
i got some 57 coupe doors and new door skins and a bunch of other new and used parts . im not doing a restored type of car.
more of a old school 4spd hotrod convertible with a nice body .
Thanks Jim! Youve got a great convertible project on your hands. I would love to see the car. This particular car I have was chopped up many years ago. The guy I bought it from try for over 6 months to sell the car on Facebook Market Place. No one wanted the 56 with the top cut off and anyone who did call him was Talking about building it into a roadster. For me personally it was the quickest way to build a convertible. Talk to you later man have a good one👍
You couldn't force me to take on that project with a gun to my head. Man that's a ton of work props to the man if he pulls it off. If it was a 55 and I had the money I'd buy the convertible firewall if it still had the upper part you cut off and the top frame then buy the real deal clipster for 10k and build what would be on paper a real 55 convertible. I'd take my sweet ass time it'll cost a fortune tri5 body parts are twice the price compared to what it cost me to do my 64 chevelle but in the end if your like me and do the majority of the work you'll make money if you sell the car. 56 I just don't like I don't know it's to me ugly I think Chevy tried too hard making it different. The 57 it's just classy but not my style. The 55 they got it right the first time.
Yeah Gary its a big project! Seems like that's all I ever end up with. My friend has it now and it's working on the car. Later man ✌
You should have swapped the entire firewall with the door jambs so when you were done it would be a convertible according to the VIN and build tag. If you still have that one part it's valuable all by itself.
Yeah man but everything was so dam rusty on the original convertible! I mean scrap metal rusty. I sold that car to a friend of mine and gave him the old firewall and everything I had to the car. He plans to take his time and restore all the original parts. Good luck to him. Have a good one Buddy 👍
Awesome job sir, I have a 61 Impala hardtop that I want to convert into a convertible. I was told I can use a 61 Buick lesabre or a 61 Pontiac Catalina to convert it, do you know if those car’s have the exact part’s? Thanks .
Thanks man! I would say the Pontiac would be a very close interchange with the 61 Chevy Convertible! There is a guy on TH-cam called impala Chris he will be able to tell you if the Buick will work! Talk to you later buddy!✌️
@@donshotrodgarage1717 You’re welcome and thank you for replying, yes I’ve seen Impala Chris channel 👍🏾
Hey Don, You did a great job on this 56. That's a lot of work to do. Did you also change the frame on this as you did say anything about it? How many tri-fives do you have, no wonder they are hard to find, you have them all? lol A video in the middle of the day, what's going on? lol Keep them coming buddy - later
Thanks Marvin! It still has the stock hardtop frame but I have the X and the extra body mounts to weld to the frame. I have a few Belairs right now! Lol I rhink 6 or 7 of them. But your right there hard to find anymore, most of them are restored and way out of my price range! Talk to you later buddy!👍
Hey you still doing convertible work I’m in need
Hey Kirk! What are you is need of? Catch you next time 👍
Don, you just have one surprise after another, lol, I think that car is well on its way to becoming a convertible, that was a cool video, later bud
Thanks Mike! I still have more surprises in the future. Only so much time in a week and so much space at my house! Thanks for watching and have a good one Buddy 👍
Don, you are an inspiration! Some guys are dreamers, and some guys are doers. Your Tri five knowledge is amazing and you make me want to go find a survivor car, and start wrenching!
Always a pleasure, and keep the videos coming! 👍
That top windshield part is almost impossible to find
Are you saying that your selling that ‘56 conversion?. So the deal fell though with the guy that wanted? Now it’s back up for sale?
No sorry man the car has been sold. He gave me have down and the other have we he picks the car up! I did not want to sell the car but this is a friend I've known for many many years. Thanks for watching👍
Don, do the 2 door Hardtops also have an X-frame like the convertible? Great video.......55s Forever!
Bob the hardtop does not have a factory x frame! I have the X and the extra body mounts to weld to the frame. Just never got that far on the car. Thanks for checking out the video! 55s forever 👍
It's funny, I find myself starting like/want a 56 a little more every day. Even funnier, back in the early/mid 90's, when I was a 55 only guy, I had a 56 Nomad, (a little rough, but complete, paid $225.00 for, sold it for $450) and 57 handyman 150
( clean straight body and floors, no interior, took it in a trade, had absolutely $0.00 in it,sold it at Englishtown NJ. for $200.00. The guy that bought it ,took the title, came back 20 minutes later, with a hacksaw and literally cut the drivers side windshield pillar out of it and left the rest of it there.)
Funnier still, is how things change. The hoops I would jump through now, for either one of those cars.
Man what a great story of your life. Truly priceless and brutally honest! I've always been a 55 guy and 56 is a very close second. 57 Chevy have always been odd to me for whatever reason. But now I have a 57 nomad project I working on so the 57 is starting to grow on me. Have a good one man!👍
What chassie did it have under it.
It has the stock hardtop frame but I have the X frame and extra body mount to weld onto the frame. Talk to you later buddy!
@@donshotrodgarage1717 ye its great to see the diffrence in hard top and ragtop. But I think the original rag would be the one that's worth the money just in document status. I like a hard top tri five. Lot of work changing the chassie and welding in bits on another chassie. Think they made two diff chassis. California chassie. Tell us the diffrence in them if you don't mind. Maybe you still own the ragtop vehicle. Can you show us that. But you did a cool convertion. Think I would have found a roof for the hard top put it back standard. Still a highly collected car. But ye man. Find um flip um work on um. You got great knowledge. But at the end of the day just cruise um. Have a good day Man. Adios.
Yes Adrian your right man! The true factory built convertible cars are the way to go. They will always be worth a premium because there the real deal. The guy I bought this car from tried to sell the car and another very rusty 56 chevy 2 door hardtop for over 6 months on Facebook Market Place. No one wanted the car and anyone who called him wanted to just build a roadster out of it. I'm fact he still has the other ruff 56 hardtop and he can't get anyone that wants to restore it. Sometimes it's a very limited market for some cars even the 2 door Belair. Thats a great thought on explaining the "California Frame". There's a big misconseption on California having the boxed frame. Thanks for watching the video and have a good one man👍
@@donshotrodgarage1717 well Don buy low sell high. Lol. The banks charge you to keep your money. Somebody will want the rusty 56 one day. Pays better than the banks. Or its good yard art. I got a yard full of yard art. I luv it. I was wondering where you got the convertable rear tub from. But yep man keep finding um. Have a good day man.
Yeah man I agree! Some people spend big money on rocks and landscape. I'll take the cool old cars. I had a very ruff 56 Belair Convertible that I got the convertible tub and all convertible parts from. I mean ruff I mean when both the doors were open and the top was down it literally broke in front of the rear axle and laid down touching the ground. It had sat for probably 35 to 40 years in the woods with no top material! And the only wish I can find them cheap and sell them high. Everybody I mess with is firm on there price, it takes all the fun out of haggling. And the opposite when I sell them, most people don't even show up and whem they do show up there in a car! Like how could you haul anything with that car. Lol Talk to you later buddy!👍