would you take this on??

[jvaughan]

well my grandfather offered me the 56 chevy two door post gasser today. he told me if i brought it back to life i could have it. but i dont know if i can take it, the car hasnt been started/moved since 1987 and for a good reason

the car was my dads brothers. in 1987 my dad was 13 and his brother was 15, they were both sitting on the couch when his moms boyfriend (parents were split) came home. he was a local cop and was cleaning his gun. he sat it down and the gun went off, the bullet hit my dads brother in the back of the head killing him instantly.

dave (my dads brother) had been working on the car for two years and was going to take it on a road trip across the country when he got his license. he put on a fiberglass flip up front end, a 350, 4 speed, 12 bolt rear, straight axle and the car was just about to be painted. then he was killed. ever since the day he was killed the car hasnt been started or moved. it has just sat in the exact spot it was that day, untouched.

my grandfather wants me to finish it and take the road trip with my dad to give my dad some closure (it was always a real touchy subject from him because him and his brother were so close) whats stopping me is that im a college student with one project and one money pit of a daily driver. i just dont have the funds to get it running again. it's been sitting in a barn, so it would need some body repair and probably quite a bit of mechanical work to get it going.

what would you do if you were me?

[85GTTops]

Work on it when you can, letting your father and grandfather know you'll need their help. It's not a project you'll want to do on your own for plenty of reasons beyond your limited time and budget.

[mustangjoe413]

I would do whatever I could to help your Dad heal from the experience. Yes, let them know you will need help, make it kind of a team effort. Plus, in the end it will make the three of you closer. Trust me when I tell you, life is short, try not to pass up an opportunity to show your love for your Dad.
I would give anything for an opportunity like that, drive across the country in an old gasser with my Pops in the passenger's seat.

[DRAGTOP89]

Def do it! Not a chevy guy,but,considering the year and model,the fact that it's a GASSER, and time with your dad and grandad,gi for it. Like has already been said,let them know you'll need some help,the bonding will be priceless

[joey7508]

Do it. I am sure that they understand it takes time and money to finish a car like that.

[tORMENtOR]

That's some sig Jake. Old school gassers are cool,I think you should grab it and save it for a future project. You gotta finish that Cobra first.

[SMcD]

I would do whatever I could to help your Dad heal from the experience. Yes, let them know you will need help, make it kind of a team effort. Plus, in the end it will make the three of you closer. Trust me when I tell you, life is short, try not to pass up an opportunity to show your love for your Dad.
I would give anything for an opportunity like that, drive across the country in an old gasser with my Pops in the passenger's seat.

X2
My Dad and I liked working together on my '68 Camaro. He had been driving it on the day he died June 1st, 1980. (I was 20). On August 6th, 1980 the Camaro was stolen from in front of my Mom's house, and I never saw it again either.

[HEMI]

Your dad's brother would have driven the hell out of that car. You and your dad should do that since your dad's brother isn't here to do it any more. He'd probably want you to.

[Cobra Jet]

Get some pics up when you get a chance, sounds like a neat project.

Ask your granddad if he will help with the financial aspect if you put in the sweat equity to get it up & running again... Sounds like it is a complete car that just needs body work or paint work finishing? If it has not been run in years, it's going to need the fluids drained & refreshed, oil shot down the cylinders and hand cranked prior to starting, tune up and also more than likely, gas tank dropped and cleaned, refill w/ new fuel, etc... etc...

At least get it running - your dad would most likely be surprised to hear that thing start up one day after all the years it's been dormant. Just starting it for him may bring some closure, being able to pull it out of the garage on it's own power may even do it too.... even if the paint/body work will be long term.

I would surely not sell it or get rid of it. Accept the car from your grandfather and keep it in the family - it's only going to continue to appreciate in value, even if it's modded.

[Chris Wood]

No question....I'd do it. Chances are though that being put together by a 15 year old, it is gonna need some rework.
Just a thought though, have you given any thought to submitting the story to something like overhaulin' or rescue and restore? This is the kinda story they go for.

[Durango]

My dad bought an ex-gasser '57 Chev sedan delivery on a whim back in the day. Straight axle, one piece tilt front end, the works. I was working at a small shop and daily drove that thing for about a week when both my other cars crapped out.

Man, that was sketchy on the freeway - I can't imagine what it would have been like at 130mph.

[nvr2low]

do it! I would not pass up a deal like that, being able to take something that means so much to the family and finishing it would be quite rewarding!

[vascj]

wow...tough decision. It's a very big responsibility restoring an old car. Lots of "elbow grease" and lots of financial demands. You really have to make it clear that if you take this project on, that it will be limited by your time and your financial resources. As long as all of thats clear, it would be a great opportunity and project to take on longterm. best of luck with your decision.

[80Notch]

i would jump on it! my dad and grandfather had a 57' chevy gasser back in the late 70s

[dburdyshaw]

If I was you, I'd sooooooo want to do it ---- though I agree with vascj...

wow...tough decision. It's a very big responsibility restoring an old car. Lots of "elbow grease" and lots of financial demands. You really have to make it clear that if you take this project on, that it will be limited by your time and your financial resources. As long as all of thats clear, it would be a great opportunity and project to take on longterm. best of luck with your decision.

[Ken P]

Here is some inspiration for you. While these are both 55s you get the idea...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pv2qY...eature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JFgTMYEaWlc

Disclaimer: My posting these clips does not mean I condone street racing.

[The Mechanic]

I would do whatever I could to help your Dad heal from the experience. Yes, let them know you will need help, make it kind of a team effort. Plus, in the end it will make the three of you closer. Trust me when I tell you, life is short, try not to pass up an opportunity to show your love for your Dad.
I would give anything for an opportunity like that, drive across the country in an old gasser with my Pops in the passenger's seat.

This, you never know how long you haVe...

[jvaughan]

That's some sig Jake. Old school gassers are cool,I think you should grab it and save it for a future project. You gotta finish that Cobra first.

i decided to walk through all the barns the other day and thats the list of whats there that i came up with. haha.

i think its going to have to sit in the barn until at least spring, i want to finish the cobra before i start this.

i tried to turn over the 350 and i think its seized. luckily theres a 79 caprice wagon with a 350 in it i can steal out of the backyard. this may be a 2-3yr project.

[stableboy]

do it!!!!

[80Notch]

Hey I got a 4mac bolt main 350 chillin in my shed if you need it but everyone does 350s....try to find somthin like a 327....my uncle even has hilborne injection setups for chevy smallblocks

[80Notch]

Don't mind the terrible spelling and random words...im on my cell

[jvaughan]

its cool, theres a 327 with trips in the barn too. also a tunnel ram dual quad set up and some other nostalgic things. it amazes me the things that man collected in his 60 years.

[4wheeldevil]

you do the labor
gramps bank rolls it
mom pays for the road trip
smile on dad's face PRICELESS

[1984mustanger]

Have a family meeting and discuss what would be best.

[jvaughan]

you do the labor
gramps bank rolls it
mom pays for the road trip
smile on dad's face PRICELESS

the finance thing is what really kills it.

i have too much stuff on my plate right now already.

my grandpas a paint/body guy but he works two jobs just to make his ex wife happy.

my dad and mom split up in march so he's still struggling to get back in good financial shape. hell the 97 only had 800 miles put on it this year because he was too busy to drive it.

its just gotta stay on the back burner for now. but i will do it some day in the not so far away future