Grandma's 55

[grandmas55]

My Grandparents Lawrence and Rose Hann bought new a 1955 Delray coupe from Moffitt Motors in Napa, CA and brought it home to Santa Rosa, CA. The car was built in Oakland, CA. Grandpa died in 1962 and Grandma drove the '55 up until she lost her license in 1993 at age 92 (pulled out in front of a cop and had to take the driving test which she failed). Grandma Hann died in 1994 and I inherited the car. I replaced the 235 and Powerglide for Grandma in 1972 with good used ones a guy traded me for helping convert his '56 Two-Ten from six/powerglide to 283/four speed.

When I picked up the car in Santa Rosa in 1994 to drive it home it had 91,000 original miles. When I replaced the 235 in 1972 the car had 72,000 miles. Grandma only drove the car shopping a couple of times a week as you can see. Young men used to follow Grandma home to ask if she wanted to sell the car. My dad offered over the years to buy Grandma a new car as he was concerned about driving the '55 with no power steering or power brakes, but Grandma would always reply, "no thanks, Jim, I like my little Chevy".

I drove the car off and on until about 1999 but the engine was using so much oil and the trans was giving out so I parked the car in the garage, pulled off the front end, and gave the powertrain to a friend for his '55 pickup. The car sat apart until about 2.5 years ago when my wife convinced me to put the car back together. I had rebuilt a 327 and it sat on an engine stand in the garage for about eight years, and I had a 350 Turbo Hydramatic in my shed. My friend Pastor Carl and I towed the '55 down to San Jose Steam Cleaning and said, "here, clean it" and $300.00 later it was clean. Expensive but worth every dime. I installed disc brakes, the 327, and TH350 but a few months later replaced the TH350 with a TH2004R. The next year I took the car apart and had all the body and paint redone original Harvest Gold/India Ivory and redid about 60 percent of the interior, reusing the door panels and back seat. The cherry original headliner got torn in the body shop so I had to replace it . I installed Vintage Air last year. We have driven the car about 10,000 miles with no problems. Mark

[r66ss]

Mark,

Nice story on her glad u kept her in family, get a chance post some pics on form

[Sweden]

Hi Mark.

Great story.

Not many can say that the car have been in the family all the time.

[finallyhavea57]

Good story Mark!

Don

[557B210]

Originally Posted by r66ss

Mark,

Nice story on her glad u kept her in family, get a chance post some pics on form

Always did want to know the story behind your screen name.....Have to get with 'ya about the 200-R4 installation, when I get to that point of the build.

[carls 56]

great story mark . not many in the family since day one

[grandmas55]

David aka Pops:

The 2004R is almost a direct bolt-in from a TH350. The two units are only 1/16 different in length, and the cooling lines/filler tube/shift linkage all are in nearly the same locations. Uses the same flex plate and driveshaft yoke. There are a couple of electrical connections and no modulator. The crossmember has to be moved back about three inches due to the longer 2004R pan. First, second, and third gears are nearly identical to the TH350 and fourth is 0.63.

Mark

[grandmas55]

[Will]

Nice story and nice 55 Mark!

[finallyhavea57]

Hey Mark. Are you the old guy?

Is that Willow Glen?

Don