Here we go again...... 1954 Chev Bel Air Powerglide 4 Door

Cool car. I'd buy it, wax the rust to slow it down, weld in new floors, and run it. I'm no expert on these cars but a '54 should have a high pressure oil system, right? If so I'd expect it to run forever with a little care. If not I think you can convert the low pressure engines to a high pressure system. No idea on the trans but somehow the term "mid-50s automatic transmission" doesn't inspire confidence. On a brighter note it should be a simple rebuild.

Edit: Wait, I'm a dope, I bet that has a Powerglide transmission, if so it should be bulletproof.

Ever driven a truck with a straight 6 and a 2 speed? I suspect there will be little difference. Slow to get going and not much for top speed, probably a good thing especially if you have to turn or stop..lol

The fact it still runs means it was reliable enough, but it is 65 years old.

I remember those cars well. My parents with my teenage car advice bought a 1953 Ford 6 cylinder new. I would rate the GM bodies of that era as some what better than the Fords. All the bodies were perfectly adequate for the time, heavy and all steel. The Chevy 6 cylinder was showing its age by that time. The Chevy small black V8 dis not come out until the next year. The Powerglide Chevy auto transmission was a 2 speed job and did not deliver instant acceleration, but then the engine was not super powerful either. Those cars drove well and steered easily, considering they had king bolt suspension and AIRC no power steering. That 2 tone green and cream color was popular then.

I would keep the original drive train and repaint in the original color. That would give it more value in my opinion.

KEH

Thats a 65 year old car, what do you want it to be? As is you can drive it around and have fun sporting the rat rod rust look but it will be slow and have not so good brakes.I've helped swap a small block Chevy motor in to two of those some years ago not too big of a job if you have good fabrication skills. Firewall need to be modified(big hammer) motor and trans mounts made and the rear axle needs to be swapped out for something for a open driveline. We used Pontiac or Olds back in the day. Rewiring for 12 volts is also a good idea. I seem to remember that there is a clearance issue with the steering idler arm.

Is that car in the US? I'd think importing it would be $$$. Those aren't high-dollar cars here, I'd suggest finding a nicer one to buy since (just a guess) the shipping, duties, etc will be a substantial portion of the transaction. If you're going to have to pay big bucks to get the vehicle into England you might as well start with a solid candidate.

Sure looks like it needs paint to me.

When I was a kid my dad had a 1953 Chevy station wagon with Powerglide, basically the same thing as a 1954 except for trim differences. They were pretty reliable cars, but that was 60 years ago...one today will probably need a fair amount of remedial repairs before it can be considered reliable. By today's standards they're going to be quite slow as well - ours would do 70 miles per hour, but it took a while to get there.

Lots of people have updated them with a small block Chevy V8, but it won't slot right in without modifications. Look at those two stiffening ribs that stick out from the firewall on either side of the engine in the picture you posted, they need to be trimmed back to make room for a V8.

Love these cars! I've had my 54 for 3 years now. Love driving it around town just cruising. Mine is a 3 speed auto but does have a v8 conversion ( 350). Pretty reliable so far. Mine is modified quite a bit with doors, trunk, etc shaved. I plan to add a bit more chrome eventually.

Hate to gross you out but if that car was ever in Missouri, I may have been conceived in the back seat! Sorry but we had one just like that till I was three or so.:lol:

Did Chevy I use Babbitt bearings in that six? It might be expansive to rebuild. A friend has a 52 and he bought a later six to put in it with conventional bearings.

My brother in law has one, he swapped in a 5 speed out of an S-10, did a 12v conversion, dropped it slightly, dynamatted the interior and drives it everywhere. It starts like it is fuel injected, cruises at 75-80 mph all day long, and has bee ln driven probably 15-20k in the last 3 years.

A 1954 with Powerglide is a 235ci engine, they had insert bearings and full pressure oiling by then.

Brings back vague but fond memories of the '54 Del Rey my folks had. Red with white top. Pretty sure that replaced the '46 my dad bought when he returned from Okinawa in '46. I still have the plug in courtesy light. Looks like a little red rocket. I'm too lazy to go dig it out of the garage but by this time tomorrow that might change.

I have a ‘65 Impala but I sure like the pre ‘55s.

I think some of this has been covered by others, but here it is.

Basic layout:
235 inline 6
Cast iron Powerglide (not the same set-up as the later aluminum unis)
Torque tube driveshaft/rear
Kingpin front suspension with coil springs
Leaf spring rear (with aforementioned torque tube)
Single pot master cylinder under the floor
6V positive system with generator

As mentioned they are slow and ponderous in handling. The Stovebolt 6 is very thirsty. It may even be worse than the Blazer on fuel. All of the systems are “anvil” simple. Most of the brake and electrical system components can be rebuilt with inexpensive kits versus shipping heavy OE parts.

Upgrades that could be considered for daily driving are switching to 12v system and looking into a dual reservoir master cylinder.

The '53/'54 are not as sough after as the earlier models and the Tri-fives so they are cheaper. They also don't have as robust a support system as the later models which makes some part unobtainium or expensive. Even if it is restored, they aren't worth much – at least when compared to other makes and models with the same effort applied.

I suspect if you hold out you will find one in better shape at least when it comes to the rot. Though this one is unmolested which is becoming harder to find which is in it's favor.

Specialty suppliers
Chev's of the 40's
National Chevy Association

Basic mechanicals and even some body panels can be had at Rockauto though shipping from any of these companies will be the issue as you well know.

Engine know-how at Inliners International

Disclosure: I have a 210 4dr as my “forever” project. I went old school with a Chevy truck 261 I6, dual carb and cast iron headers. It's moved with me a few times and survived marriage and kids. One of these days I'll get it back on the road. Even if it kills me, which just might.

I own and drive a '56 Chevy. They are stone simple to work on (unless you have something exotic like the Touch-Down Overdrive transmission) and reliable -- for their time. Engines and trannys last a good 50K (miles, that is) between major work, and rust is not much worse than today, despite all the modern "rust prevention" hooey.
Once you take care of the obvious problems, it will last decades with gentle driving.
DRIVING, I say! Don't let it sit for months at a time!

Take it on a tour of Stonehenge - it'll feel right at home.

But, in my view patina=laziness/cheapass. Paint it, make it look new and proud!

PS.
Mine was originally a 235 straight six w/Powerglide. I changed it to a 400 v8 (yes, still a Small Block - drops right in) and 3-speed stick w/ aformentioned Overdrive. I left the rear end ratio the same, which gives it a top speed of 188 mph. (theoretically).

Some added info:
The '54 PowerGlide will break a fork? if put in Reverse while moving forward. Unless repaired, you can only idle backwards; you can't go uphill or over a tree root, etc.
IIRC you can push start it as it has a rear pump. In '63 and later, no push start because rear pump was eliminated.


On the 235, automatic choke may get sticky and need cleaning; normally easy.
Heat riser sometimes rusts open or shut and that will need cleaning if it hasn't been kept clean.
There was no oil filter. You're supposed to change oil every 1k miles.

Take the spare out and examine carefully. There is a drain hole in the bottom of the well.
Don't be surprised if the rear window needs resealing.

Don't be surprised if the final drive ratio is 4.11 to one.

Nice 54. They aren't fast cars.....235 in mine sounded like it was gonna explode at anything near highway speeds (60-65 mph, steep downhill grade with a strong tail wind) LOL..........but it doesn't need to be fast. It looks good. Rear end has better gearing in PG models than it did it the 3 on the tree ones. There is a ton of parts out there for those. Ebay, chevs of the 40s, etc. I'm sure there is no shortage of people that have swapped in a V8 or a newer straight 6. Personally, I like the sound of the 235 when you let off the gas (once the muffler is removed)I bought a conversion kit to change the front end on mine over to disk brakes but I don't know that it improved much of anything lol. I'm surprised the tubes? for the fresh air vents are still in place. Those are usually loooonnnnnggggg gone. LOL......I also switched mine over to a dual carb set up but didn't drive it enough after doing that to tell if it improved the get up and go of that tank lol. Nice 54. You have any pics of the interior?

cost would be a factor to consider with the floors being rotted out. 2 door and 4 door post cars are not as popular as the HT version so they are a little cheaper. 53/54 still plentiful. Me being where I live I'd be looking for something that was as close to rust free as possible. I am not a welder nor a metal guy though so I have to consider the fact that I would have to pay someone to do all the metal work for me. I like it. I am obviously biased though lol

heater core still there with hoses ran to it too............Don't see that very often either. Then again, I live in the desert. Who needs a heater here lol

Surprised the spare tire well(?) is still there but the front floors are rusted out. Maybe it sat in a field with broken windows for many years and that's how it happened. Usually that spare tire well is first to go in my experience. Mine was thoroughly gone but they sell a replacement. I sold mine a couple years back while going through a divorce. I miss it. So many people would wave and smile when I was out driving it. I'll look and see if I have any pictures of the interior of mine. I may have lost them all in the photobucket fiasco.

I like how the paint looks as it is now. I think I'd overhaul the entire brake system, change out fluids and get her running and drive as is for now....well, depending on how bad the floors are of course. Wouldn't want a foot breaking through it while driving lol.

Those cars are stupid easy to work on.