# Theory Of A Deadman '53 Chevy
**URL:** https://forums.speedlife.net/t/theory-of-a-deadman-53-chevy/71175
**Category:** NYSpeed Automotive
**Created:** [July 27, 2009, 12:59pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/theory-of-a-deadman-53-chevy/71175 "2009-07-27T12:59:58Z")
**Posts on this page:** 14
**Page:** 2
### Author:  [@camarojoe](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/camarojoe)
#### Post date: [September 19, 2009, 7:10pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/theory-of-a-deadman-53-chevy/71175/21 "2009-09-19T19:10:26Z")
It has potential. What kind of restoration are you planning?
Floors need some tlc but I’m sure sheet metal is available.
Welcome to the classic car club. Where it costs a lot of $$$, but it’s a hell of a lot of fun. 🙂
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### Author:  [@turbociv](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/turbociv)
#### Post date: [September 19, 2009, 7:37pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/theory-of-a-deadman-53-chevy/71175/22 "2009-09-19T19:37:05Z")
ughh, i wana pick something like this up and swap in a m52 with lotsa boost. this will be my next project as well.
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### Author:  [@stmotorsports](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/stmotorsports)
#### Post date: [September 19, 2009, 7:49pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/theory-of-a-deadman-53-chevy/71175/23 "2009-09-19T19:49:16Z")
the plan is ratrod for now while I get the rust repaired, body straight, etc
will probably end up something like
[http://image.automotive.com/f/features/10642394+pheader/0811sr\_01\_z+1954\_chevy\_bel\_air+front\_driver\_side.jpg](http://image.automotive.com/f/features/10642394+pheader/0811sr_01_z+1954_chevy_bel_air+front_driver_side.jpg)
either way I figure I’m not gonna worry about keeping everything original since the car isnt exactly a rare or desirable model or anything… just something to have fun with
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### Author:  [@camarojoe](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/camarojoe)
#### Post date: [September 19, 2009, 9:00pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/theory-of-a-deadman-53-chevy/71175/24 "2009-09-19T21:00:49Z")
> [@stmotorsports](#):
>
> the plan is ratrod for now while I get the rust repaired, body straight, etc
>
> will probably end up something like
>
> [http://image.automotive.com/f/features/10642394+pheader/0811sr\_01\_z+1954\_chevy\_bel\_air+front\_driver\_side.jpg](http://image.automotive.com/f/features/10642394+pheader/0811sr_01_z+1954_chevy_bel_air+front_driver_side.jpg)
>
> either way I figure I’m not gonna worry about keeping everything original since the car isnt exactly a rare or desirable model or anything… just something to have fun with
Cool. It takes lots of time and $$$ but worth it.
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### Author:  [@Willybeen](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Willybeen)
#### Post date: [September 19, 2009, 9:25pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/theory-of-a-deadman-53-chevy/71175/25 "2009-09-19T21:25:27Z")
I wouldnt even know where to start… ugh. pauly… you have more faith than I.
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### Author:  [@TrueBlue](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/TrueBlue)
#### Post date: [September 21, 2009, 8:27am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/theory-of-a-deadman-53-chevy/71175/26 "2009-09-21T08:27:21Z")
Haha, very _very_ bad-ass. Nice grab.
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### Author:  [@stmotorsports](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/stmotorsports)
#### Post date: [September 21, 2009, 5:08pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/theory-of-a-deadman-53-chevy/71175/27 "2009-09-21T17:08:08Z")
thanks 🙂
grabbed some seats today, 98 sedan deville
The pics definitely don’t do them justice, they’re really nice. They obviously need some cleaning up & tlc, but the rear straightened right out from being bent like that.
I think I’m probably going to remove the front headrests to give that old school shorty bucket look. Either way they should look pretty badass in the chevy. I found some plain blank steelies w whitewalls too, going to pick them up in the am
Also finally heard back from the transporter while I was at the boneyard, the car is scheduled to be picked up this wed and delivered next wed
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### Author:  [@Drexial](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Drexial)
#### Post date: [September 21, 2009, 9:38pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/theory-of-a-deadman-53-chevy/71175/28 "2009-09-21T21:38:53Z")
I wouldn’t invest too much in this until you see the body up close and know how much sheet metal you have to work with.
It looks like most if not all of the floor needs replacing. the frame doesn’t look completely solid either. The outer shell looks good though.
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### Author:  [@stmotorsports](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/stmotorsports)
#### Post date: [September 22, 2009, 6:45am UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/theory-of-a-deadman-53-chevy/71175/29 "2009-09-22T06:45:09Z")
^^ sounds like quitter talk to me ;p
the po sent me a ton of hi-res pics. I’ve seen pretty much every inch of the car so I’m not too worried. Whatever is rotted out will get welded up, not a huge deal. Floorboards are easy enough to fix and I can always put the body on a different frame. I’m almost leaning that way anyways, would make it alot easier to swap to disc brakes and better suspension
at this point the car and transport are both paid for so I’m pretty much in the soup already
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### Author:  [@Drexial](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/Drexial)
#### Post date: [September 22, 2009, 8:34pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/theory-of-a-deadman-53-chevy/71175/30 "2009-09-22T20:34:05Z")
> [@stmotorsports](#):
>
> ^^ sounds like quitter talk to me ;p
>
> the po sent me a ton of hi-res pics. I’ve seen pretty much every inch of the car so I’m not too worried. Whatever is rotted out will get welded up, not a huge deal. Floorboards are easy enough to fix and I can always put the body on a different frame. I’m almost leaning that way anyways, would make it alot easier to swap to disc brakes and better suspension
>
> at this point the car and transport are both paid for so I’m pretty much in the soup already
Sounds like the dedication needed to make this car a beast…
chopping the top? please say yes…
suicide doors too if you want to get em really excited :-p
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### Author:  [@camarojoe](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/camarojoe)
#### Post date: [September 22, 2009, 9:15pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/theory-of-a-deadman-53-chevy/71175/31 "2009-09-22T21:15:11Z")
> [@stmotorsports](#):
>
> ^^ sounds like quitter talk to me ;p
>
> the po sent me a ton of hi-res pics. I’ve seen pretty much every inch of the car so I’m not too worried. Whatever is rotted out will get welded up, not a huge deal. Floorboards are easy enough to fix and I can always put the body on a different frame. I’m almost leaning that way anyways, would make it alot easier to swap to disc brakes and better suspension
>
> at this point the car and transport are both paid for so I’m pretty much in the soup already
C4 Corvette suspension.
Chop the top.
Solid panel floors.
Hard work is done 🙂
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### Author:  [@stmotorsports](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/stmotorsports)
#### Post date: [September 23, 2009, 1:07pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/theory-of-a-deadman-53-chevy/71175/32 "2009-09-23T13:07:02Z")
honestly I havent decided on chopping the top, that was the original intent but that was when i was 1st looking at a few different post bodies. I ended up getting the hardtop because I like the look better, but I’m not sure how I feel about them chopped. It seems there are so few chopped hardtops.
dunno about suicide doors either, definitely shaved but we’ll see what happens
as far as suspension goes, I think for now I’m just doing bags on the stock setup. Haven’t decided on anything beyond that yet
what do you mean by solid panel floors? just flat sheetmetal welded in?
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### Author:  [@stmotorsports](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/stmotorsports)
#### Post date: [September 24, 2009, 3:33pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/theory-of-a-deadman-53-chevy/71175/33 "2009-09-24T15:33:47Z")
eesh. here she comes
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### Author:  [@HotRodKid](https://forums.speedlife.net/u/HotRodKid)
#### Post date: [September 24, 2009, 4:11pm UTC](https://forums.speedlife.net/t/theory-of-a-deadman-53-chevy/71175/34 "2009-09-24T16:11:49Z")
> [@stmotorsports](#):
>
> It seems there are so few chopped hardtops.
yea, chopping a HT adds a bunch of extra work due to the lack of support structure (b pillars) and nowhere to hide the many minor adjustments needed to get things shaped correctly
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