'Gearhead's '53 Chev 1/2 ton

If you watch the Message board you will recognize the name "Gearhead". Well that's Bryan Davis, Inliner #3174, of Madison, Wisconsin. We finally coerced Bryan to send us some photos of his long-term project, and I think you'll agree that it's one of the finest rides we've ever featured. Thanks Bryan, and stay "INLINE"!

Hello everybody,

            Thought I would send in some pictures of the ’53.  I found it when I was 15 while my Dad was teaching me how to drive.  He helped me do a quick resto on it so I could drive it while in high school, then while in college I decided to redo it, so I did a ground up restoration on it. I initially finished it in ’92 and have made many more changes since. Currently, it has a ’60 261 that is balanced, 848 head ported & polished, Howard F298 solid cam, Clifford dual valve springs, Offy tripower with Model B Rochesters with the end carbs modified for progressive use and custom progressive linkage, Fenton dual exhaust with 2” pipes and 24” glasspacks, modified 250 HEI distributor, custom A/C setup, 11” clutch, T5 tranny, and ’57 car rearend with 3:55 gears. The suspension includes a Mustang II frontend with 2” dropped spindles, strutless lower A-arms, 11” Chevy rotors, ’74 Nova master cylinder with stock pedal assembly, de-arched rear springs with 2” lowering blocks, and fully boxed frame. The body is basically stock, except for the custom woodwork and taillight panel and 2” lowered rear bumper. The interior has stock gages and dash with the stock steering column modified for use with manual rack & pinion steering, Chevette bucket seats and custom center console. I guess it will never be done, as I still have a list a mile long of things I want to do to it, but they will have to wait a little while till I finish some of my other projects.

Sincerely,

            Bryan Davis

....and it all started like this: