1956 Chevy Belair

mamamauck

We have a 1956 Chevy Bel Air that we are needing to sell. It was my father's car way back in the day. He passed away 20 years ago and we finally have my mother convinced to sell it. It has been garaged all this time. It's not working and hasn't my entire life (34 years). It has all original parts as far as we know. It has some rust here and there but it otherwise in great shape. Can you point me in the direction of finding out the value of it? I need to get over to my mother's to get some pictures of it taken. Thanks for your time.

texases

Which body style, engine, and transmission? You can look at ebaymotors 'completed items' to see what ones similar to yours have sold for.

mamamauck

Hmmm, I'm not sure. Is that something that will be written on the car somewhere? I know its a 2 door but has a back seat. It also has a "hard top." It has all of the original interior. I'll have to check into it and see.

texases

OK, it's a two-door hardtop (that's good). So you'll be able to tell by looking under the hood whether it's a V8 or a 6. You can tell by looking in the car whether it's a stick shift (3 pedals) or an automatic (2).

Mr_Shiftright

If you gave us the VIN # we could tell you a lot about it, also the 'data plate" numbers which are attached to the firewall cowl inside the engine bay.

There can be an ENORMOUS difference in value with a '56 Chevy, depending on:

condition
engine
body type
color
options installed on the car

If it's a V8, see if you can read the numbers + letters that appear stamped on a small pad just in front of the right side (passenger side) cylinder head.

mamamauck

Great! I'll see if I can get over to the garage and get more info this weekend. I want to say it's a stick shift because I remember my mom saying that he changed the stick to "on the tree."

It's red and has only had one owner (how rare is that?)

Mr_Shiftright

The VIN is on the door jamb, where the hinges are.

The "three on the tree" would be the original factory set up. There was no floor shift unless someone made one up.

texases

For reference, here's a nice 'driver' condition '56 Bel Air 2-dr hard top V8, running condition, supposedly rust free, looks like it'll get bid up to about $10,000. Non-running + rust results in a MAJOR decrease in value, remember!
56 Chevy

dons56

My question is: I just pulled out one bad freeze plug out of my 1956 Chev Belair 265 V8 and found a bunch of thick mud in the bottom of the block.
I could only reach my finger in so far, but it feels like the mud in about 1/2 inch thick.
I am wondering if I should pull out a freeze plug on the other side and flush as much out as I can - or - leave the plug out and pull off the "out" line water hose and use a pressure water hose and long brush to wash out as much as possible or do I need to do more....?? Like pull the water pump or is there some thing I can pour in the later flush it out? Dons56 :sick:

Mr_Shiftright

Well if one freeze plug is bad they probably all are bad anyway. That's a lot of crud and really, the only sure way is to take the engine out strip it, pull it apart and hot tank the block. You can flush and flush but you'll never get it all---but sure, you could disconnect the radiator hoses, take out the thermostat, take off the water pump and just flush out as much as you can. It'll be a mess. I'd back-flush, opposite the normal direction of water flow.

This may get you running but if you want a car that you'll use for cruises, etc, you probably should go through the engine.

dons56

My thanks. As soon as the 90++ heat breaks out here in VA that will be my weekend project. Dons56

isellhondas

Like the others have said, it's hard to place a value on this car without knowing everything. By "hardtop", we are assuming there is no post between the side windows. A hardtop is more desirable than the 2 door post model.

" some rust here and there" can mean different things to different people.

Sounds like a fun project for somebody!