'57 2Dr Sedan

[Dieselwrencher]

Wow! So much awesomeness in this thread! It sure has turned out really, really nice! Another kudos to your wife for talking you out of selling it all those years! You are so close now!!!

[jkeating1]

Originally Posted by Ironhorse

....waiting now for the new front bench seat foam to arrive. ....Ran into a problem with the 67 bucket seats I've had in the car since bought them ....Told the interior guy to concentrate on the front bench to keep the car interior moving along.

So obviously you are going back to an original bench front. Were you planning to rebuild the buckets as well for another purpose?

LOVE this car BTW!

[Ironhorse]

Many years ago when I first installed the 67 buckets I did a combination of using the original bench seat mounting bolt holes and home made brackets from 1/8'' steel angle. Only drilling new holes as needed for the inner seat brackets. Plan was and still is to be able to switch back and forth as desired from the original bench seat to the buckets. Have a "deep throw'' 55-57 bench seat shifter installed which clears the bench. Will not be running a center console as it changes the over all "look" of the interior considerably with a bench or bucket arrangement. Will be looking into getting the bucket seats rebuilt as needed and then having them re-upholstered in same pattern and material.

[Ol Blue K20]

Originally Posted by Ironhorse

Many years ago when I first installed the 67 buckets I did a combination of using the original bench seat mounting bolt holes and home made brackets from 1/8'' steel angle. Only drilling new holes as needed for the inner seat brackets. Plan was and still is to be able to switch back and forth as desired from the original bench seat to the buckets. Have a "deep throw'' 55-57 bench seat shifter installed which clears the bench. Will not be running a center console as it changes the over all "look" of the interior considerably with a bench or bucket arrangement. Will be looking into getting the bucket seats rebuilt as needed and then having them re-upholstered in same pattern and material.

I love the 67 buckets, being able to switch back and forth is cool idea!

[Ironhorse]

PROGRESS AND FINITO ! on the interior. Finally after so many months and dealing with the Covid slowing materials and parts the interior is FINISHED!

A few pics, actually got to move the 57 out for a bit of a sun light bath, LOL. Cell cam pics and not the best but they show a completed interior. Next back to the body guy where we will mount the front and rear bumpers and then have glass guy install the windshield and back glass. After that have a few minor things will need to be taken care of back in the home garage. Ditch the aluminum flex fan I installed years ago and install a steel mechanical 6 blade fan. No room for a clutch and fan. Pull the Mr. Gasket traction bars, glass bead, prime and paint back to the bright yellow they used to be when new. Still need to do a engine bay detail but that's a warm weather project.

[Ol Blue K20]

It looks amazing! Keep it up.....

[Ironhorse]

Thanks Dale. Been a long road getting to this point and must admit it has been a bit pricey but wife and I both are very pleased to this point. As they say, "you can't take it with you". Don't regret spending the $$ to this point a bit. Will be taking the car back to the body shop this coming week for a bit of assistance installing the bumpers. Those bumpers are heavy, the General used some good steel back then. Letting the glass pros install the front and back glass. Near as I can tell both are original to the car and in great shape. Like to keep them that way for sure.

Last on the list is to bring it home, a few minor tweaks and wait until it's driving season. Sure hope Spring arrives early this year and we can get some car shows going. Been a rough year for 2020 and '21 is starting out not too well either for our country.

[KShortell]

That truly is a work of art!

[Ironhorse]

57 CAME HOME TODAY !

Finally after a long wait, including paint and body jail, interior choice change because of discontinued material, interior upholstery jail, waiting on Covid caused parts shortages, weather delays and just waiting and waiting and waiting....etc. The 57 is back home !!

Did not drive it home because the roller tires are not up to a 30 mile highway trip so I used my AAA membership. Came off without a hitch. Fired her up and drove up the roll back and set the brake, shut her off, put her in reverse, foot on brake while AAA driver lashed her down. 40 minutes later unloaded her in front of the house and backed into the garage. Still a few small things to do before she hits the road. Change the flex fan for a solid steel mechanical, new seat belts for the front bench, bead blast and repaint the traction bars, swap out the rally wheels for black steel wheels and Camaro poverty caps. Clean and detail the engine compartment. Nothing major, will be great to "tinker" on her again. Then impatiently wait for driving season and the car shows to start up. I am Soooo ready for that,

[Ironhorse]

Couple more pics.

[Ol Blue K20]

Nice!! It looks good....Congratulations!

[mongocanfly]

congrats...looks great..!!!

[Dieselwrencher]

It looks amazing! I wouldn't wait for shows. I'd wait for the salt and sand to be off the roads then start putting some miles on that bad guy before gas prices are stupid high!

[Ironhorse]

Will definitely be out on the road after we can get some of the salt and sand washed off the local roads. We get a lot of the salt brine laid down as we get so much sleet and freezing rain. Have a few minor details to do in mean time.

Need to change out the aluminum flex fan for a steel mechanical fan, clean and detail the engine compartment a bit more, find a decent spare tire, clean and repaint the rally wheels, clean and repaint the Mr. Gasket traction bars, longer seat belts for the front bench, just mostly minor stuff that one can spend an afternoon in the garage with the stereo going and enjoy being retired.

[Ironhorse]

Will be taking the '57 in tomorrow morning to a professional registered classic auto appraiser for a Hagerty insurance coverage agreed value. Have spent the last hour and a half trying to document all that has been done and features that have been added and or updated. Guess will find out in a few days what the verdict is. I have a $$ amount in my mind, will see how close I am to his thoughts. After the appraisal will run it by my agent for some file pics to document the process. Fingers crossed the appraiser and I agree, LOL.

[mongocanfly]

Cool beans...insurance....that's something I've got to do with mine as well...one day...

[Ironhorse]

Well, finally got the appraisal papers back from the appraiser. Happy with the result, appraised for $31,500 which is not a Barrett/Jackson car but for what I wanted as a NICE driver I'm pleased with the results. During the restore I had it insured at $20,000 which would have allowed me to make out okay if the worse case were to occur. Will be increasing the insured value to $35,000 when the renewal comes up which is not too far off.

Bummer of the deal is was getting ready for the first showing this coming weekend and just this past Saturday the 65 year old radiator gave up and presented me with a LEAK. After this long a wait decided not to jack around with it. Pulled the radiator and took it in for a re-core. "Mo Money", LOL, but I haven't cut corners yet so no need to start now. Just a little more wait until 57 makes it's first showing. Waited this long, so a little longer will be a cake walk.

[mongocanfly]

be well worth the wait..!!!

[Ol Blue K20]

At least it didn't wait until you were on the road somewhere.

[Ironhorse]

Bit of a bummer with the leak showing up at the wrong time but guess there never is a good time for a radiator leak. As mentioned, at least it wasn't while we were out for cruise, that would have been a bit more of a problem. Irritating tho having to wait for taking it to our local car show for it's first showing. Had planned to take our '71 4x4, '71 Chevelle and finally being able to take the '57. Took just the truck by itself last show we had so guess will take the just the Chevelle this time. Have to share the fun between the toys evenly, LOL.

[Low Elco]

Is your Chevelle the caramel colored one? Slightly lowered convertible? That's a cool car!

[Ironhorse]

Originally Posted by Low Elco

Is your Chevelle the caramel colored one? Slightly lowered convertible? That's a cool car!

This is a pic of my Chevelle, 350 with Edelbrock 600 carb, Edelbrock RPM Performer intake, buckets with horseshoe shifter and console, 700R4 OD trans, Vintage Air, 15 x 7 and 15 x 8 rallies.

[67C10Step]

Very nice 57 and the Chevelle as a kicker is sweet!

[Ironhorse]

Well, finally got the radiator back from the repair shop. Took awhile to go thru the line before me and the repair process. Almost like the radiator shop was the only game in town, which they are unfortunately. Only radiator shop within a 50 mile radius that I know of. And they stay busy enough to prove that.
Radiator back in, took the opportunity to change out the flex fan and went with a six blade steel Derale fan. Also installed a two piece ABS fan shroud at the same time. White spray painted the fan tips as a reminder to keep fingers out of the area, LOL .

Again, plan for it's first show outing this up coming week end. Third time I've planned for such, hope the 3rd time is the charm thing works out this time, LOL.

Will post up pics later of the radiator, fan, shroud combo after get the 57 out for a short run and some more gas. The dual fours on it do get thirsty and I can't seem to resist a quick stab of the GO pedal.

[Ol Blue K20]

I hope you get to show it this time! Yes more pics please....