'57 2Dr Sedan

[mongocanfly]

that color looks really good Gary

[Ironhorse]

Made up a display case with all the items in it that were found during the tear down of the 57. The VERY rusty feeler gauges, two pocket knives and the Coors beer opener were found after removing the front clip. Didn't try to oil and free up the feeler gauges. Both knives opened just fine, reasonably sharp but just leaving them with the other items. The rectangular patch was brazed with brass rod near the LH rear wheel well opening. All the other items were found near front windshield/defrost duct area after removing the windshield and inner trim. Thought the cigarettes might be of the "roll your own" variety until got them out and seen the factory filters. Thought everything should make a neat display along with a picture album when taking the 57 to local car shows.

[mongocanfly]

That's cool..what a great idea...
if I did something like that with all the stuff I found in my truck ,I would have a huge display of rat turds...

[Russell Ashley]

Good idea. I have found a few things like that along the way but never anything worth saving.

[Palf70Step]

Color is gorgeous. Can't wit to see you with it all assembled

[Ironhorse]

No pics right now but will get some tomorrow hopefully. FINALLY brought the '57 home and to the interior shop! Winched it out of the covered trailer and pumped the gas several times. Fired right up and drove into the interior shop under it's own power. Jacked it up and put a set of "shop skates" under each tire. As luck would have it a light rain was falling, sure did bead up on that new paint. FIRST time it has EVER been rained on since I've owned it from 1975. Will go to the shop tomorrow with some McGuire's Quick Detail and soft cloths to remove the rain spots, cover with the car cover. Spent almost 2 1/2 hours talking interior thoughts and then cars/trucks in general with the shop owner.

He also has a '71 Malibu up coming personal project, '81 Monte Carlo (5.7 LS almost done), '85 1/2T short bed 4x4 in process). Nice to get good "car vibes" from him, feel good about the upcoming interior job. Gave him info on the board here.

Added a few pics from my cell phone.

[Ironhorse]

Added a few pics from cell phone. Didn't have my digital cam with me. Looking thru books of material samplings now, almost as bad as picking out carpet, drapes or wall paper for the home. Still set on the combination of medium and darker charcoal or gray cloth with vinyl combo but have not decided on the weave or texture.

[mongocanfly]

That's gonna look great!!

[Ironhorse]

Last few pics I have. Wiped it down with McGuire's Quik Detail Mist & Spray using Mircro-fiber towels and then covered with a fitted car cover. Will "sleep" under cover for a bit until we decide on the actual material and color shades for the seats, head liner, door panels and the carpet. Decisions, decisions. Have some thoughts but nothing set in concrete yet.

[Ironhorse]

Well much as I don't like it progress has been slowed by the CV-19. Having some trouble getting carpet and seat material shipped in. Headliner material finally showed after a 3 week wait. Waiting on some stainless steel trim I ordered on 5/05 and STILL not here. This is for the door panels and is holding up that portion of the interior. Some progress with the back deck package tray, custom engraved 4spd trim plate courtesy of our board member"a1971Blazer". Can't wait to row thru the gears with it installed. Looks great. Our local car show I was wanting to enter the 57 in has been cancelled due to the virus. Haven't been to one car/truck show at all this year! Pretty sure I'm having withdrawl symptoms or something.

[Palf70Step]

I hear ya!

[mongocanfly]

That's nice ..!!..

[Ironhorse]

A bit of progress on the 57 but it's been slow getting materials in. Door panels close to being done, headliner is partially in but not complete yet. Needs a bit more work on the edges with the wrinkles. Got my original 57 bumpers back from the chrome shop. Boy that was pricey $$ !! but they look great. Few more pics. Thinking now the 57 won't make a car show this year the way this CV thing is affecting everything.

[Ol Blue K20]

Any progress is good progress. Keep it up it's looking great.

[mongocanfly]

Gary,,that looks really nice..!! who'd you wind up using for the chrome?

[flashed]

It looks great . I have a neighbor , 88 years old that is restoring a 4 door 55 , pretty cool original car . His daily is a 5? 5 window truck he restored about 30 years ago . I want to be just like him when I grow up.

[Ironhorse]

Originally Posted by mongocanfly

Gary,,that looks really nice..!! who'd you wind up using for the chrome?

Greg, a very good friend of mine who I ran into at a local car show this early Spring had a 57 entered. It is also a 57 210 two door sedan, 383 stroker with 4 spd.. Looking at his bumpers I was impressed and he gave me the info for the plating service. It is a little shop in the older section of Tulsa, Ok. called "Charlie's Plating" Was not cheap and possibly a bit more than the El Paso shop we PM'd back and forth about. But it is within driving distance so did not have to package and ship and worry about a lost shipment. Drove down to him, dropped them off about a month ago and just picked them up this past Monday. Probably came in at about the same amount of $$ when figure did not have to ship and insure the parts.

[mongocanfly]

good deal on that...I would have preferred local as well..shipping for me cost more than the plating...

[68Gold/white]

Gary,
Just read this thread!!!
Best part of story, is you still owning the 57!!! So many folks let their dreams get away from them. I still have my 77 Trans Am I bought as senior in High School. Chiseling away on it and my 2 Chevy pickups (67 and 68 C-10s. The 68 is obviously a golden pickup).
Jeff

[Ironhorse]

A little more progress. Carpet is in and the bench seat shifter is back where it belongs. Bit of a hassle installing the shifter this time. Last time I was a good deal younger crawling under the frame and my eyes were a good deal younger also. Oh well, it's back in and my back will feel better in a couple days, LOL. Not easy to see in the pics but installed new clutch and brake rubber pads and new gas pedal also. Mounted the fire extinguisher back in on right hand kick panel. Can be seen between steering wheel spokes. It was required when I was racing years ago and just think it's a good idea to have one. Too much invested in this not to have one and take the chance. Getting oh so anxious to row thru the gears again.

[Ol Blue K20]

I'm getting anxious for you too. The carpet looks great. It looks like it fits really good.

[projectking]

Beautiful!

[Ironhorse]

Haven't posted any up dates for a bit. Getting much closer, waiting now for the new front bench seat foam to arrive. Vendor says will ship soon, Covid-19 holding it up due to short staffing. Seems that is the same story for just about anything parts wise now days but guess not a huge deal. Ran into a problem with the 67 bucket seats I've had in the car since bought them from a salvage yard out of a 67 GTO for whopping $50 bucks. Many busted and rusted springs, need a complete rebuild. Told the interior guy to concentrate on the front bench to keep the car interior moving along. No car shows, no longer cruising weather, probably after the first of the year before I get the car interior done now with Christmas and New Years coming up. Still have to mount the re-chromed bumpers and get the glass installed after the interior. Few pics of the rear bench which is finished and installed now. Liking how the three colors all blend in together.

[mongocanfly]

That looks really good..!!

[Ol Blue K20]

That looks great!