Projects 1957 2 door 150 handyman

Thanks brother, wish I'd had about 2 more weeks to work on it!

 

You guys like to fight? I've been called an instigator over the years lol. Watching engine masters and specifically the episode where they measured parasitic horsepower loss on mechanical fans. Now I've never been a fan or component of electric fans, but after seeing that episode and the amount of horsepower lost with my steel fan blade, I'm considering making a change. Opinions?

 

Just build more hp so you can give some up with a traditional fan.

 

I believe they do rob a fair amount of power, but the reason is because they move a shitload of air. My '57 has a steel 4 blade, non clutch fan. On a car with no shroud and through a 6 cylinder radiator, and it never gets hot. Could idle in the driveway for an hour on a summer day. If I was drag racing, I could see it being an issue. But I personally am way more interested in maintaining consistent engine temps than I am about getting max horsepower from my already unimpressive small block. Overheating at idle is a bitch.

 

So i wonder how much air the steel 4 blade fan moves cfm wise? Yeah my car cools great, and with the current gears runs great, for a big station wagon, that is. But we're talking about 25ish horsepower here. I've seen a good amount of money spent to make that much. Still not convinced, because yeah I'm old school.

 

100 shot of nitrous to offset the loss

 

If it's Not a race car I wouldn't be too concerned.

 

But i wanna pretend it's a race car! Lol

 

Vroom-Vroom!

 

It's vroom vroom POW! (You left out the backfire)

 

Put in a clutch fan, have the best of both worlds....

 

Hey buddy, keep the mechanical fan...and just skip a few lunches. Excess weight robs horsepower too.

 

I think the factory clutch fan is one of the best pieces to ever come out of Detroit. I set my clutch to engage at very high temperatures to get the best performance. I don't use the shroud, I want as much air as possible to flow through the radiator while driving down the road..

This 57 is nice, I always liked them in primer, no chrome, with a nice set of wheels..

 

Thanks for posting that pic again @Elcohaulic. Now that you mention it, I really like the understated look of Lloyd's car too. In checking out another thread this morning, I was reminded of how few 57 Chevy's I actually like. I'm not sure if it is that they seem gaudy, or they just seem mostly done up the same with crying babies leaned against the front bumper or something. But, I am definitely drawn to the more utilitarian models like this delivery. And, strangely enough, I almost like a car in process better than the finished product sometimes. I'm thinking I could drive Lloyd's car just like it is and be pretty happy.

 

Pie Wagons Rule!

 

I second the comments made by @guthriesmith. I am anxious to see how your wife does on the interior. I recently picked up a set of original bucket seats for my Delivery and am working on the preliminary stages of recovering them. Things like looking at them a million times and wondering " how the hell did they do that? What kind of staple gun does it require to go through 4 layers of thick vinyl AND sheet metal? How can I use modern foam to do away with the cotton batting and jute filler". Keep on keeping on, it's looking marvelous! The Cragars look right on that car!

 

You can feel 25 HP in the seat of your pants it's nothing to sneeze at for just changing fans.

 

Out with the pos 605 box. The stock box is in. Feels better but i guess the road test will tell the tale.

 

Did you weld the stock steering shaft back together (just what I think I'm seeing)? I've always used the stock steering and brakes in all my Tri-Five cars, and never had any problems. I am Butch/56sedandelivery.

 

I cut 2 inches off of the splined input shaft of another junk steering box from the pile, and used a piece of .120 wall tubing as a sleeve, plug welded and welded up the ends. That way my column went right back like it was.

 

Welded column? You’re gonna die in a bloody flaming crash!

 

Lmao!! I stick welded it, and smacked it with a hammer, i THINK it'll hold. Those rods weren't the best.

 

6010 or 7018? Fresh from rod oven or laying outside?

 

6010 on the root pass, followed up with a 7018

 

I have an idea, I've got 2 "30 packs" of Miller lite and a half gallon of Ky clear, you come on down and we'll hit some backwoods gravel roads around here and test it's durability

 

Hell after all that we’ll be laughing when we hit the tree!

 

Well, in that case, I guess you won't be worrying about that fan anymore.

 

Nope! You come too Jack, we'll look like the dukes of hazzard!

 

That sounds like a fantastic idea Lloyd...and it would be the perfect opportunity to wear my favorite pair of "Daisy Dukes"

 

That went off the rails quickly....is that banjos I hear in the background???