Projects 57 Belvedere 4 Door Gone Mad

Got some more work done today. 2 days in a row, dang, I'm on a roll!

Just wanted to build some inner structure on the insides to attach some sheet metal for the passenger compartment and also to support the top edge of the body. Since it will be a step over to get in deal I figured some leaning on the top edge of the body would be happening and I didnt want to end up with some distoration in those areas later on.

Put in some 1 x 2 tubing on each side with some 1/2" square tube going up to the 1/2" square tubing the edge of the sheet metal is now welded to. Also ran a piece of square tube along the floor for the bottom edge of the new inner panels to attach to.



Now I need to make the panels. 1 sheet of 16 guage, some cardboard to cut a template where it will meet the dash and a few basic tools.






Lots of measuring, mark it all out with a sharpie, measure it all again, cut it out. Test fit, trim here and there, repeat until it fits. Then drill a bunch of holes to spot weld it to the inner structure.





Spot weld it in and do the same on the other side. This helped make the body much more rigid again. I want to be sure and not get alot of flex in the body once this is all done.



Starting to actually look like a car inside now.



Nothing beats a relaxing day off working in the shop

 

Awesome! This is a great project!

 

Actually it wasn't about what engine he runs...it was more of I think it would look cool with the 57 fenders and hood cut down and put on.
Looking good.

 

its to boxy looking for me, kinda like a brick with fins.

 

very cool car, love those badass headers man, this ones gonna be unique

 

that is cool

 

I have a 55' Newyorker with a 331 in it for sale! I'll sell you the motor cheep

You need a HEMI!!

 

nice project,ill have to keep an eye on this one!!!

 

YOU HAVE DEFINITELY GONE MAD!
SUPER SWEET AND SEXY JOB.
At this rate, you should be "showing off" at the next Roundup.

 

Great stuff guys ! Love the headers an cross ram , works well with the cowl width .....

 

I subscribed.. I love these things. Not a fan of bubble tops, but the roadsters. Can wait to see where this is going. Defenitly needs a Hemi. I striped a 58 Chry Saratogo 4dr for the bed on my avatar. Great job so far, keep creating, it's so cooool.

 

Awesome project man!! I love the way it's turning out!! Can't wait to see more progress!!

 

Racrdad,
I'll add another WOW to the list..
I really like the way your thinking two steps ahead, ( like re-using the roof panels ).
another subscriber here too !
EXcellent man .
-41-

 

I admire the.... "to heII with planning, just start building approach..."

 

Those headers are incredible

 

Super build! don't know how i missed this thread for so long. the "mouse" looks much better with the mickey ears on it! the headers and cross ram really fill the sight picture viewed from the front. early in the thread i was doubtful, but it looks good. A dream motor to consider would be a big-block mopar with the factory cross-ram set-up. thats all waaayyy! in the future though, easily changable at a later date. i think this car shows fresh thinking and excellent quality work! keep it up & DO IT YOUR WAY!

 

How flimsy are the side skins of the car??? There seems to be alot of "dead space" between the door panels and exterior of the car... contouring the door panels with the shape of the body would have been trick but like you said, you have no way to bend large pieces of sheet.

Not being negative, I love what your doing, just some constructive criticism. Keep plugging away.

 

That's where we are stashing the BEER!

 

It has steering finally. Of course my camera battery was dead so I only got a couple of cell phone pics, but oh well. it steers. Fabbed up a mount for the box and the column. Box is offset some from the column so I used a couple of steering joints and a short piece of solid 3/4 steering rod to hook em together. Also skinned the firewall. Will post up a few pics of it later.

Then to the trunk lid. Made sure the camera ready was this time. This is something I have really been looking forward to doing, I think it turned out pretty well. Needs a little work on the gaps of course but its pretty darn close already.

Took 20 inches out of the center



Slid the 2 pieces together for a look and the inner support couldnt have lined up more nicely!



Took just a little more trimming down the middle once it was sitting on the car. I always leave things a little big then trim them to fit. Tacked the outer edges in a few places to get it flush and the gaps close. Now its ready to tack it together.



Still using the factory hinges



There it is!

 

Looking better all the time!

 

Looks great. What are you going to use for a truck latch since that part got cut out?

 

HELL YEAH

 

Love what you're doing with the '57.

 

Nicely done Racrdad. These full size car meets hot rod cars don't always float my boat but I am liking where this one is going. I dig how the cheater slicks suck into the quarter panels.

What are your plans for a windshield?

Here are some pictures of a '57 Imperial they did at the shop I used to work at. Though the style of build may be in opposite directions it is still some good inspiration none the less.

Nicely executed.

Enjoy.

 

Just my 2 cents here, but...

I LOVE what you're doing to the car! I'm a die hard Mopar guy (well, the OLD stuff anyway) and for all of the people that are bitching about you cutting up an old rusty 4 door... screw 'em! If they wanted to see the thing restored, THEY should have bought it and restored it before you got to it. (And then we'll just smile and wave when they have $30K in a restored 4 door Mopar that nobody wants.) If it were a 2 door, i'd have winced a little more, but hey...

Same with the motor. Sure everyone WANTS a Hemi but who can afford 'em??? I'd try to stick with a Mopar motor if I were you, but I'm not you, so do what makes YOU happy. Poly 318's are cool engines, but speed and chrome parts are pretty hard to find for them, and even the trusty 340/360's are getting tough to find in rebuildable condition that don't have a thousand dollar price tag on them (thanks Barrett Jackson!).

My LAST two cents is that I'd LOVE to see you reuse the original hood, part of the grille and the headlight buckets from the original car. It'd just make the theme that much more "complete". Maybe use the hood and the tops of the fenders as a sort of "roof" for the engine and over the tops of the tires. Hang the headlights and part of the grille underneath, and round it under... leave the headers and suspension exposed...

I'd love to be able to photoshop it for ya, but...

FAN-FREAKING-TASTIC idea though! You are a master at fabrication too! Nice work!!!

 

That is just awesome!!

 

This is just fantastic - I love it! Keep the pics and info coming!!

 

Dont know yet, will cross that bridge when I get there.
　

Also dont know yet but have been thinking ALOT about it. Any suggestions???

Hood is trashed except for the front 6 inches. Pondering good use of that part of it though. Half of the grille is trashed also. Headlight buckets may get used. I also have some other lates 50's mopar headlight bezels I like and may try to incorporate those into a grille shell. Trying to use as much off this car as possible.

I appreciate all the support guys!

 

That thing is just crazy cool! I can't wait to see it, any chance of making the Round Up?...........just kidding.

 

Don't laugh, but some Bass boats have really cool little half bubble windscreens. Smooth, individual bubbles that would look really good on your "Batmobile-esque" finned wonder. That might be worth thinking about, and would be WAY less than blowing your own acrylic bubbles.

Love the build, it's got lot's going on.

Brian