Have been driving it some(500 miles) and getting the bugs out--runs very well and no problems to date--even civilized in traffic-quite pleased with it so far--this is the 3rd time it's been redone in the past 34 yrs. Kinda fun to drive around-it's just as it was in the day--283HP, 3spd and 3:70 posi
I love it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Back in like '65 or so, in Macon, MO, I want to say that Dr. Daddy bought one just like your's w/ red interior from somebody in KCMO for his boy and it looked like the rear seat had never been sat in. It mighta been the boy's friend's Dad that bought it, I forget. Fwiw, Jack Podell in Southbend can keep the Rochester FI sweet for you if need be? Just say ol' pdq67 sent you asking... pdq67
I seen a 57 convertible fuely with vacuum wipers, that had an electric motor to create more vacuum. Does your have that?
yes. this car has the vacuum wipers with the booster mtr-the FI is a 3rd series 57 (4800) but an "in house" unit per the fellow who rebuilt it (#11)--has some very odd sandcast pts and some other features he has only seen in old publications--he has redone over 200 units and said he has never seen a 4800 unit quite like this (had 4 57 units there when he was doing this one)-the unit retains all of it's orig finish-a little faded here and there-no replating or gl*** beading--wanted it as it has always been--could look fancier but I like it like it is there is a small picture of it in the June issue of street scene (NSRA mag) This car has a jaded past-was a drag car as new up until the early 60's--Oakland built car-Late (June) 57-orig black with silver / black interior per cowl tag
love those fuelie units! as a teenager used to watch the '57 150's 2dr post w 3spd wind out thru the qtr!!! ended up selling fuelie unit to buy an engagment ring in 1963! she still has diamond, i don't have either! damn, wish i had kept that fuelie!!!
C-10 simplex asked if it runs on the street O.K. Runs quite well but it is what it is. Can be contrary on hot and cold start if not set up properly and always carry an extra drive cable !! Is it a practical everyday car? not really compared to modern stuff but is very drivable. The fellow who redid this unit has over 100Kon a 60FI high horse Vette and has driven to coast to coast many times. About 4 yrs ago it was going together and a guy wanted all of the orig stuff for a lot of $$. I was going to do it and put a 500HP Z06 mtr and 6 spd in it. My wife and Son had a fit and said that I should put it back like it was and not make a hot rod out of it so it sat for 4 yrs-then I finally agreed and put it back together-would have been much easier to modify it with a later power train but they won out--kinda glad they convince me.
Looks Really "Groovy" Man ,,Love It ,,I ran a '62 FI unit on my Duntov Cammed 283 in my '54 Ford F-100 in Alaska for 2 years in the '60's ,,had a few problems with it ,,but i was a Jet Mech in the Air Force and werking on a Rochester F I was a heck of a lot easier than werkin' on a F-102 Jet Fighter ,,plus ,,rebuild kits back then were only $24.95 at the Chevy Dealer ,,mine started and ran fine in the winter too ,, Keep those hubcaps on it ,,the whole car looks GREAT !! as it is ,,PLUS ,,keeping it original makes it werth alot more than if you hot rod'd it ,,
THX all for your comments--just a few little things to do and it's done for now--I'll just cruise it some and enjoy it =took it to two cruise nights per wife's nudging and it was well recieved and won best of show and best GM at another--made me feel good
It's an early mechanical fuel injection from Rochester.These came from the factory on many Chevies You are thinking of Hilborn injection which is not very streetable.
Very, very cool! Thank God you didn't change the engine! It would have then been like so many others out there. You have a very unique car there. I ran a fuelie Belair sedan and 270hp 210 sedan back in '65. Back then there were plenty of them around. Back in the day a guy in town used to sell fuelie units rebuilt exchange for $75.00 or outright for $125.00, plus the distributor. He had a garage full of them. He recently told me that whenever he got a first series unit he threw it in the garbage!!!! Black Belair fuelie '57s? Definitely an American car culture icon of the greatest era ever, and very tough to beat in my book. Oh yeah, the "dog dish" caps and black walls are perfect!
Update--have about 950 miles on it now--ran the valves again and just sorting it out-no issues thus far--take it to the grocery store,etc. It's not crazy about the modern gas (precolates when hot) but has never failed to start and run. Had to mess with the elec vacuum mtr (booster) to get it to work properly but thats about it so far.
well--someone posted on here "who is gonna get your stuff when you are gone"-got me to thinking-time to thin the herd at my age-ssoooooooooooooo- the 57 FI car is gonna go to a consignment store in the next month or so--I know prices are a little soft now but this car is pretty decent and has a history and I have been involved with it now for 35 years--will see how it goes-a little nervous to let it out of my sight but what the hell huh?? Am I nuts or what ?? The reason for this is that if I check out, friends and kids can make the other cars run, etc. but this FI car is out of their expertise-too finicky and easy to screw it up!!!
The Jalopy Journal
