Hot Rods Yes it’s still Possible.

But it ain’t broke so until it does we are running it

 

Gotcha, I have two 57 housings, with excess 60s crude welding to cut off, then verify or straighten. I have the MB kit for most rears, narrow, straighten.

 

Mick actually has everything to narrow /straighten / brace just about any rear end housing. ( and I do mean any thing from a 8 inch ford to a dana 60).He even has all the stuff that calculates what length axles etc to order. I did the one from scratch in the Prefect ( Mick guided me through it) We probobly would even re spline /shorten our own axles if I was smart enough to set up the bridge port. lol - The machine is more capable than I am I assure you.

 

Nice.... I have a clean 1963 2+2 wide housing, that needs to ne narrowed, has those flats for frame bumpers.

 

I traded my 40 Ford coupe for a 57 tudor post back in 1964, nice little car!

 

Got the bottom bolt out of the fender that I broke off. Drilled a whole and tapped. Installed bolt and a lock nut and then backed it right out. Even saved the threads.
I need to decide whether I am putting the air ducts back in. I truly wonder if it will make a difference. Man the 55 and 56 didn’t have all of this. The only 57 I’ve dealt with personally had a tilt front cap so I was actually shocked and how much was under /around the wheel wells.

 

Trim back on fender. Looks pretty good. Gotta make a decision on wether to put the air ducts etc back in or block them off and install the support panels for headlights

 

Fender back on with the trim. Gonna be ok I think

 

With or without the duct work ?

 

With. I figured since I am not doing air condition better keep those. Might be a little relief. Might make some cool duct work fit kind of a cold inlet box for the carb if I decide to get rid of those through the firewall.

 

Headlight bezels /grill insert and actually got all oxidation off the cross bar. Pits on the bottom are still there but if they can see them I have bigger concerns.
CLR and a brass brush do wonders.
Now if I can get the bumpers to duplicate lol

 

Today’s work. I put the bumper and light bar /grill insert in today just to see how they would look.
I have new lenses but I need to new pig tails for the sockets.
I also need the following if anyone knows of these parts.
The left front corner /driver side of the bumper is rust pitted badly. And so is the center section of the rear bumper.
I need a used front corner part of the bumper and a center section of the rear bumper. I don’t want new and as a matter a fact that wouldn’t look right it would be out of place. Just not chrome peeling /or terrible rust pitted.
I am leaning toward a early asphalt /stock car build. Six point style cage / widened stock wheels. 8 in maybe. And the rest be left alone. I won’t say black widow style but kinda. Just a 210 instead of 150.

 

For the record yes both front and rear bumpers are 3 piece.

 

How bad is your current rear center section? Got a pic of it? I have one left over from my '57 (ended up swapping to a wagon center) and it's got some old stickers on it that are neat, chrome has pits but isn't peeled off, I'd let it go pretty cheap and it might match perfect.

 

Mine is horrible . Structurally its not bad. but when I say its literally coming off in sheets .Let me see if I have a pic I can post.

 

I can buff the ends. I have been using CLR and brass brush/scotch brite. Then polish /buff. Not perfect. But acceptable. The rear center and the front corner are pretty bad. As pointed out earlier I think the rear guards are some type of aftermarket deal. Jc Whitney or something.

 

I think I have the perfect rear bumper for you. I'll dig it out and post some pics. It'll be cheap.

I'm fairly sure those guards are a factory accessory item in '57

 

I have seen both with and with out. And those are leaving lol. They are pretty rashes up. Get a load of that trailer hitch. And they drilled right into that pretty chrome. Lol. No hurry I still have floor pans to do but just getting everything back together is pretty fun right now.
I never saw it as a kid with the front bumper on it.

 

Here's what I've got. Definitely shows some fine pitting and wear but not peeled anywhere, and very straight. Has a sweet old Cal Custom sticker on it, and the remains of a Gabriel Hi-Jackers sticker on the other side. The license light bezel is shitty but that's removable, it does have a nice lens though. $40 plus the ride if you're interested. No rush on paying for it/shipping it, but let me know if you want it.





I bet someone on eBay would buy those old rear guards as cores to rechrome, that accessory shit is really popular in some circles. I wouldn't throw them out. That hitch on the other hand, I think that could go....

 

Figure shipping to
113 Scott Street
Houston MS 38851
And consider it a deal.give me a total. You want cash/money order/personal check. Let me know.
Thanks a million.
Now if I can find a drivers front corner I’ll be good.
Hadn’t thought about the bumper guards you may be right

 

Cool. I'll get it boxed up when I get a chance and figure out the shipping cost, shouldn't be terrible. I think it'll be right at home on your car. I'll keep my eye out for a LH front, but I know I don't have any extras of those at this time. At least this will get the back cleaned up nice.

 

It will be perfect. Let me know a total and I'll get it out to you. Again Thanks

 

I've got the back bumper boxed up, I'll send you a message with the details.

 

Back bumper section is in. Thanks Squablow. Would you believe the front left corner section may have just happened. Time will tell. It’s bolted to a wrecked 57 and a hamber gave me a ring and it may work out. Got started on the drivers floor plan. Was better than expected. Using ospho and killing surrounding surface rust before I start cutting and welding.

 

Driver side floor pan in. I took my flanger/hole puncher and made a male female receiving groove /spot welded to position. Then butt welded and the laid another on top of that. Put some cheap paint on it to keep it sealed but am going to grind the welds down flush. I did the spot welds on the support brace also. But it as good as it was in 57. Even looks correct for the most part. Lol

 

Got toe board patches done. There were a couple of places didn’t warrant an total panel but were weak. I flange lipped the patch cut the weak area and welded it in. I dressed the welds down but I have always been cautious about over doing or under cutting the weld itself. I am going to us either good old fashion rustoleum or the bed-liner like coating I used in the Willy’s and am going to use in the Prefect.( inside and underside ) I can get it any color. The interior color was black kinda and it’s still up in the air about what the headliner /sail panel/side/door panels will be. I don’t like carpet /love a factory rubber floor mat look. This car will be driven not abused but driven. I will fix what is needed to be functional/the rest I have no intention of messing with.

 

Passenger rear floor pan is fitted. Can’t say that I’ve ever had one fit this good before. Will trim parent metal and female/male flange and back off edge a quarter inch weld and seal.

 

Nice. I've had 55 and 57 Bel Air hardtops and a cherry pie 56 150 tudor sedan but never had a 57 sedan. Guy in our little Oregon town had a 57 tudor with the nicest dark gray metallic [large metallic!] paint and Cragars. Loved that car!
I was able to put 8 inch 'vette wheels on my 57 hardtop with no sweat.

 

Good to know on the wheel width.