Art & Inspiration First 57 Chevy, I need a theme.

Hey guys, I'm about to get my first Tri 5 in a month. Its a 57 bel air 4 door hardtop in red, rusty, and the hood and bumper are KO'd, but that's why it's 2k, not 7k in missouri. We checked the fenders, they aren't pulled in, the hood can come off, whick is the plan, and the supports aren't messed up. So the bumper comes off, along with the hood, and we're in like Flynn. We also have a line on an Olds 330 and Powerglide from a 66 cutlass. There is no motor, so that works out as well. The main reason I'm posting is to see what they used to look like when a young guy got one, any pictures? Such as stance, styles, colors, wheels, carb scoops, tires, anything would help. I have an old car club who can't wait to teach me about building it, but the outside is what I need help with. Keeping her Old School! Thanks guys.

 

What look are you going for and from what era

aboukt a zillion different ways to make a 57 look cool

4 door hard tops are slick
Post some pics

 

GASSER!!!!....

 

I'll take any pictures any ideas! But not a gasser lol. I've seen it a lot, and I can't see over the dash in one. Unfortunately, I wasn't blessed with the 6'4 side of the gene pool. So maybe nose down?

 

....I also have a love for crappy flame jobs.

 

How about what you'd see in a high school parking lot in the mid to late sixties. Front end raised a little, chrome reverse rims, dual antennas on the back, of course dual exhaust. Simple, clean.

 

It's been posted a million times, but my car was some kid's high school car in the 70's and still wears (some of) the white paint job they put on it, and has their HS parking lot sticker still in the rear window. Mismatched mags, air shocks to jack up the back a bit (same ones that have been in there over 40 years(!) installed before I was even born) 8 track player in the dash. It used to have orange fur pinned on the door panels and bucket seats screwed to 2x4's on the floor but those things are gone now.

 

Could make a cool custom out of a 4 door hardtop. Could be pretty mild to a more full custom. Would be shooting for a era of 58-62. The Olds engine was something you would see in big time show cars in the early 60s as it was points to have a big engine change like that.

But simple things like nosing, decking, shave the handles off and a nose down rake would be killer. Could do some changes to the side trim to make it custom looking as well. Run steel wheels with hub caps or chrome reverse wheels and then 3/4" to 1" white walls.

 

The 330 Olds is kind of a neat engine, they have a forged steel crankshaft in them which is apparently the hot ticket for some fast Olds 350 builds, and while the trans that's on it is a 2 speed, it's not a Powerglide, certainly not the same as the Chevy Powerglide.

What I've been told is, the torque converter in that '66 Cutlass transmission is a switch pitch dual range unit, and if you swap that (along with I think the pump or modulator, I don't really know that much about transmissions) into a BOP Turbo 350 you can make a switch pitch TH350 that's supposed to work really well.

 

On a budget

put the hood and bumpers on it

flat or satin paint

lowered

wheels of your choice

 

Hub caps like baby moons or full moons or big Cadillac style ones?

 

If I ever got around to repainting my '57, I really like this mild custom one that I saw at a local show. It's very clean and fairly simple, and what was done here would translate onto a 4 door hardtop really well.

 

These are some of the early years of Taboo back when Ron was still in high school/just graduated (I think he graduated in 58) So these are some the changes he made to the car at that time.

 

Good info! Any idea what that trans is called?

 

Here's a few other hot rodded or customized 57 Chevys that I like, that all have a period look and are not drag cars.

 

This is a photoshopped version of my car with baby moons and a legit red paintjob, and also lowered a bit. I really do like this and could see myself doing this in the future.

 

I believe it was called "Jetaway". I don't know if I'd put a 2 speed Jetaway into a '57 Chevy, but if you've got the technical skills, I'd definitely get that transmission and use the pieces in a later 3 speed case. Plus, the TH350 has mounts and shifter linkage available for a swap to make things easier.

 

I really like the last 2 red ones there!

 

Looks like a 210..painted white between the quarter trim, rather than the stainless a Bel Air would of had.
Check out the '55-'57 picture thread, determine which style you like, and stay true to it.

 

I don't have the skills yet, maybe the guys can coach me through it. I have a 383/th350 but I'd like them to stay in the other car.

 

Certainly not THIS crappy My old Chevy Panel when I first dragged it home. Before... ...and after

 

She definitely looks better in black!

 

Posted by DDDenny on the black on black on black thread

 

That wouldn't work anyway, you need a BOP pattern (Buick, Oldsmobile, Pontiac) transmission for your 330, the Chevy transmissions don't bolt up without an adapter.

 

Here's a '57 4 door hardtop with a crappy flame job.

 

You have half of my Uncle Norm’s dream car, he always wanted to take the 57 4 dr hardtop and graft it onto a 55 4 dr sedan just to make people look twice

 

I find it interesting that there is white paint (as a 210) where silver inserts would go but the fin molding, gills-grill-script is gold as a Bel Air.

 

Johnny Gee I don't see any white paint or gold moldings on that '57 4 door hardtop. Pretty sure that's a 210 model, I don't see anything Belair specific on it at all.

 

^^^^^