Projects New to me old '57 Chevy Convertible

I'm not really a "57 Chevy" guy. I like them, but they've never been on my must-have list. A convertible changes that some for me. Part of me wants it to be one of 68 fuelie convertibles...part of me wants it to be a hotrod convertible with a pike of fuelie parts

 

I paid good money for the car. They threw in that paperweight fuel injection to take with beer cans for aluminum recycling. And all those old parts...eh...I'd rather have some of the new shiny bits with the coveted "made in China" sticker like all my Autozone stick on chrome so it matches.

 

Congratulations! Both cars are so cool, but that 57...

 

What a luxury some of you guys have to live in a climate where there was ANY chance that the original steel fuel line was still intact on anything more than a couple years old.

 

Haha, be careful! You could end up a ''Tri 5 ****'' before you know it!
Actually, you'll have to do a little research to learn all the fuelie clues. Like routing of the temp sender wire behind the distributor, and an extra clip on it. Extra fuel line clip somewhere. Also the left radiator valance will have certain mounting holes I believe. Pictures of everything before dis***embly will be your only proof in the future. Without a legit paper trail, pics of shadow marks from mounted pieces can make or break it's pedigree. Go slow & take lots of photos!

 

Grew up in WNY south of Buffalo. I thought I died and went to heaven when I moved to NC and could remove nuts on cars more than 3 years old without using a torch or a chisel. I couldn't imagine how good they have it in places like Arizona or Nevada

 

Would that require that I get a tri-five shirt, hat, jacket, and little pillows to put on the rear package tray with embroidery saying "Lost in the Fifties"? Am I still able to listen to anything or do I permanently have to listen to Elvis and Frankie Valley and the Four Seasons?

 

Dude, you beat me to it!

 

I wasn't into big, bulky, slow, lean -way -the -****- over around every turn, 57 Chevies either until I found mine. Now I don't know what I'd do without it

 

Don't forget the fuzzy dice hanging from the rear view mirror

 

There also should be a notch in a hood brace from what I've been told and read

 

So one of the many photos I didn't upload shows what appears to be a 3/8" fuel line run across and to the outer side of the frame. At least narrowed down one potential puzzle piece.

 

Looks like some cool old Tri-Y headers on there too, that's period cool. If this car does turn out to be a factory fuel injected car that is going to end up getting restored stock, you should definitely pull off all the vintage speed goodies from it, since a restorer will likely throw all that stuff in the trash when they get it. Would be a shame.

 

If a 9/16" wrench fits on the tube nut, it's a 3/8" line, and was equipped with Dual Quad's or Fuel Injection. Power Pak cars had 5/16" line ran on the outside of the frame also, but were single 4 barrel carb's. All 3 engine's came with dual exhaust, which is the reason the lines were routed on the outside of the frame rail, to keep the fuel line cool.

 

I got to know, how does it feel to have a lucky horse shoe stuck up your ***?

 

Jeezus, what a find!
I can imagine that "everything in the world must have felt right" to a 19 year old fella with a new 57 conv in 1957. To boot, he had the financial means to soup up the car...... and the young lady he was dating was to be his bride for life. Sounds like a dream.
If it's not a fuelie, I hope you build it as an early souped up street car with those headers and early speed parts. Something about that black top (vs a white one) and Inca silver says it's not stock under the hood.
I've seen way too many restored red, turquoise 57 converts...Zzzzzz....

 

My father asks me how I manage to sit. I've found a few "good deals" over the years

 

Can you imagine? When I was 19 I was lucky if my cars had floor boards

 

Wheeldog57 and Chevy57dude are right, never wanted a tri five until I got one. Now its my favorite of our cars..

 

Congratulations hopefully it turns out to be a factory Fuelie. You are going to want to look for the Fuel Injection Distributer too. They are unique to Rochester Fuel Injection Units and it won’t work without one.

 

it's the history that makes them cool. If it is a real fuelie then yes it should be restored. Body looks super clean. Congrats on the find and good luck on the next steps.

 

I’m interested in seeing what you find out when you get the car. It’s got a lot of cool parts with it too.

 

Very cool find. Looking to hear what you find out.

 

If you need a 57 283 block, I have one up here in Va.