Hot Rods D̶a̶d̶’s̶ My '57 210 Sedan - pictures

Nice. Very nice.
Mick has a soft spot for 400-455 Pontiacs. Must admit. I always like different.

 

Jeez, another black 57. . . . Just joking
Your car looks fantastic bro, all the little things you've done makes a big difference.
All the big changes (5speed,etc) will make it more fun and enjoyable. Great job

 

Looking good Eric!

 

Long story short, I’m a horrible mechanic. No Roc for the ‘57. Took too long to get it going and there are still some issues. Between that, my level of pure exhaustion and other reasons, I'm going to take a pass on the show in general. The Mrs. and I are going to take a different and much needed vacation.

 

Aw man, that’s a bummer. Next year with the roadster.

 

An update...I've always been inspired by Butt Reynolds. A lot of people seem to like your car as-is...and you do too, but feel like a change and go for it. I'm into that. So I went up. Back to stock spindles and "heavy duty" front springs that I cut one coil from just to be able to install. I don't want to run ball joint spacers. Out back I just removed the lowering blocks and moved the rear springs to the higher setting in the shackles. The wheels and tires are wrong. I always have trouble nailing down the perfect setup...either because I cant get it, or can't afford it. But this time I will wait it out. I REALLY want American Racing Lemans front runners but might settle for ET 5-spokes. Not sure yet for the back. It still doesn't run anyway, so whatever. The steering box is blown out, it's an old power conversion done before the aftermarket had power boxes for these. I ordered a new box. I also yanked the front bumper to see if I like it without, and I'm still torn.

 

Beautiful! Front bumpers are optional on these cars. Those wheels are great, some bias ply tires would change the look.

 

Looking good!
Personally the Cragars would be my wheel of choice for that car, and you already have them.

 

Looks good no matter what you do with this car!

 

I agree. These are all original curved spoke Cragars and in really good shape. The fronts are 14"x6" and 15"x7" out back. I would like to find some 8.5" for the rear before I think about shelling out $$$$$ for better tires.

 

Anything wider than a 7 inch wheel on stock tri fives can make it really difficult to change a tire.

 

This car has 2" wider tubs, springs pocketed into the frame, and a narrowed rear axle. I had 10" wheels on the back previously.

 

That is Evil, Wicked, Mean, And Nasty! Pontiacs are cool I had a 69 firebird 350 4 barrel and turbo 400 in my '59 Chevy 3200 long bed pickup it fit in so nice. Used the firebird motor mounts and trans cross member to put it in only had to drill 2 holes for the trans cross member and we welded the motor mount plates to the front cross member

 

Stance and wheel's look killer, just like the rest of the car! Looks much better without the bumper. The stock grille bar without the grille(or maybe a silver grille) might liven up the front end a little too.

 

I guess the stance is pretty close to what I had pictured. Something between Junior stock and late '60's drag car. A stock grill bar would be cool but those things are kind of expensive! Most originals are broken or too crusty, but I'm keeping an eye out. I do think tires will be the next big purchase.

This is some of my inspiration. And that Thunderbolt bubble on this first one.....love it.

 

Nothing new, just musings.

I really, really like that last picture I posted…the brown car. On one hand I want to grab some rustoleum Turbo cans of red oxide and do a scuff and shoot. But on the other hand, the car could really use some minor dent repair and blocking. The quarter panels need work, and it would be nice if the jambs and what not matched. I’d also like to pull the doghouse and rework the motor mounts, maybe build headers too. And I want to put a factory gauge cluster in it, and a tach on top of the dash.

I’m leaning toward getting it closer to the “vibe” I want with primer and wheels now, and waiting for a full rebuild down the line.

Currently the Cragars are still on there but I’m having a hard time feeling it. I think I want to run the 15x4 ET 5-spokes up front with really tall tires and some black steel wheels with pie crust slicks out back. Probably towel city.

 

DING DING DING!

 

If I can be honest, I like the wheels and stance more in the first set of photos, but awesome either way. The black is killer on a '57. Love it!

 

I like the front bumper. Just saying.

 

It hasn't left the garage in a couple years but I'm trying out a stock front bumper...

 

I think the front bumper was a signature piece for the car, as I rarely if ever see the bullets removed, but the stocker looks good too.

 

For the lowered, custom look it used to have that bumper was certainly very fitting.

But it’ll sit on the shelf while I explore this new look. I’ve ordered some tires and a different pair of front wheels to get closer to that goal.

I said it hadn’t left “the garage” but actually it’s been in the driveway for a while. This thing needs some additional TLC now after setting (with a car cover at least) outside for too long, on top of the stuff I never finished from a year ago. With the roadster gone, this one is back inside and on a front burner. Maybe back in action this summer.

 

I changed jobs and moved to Oklahoma last summer, if that wouldn’t have happened that roadster would have been in my garage! I get it though. I’m making changes to my dad’s car but haven’t found the sweet spot yet.

 

First bias ply that’s been on this car since the ‘80’s.

 

Mentioned it before, but I always struggle nailing down the exact tire sizes I think will look best. Usually takes me a couple attempts at least. Thanks to @57chevymadman I found a pretty tasty recipe.

M&H 275/60-15 “Muscle car drag tire” out back on the 7” wide reversed Cragars I already had, and 7.75 BFG silvertowns on a pair of 5” wide U.S. Mag slots. I’m keeping my eye out for a pair of narrow original Cragar SS wheels, but thought I’d try these slots out until I find some.