Projects AWAKENING A 57 DODGE CUSTOM ROYAL LANCER D-500

Yep, will do, its going to be fun to wake her up!
Thanks from Dennis.

 

I got educated. I didn’t know about the D501. Quite the hot rod.

 

I am getting a Christine vibe here.

 

Yes indeed, the D-501, was a kick *** machine, like you I had to get educated about it as well!

 

Yup, if OP is looking for a name, something adjacent to Christine would work well!

 

That’s exactly my way of thinking with my 57 Chev. It would be so many thousands of hours to get the body straight and rust free enough to paint, I’d rather make it safe and reliable so I can enjoy it now!

 

Cool Cool Cool
Dan

 

As cool as that Movie was, and with all do respect to Steven King, this old gal is a far cry from Christine!
This rig is a piece of automotive history, with a hell of a toothy walleye pike, nasty grin, which to me is still a great facial personality, that modern day cars don't have!
Cruising down the freeway in this car, when its road worthy, hopefully will be inspirational to a lot of younger gear heads!
Thanks from Dennis.

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Well, its far too early to even think of a name for this monster, as we get into it, via skinned knuckles and loss of skin due to sharp edges, and through the filter of profanity, as a result of something that wont budge, I am confident that some appropriate name will reveal itself !
Thanks from Dennis.

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The ghost of ****** fingers
Dan

 

Very cool find, I'll join the group of folks willing to help with parts or advice. I have several 1957 Dodge parts cars here in TX and lots of extra parts. Shoot me a PM anytime and I'll try to respond as quickly as I can.

I'm also able to correct the tale of the fabled "D501". They were all produced with 354ci Chrysler Hemi V8 motors, with manual steering due to the proximity of the wider hemi's exhaust manifold to the power-steering column. They were all stick shifts, and most were 2dr post coupes, intended for drag racing (Trans didn't hold up though). Despite claims, they were not 300B motors, but were simply newly build 354ci Hemi's with the dual 4bbl carburetors. As to the presence of D501 badges, they had been m***-produced in anticipation of a huge demand for the model, but the expense and impracticality of the drivetrain meant very few cars were built. Thus a lot of NOS badges have been floating around for decades, and many reproduction D500 and D501 badges exist as well.

 

Some of the 501 engines went into law enforcement cars, or at least were tested.

 

I think you named it in your initial post:
Snaggle Tooth.

 

Well now, howdy to you Peter from Dennis in Seattle.
That is some impressive information in your profile, most impressive indeed!

One has to really admire such elements as to what has inspired you!

You really have to love this element of the H.A.M.B.

Information is posted, and in short order, its simply like blood in the water to all distant sharks that will seek the source, and home in on it from all over the automotive and gearhead map!

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Truly amazing!

As you have seen and read so far, this project is an exercise to wake up this old gal, so that she can roll down the road to a unique gathering of vintage machines, at a place out in the country side where noise and burnt rubber are the daily menu for a flock of gear heads!

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While I appreciate your expertise and surely what you and your family have accomplished in your restorative efforts to these fabulous machines, the spirit of the mighty @squirrel in his mystery rooster shirt, is watching and his words of wisdom, have a definite front row seat, to witness what will happen as this exercise goes forward!

So that being said, strict @squirrel rules must be followed, as to the amount of money this project will soak up, and the need to NOT do more than is necessary, to make this old road queen wake up and roar to life again!

That may not make a lot of sense to you as a younger person, but trust me on this, there is a nation of us geezers out there, that lurk about on this website, and they are always willing to insert their 8 cents worth, on any facet of how this awakening of the Dodge will evolve!

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I will definitely keep in touch with you, for any information that we can use, as we deep dive into the sleeping, moss covered relic, that lives out at my friends place in Marysville!

Thanks from Dennis.

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Indeed, that is a definite apt description of its m***ive face with at***ude, so I will keep that in mind!
Jotting that down for future reference!
Thanks from Dennis.

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I’ve seen 2 D-500’s, both 325” and both with dual quads…perhaps the 4dr received just a single ….. MOPAR aficionados with know.

 

Hahaha, I think the Dodge has more of an underbite, more like this...

 

All 1957 Dodge D-500 cars came from the factory with the single 4bbl WCFB Carburetor on the 325ci engine, dodge actually never made a cast-iron dual 4bbl intake for the 1953-57 Hemis, so they had to rely on aftermarket Offenhauser Aluminum intakes for the "Super D500" There's no proven way on the body-tag to ID a dual-quad equipped vehicle, and the only legit one I've seen in person with absolute confidence had the original dealer invoice where they spec'd out the optional 2x4 intake setup to be installed after delivery.

So hilariously, there are more Dodge Super D500 325 Hemi's out there than Dodge ever made originally.

No worries to OP, I wasn't suggesting adherence to restoration standards, just offering ***istance if you hit the brickwall and want to save your forehead from some bruising.

 

Hey Peter, well I say that with a Cheshire grin, there are not really any self imposed rules about how any of this project will advance, I was just paying recognition to the mighty @squirrel and his words of wisdom in regards to how his time tested methods produce remarkable results!
Indeed I will get in touch with you upon encountering the first brick wall, this sleeping beast presents to us!
Thanks from Dennis.

 

@41 GMC K-18 I saw you walking around at the Estranged Drags over the weekend in your fish adorned hat! Nice pic of the staging lanes. Wife and I enjoyed the weekend.

Dave

 

Hey Dave, I had a great time taking it all in down there at TOUTLE!
My old hat with the little Mexican blow fish on it got a lot of comments and it made a few smile as they posed for the camera!
Thanks from Dennis.

 

I go thru this carb thing quite a lot with my 56 Ford and it’s dual quad set up. Guys “ in the know” always say Ford never offered them on a factory car which is true. The dealership at the parts counter did with all factory made parts for civilians, law enforcement and racing with a kit part number. The racing one for NASCAR didn’t come with an air cleaner. NASCAR mandated the Purolator one on my engine. The civilian air cleaner is the rarest I believe.


A 1956 law enforcement and civilian air cleaner

 

Lucile, Is what I would name it....

 

Hey Pork,
Well as more and more people offer up what they would name it, I am just keeping track of the names as a potential choice!
As stated, as time goes on, as we get to know the car better, I am sure it will name it self!
The car definitely has a personality that is slowly evolving!

Currently, and this is just my personal favorite, "PHANTOM D-500" is a strong contender, but there is plenty of time to look through the dictionary and a variety of other influences that will be a serious player as far as the final choice for a name!
Thanks from Dennis.

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Hey Jimmy,
No doubt, that is a very rare exotic air cleaner!
Way beyond cool indeed!
Thanks from Dennis.

 

The cast and crew of the first Jaws movie nick-named the big mechanical shark "Bruce"!

 

Hey Clay,
Jotting that one down for future reference!
Thanks from Dennis.

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This was a beauty back in the day. Look forward to seeing the progress on yours!

 

Hey Hub,
Indeed, these magnificent automobiles, in their day were stunning and very space age/futuristic as well.
That is sad what happened to the one you posted here, but indeed, I will be posting more pictures of the beast as she slowly evolves!
Thanks from Dennis.

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Butch.
But that's a guy's name. No, it's her name 'cause she's a tough ol' Butch.
I would be hard pressed to scrub anything on the outside but the windows. Gotta see. Maybe the undercarriage, but only to aid in getting it road worthy.