Projects Cutting my Hotrod Teeth (57 Chevy Budget build/revival)

My uncle use to say he would like to see all these corvettes that were junked, .........just so they could put the engine in a old wood hauling truck for instance

 

Just tore apart the carb, the choke has a crack but i dont think it goes all the way through so we'll see. It's soaking in alcohol right now. About to figure out my wiring situation then its onto fuel tank stuff


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You talking about the black plastic choke housing cover? Pics help and everyone likes pics!

 

heres the crack, i think its still usable though. How do you guys recommend taking this solenoid out?


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heres where that stud broke off. At least it's a cheap fix, but it's a pain in the ass to have to replace


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PB Blaster on all the nuts and let it soak. More PB Blaster and let it soak. Repeat. Repeat. Resist the urge to get those nuts loose in 1,4, or 8 hours. Start soaking tonight and try loosening them tomorrow. Slow and steady pressure will break them loose. Use the correct size wrench and don't use a crescent. Pay particular attention to the one on the bottom. You don't want to disturb the tab that goes into the starter motor if you can keep from it. That supplies voltage to the windings and if you break it you are looking at having the starter rebuilt. Probably $100 or more for that.

The choke housing should be ok. You might put a skim coat of JB Weld just to seal it off and keep moisture out.

 

Well, while the carb is soaking i have a few questions about how things are connected. So i cut the gas tank straps since i ordered new ones anyway and i'm trying to get the tank out. It's like its still attatched somewhere. Where else do i need to disconnect it from? Ans also, about the starter/solenoid, is it just held onto the bellhousing by 2 bolts? I read online that its better to take the starter AND solenoid out at once but i dont want to have to do more than is necessary. The pages i printed out help a little, but they're just blown apart images and they dont tell you the steps to actually do anything.


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I know nothing about the tri-five tank mounts. Someone will chime in on that I'm sure.

Get the electrical connections loose and pull the starter out. You will have a much easier time replacing the solenoid on the bench than hanging over the fender standing on your head trying to do it. Clean the starter up and maybe a little rattle can action before putting it back in. It should only be two bolts holding it on to the bell housing. I would test it with some jumper wires before bolting it back in to be sure you don't have to pull it back out.

 

After getting the side screws out that attaches the solenoid to the starter you will also need to take that little bolt out (shown on end)that connects the solenoid to the inside of the starter, then you will need to turn the whole solenoid as it has a lip that hangs down in the back to hold it in securely the best I remember.....big spring in there too, dont lose it or your nuts,bolts etc.etc.take pics,mark your wires as to where they go on "everything" you take off, like use masking tape and write on the wires what they attach to etc.
also I wouldnt try to fix stuff that isnt broke, those wires are ok, no sense in tryin to replace that stuff yet.
(curious why you were taking that wire off the solenoid anyway???)
I wouldnt have cut the tank straps either, (well I might have when I was your age...) livin and learnin I guess
Dont destroy or throw anything away just because you can buy it new unless absolutely necessary even down to the nuts,bolts screws,wires etc.etc. Even if you dont use it you may need it for reference.

 

An actual shop manual will cover all of this plus so much more. Plus they are interesting to just read through. Just think of one as a school book for a 57 Chevy.

 

took me about 2 hours with plenty of cursing and looking for tools, but this son of a gun is finally out. It's dark now but i couldnt be happier with the progress i've made today! My dad will be over tomorrow to give me an extra set of hands. He's not at all a gear head but still extra help is always better. I guess i didnt realize how heavy these starters are. Damn thing must weigh 30 lbs


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Were there shims and if there were did you catalogue where they went??? They are thin sheets of metal that make the starter square with the bellhousing.

 

Here's why it had to come out. the stud is inside the solenoid now. Crazy to think that I'm probably the first person to touch these parts since 1957. Can't wait till tomorrow to start reassembly. The carb should be clean by then and i'll have the solenoid to put in. Hopefully i don't have to take apart the distributor but i do have a condenser and points if i need them so tomorrow i should get spark


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Glad ya got er out.....careful around you radiator

 

Didnt know that style had shims but I remember changing a starter on my moms late 70s pontiac wagon when I was about 15 and taking the shims out and thinking It didnt need those things put back in, tossed em to the side........then when I tried to start it.................. Changed several since and still always remember that

 

I didn't see any but i'll go double check real quick. Should there be?


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I dont think those had em

 

Well, i messed up a bit. The solenoid i got from ecklers was a couple milimeters too long so i figured id use the cap off the old one so it would fit. Took the caps off and now i'm at a loss of how they go back together. im mostly unsure where this goes. Its like a copper clip but when i took it apart it just fell out on the floor so i didnt get to see where it came from


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I'm trying to just put the stock one back together with a new stud, if someone could help me out with how to assemble it that would be awesome


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Never had one apart, sorry, may be a good time to walk away and sleep on it,maybe someone will chime in by morning.
Worse case scenario would be to get another one or if someone had a old one laying around to look at???

 

When I run into situations like that I start googling and youtubing. Use keywords like 57 Chevy 235 starter solenoid rebuild etc. maybe even exploded view as keywords. You will be amazed at the results.

 

The spring end of the stud needs to contact the disc.

Ummm... I'm guessing your online "book" forgot to mention the wire and fuel line that connects to the sending unit on the fuel tank - you'll see it on the front side of the tank. Also look at the filler tube on the driver's side of the tank.

NOT going to tell you a THIRD time... but you know what I'm thinking.

 

You should take the advice to get a proper shopmanual.
And make sure its a factory or reprint factory one.
Everything is described how to troubleshooting and repair most everything in the car.
You gonna save alot of money, time and frustration well beyond the cost.
Its this one you want. You may find them for better price if you look around.
This was the first one i found.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/57-Chevy-Pa...ash=item2c84648a62:g:NXkAAOxyrrpTjGw4&vxp=mtr

 

Pulling the gas tank requires disconnecting the rubber hose between the filler neck and the tank spout. It's going to be rotten. You'll need a new one to reinstall the tank.

 

Two hours + cursing, and it's out. That's a success. And yeah, they're heavy, don't drop it on your foot, or your head.



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Not sure what you spent on the solenoid from Hecklers (they are a joke) but Chevs of the 40s has a solenoid rebuild kit for $25 . I'll be needing one of those myself soon.

 

If you had them, they're either stuck to the mounting surface, or you'd have noticed them falling on the floor.




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A quick google this morning didn't turn up a good exploded view of the switch end of a solenoid. But there aren't a lot of ways this can go together. You have something like this:





The two big studs are where battery power gets switched to the starter motor to spin the engine.

What happens when you turn the key is power is switched to the "switch" terminal. That causes the winding in the solenoid to energize, pulling in the plunger. The plunger, via the shift lever, forces the starter motor shaft forward, engaging the gears.

The back end of the solenoid, at the end of its travel toward the cap end, closes the circuit to power the starter motor.

When taking anything apart, move slowly and carefully. Lots of things will have springs or captive little bits that fall out when you open them.



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Ran a wire from the positive terminal of the battery to the positive terminal of the coil. Had a spark plug out to see if it would spark but noting happened. My dad and i got the starter back in, i used to old solenoid but with a couple parts from the new one. About to put things back together, replace condensor/points and if still nothing i guess it's time for a new coil


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I think my carb is messed up too, when i press the gas pedal, it opens the throttle, but then it gets stuck like this even after i've let go of the pedal


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