1957 Chevy Step Van build or do you want to see my Gerstenslager

Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh.Ok,thanks for the info.
Good luck.Have fun.Be safe.
Leo

 

The 472 jumped timing
Looks like the plastic coated gears gave up a long time ago. Students will replace it and we will see what it will do.

 

Fired up the 472. Runs pretty good
We may go with it.
Having this much torque means we can run a regular rear gear ratio like a 308 and cruise without having to use an OD trans
345/490 is a lot more than the 235 it was born with

 

Wow those teeth look pretty hammered. When you said you had low but even compression on all 8 I remembered running into this years ago. Glad you can use the Caddy. As always if you and your students would like to see their ideas in Photoshop I'm down for it. Eli

 

The 472 may end up in the roadster. Things change fast here sometimes. I might have inherited a rebuilt set of 462 heads.

 

Students want the big engine in our other project. A friend was cleaning out his shop and gave me a 283 power pack long block. Stored indoors and turns.
Also have access to a 250 inliner.
Another friend gave me a TH350 trans
Decisions decisions

 

It is a '57 so the 283 would give it more power than it ever had and would be correct for the year.

 

I had a set of 462s built for a friend.
He decided to go another rout and does not need em. They are 194s. New springs, guides, hard seats and a valve job. I know it will lower the compression over the PP heads but it may make it crappy gas compatible

 

we had a geometry lesson today
we set up the chassis at ride height and rake
students learned about why establishing this is important for caster
our chassis will have a 2 degree rake but where our front suspension mounts will be set at zero which will keep the donor suspensions geometry correct

 

Engine test fit

 

Interesting build. What a great learning experience for the students! I'm watching.

 

we got a drive line angle lesson today
I teach body work but I like projects like this to expand beyond that
the math and problem solving skills are something that will help in any occupation they may end up at

 

.................Only makes sense that with a name like Gerstenslager they would create a Weiner mobile.

 

Geez, I wish I had you for my High School shop teacher! You guys do nice work!!


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thanks
When you teach at a career center, you have students from different schools bused in. Today was a day where 1/2 my students were not here due to scheduling and athletics. I use days like today to work on these types of builds.
This does cover math,suspension technology and geometry which fits my curriculum.
Our automotive students will build the transmission, engine, and brakes and handle the wiring.
When we finish the chassis, students from both classes will perform the alignment.
I also use students from our welding and machine classes to help build parts.
I drive the projects to shows and businesses to promote our school.

 

If you're not aware of them, Mill Supply is THE source for stepvan parts. I ran '80 Grumman (built on a P-30 Chevy chassis) for a work truck and they had pretty much anything I needed over the years like steering shaft U-joints, heater core, steering box, brake parts, wiper motor, etc. Worth checking out their on-line catalog.

 

Thanks. Gonna need some door hardware

 

Yep, door and window hardware, too. Your hoopie is pretty old, you may want to call them if something isn't listed. You may have to adapt some newer parts based on the pictures of parts they provide but these trucks are the easiest things in the world to work on. When you get to the wiring aspect, making good grounds for the lights are paramount because of the aluminum body. When a light doesn't work it's always the ground.

 

Man I wish this rust bucket was aluminum. But I probably would have not got the opportunity to get if it was.
Aluminum and copper is tough where I live

 

Yeah, the Walker county meth heads would have done toted it off, piece by piece, if it were aluminum.

 

students made me a shopping list for the thanksgiving holiday next week
we will probably slack off a little on this as we study for ASE exams

 

They're pretty close in looks...

 

Thanks
I kinda like it
It looks sad though

 

Yeah it does, kinda like Droopy the dog. Maybe French the headlights to get away from that "bug eye" look?

 

Wonder what a chop would look like?

 

our diesel students visited today, so I took some time to explain the chassis set up. We discussed caster, camber, toe, drive line angles......
explained why ride height was important and did a basic pattern for boxing the frame at the rear axle notch location.

 

A lot of work

 

Students cleaned and buffed some of the old paint

I think this is the look we are after

 

That's a Gerstenslager.