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Art & Inspiration First 57 Chevy, I need a theme.

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by Lerenzo Rawson, Jun 14, 2021.

  1. Lerenzo Rawson
    Joined: Jul 9, 2019
    Posts: 128

    Lerenzo Rawson
    Member

    Hey guys, I'm about to get my first Tri 5 in a month. Its a 57 bel air 4 door hardtop in red, rusty, and the hood and bumper are KO'd, but that's why it's 2k, not 7k in missouri. We checked the fenders, they aren't pulled in, the hood can come off, whick is the plan, and the supports aren't messed up. So the bumper comes off, along with the hood, and we're in like Flynn. We also have a line on an Olds 330 and Powerglide from a 66 cutlass. There is no motor, so that works out as well. The main reason I'm posting is to see what they used to look like when a young guy got one, any pictures? Such as stance, styles, colors, wheels, carb scoops, tires, anything would help. I have an old car club who can't wait to teach me about building it, but the outside is what I need help with. Keeping her Old School! Thanks guys.
     
    chevy57dude likes this.
  2. What look are you going for and from what era

    aboukt a zillion different ways to make a 57 look cool

    4 door hard tops are slick
    Post some pics
     
  3. Deuces
    Joined: Nov 3, 2009
    Posts: 23,752

    Deuces

    GASSER!!!!....:D:D:D;)
     
    chevy57dude and VANDENPLAS like this.
  4. Lerenzo Rawson
    Joined: Jul 9, 2019
    Posts: 128

    Lerenzo Rawson
    Member

    I'll take any pictures any ideas! But not a gasser lol. I've seen it a lot, and I can't see over the dash in one. Unfortunately, I wasn't blessed with the 6'4 side of the gene pool. So maybe nose down?
     

  5. Lerenzo Rawson
    Joined: Jul 9, 2019
    Posts: 128

    Lerenzo Rawson
    Member

    ....I also have a love for crappy flame jobs.
     
  6. Lerenzo Rawson
    Joined: Jul 9, 2019
    Posts: 128

    Lerenzo Rawson
    Member

    Screenshot_20210614-120721.png Screenshot_20210614-120638.png
     

    Attached Files:

  7. How about what you'd see in a high school parking lot in the mid to late sixties. Front end raised a little, chrome reverse rims, dual antennas on the back, of course dual exhaust. Simple, clean.
     
  8. Squablow
    Joined: Apr 26, 2005
    Posts: 17,388

    Squablow
    Member

    It's been posted a million times, but my car was some kid's high school car in the 70's and still wears (some of) the white paint job they put on it, and has their HS parking lot sticker still in the rear window. Mismatched mags, air shocks to jack up the back a bit (same ones that have been in there over 40 years(!) installed before I was even born) 8 track player in the dash. It used to have orange fur pinned on the door panels and bucket seats screwed to 2x4's on the floor but those things are gone now.

    20210602_190948_HDR (2).jpg
     
    Butch M, Deuces, catdad49 and 4 others like this.
  9. Could make a cool custom out of a 4 door hardtop. Could be pretty mild to a more full custom. Would be shooting for a era of 58-62. The Olds engine was something you would see in big time show cars in the early 60s as it was points to have a big engine change like that.

    But simple things like nosing, decking, shave the handles off and a nose down rake would be killer. Could do some changes to the side trim to make it custom looking as well. Run steel wheels with hub caps or chrome reverse wheels and then 3/4" to 1" white walls.
     
    Lerenzo Rawson likes this.
  10. Squablow
    Joined: Apr 26, 2005
    Posts: 17,388

    Squablow
    Member

    The 330 Olds is kind of a neat engine, they have a forged steel crankshaft in them which is apparently the hot ticket for some fast Olds 350 builds, and while the trans that's on it is a 2 speed, it's not a Powerglide, certainly not the same as the Chevy Powerglide.

    What I've been told is, the torque converter in that '66 Cutlass transmission is a switch pitch dual range unit, and if you swap that (along with I think the pump or modulator, I don't really know that much about transmissions) into a BOP Turbo 350 you can make a switch pitch TH350 that's supposed to work really well.
     
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  11. On a budget

    put the hood and bumpers on it

    flat or satin paint

    lowered

    wheels of your choice
     
    Deuces, hotrodjack33 and 210superair like this.
  12. Lerenzo Rawson
    Joined: Jul 9, 2019
    Posts: 128

    Lerenzo Rawson
    Member

    Hub caps like baby moons or full moons or big Cadillac style ones?
     
  13. Squablow
    Joined: Apr 26, 2005
    Posts: 17,388

    Squablow
    Member

    If I ever got around to repainting my '57, I really like this mild custom one that I saw at a local show. It's very clean and fairly simple, and what was done here would translate onto a 4 door hardtop really well.

    Symco3.jpg
    Symco2.jpg
     
    Deuces, catdad49, belair and 4 others like this.
  14. These are some of the early years of Taboo back when Ron was still in high school/just graduated (I think he graduated in 58) So these are some the changes he made to the car at that time.
    259967_244206752259753_47701_n.jpg 263532_244206775593084_7084759_n.jpg 264427_244206642259764_7533691_n.jpg
     
    Deuces, catdad49, VANDENPLAS and 2 others like this.
  15. Lerenzo Rawson
    Joined: Jul 9, 2019
    Posts: 128

    Lerenzo Rawson
    Member

    Good info! Any idea what that trans is called?
     
  16. Squablow
    Joined: Apr 26, 2005
    Posts: 17,388

    Squablow
    Member

    Here's a few other hot rodded or customized 57 Chevys that I like, that all have a period look and are not drag cars.

    54 grille in '57 Chevy.JPG
    cedarcreek2_bullitcounty.jpg
    cedarcreek2_bullitcounty2.jpg
    gold150.jpeg
    hood bullets.jpeg
    Jim-Powers-1957-Chevy.jpg
    mild custom.jpg
    mildcustom2.jpg wisconsin1.jpg
    wisconsin2.jpg
     
  17. Squablow
    Joined: Apr 26, 2005
    Posts: 17,388

    Squablow
    Member

    This is a photoshopped version of my car with baby moons and a legit red paintjob, and also lowered a bit. I really do like this and could see myself doing this in the future.

    shoppedinred.jpg
     
  18. Squablow
    Joined: Apr 26, 2005
    Posts: 17,388

    Squablow
    Member

    I believe it was called "Jetaway". I don't know if I'd put a 2 speed Jetaway into a '57 Chevy, but if you've got the technical skills, I'd definitely get that transmission and use the pieces in a later 3 speed case. Plus, the TH350 has mounts and shifter linkage available for a swap to make things easier.
     
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  19. Lerenzo Rawson
    Joined: Jul 9, 2019
    Posts: 128

    Lerenzo Rawson
    Member

    I really like the last 2 red ones there!
     
  20. Looks like a 210..painted white between the quarter trim, rather than the stainless a Bel Air would of had.
    Check out the '55-'57 picture thread, determine which style you like, and stay true to it.
     
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  21. Lerenzo Rawson
    Joined: Jul 9, 2019
    Posts: 128

    Lerenzo Rawson
    Member

    I don't have the skills yet, maybe the guys can coach me through it. I have a 383/th350 but I'd like them to stay in the other car.
     
  22. hotrodjack33
    Joined: Aug 19, 2019
    Posts: 4,128

    hotrodjack33
    ALLIANCE MEMBER

    Certainly not THIS crappy:eek: My old Chevy Panel when I first dragged it home. Before... pan1.jpg ...and after
    pan8.jpg
     
  23. Lerenzo Rawson
    Joined: Jul 9, 2019
    Posts: 128

    Lerenzo Rawson
    Member

    hotrodjack33 likes this.
  24. rc57
    Joined: Feb 7, 2007
    Posts: 727

    rc57
    Member

    Posted by DDDenny on the black on black on black thread

    [​IMG]
     
  25. Squablow
    Joined: Apr 26, 2005
    Posts: 17,388

    Squablow
    Member

    That wouldn't work anyway, you need a BOP pattern (Buick, Oldsmobile, Pontiac) transmission for your 330, the Chevy transmissions don't bolt up without an adapter.
     
    Lerenzo Rawson likes this.
  26. Squablow
    Joined: Apr 26, 2005
    Posts: 17,388

    Squablow
    Member

    Here's a '57 4 door hardtop with a crappy flame job.

    flamed574dht.jpg
     
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  27. Frankie47
    Joined: Dec 20, 2008
    Posts: 1,877

    Frankie47
    Member
    from omaha ne.

    You have half of my Uncle Norm’s dream car, he always wanted to take the 57 4 dr hardtop and graft it onto a 55 4 dr sedan just to make people look twice
     
    Deuces likes this.
  28. Johnny Gee
    Joined: Dec 3, 2009
    Posts: 12,600

    Johnny Gee
    Member
    from Downey, Ca

    I find it interesting that there is white paint (as a 210) where silver inserts would go but the fin molding, gills-grill-script is gold as a Bel Air.
     
  29. Squablow
    Joined: Apr 26, 2005
    Posts: 17,388

    Squablow
    Member

    Johnny Gee I don't see any white paint or gold moldings on that '57 4 door hardtop. Pretty sure that's a 210 model, I don't see anything Belair specific on it at all.
     
    chevy57dude likes this.
  30. Johnny Gee
    Joined: Dec 3, 2009
    Posts: 12,600

    Johnny Gee
    Member
    from Downey, Ca

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