Projects Scratch built "Gasser" 57 Vette

TOUGH!!

 

Might do that have quite a few pics that I saved. Will be at meltdowns to see how it runs

 

Great see you there.

 

super cool vette, you've got skills!!

 

For the steering I used a later model (63-82)Corvette steering box. It's smallish and fit nicely in the space available(and I had one).It did take longer to build the header on that side to clear the box. One small problem came up for the drag link. The oil pan was in the way of a straight shot. I built a dropped drag link from a old sway bar. I didn't have a way to bend a piece of tube but I could heat and bend a solid bar. Works great and looks good.

 

Since I was using a T-5 and bellhousing out of a Camaro I thought I would try the Camaro hydraulic clutch set up also. I didn't have any of the original Corvette stuff and to buy it would cost hundreds of dollars. The Camaro stuff was about a hundred bucks for everything. With a reinforcement panel on the inside of the firewall the master cylinder mated up with the firewall nicely and the rod length was just right to the pedal. I mounted the remote reservoir by the brake cylinder. It fit really well. The pedal effort is so light you can easily push the clutch in with your hand. I made a heat shield for the header to prevent possible melting of the plastic hose.

 

Great job. Well thought out. Do you still have the car

 

Yep, going on 11 years now. Probably time for a change.

 

For a radiator I decided to go with a griffin type aluminum. Once again choosing light weight and efficient. Corvettes use an angled radiator support originally and I wanted to mount the radiator vertical and closer to the engine for better cooling so I built my own . This also allowed me use a simpler fan shroud.

 

One of the nicest gasser I have seen love the name

 

nice overflow can!

 

Before I installed a hydraulic clutch I basically blew out the firewall on mine. Ended up sandwiching the firewall between two pieces of aluminum plate. I used an aftermarket clutch mc - it's buried behind the brake mc. Also used the stock core support and built a fiberglass shroud, works great!

 

You did a beautiful job. You should be very proud. Bob..............

 

One of the final things I needed for this car was a working speedometer. I only had a chrome speedo frame and a lens with the numbers on it . I used a piece of black plastic with a piece of pin-striping tape to create the look of a real speedometer and needle. That looked good for a while but I wanted a functional speedo. I got on E-Bay and found a cheap GPS speedo. All it needs is 12 volts to work. It was $26. It works great! I cut a hole in the plastic and used some 3M tape to stick it in place. Comparing it to my GPS app on my phone it's dead on. It's pretty slick. No messing with gears or cables.

 

that is one fine looking machine.

 

Son doesn’t want me to use digital gauges but love what u did

 

Pretty cool , my 57 is featured in the latest edition of Traditional Rod And Kulture Magazine. I think these are the nicest pictures taken of this car to date . Just Beautiful. And I'm a published author now too. I wrote the entire article and it doesn't suck!(too badly) It was kinda weird writing about myself in "third person" style, "Rex did this, Rex did that" but it came out pretty well. I think it's somewhat unusual to write your own story for one of these but I guess the photographer figured I knew more about the car than he did so why not. They could have edited the crap out of it but it went to print just as I wrote it. I'm flattered.

 

Congrats..........

 

What size are your rear wheels and tires

 

Congrats. Well deserved. To me building a custom from parts the "Restorers" have given up on is the most noble part of our hobby. I am glad your efforts are noticed.

 

nice....

 

Fun read, will be starting on mine this winter!

 

Congratulations and it's still the only car I've seen where the chassis is built on an upside car...lol

 

Love it! I've wanted one for years. This didn't help that. Guess the old 57 sedan will have to do.

 

Took a few shots the other night. Thought this one turned out pretty good.

 

Very cool!...

 

Great photo!
Sorry, I had to. It was screaming for it.

 

I rounded up a couple of friends the other day and attended a local car show. My buddies ratty 56 stole the show.

 

Awesome Vette!
Tell us about the interior- seats, doors, floor, etc.
I can just make out period-appropriate diamond pleats in the magazine article. Got any bigger better pics?

 

@Utahvette, I can see why the ratty 56 stole the show. You never see a corvette like that anymore on the road, let alone at a show. If that car could talk it would be interesting to here the stories that it would tell. In a way it’s a time machine that takes you back to a different place and time.