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Projects Starting on my '57 Belair Wagon

Discussion in 'The Hokey Ass Message Board' started by Ratroddude, Oct 12, 2010.

  1. Ratroddude
    Joined: May 15, 2009
    Posts: 1,027

    Ratroddude
    BANNED

    Well, I got it apart today , me and my son got everything out of it , swept and vacuumed out , and all the dash stuff out , down to a simple carcass , super solid body , but floors are shot , its a pretty rare bird I'm told , it's a factory A/C , tinted glass ,power steering , power brake , pois-trac car, no motor or tranny , but , I found a motor /trans combo , a 283 power pak , and the cast iron pg for $350.00 , needs rebuilt , but , I'm well on my way , the idea is to put it back as close to original as possible , it came in a dusk pearl / white top paint scheme , so , the only thing I wana change is mabye a small cam to an otherwise stock motor , and a set of Cragar S/S's , factory interior hopefully , I will try to keep a log of this build , and post it here , thanks , and wish me luck on finding the A/C parts!!!
     

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  2. lawman
    Joined: Sep 19, 2006
    Posts: 2,665

    lawman
    Member

    You have a very nice start.I think cars like that with all that it has should be brought back to original. Classic Chevy or Danchuck should have all the parts you need.Please keep on posting.Tom (Tired Old Man)
     
  3. Mr.1961
    Joined: Dec 16, 2009
    Posts: 185

    Mr.1961
    Member

    Absolutely gorgeous! I love 57's and this one has a monster patina that needs a little CLR bath to reveal the underlying beauty. :D Good luck to you on your project, its a beauty.
     
  4. 76cam
    Joined: Sep 30, 2010
    Posts: 643

    76cam
    Member

    Nice keep up with the pic. And that CLR trick is awsome.
     

  5. Ratroddude
    Joined: May 15, 2009
    Posts: 1,027

    Ratroddude
    BANNED

    Well I started on the floors , I have the floor pan welded in the pass.side rear of the wagon , but, I have this space that needs to be filled around the bottom of the seat , along the floor between the seat pan and the rocker panel , does this part exist ? , or am I gonna have to hunt this part out of another car? I havent seen this part anywhere I have looked , unless I would've bought the complete floor section , I didnt need that , just wondering if I am gonna have to fab this up , find an old beater to cut it out of , or can I buy this piece , any info is greatly appreciated .
     

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  6. T-Roy
    Joined: Aug 12, 2006
    Posts: 931

    T-Roy
    Member

    If there are no replacement panels available, maybe a patch panel from a 4d sedan would work as well as a wagon. I figure a sedan might be easier to find. Good luck on the project!
     
  7. ssffnomad
    Joined: Jul 23, 2008
    Posts: 960

    ssffnomad
    Member

    "OL55" has the best 55'-57' Catalog, Very good to deal with. Ask for "Ken".
    http://www.eastcoastchevy.com/

    You have a cool Father/Son project. Love all the options the Wagon has.
     
  8. wvenfield
    Joined: Nov 23, 2006
    Posts: 5,583

    wvenfield
    Member

    Very nice dude. I'm glad to see you're not making a ratrod out of it.
     
  9. Cool car! The factory paint scheme with the S/S Cragars is gonna be perfect. Factory A/C dash vents are available from Classic Chevy International, one of the aftermarket A/C companies could probably set you up with the interface from new to old.
     
  10. 40Standard
    Joined: Jul 30, 2005
    Posts: 5,963

    40Standard
    Member
    from Indy

    looks like you're off to a good start
     
  11. 61 chevy
    Joined: Apr 11, 2007
    Posts: 891

    61 chevy
    Member

    if it was me i would go with alum P G, less weight, good luck with build
     
  12. Sauli
    Joined: Jul 16, 2008
    Posts: 499

    Sauli
    Member

    Good call on the color, "Dusk Pearl" is a helluva good-looking color! You probably won´t want that "patch panel" out of a 53-year old parts car...except for patterns/measurements for the purpose of fabbing it out of fresh cold-rolled 18ga Yourself. Pack a piece of paper, a black marker and a tape measure the next time You go looking at stripped-out ´55-7s.
    In fact I´d skip the cast-PG -option too, get a TH 350 instead. You will have to come up with a trans crossmember, though.
     
  13. JOECOOL
    Joined: Jan 13, 2004
    Posts: 2,771

    JOECOOL
    Member

    I agree on the Dusk pearl/white ,If it was mine it wouldn't be any other way .
     
  14. Bruce A Lyke
    Joined: Jun 21, 2009
    Posts: 2,523

    Bruce A Lyke
    Member

    agree, a great father son project. 57 wagons are great. look forward to seeing the progress.
     
  15. hemifarris
    Joined: Sep 30, 2005
    Posts: 2,321

    hemifarris
    Member

    Cool car with nice options. If you contact Ciadella Interiors in Tempe,Arizona and ask if they offer any type of discounts on '56 interiors, they'll give you 10% off of an already fair price and ship quickly. Their interiors are impeccable.
    Contact www.ciadellainteriors.com
     
  16. Ratroddude
    Joined: May 15, 2009
    Posts: 1,027

    Ratroddude
    BANNED

    Do these guys have a parts page on their site , I cant seem to find it , thanks in advance for the help!!!
     
  17. henry's57bbwagon
    Joined: Sep 12, 2008
    Posts: 680

    henry's57bbwagon
    Member

    Ratdude, nice project. Try this link to eastcoast chevy. I bought a lot of stuff from them for my wagon, even took a side trip to pick up some parts on the way south one winter. I have bits and pieces I am giving away for shipping cost, if you need anything I may have it, trim etc left over from a 4DR sedan.
    http://www.eastcoastchevy.com/Catalog/CatalogIndex.html
     
  18. Looks like a pretty sold wagon,,I fabricated the floor patchs for my wagon without too much work.

    BTW,,a turbo 350 or 400 would be a better choise rather than the old 2 speed power glide IMHO. HRP
     
  19. Django
    Joined: Nov 15, 2002
    Posts: 10,198

    Django
    Member
    from Chicago

    I don't think I would put the cast iron powerglide in... and I have one in my wagon! ;) At least for now...
     
  20. sololobo
    Joined: Aug 23, 2006
    Posts: 8,378

    sololobo
    Member

    Right on target bro, good luck with this cool project. ~Sololobo~
     
  21. stationWAGONS
    Joined: Mar 2, 2008
    Posts: 792

    stationWAGONS
    Member
    from Vegas

    A/C car...wow. Couple of ideas so you don't go crazy trying to build a correct A/C system...

    ~KITS...2 of the aftermarket A/C companies make kits that you can put in and use your original controls and route it to the original dash outlets.

    A very nice compromise since it incomplete, and you're not builing a 100% authentic tralier queen...and original A/C parts are just...expensive.

    They do finally reproduce the 1955, 56, and the 1957 dash outlets now, if yours are too pitted. Eckler's Clasic Chevy (FL) has them,. etc.
    =======
    QUOTE:
     
  22. Cool! Looking forward to see it coming back together. Love them Dusk Pearl & Ivory '57's...
     
  23. painterdude1
    Joined: Dec 16, 2008
    Posts: 69

    painterdude1
    Member
    from michigan

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