[DaveS]

Took the car in on trade for some labor on a customer's car. Neat old gasser style, not exactly the best of components or fabrication used on the original build but it is easy enough to correct.

This is a pic of the day we brought the car home... Heck, I'm not even a Chevy guy, but when I saw this one I just couldn't pass on it! Got to do something to preserve some of our Hot Rodding heritage.

Going to have a blast building this one!!!!

 

[406Rich]

Dave are you building with period parts as we have discussed before...?

 

[DaveS]

I guess the short answer is no, probably not period correct parts.....For the most part, the exterior will be period correct other then a few personal touches..... Engine and drivetrain? Nope, performance will be the emphasis, along with some reliability and longevity in the parts selection. For me, cars aren't any fun if you can't take them out on Saturday night and play with the other kids, so a loose definition of "streetable" will also come into play. I'm no good at following the rules, so I guess like the rest of my builds this one will probably only be "correct" for me!!!!

 

[DaveS]

Had a bit of spare time today so I snuck in a bit of work on the '57. I'll be using the original bumpers to make a mold with, then building some 'glass bumpers for the car...I know, gassers don't need front bumpers, but I just want one on the car for some occasional street use. Anyway, I've welded the bumper guards to the bumper and now have to fab a piece of 20ga. to look like the little rubber bumper things that went on the bumper guards. After that, just have to smooth things out and make a mold then repeat the entire process for the rear bumper.

Got to get a couple customer cars done, then I should be able to free up some time to get to work on the '57!!!!

 

[ProMetalShop]

Thats a cool project Dave is it a keeper ? ?

 

[DaveS]

Thats a cool project Dave is it a keeper ? ?

Well, you know how it is, everything is for sale!!!! I suppose after I do the build, make a few passes and terrorize the boys a couple Saturday nights I'll be bored and ready for the next project!!! Don't know though, just messin' around with little stuff for now and already having a blast with the build!!!!

PS---Already have a gentleman who has 1st option on the car......

 

[DaveS]

Nothing much to update on the '57, unfortunately. Busy trying to get a customer's car put together and off to the upholstery shop and maybe then can put some time in on my own stufff for a change!!! I did get some of the dings taken out of the hood and fenders and have the front bumper almost ready to start making the fiberglass mold!

 

[rlbutcher]

It would make a great gasser Dave.

 

[DaveS]

Yeah, it's going to be a fun car, all done up like the gasser it almost was back in the mid 60's but with some modern touches... Should have room to get it in to get things taken apart and off to sandblasting in the next week or so anyway. Going to have to just keep working it in between customer stuff, gotta keep the bills paid....

 

[Marks63PontiacGasser]

Good starter and should be a fun project. Keep the pics a comin'. Mark L

 

[DaveS]

Dug the '57 out of the snowbank and have it in the garage thawing out!! Gonna spend the weekend taking things apart and doing some planning.

 

[406Rich]

Thats one coooool gasser...!

 

[1937Austin]

Not sure I'd want to be in your situation Dave! I go nuts when I've got a project sitting and have to divide my time elsewhere! Looking forward to seeing the '57 develope into what it was, only better!

 

[DaveS]

Had fun today.... Got the junk front suspension off the car and got the glass out of the passenger's side. Did some sanding here and there to see what condition the sheetmetal is in. No big surprises, needs some panels replaced but it's a good car structurally. I have all the body bolts soaking with PB Blaster, hope they'll come out without a great deal of hassle, anxious to get the body on the rotissierie!

 

[DaveS]

Got the doors dissassembled and removed, pedals and dash panel out, window channels all cleand out and did a bit of sanding to check things out. Floors are a bit worse then they first appeared so I'll be cutting them out and replacing with aluminum...Going to put the car on a bit of a diet during the course of the build, lowering the weight is cheap horsepower!!!! Here's a pic, at least it's not sitting in the snowbank looking all sand and neglected anymore!!!!!!

 

[1937Austin]

Looks like you got a lot done in one day! This is going to be a neat one to watch!

 

[Marks63PontiacGasser]

Nice progress. Going to be a good car. Mark L

 

[DaveS]

Today I got some of the nasty floor sections cut out and started reworking the body mounts. Got some steel coming tomorrow to frame up some structure for the new floor. Trunk floor is really in nice shape..anybody need one?

 

[DaveS]

Got the new body mounts built and installed for the right side, about 1/2 done with the left side. Also have one side of the old firewall cut off and the supports installed for the new firewall. I was going to get some pictures but the garage was such a mess, have to get thing cleaned up and take some tomorrow. The new floor and firewall will be aluminum so weight savings should be substantial! I have the floor supports planned out and some measurements made, hopefully will get them installed this weekend and the body on the rotissierie and ready to go to the sandblaster first part of the week. Next week, it's back to doing customer work, hope to get a bunch done this weekend! Sure is fun being able to spend a whole week working on my own stuff for a change, just that working on customer's cars pays so much better!!!!!!!!!

Been doing some thinking on the rear suspension... I'll stick with a leaf spring suspension in the rear with some long (42") ladder bars. I much prefer coilovers and a 4 link for racing, but it just doesn't seem like the right setup for an old gasser style '57 Chevy. Giving some thought to going with the composite leaf springs (Chrysler style), sliders instead of shackles, and housing floaters. With the right shocks, should be able to make the whole thing work quite well with a 10" wide rear wheel......I hope!

 

[1937Austin]

I agree Dave, the leaf springs and long ladder bars would be very cool and retain the look of an old gasser!