Project 57 - update 7 Nov 2024

[Sirius]

Since i have nothing else going on I decided to take on a long-term project. Guess what's under the cover and win a prize (must be present to win).

Archon is disqualified as he already knows.

[J Wikoff]

Looks 57ish and Buickish.

[dougtoth]

1957-1958 Bonneville.
Is that a recent picture?
If it is you sure have a lot of snow on the ground.
In Muskego,Wisconsin (15 miles west of Milwaukee) we have zero snow here.
Go about 150 miles north and they just got 12-24 inches this past weekend.
Got both cars washed yesterday and the nice thing is that the roads are dry.

[95naSTA]

Was gonna say something 50ish as well.

[Sirius]

1957-1958 Bonneville.
Is that a recent picture?
If it is you sure have a lot of snow on the ground.
In Muskego,Wisconsin (15 miles west of Milwaukee) we have zero snow here.
Go about 150 miles north and they just got 12-24 inches this past weekend.
Got both cars washed yesterday and the nice thing is that the roads are dry.

The picture is from Sunday after Thanksgiving. It snowed pretty much straight from Tuesday through Friday. It was a heavy snow and had settled quite a bit by Sunday. The mountains in the background got around 4 feet.

[MattStrike]

I don't know older cars as well as muscle cars. So I'm going with 50's Caddy.

[Sirius]

You've pretty much nailed the decade.

[J Wikoff]

Best I can match the bumper to is a 57 BelAir.

[Sirius]

That's close enough, John. It's technically a 210 not a Bel Air, but they're pretty much the same. Bel Air was mostly a cosmetic upgrade.

I rescued it from a field. It's a 4 door hardtop, not the coveted 2 door hardtop...but it wasn't the coveted price either. It's pretty much complete, very straight, and very little rust for a 62 year old car. It has a 283 V8 and a powerglide transmission. The last time it was registered was in the 1970s, probably the last time it ran. It's a long term project, but it should be fun!

[95naSTA]

Awesome.

[J Wikoff]

I always forget about the 210.

[Sirius]

This is the majority of the rust on the car. A little on the back end of the front fender and some rocker panel rot. Similar on the right side. The floor pans probably have some rust as well (typical), but I haven't ripped the carpet out to have a look yet. The fender wells are all solid. Another favorite rust point on these is above the headlights; no rust there. There is some surface rust on it, but that will sand off.



You might be thinking, meh, everybody's got a 57 Chevy - a 57 Buick, Olds, or Pontiac would be more unique. I agree, but the beauty of a 57 Chevy is that just about every part for them has been reproduced and can be bought. Rocker panels, floor pans, fenders, trim, horn button...you name it. And how can you not like fins? Additionally, small block Chevy engines & parts are a dime a dozen; not so much for old Pontiac, Olds, Buick, etc. as, back then, they all used their own engines.

[Archon]

Their guesses were a lot closer than mine.

[SSEiMan01]

That is an awesome car, should be a good project! I love a four door hardtop, that's what my 66 Cutlass was.

[Sirius]

Yeah, we're looking forward to starting on it. We got it in late November and with winter setting in and Christmas bearing down we haven't had much time to do anything with it. But that's OK, we're not in any kind of hurry. First thing will be to clean out the rat nests, hornet nests, squirrel stashes, and black widow spiders. Then rip out the carpet and see what shape the floor pans are in. I know there's some rust in there, just don't know to what extent.

Interestingly, according to what I've read on production numbers, the 210 Sport Sedan (aka 4 door hardtop) has one of the lowest production figures for 1957. Doesn't make it more sought after or valuable, just an interesting fact.

[Sirius]

A few weeks ago I got a little stir crazy so I opened up the 57 and had a look around inside. I discovered the back seat was NOT a shoebox Chevy seat. I have no idea what it was out of, but at some point in time someone kluged a different back seat into the car. The resto-gods must have been smiling on me because I found someone locally selling a back seat out of a 57 150 4 door. He also had a front bench seat, which I didn't need, but he practically gave it to me so I took that too. The seats are going to need to be upholstered, obviously, but structurally are in good shape.



While I had the back seat out I ripped out the carpet and started the cleaning process. While the floor pans are not terrible, there are a couple thin spots and I will have to replace those areas. But I was expecting that and, oddly enough, am looking forward to attempting that feat. It would be a piece of cake if I had the insane skills of Mattstrike or 95naSTA, but burning holes in and warping sheet metal shouldn't be too far off my radar.

[95naSTA]

Ahh, you'll be fine. I'm sure the good areas you'll be anchoring into are at least twice as think as any automotive sheet metal nowadays.

[Sirius]

No doubt there is some serious steel in these old wagons. I'm pretty sure the bumpers alone weigh as much as my 88 Accord.

[MattStrike]

I really can't wait to see what you do with this car. I love these old sheet metal constructs!

[Sirius]

Our plan right now is to do somewhat of a resto-mod. Sort of what might have been done to the car in the late 60's or early 70's. For now we'll rebuild the original 283, probably replace the Powerglide with a TH700R, upgrade the brakes to discs, and throw some Cragar S/S wheels on it. (I know the trans & brakes aren't 60's era, but I think will be a worthy upgrade). We won't change the body nor do anything that can't be reversed if that became a desire. I'm sure things will change as we move forward.

This is a long-term project. I'm not a "machine" like Matt & Mike. I've followed their projects and continue to be impressed with how quickly they get things done and the quality of their work. And I'm not sure when/if they ever sleep. I've also got to finish the landscaping around my house, and that is priority 1 at this point if I want to peacefully coexist with my wife.