Well, my brothers and I just spent all of 2005 restoring a 1957 Bel Air. It used to belong to my dad and has been passed to my little brother, who put up the money for the restoration, and the three of us put up all the labor. Here are some pics of that project:

http://www.cardomain.com/id/alonsoquezada

And so we move on to my '66 Malibu. I haven't been here on this board much in the past year, I've been over on ChevyTalk.com researching the '57, and a big thanks to those guys over there! We finally decided to rent out some shop space to make this project an easier task, and give my wife some peace at home! :)

Here are some pics of us getting started. We are actually further along that what these pics show. The body will be going on a rotisserie (sp?) this weekend.

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-4/990599/01-02-06-03.JPG

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-4/990599/01-02-06-02.JPG

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-4/990599/01-02-06-01.JPG

Some highlights for the equipment on this car:
454 engine
M21 Muncie backed by a GearVendors Overdrive unit
12 bolt posi
Global West/Hotchkis suspension
some nice 17" rims (don't know which yet)
Vintage Air.

I'll be finalizing some of the equipment soon, after picking some brains here and fully utilizing the SEARCH function! :)

Looks like you have your work cut out for you but by the looks of your 57 it will turn out very nicely. When it comes time to buy suspension parts be sure to search the archives here and at sites like Lateral G. There is alot of stuff out that the doesn't work and if you want you car to handle a little research will go a long way. Good luck with the project!

I wish I had a nearby shop to rent. :( My garage is so puny it isn't even funny.

Mike,

Looks like a nice start, wish I had a few of my Dad's old cars.

On the overdrive unit, I know that you remove the old Tail-housing and it goes in place. Do you have to shorten the driveshaft ?
Does anything else change?

Thanks,
Fred.

I expect to shorten the driveshaft. I got the gearvendors unit when the Group Purchase was going on here last year.

That '57 was my dad's high school senior car. Bought it in 1962 for $450.

It must be great having your brother around for help and motivation! My brother lives on the other side of the state and my dad lives in Nevada, so unless they are in visiting I got to do everything myself here. Oh well just take my time and it will be done hopefully by the end of this decade!

Looks like you guys know what you are doing and have fun with it! Best of luck!

Actually my two younger brothers are helping. We're taking turns doing each others cars. We may start doing customer builds after this!

Here's the frame:
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-4/990599/01-03-06-11-2.jpg

I've done a search on the suspension and I'm trying to use what I have already with some minor tweaks to save some cash.

Front:
>Stock front springs rated at 530 lbs/in with 2" drop spindles.
>Hotchkis Front Sway Bar
>Hotchkiss Front tie rod sleeves
>12" 1LE disc brakes
>Bilstien Shocks

Rear:
>Global West LCA's I have have the Delrin Bushing on one side and the Spherical Bearing on the other. The consensus seemes to be to get rid of the Delrin and install a poly bushing.
>Hotchkiss Adjustable uppers control arms.
>Hotchkis LCA Braces
>Hotchkis Rear Sway Bar
>Stock Rear coil spring
>11" Cadillac Rear disc
>Bilstien Shocks

Edited my list above. Just ordered some Hotchkiss components to compliment what I have.

Can you show some pictures of the gold car? I see it in both sets of pictures.

Nice work on the 57. Very nice.

Sure, it's a 1953 210 Chevy. It's a Candy Gold color. It's actually going to get re-sprayed. the painter shot the front clip separately, when we assembled it we saw the mismatch.

It's going to to get a full ShockWave AirRide, four wheel disc, mustang II front clip, 700R4, 327 V-8 with an offenhauser 3-Duece setup.


http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-4/990599/Picture211.jpg

What did you use to paint the chasis? Did you blast it and then coat it?

We pressure washed it and wire wheeled the frame to clean any of the loose crud. We didn't wheel it down to clean metal because the rust treatment we used, RUST-MORT, needs the rust to bond to, similair to POR-15.

After the RUST-Mort cured, I wiped down any excess and then primered and painted the frame with two coats of semi-gloss.

The body will actually get the POR-15 treatment on the undercarraige and inside floor pan of the car.

More pics:
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-4/990599/DSCF0392.JPG
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-4/990599/r1.JPG

Its looking very good! Keep on snapping pics as you progress through the project. What are you working on next?

Here are a few pics of the work from this weekend. Finished grinding some welds and prepped for the POR-15 apllication and brushed on the POR-15.

We did the whole underside of the car and the wheel wells with one quart of POR-15. I just love that stuff!

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-4/990599/SSPX0160.JPG
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-4/990599/SSPX0167.JPG
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-4/990599/SSPX0170.JPG

And here's a pic of the '57 Bel Air back from final paint and color sanding:

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-4/990599/SSPX0143.JPG
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-4/990599/SSPX0163.JPG

awesome!

Wow! that it looking great.

Do you do this for a living, or do you just do this as a hobby? YOu guys got skills and the right equipment.

Just hobby right now, but we're considering taking on work after our personal projects are done.

Nice work! That Bel Air is Sweet!

Just a quick update,
The '66 is back on the frame with new bushings, and the suspension is all assembled, minus the sway bars. We loded it on the trailer last Saturday and took her to the body shop! I'll post some pics when I get her back in about 3 months!

Just got a call from the body shop yesterday afternoon.....

And she's ready to be picked up! I'm going Friday to pick her up! Wooo HOOO!!!

Yikes! I need the 411 on that bodyshop! 1 month?!?! Be sure and post some pics bud!

Yo Russ! Long time no see!!
My cousin owns the body shop, so there is some benefit of attention. But the price still stings a bit!

I'll have it back at our shop tomorrow and I'll take some nice high resolution pics.

Yo Russ! Long time no see!!


yes it has been a while... Im half the man you remember me as! haha

Also, I'm finally retiring those rear brake drums this month and going to 4 wheel disk.. They served their duty!

Thats a really nice 57, I was 16 years old when they came out, my dad bought a used one a year later, I really liked that car, wish I had it, but the black you have is the way to go.

Rob

Here are some pics!
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-4/990599/SSPX0209.JPG
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-4/990599/SSPX0208.JPG
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-4/990599/SSPX0207.JPG
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-4/990599/SSPX0204.JPG
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-4/990599/SSPX0210.JPG

Hey Rob,
That '57 was my dad's high school senior car. He bought it '62 and is the second owner!

Nice color choice! :thumbsup:

Dec 8th, 05, 06:52 PM
rubadub (http://www.chevelles.com/forums/member.php?u=21168) http://www.chevelles.info/forums/olp/images/statusicon/user_online.gif vbmenu_register("postmenu_780256", true);
Team Member http://www.chevelles.com/forums/team_member.gif
Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: two rivers wi.
Posts: 626
http://www.chevelles.info/forums/olp/images/reputation/reputation_balance.gif



Mondo this was posted on dec 8th 2005




http://www.chevelles.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif Re: What car gave you the motivation
1957 chevrolet salesmen coupe, black, fuel injected, glass packs, chrome exhaust tips coming straight out the back with the big V on the trunk.
It was new and I was 15 years old. I will never forget that car until the day I die.
I lived in a town of 200 people 25 miles south of traverse city, Michigan, we were kind of back in the sticks, didn't see a lot of nice cars, nobody had much money.
Anyway, it was a nice sunny day on a sunday afternoon, our family was coming home from visiting some friends a little ways out in the country.
We were pulling up to a stop sign at our main highway, just a two, one lane each way. It was a fairly long straightaway, so you could see it coming, no other cars on the road, just that 57.
We pulled up to the stop sign, and my older brother says, Rob theres that 57 from Honor, a town about 15 miles from us, and if I remember right his name was Loyd Akey, something like that.
I can see that car yet today, clear as a bell, going down the road right in front of us.
I never met the guy or ever saw that car again, but telling this story brings tears to my eyes.
Rob

That car was black.
__________________

That's so Cool!

When our friends come over to our shop to see the '57 for the first time, most of them just stand there and gaze at it. Hypnotized. The pictures don't do it justice.

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-4/990599/04-25-06-01.JPG

SWEET ride!:)

As you guys know, I'm doing a frame off resto on my car and adding a lot of the popular upgrades, so I'm trying to take as many pics as I can of these components before they are installed so you can all take a look at them before they go in. I know that I would've wanted to see this when I was in the planning stages!

Just recieved my power steering pump and resevoir from Lee Manufacturing. I had them go ahead and add AN fittings to everything.

I also picked up a 1998 Jeep Gran Cherokee Steering Box as well. I want the quick ratio steering. Lee Manufacturing also sent my the correect 18mm and 16mm to -6AN fittings so I can plumb my lines. BTW, the AutoZone part number on the gear box is #7525

I also have some pics of the Vintage Air Front Runner on my 454. I'm going to begin the test fit/pre-assembly phase of my project so we can see what is bumping into what. Enjoy!


http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-4/990599/SSPX0256.JPG
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-4/990599/SSPX0257.JPG
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-4/990599/SSPX0259.JPG
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-4/990599/SSPX0265.JPG
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-4/990599/SSPX0267.JPG

Here are are some updated pics! Wiring and A/C goes in next.
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-4/990599/DSCF0779.JPG
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-4/990599/DSCF0778-2.JPG
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-4/990599/DSCF0798.JPG
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-4/990599/DSCF0800.JPG
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-4/990599/DSCF0801.JPG
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-4/990599/DSCF0799.JPG

I just love the way this pulley system shoves all the accessories up to the front of the engine and down in front, out of site. Makes it look like I'm not running any accessories at all! But in fact I'm running everything, A/C, powersteering, alt (not mounted in pics), water pump and the Idler pulley.

Just a little update. If anyone has the Lee Manufacturing remote power steering resevior. I found a cool bracket to mount it with from Summit:

http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-4/990599/DSCF1024.JPG
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-4/990599/DSCF1026.JPG
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-4/990599/DSCF1027.JPG

Here's the link to the part:

http://store.summitracing.com/partdetail.asp?autofilter=1&part=CSI%2D651C&N=115&autoview=sku

looking good! keep it up! and keep us updated!

Sorry I haven't posted in a while. Life likes to throw you curve balls once in a while. But I am starting to get back into finishing off my '66.

All my chrome, Stainless and Anodizing should be back next week. I chose to re-do my OG stuff rather than deal with some of the re-pop stuff. Plus the price was right.

Here are some pics of the wiring and center console. I'll post some A/C routing pics later. Stereo will be next then the interior.

I haven't decided on wheels yet. But because of some of the un-real pricing on some of the billet stuff, I may just stick with the 18" or 20" TTII's.


http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q278/Mondo454/1966Chevelle/DSCF1469.jpg

Stealth Routing of the A/C and wiring under the fender.
http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q278/Mondo454/1966Chevelle/DSCF1379-2.jpg

Almost ready to FIRE!
http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q278/Mondo454/1966Chevelle/DSCF1828-2.jpg

Here is my dual 12" fan set up. I fabbed up some brackets to capture the units. I picked up the existing shroud nut locations. The top bracket still needs a little more work. They'll look nice once they're painted black. I also hooked up a Spal Fan Controller.
http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q278/Mondo454/1966Chevelle/DSCF1782.jpg
http://i138.photobucket.com/albums/q278/Mondo454/1966Chevelle/DSCF1780.jpg

Don't Worry, it looks A LOT better than this right now! :) This is an American AutoWire Highway22 wiring harness. I sealed up the original Fusebox location to smooth out the firewall. I've actually relocated the fuse box since this pic was taken because it was too close to the clutch pedal. I have the GearVendors controller mounted there now. It's a much smaller unit.
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2005-4/990599/AAW66Chevelle.JPG