Dualfours-My 2Dr

[Dualfours]

\\Okay, second post here since I just joined this morning. Bit of a LONG back story as have had my 57 since '75. Hope it does get too boring for anyone to read.

As mentioned, I bought my 57 in early summer of '75 Some of the guys I ran with were doing some rather informal drag racing at our local track. I was married, two kids, working a good paying job with Boeing Aircraft Co. in Wichita, Ks. and figured it would be fun to try the race car bit. I already had a decent running '65 Impala SS 300hp/327 4 spd. Quite the ''family car', NOT, LOL.

Started looking thru local car ads and came upon an ad for a '57 210 sedan for sale in neighboring town. Went and looked, running 283, Muncie M-21, original bench, peg leg 3:55 rear end, Appliance headers, good Kansas title, $500. Bought it and drove it home with a lot of trim in the trunk and back seat, body in primer. Had a General Kinetics solid lift cam, Weiand aluminum intake and Holley double pumper. A few minor changes and off to the drag strip I went. Flat towed it behind my 1/2 ton Chevy pickup with drive shaft laying in the trunk. Ran it off and on when I could but work hours were getting longer and longer and weekends also. Best time I ever turned as I recall was 14.32 at 93.6 mph. Decent but not hardly fast enough. Finally decided after 2 1/2 years just wasn't working for me. Wife, kids, job, house payment, car payment, I'm sure a LOT of guys know the deal there. Parked it in the garage and always planned to "get back to it". Yeah, sure.

Fast forward several years. Still could not get back to the 57, added a third youngin', bought and remodeled an older house on two acres. Bought a rough 71 4WD Chevy 1/2 ton, restored it. Bought a 71 Chevelle and restored it, 57 still sitting in the garage. Retired after 36 years with the Boeing Co. and built a 35x50 steel building retirement playhouse. Okay, put it off long enough, time to get the 57 done and enjoy it!!

[Dualfours]

Some more on my 57. After I had been retired a few years decided it was time to get started on the 57. During my working years wife and I helped two kids thru college and one thru trade school. I had mentioned at times the thought of selling the 57 since I had no time to work on it and no money to do it with. Wife talked me out of it saying she knew I would kick myself for selling it as by then I had sold the 65 Impala SS and to this day I regret doing that. 57 sat in the garage with me doing a few minor things on it as I could afford it. Rebuilt the engine, ditched the solid cam, went with a Melling hydraulic cam, acquired a stock 57 GM 2x4 intake and Carter WCFB carbs. Took 3 carbs to build the two. Added front disc brakes from the old Classic Chevrolet International before Eckler's acquired them.

A friend of mine who also retired from Boeing Co. was doing body work on the side as a retirement income supplement. He had done the body on my Chevelle and I was very satisfied with it. Asked him to do the 57 when he had an opening, 8 months later the tear down and restore was started. Body down to bare steel and found the unknowns in the body restore world. Floor pans, trunk floor and rear tail pan brace, roof repair from many dings. Finally got the body done, blocked and primed 4 times. Off to the paint as he did not have an actual paint booth, only shooting primer in his garage. BC/CC coat of 2018 GM Shadow Gray Metallic and all the original trim worked, buffed and installed. Straight from the body and paint process into the interior shop where it resides now. Gray cloth and vinyl interior, gray carpet.

Couple more pics of current condition.

[BamaNomad]

Very neat story and great looking car!! :) It certainly looks drivable... are you able to put some miles on it ??

[567chevys]

Great Story and great looking 57 Chevy , I love Carbs x 2 on it

Thanks for telling us the story .

Be safe

Sid

[Dualfours]

Car is tagged with a Kansas 1957 license plate, street legal and drivable altho no interior seating to sit on right now, LOL. Have a couple pics on my phone of a completed door panel but not smart enough to post them here from my Android phone. Will send them to my email address and get them posted at a later date.

I do have a pic of some of the "treasures" that were found during the tear down phase. Nothing special but just interesting every day use items. Made a display case to show them when the '57 makes it's first car show along with an album of pictures taken during the build. The two pocket knives, one beer opener and the rusty feeler gauges were found when the front clip was removed. The other items found came from the front windshield area under the trim by defrost vents. At first I thought the two dried twisted cigarettes were of the "roll your own" variety until we removed them and seen the factory filters, LOL. The rectangular metal patch piece was at the left rear dog leg area by the rear wheel well. Had been braised in with brass rod many years ago prior to me buying the car.

[carls 56 (RIP 11/24/2021)]

good read and cool 57. neat to have all those in a display case. thanks for sharing.

[WagonCrazy]

Lookin' good man. Like that display case with the history lesson in it.

[markm]

The only thing cooler than one carb is two or more.

[NickP]

Welcome

[Dualfours]

Couple pics of the door panels and the rear package tray from the interior process. Ordered the stainless steel trim pieces from Classic Industries and was almost a month getting them. Headliner from Ciadella was delayed also. Guess not a huge problem tho cause not much going on in the way of car shows this year. Our local car show I had planned on showing the 57 for the first time was among the cancellations.

[BamaNomad]

I like your door panels, dualfours .. simple and neat.. yet very attractive!~

[Dualfours]

Gave a considerable amount of thought time to the interior and was wanting something that looked "period" for the mid-60s. Trying to do the build pretty much along the lines of a High School mid-late 60s street prowler. Really like all the old school looks on cars and trucks since I'm old school myself. Late 40's build date of April '49 for myself, after me my parents stopped production, LOL.

I can appreciate the time, effort, expense and accomplishment of a full custom leather interior with full length custom console and such, it's just not me.

carls 56, seen in your avitar your a 'Nam vet. Welcome Home Brother, 'Nam vet myself, class of 69-70, US Army Engineers II Corp Central Highlands

[markm]

I have a similar theme with my 55 s interior. I wanted to look like it was done in the 60s. I think that I will puke every time I see a old car with an overhead console and space ship interior.

[Dualfours]

An update, interior is Finally finished. Had to drop back and punt on the 67 GTO buckets. Springs are really bad shape. Told interior shop to go ahead with the bench to keep the car moving forward. Will work the bucket seat situation later. All in all, VERY satisfied with workmanship and the overall look. Think the body and interior colors all blend well. Charged the battery, primed the rear carb, cranked over 2-3 times and fired right up. Let it idle outside maybe 20 minutes or so. Now back to the body shop for the front and rear glass and install bumpers. Then home for some minor tweaks here and there. Repaint the Mr. Gasket traction bars (primer overspray-no biggie), get rid of the aluminum flex fan in favor of a 6 blade steel mechanical. V-8 position on radiator, no room for a clutch fan.

[BamaNomad]

The interior and the car look great, dual fours! I like it.... :)

[55 Rescue Dog]

Very nice!

[Belair-o]

The interior looks great, and the interior and exterior colors complement each other - great job!

[WagonCrazy]

I agree...good color combo there. Get the bumpers on and finish the glass and then just DRIVE IT!

[Rustaddict]

That is a good looking car. You've got something there to be proud of

[Dualfours]

Thanks for the kind words, must admit am very pleased how the colors blend together. Was a bit concerned when picked out the body color and the interior cloth and vinyl about how well it would all come together. Just really wanted something different than the reds, blues, blacks, whites and original body colors normally seen. Have a restored '71 Chevy 4x4 and a restored '71 Chevelle, both are shades of blue. When wife and I picked on the Shadow Gray Metallic from a 2018 Silverado pickup was not sure but am very happy now. Can't wait to get the bumpers and glass installed and driving season. Been a long wait since have been able to row thru the gears.

[Dualfours]

Finally, brought the 57 home today! Used my AAA membership since the roller tires aren't up for highway speeds at the moment. That's on the agenda with a few other refinements. Glass is installed, front and rear bumpers along with the stainless trim sure brings out the contrast to the body color. Can't wait for warmer weather and driving season. Ready for the swap meets and car shows to start up also.

[BamaNomad]

Looks like a WHOLE CAR now Dual Fours! :) Congrats!~

[Dualfours]

Looks like a WHOLE CAR now Dual Fours! :) Congrats!~

First time the car has had the front bumper on it since I bought the car in 1975. Pulled the front bumper then so I could flat tow behind my pickup to the local race track. Built a REAL sturdy tow bar for towing, still have it stashed away in a shed. Trying to decide now if I want to run 15 x 6 or 15 x7 steel wheels. Will keep the rally wheels, just want a change for the time being. Running 215/70/15s right now, need to come up with a decent useable spare.

[markm]

Always Glad to see a fellow early 70s purchaser reach their goal, Took my 28 years on my 56 and not done. Getting ready to assemble an aluminum Camel Hump 327 to replace the 350. When you raced it did you run at Wichita, Great Bend, or Manhattan.

[Dualfours]

Always Glad to see a fellow early 70s purchaser reach their goal, Took my 28 years on my 56 and not done. Getting ready to assemble an aluminum Camel Hump 327 to replace the 350. When you raced it did you run at Wichita, Great Bend, or Manhattan.

Never did race it in Wichita at the Wichita International Dragstrip on north Maize Road. Wife and I, when we were dating, used to go to there quite often on Saturday night dates. Loved to watch the Coca-Cola Funny Car drags run with the nitro-methane so heavy in the air. Used to always get the pit pass and walk around the cars. I raced the 57 at Mid-America Dragstrip just west of Arkansas City, SE of Wellington. During WW2 it was an emergency landing airfield and was just recently purchased by new owners and started drags again after being dormant for several years.

[markm]

I forgot about Ark City, I have never been there or Wichita or Great bend.

[55 Rescue Dog]

I was born in Kansas and most of my extended family. Many near Smith Center, to Phillipsburg. Here is the fire truck from my Dad's hometown I bought from Athol KS, pop38.
11817

[Dualfours]

Cool looking fire truck. Am guessing maybe a 52 or 53? Not really versed on the older trucks.

[55 Rescue Dog]

Cool looking fire truck. Am guessing maybe a 52 or 53? Not really versed on the older trucks.
1950 1.5 ton with only 2500 miles, thanks. Your 57 look great!

[mr_ed]

That is a nice ride you have there. Now that most of the work is done (it is never finished) drive it and enjoy it. Great to hear the history behind it as well.

[Dualfours]

That's the plan for sure. Taking it in this morning for an professional appraisal for my Hagerty policy and then stopping by my agent's office so he can get some pics for his file documentation. Kinda anxious to see if the appraiser and I on are on the same page for an agreed value. l have a $$ amount in my mind, will see if I'm close to his thoughts.

[Dualfours]

Just a bit of an update. Got the appraisal some time back and forgot to post. The appraisal came in at $31,500. I'm good with that as I was hoping somewhere between $30-$35 K. Not a B/J high end restore, just a nice driver for taking on an afternoon cruise. Will be increasing the Hagerty coverage to $35,000 when the renewal is due. Will also bump the coverage up a couple $2,000 each on my restored '71 Chevy 4x4 and restored '71 Chevelle. Have taken the 57 to a few shows this year and enjoyed each one. No awards but that's okay with me. The reward is in the driving a piece of American Classic Iron and all the Smiles per Mile I have.

[Dualfours]

Just made a recent addition of a bench seat console for my 57. Ordered it from Cupholders.plus in mid-May this year and just recently received it, seems as if anything one orders is destined to take forever to arrive. Seems to work quite well with the 4 spd. shifter, no interference with the stick. Matches the interior colors quite well and very pleased with it.