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1957 Plymouth 2 Door Suburban Wagon - IT RUNS! Jump to page : 1 2 3 Now viewing page 1 [50 messages per page] | View previous thread :: View next thread |
Forward Look NON-Technical Discussions -> 1955-1961 Forward Look MoPar General Discussion | Message format |
Scott Smith Harms |
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Veteran Posts: 209 | I bought this beast from friend in Arizona about 5 years ago. After dragging it home from Arizona to Spokane I put it out back in "cold storage" After going to the Las Vegas MopaVegas and seeing some cool old cars running around I came home with a new burst of motivation. I conned a local buddy (Ralph) into to comming over to help me unearth the car from the back 40 last weekend, we drug it out to the front of the house where I can work on it. The tires held air for a few hours and are now flat agian, no big deal, needs new rubber anyway. The biggest concern was the original 301 poly head engines health, I bought it not knowing (or caring) if it ran. the gas tank and fuel system will need to be delt with, as well as the other crusty wear parts like brakes, hoses, belts, etc. The ignition key was MIA so I pulled the ign switch and had a key made. Anyway, I go out, pop the hood, add a missing pos battery cable and a fresh battery, unhooked the fuel line, checked the oil (looked ok, just black) dumped some fuel in the carb and tried the key. After about 3 seconds of cranking it fired right up and ran like a sewing machine, smooth and quiet! I couldn't believe it ran so good after sitting for so many years (probably 25-30 years or so!) I plan on addressing the issues mentioned above this week. Hopefully with no surprises I'll have the old sled back on the road again for some summertime Rat Rod cruising. I'll add upgrades as time & funds allow, but for now it'll be cool putting around town in a 52 year old Plymouth (IMG_1117.JPG) Attachments ---------------- IMG_1117.JPG (245KB - 1328 downloads) | ||
Scott Smith Harms |
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Veteran Posts: 209 | Here's the engine, I plan on removing the non functioning (dealer added?) air conditioning setup (engine.jpg) Attachments ---------------- engine.jpg (210KB - 300 downloads) | ||
Scott Smith Harms |
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Veteran Posts: 209 | The front (IMG_1114.JPG) Attachments ---------------- IMG_1114.JPG (164KB - 301 downloads) | ||
58Donnie |
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Account Suspended Posts: 2827 Location: At "The Rock" in upper East Tennessee | Good deal man. I love the "plane brown wrapper" look. Drop me a PM if your interested in parting with that A/C system. | ||
Scott Smith Harms |
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Veteran Posts: 209 | Yea, it was originally an all white car with the B&W interior. Someone painted it brown eons ago so there she sits. I'll probably go back to white or some other stock color, not sure yet. The AC stuff....I'll let you know, when I get it all out I'll get some pics. It's pretty cool, the under dash unit is a monster! | ||
Scott Smith Harms |
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Veteran Posts: 209 | Although the car is from a very dry climate and has no outer body rust, the floor pans did not fair so well under the rubber floor mats. Does anyone make quality floor pans for these? | ||
dukeboy |
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Expert 5K+ Posts: 6203 Location: Big pimpin' | Good deal...Glad to hear it runs ok....Looks to be pretty solid also.....Nice find indeed... | ||
57burb |
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Expert Posts: 3967 Location: DFW, TX | The floor pans for the seating area are basically interchangable with passenger car pieces. They are slightly different but will work. The rear cargo area is wagon-specific. Looks good, I've got a beater '57 wagon too. ---> http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a274/46Tbird/wagon/wagon_fortwort... | ||
MOPAR-TO-YA |
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Expert 5K+ Posts: 5139 Location: cornpatch county, Southwest IOA | How did you resist working on this wagon? It is much more solid than many others that have been brought back to life. You have the makings of a very cool old rig..............MO | ||
d500neil |
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Exner Expert 19,174 posts. Neil passed away 18 Sep 2015. You will be missed, Neil! Posts: 19146 Location: bishop, ca | Scott, the condition of that right rear wheel might explain its inability to hold air. You might really luck out and find that a new aftermarket A/C compressor, and drier, etc., might be all that you need, to restore the A/C system to life. Be sure to drain and clean ALL of its fluids-lubricants. Nice score! | ||
Sisu |
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Inactive by Request Posts: 1292 Location: Lovely place | 2DR Suburban, what a rare car Looks very solid, I think its cool the way it is now - also 57burb's Plymouth looks awesome with those Kelsey Heyes wheels... I'm not neutral when I say station wagons are the finest FL's ever made, you couldn't buy a bigger station wagon in 1957 from anywhere, for any price - that was the slogan at 1957. They really offer so much room, are very usable and reliable, and cool same way as pick-up trucks. What could be a finer car for shopping trips during the week and pick-nick's during the weekend? Thumbs up! | ||
MoparBrew |
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Extreme Veteran Posts: 461 Location: Brooklyn NY | I have the same car, only a 58. I'm in the process of doing floorboards right now. Those rubber floor mats suck!! I'm using repro floor pans from RCAR Fabrications. He lists on ebay sometimes, or you can order from his website. I feel his quality is better than anything else available for us. There is another fellow who sell on ebay, but I heard bad things about his product. My project snowballed, floorboards to seat supports and support braces to inner rockers to door sill replacement. Yeesh, thank god I have friends/cousins who weld........Ralph from Brooklyn | ||
MoparBrew |
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Extreme Veteran Posts: 461 Location: Brooklyn NY | my jalopy........well in appearance anyway......rebuilt 318, powerflite, frontend, leafsprings, disc brake conversion.......Ralph from Brooklyn (jsw_001.jpg) (jsw_002.jpg) (jsw_003.jpg) (jsw_a_man_and_his_shortblock.jpg) (jsw_finished_002.jpg) Attachments ---------------- jsw_001.jpg (53KB - 270 downloads) jsw_002.jpg (44KB - 291 downloads) jsw_003.jpg (44KB - 248 downloads) jsw_a_man_and_his_shortblock.jpg (43KB - 254 downloads) jsw_finished_002.jpg (52KB - 250 downloads) | ||
Scott Smith Harms |
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Veteran Posts: 209 | WOW! Cool bunch of cars and comments, thanks guys! Thanks for the leads on floor pan sheet metal, mine is just bad in the very lowest foot well areas up front, everything else including the rockers, rear uper deck, and rear storage well are mint. I pulled the gas tank today (NASTY!) but it's in good shape, a boil out and a new sending unit and it should be good as new. I do plan on a complete fluid change (front to back) as well as a round of belts, hoses, brake soft lines, etc. All of it is dry and weather checked (as are the tires which is why they are all flat) rims are the originals and mint, no rust or dents. I discovered that the original color on the car is actually a light "Easter Egg" blue (not white as I originally thought) and it had a black and white interior. After I get the tank back in and the rest of the fuel system up to par I'm going to tackle the brakes (should be fun). I also have a 58, original red car with a 3 speed on the column and a flat head 6. I bought it as a parts car for the 57 but couldn't bring myself to butcher it so I collected all the parts to get it back together, fenders, hood, inner fenders, rad support, NOS taillamps, grille, rear side glass, etc. No engine or trans though. Not sure if I'll ever have the time or money to do it but at least it's safe for the next guy Cheers! Scott Edited by Scott Smith Harms 2009-03-30 8:28 PM (58.jpg) Attachments ---------------- 58.jpg (59KB - 316 downloads) | ||
Doctor DeSoto |
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Location: Parts Unknown | Are you located IN Spokane ? I am surprised I have not stumbled onto this car for all the driving I do. Another Spokanistaner. | ||
Scott Smith Harms |
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Veteran Posts: 209 | Yep, on E.Broadway just East or Argonne, can't miss the driveway BTW, who sells the reproduction 57/58 Fury Side Mouldings? | ||
jsrail |
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Expert Posts: 1590 Location: Scottsdale, AZ | Very nice wagon, dude! And it started right up, you can't beat this old iron. I got floor pans and rockers from another guy on eBay, nice price and good quality, sells under the name of scopans23. Jay | ||
Scott Smith Harms |
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Veteran Posts: 209 | I couldn't find any sellers by the name (scopans23) but I found this guy http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/SEAT-FLOOR-PANS-CHRYSLER-DODGE-PLYMO... Are his any good? How's the price? Thanks! Edited by Scott Smith Harms 2009-03-31 2:36 AM | ||
jsrail |
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Expert Posts: 1590 Location: Scottsdale, AZ | Scott Smith Harms - 2009-03-30 11:35 PM I couldn't find any sellers by the name (scopans23) but I found this guy http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/SEAT-FLOOR-PANS-CHRYSLER-DODGE-PLYMO... Are his any good? How's the price? Thanks! You know I was just coming back to the forum to edit my post! This is the guy I bought from, sorry, old age is taking its toll on me! lol The outer rockers and front floor pans I bought for my '56 Dodge CRL are very nice, good thickness, and didn't come with surface rust all over them. I am very happy with their stuff so far. Email them to see if they have anything you need. I think he's cheaper than RCAR, but seemed a fair price for what I could find around and they came quickly and in excellent shape, so I'd recommend them. Jay | ||
345 DeSoto |
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Expert Posts: 1302 Location: Skaneateles,NY(summer)/Port St.Lucie,FL(winter) | Just for grins, when you do your oil/filter change, substitute a quart of "Rislone" for a quart of oil...and do it at every oil change for about six times. It will dissolve the varnish and slude so that nothing chunks off and plugs a lifter. Great stuff... | ||
suburban61 |
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Expert Posts: 1480 Location: Australia | howdy scott... welcome to the suburban club... as far as the rubber floor coverings go, no one reproduces them because no one apparently likes them... my rubber on the back floor is fabulous (no one ever sat in the back of my wagon) but the front floor rubber is gone... the rubber is bad for rust and i was given the advise of ripping up the rubber and putting carpet in... although i would use the rubber for the floors if i could get it... the only rust my sub has is in the rear wheel well... fab wagons you've got there and the 2-doors are rare... you'll have to go out and find a '59 2-door sub now... cheers adriana | ||
firedome |
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Expert Posts: 3156 Location: NY & VT | Cool car!! I love it's look as it is right now... Ralph & Scott did you know Alan Ralston in MN is reproducing the seat and under floor support channels for '57-59 FLs? He has a fleet of '59 DeSotos. | ||
dukeboy |
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Expert 5K+ Posts: 6203 Location: Big pimpin' | Scott Smith Harms - 2009-03-30 8:37 PM BTW, who sells the reproduction 57/58 Fury Side Mouldings? There's a member that sells the inserts for the '57-'58 mnBelvy/Fury that isn't an EXACT copy, but are made out of Mylar...The guy on the Christine Car Club that was selling the METAL inserts no longer does...He went by "Wayne" here.... | ||
Scott Smith Harms |
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Veteran Posts: 209 | I need that contact info for the floor support channels, I don't think I'll need them but just in case..... I got a quote for the 6 piece floor pans from the ebay guy, he said $407.00 for all 6 plus shipping, doesn't seem to bad I guess. The real shocker was the bill for boiling out the gas tank...$150.00! Geez! I could almost buy a new tank for that ifI could find one. Thanks for all your help and advice guys (and gals), this is my first 50's car, it's been 60's muscle cars for me since day one, I'm on a steep learning curve. (57 Fuel Tank A.jpg) Attachments ---------------- 57 Fuel Tank A.jpg (177KB - 1269 downloads) | ||
Scott Smith Harms |
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Veteran Posts: 209 | I'm going to need pretty much every rubber seal for this old girl too (the arizona sun is kind to sheet metal but brutal on anything soft). Sliding side glass rubber runs, rear side glass surround seals, door seals, door glass run seals, rear tail gate rubber as well as the tail gate glass "squeegee" rubber. Does anyone reproduce proper replacements? | ||
big m |
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Expert 5K+ Posts: 7819 Location: Williams California | Nice find, Scott. These wagons, being sold as utilitarian vehicles had a low survival rate, as they were not pampered. Rubber floor mats hastened their demise also. I picked this one up from a yard in the bay area several years ago. ---John ('57 2dr Plymouth Suburban 001.jpg) Attachments ---------------- '57 2dr Plymouth Suburban 001.jpg (44KB - 544 downloads) | ||
Scott Smith Harms |
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Veteran Posts: 209 | That's a cool one! Funny, I went to High School in Willows, my family farmed rice. What model/year is yours? I like the paint scheme, looks sharp! Edited by Scott Smith Harms 2009-03-31 2:24 PM | ||
57burb |
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Expert Posts: 3967 Location: DFW, TX | Scott Smith Harms - 2009-03-31 12:00 PM I'm going to need pretty much every rubber seal for this old girl too (the arizona sun is kind to sheet metal but brutal on anything soft). Sliding side glass rubber runs, rear side glass surround seals, door seals, door glass run seals, rear tail gate rubber as well as the tail gate glass "squeegee" rubber. Does anyone reproduce proper replacements? No one "makes" that stuff per se, but you can use generic stock to rebuild most of the rubber parts you need. I have a local supplier that deals with restorers nationally, maybe you can call and request a catalog, or see if they recommend someone in your area. http://www.jandjsupply.net/ | ||
Fintail and Son |
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Extreme Veteran Posts: 313 Location: New Jersey | Great story, Scott. It's fantastic when an old engine comes to life and works well. Good luck.---Fred | ||
Scott Smith Harms |
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Veteran Posts: 209 | Sure an easy car to work on, everything is simple and easy to get at although I have tried the oil filter yet. I have the air conditioning parts under the hood pulled now, came off really easy, no buggered up parts. Sent the radiator out for a boil and pressure check, dropped off the gas tank at the same shop (2 week wait! Man we need another rad shop who can boil gas thanks in this town). Parts adding up fast, Gen belt, upper & lower rad hoses, bypass hose, heater hose, oil filter canister refill thermostat = $94.00 at NAPA today. I may as well put a water pump and a fuel pump on while it's appart, that'll probably be another $75.00 or so. Oh well, price you pay for dependable crusing I guess. Edited by Scott Smith Harms 2009-03-31 5:31 PM | ||
Doctor DeSoto |
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Location: Parts Unknown | What shop is boiling your gas tank ? I need to do that on our wagon too. | ||
Scott Smith Harms |
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Veteran Posts: 209 | Corky's Radiator 509-325-5130 | ||
58Donnie |
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Account Suspended Posts: 2827 Location: At "The Rock" in upper East Tennessee | For the inserts your looking for the guy that sells them goes by the name "furyjim" (Jim Rawa) and can be contacted through here http://www.phpbbplanet.com/plymouthrockres/index.php?mforum=plymout... Or PM me for his email address as I don't know if he would want it posted in public or not. Here is an example of his stuff. | ||
Doctor DeSoto |
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Location: Parts Unknown | Thanks, Scott. I drive by Corky's all the time. | ||
Scott Smith Harms |
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Veteran Posts: 209 | You have to pay attention with them though, he quoted me $150.00 on the phone then quickly made it "About" $200.00 when he saw it (and it didn't look all that bad IMO). I guess it's a good thing, at least I shouldn't need a new tank which may cost more, and I don't want to pull the tank out of the 58, rather leave it intact. BTW, does anyone have a good pic of the factory correct gas cap? I've seen a bunch of styles and am looking for the factory correct unit. | ||
jsrail |
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Expert Posts: 1590 Location: Scottsdale, AZ | Scott Smith Harms - 2009-03-31 10:00 AM I'm going to need pretty much every rubber seal for this old girl too (the arizona sun is kind to sheet metal but brutal on anything soft). Sliding side glass rubber runs, rear side glass surround seals, door seals, door glass run seals, rear tail gate rubber as well as the tail gate glass "squeegee" rubber. Does anyone reproduce proper replacements? Scott, same problem with my '56 CRL, darn sun here just turns all rubber to stone! lol The windshield and rear window glass gasket just broke apart in pieces when trying to get the glass out. Walt here found a place for the moulded corner window gaskets for my car. I'm trying to list all the grommets and other rubber items I'll need since I've stripped the body for repaint and might as well replace them now. $150 to boil out a gas tank was close to what I was quoted around here, though someone my neighbor does biz with qouted me $80 since I was a friend of his. Your build is coming good man. Keep the updates coming. Jay | ||
d500neil |
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Exner Expert 19,174 posts. Neil passed away 18 Sep 2015. You will be missed, Neil! Posts: 19146 Location: bishop, ca | Scott (duh); be sure to drop the oil pan, too, and the trans pan. Pan gaskets should be readily available, but "Northwest Transmission" (in Cincinnati!) will have a trannie gasket, for sure. | ||
Scott Smith Harms |
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Veteran Posts: 209 | d500neil - 2009-04-02 1:15 PM Scott (duh); be sure to drop the oil pan, too, and the trans pan. Pan gaskets should be readily available, but "Northwest Transmission" (in Cincinnati!) will have a trannie gasket, for sure. The oil pan? Why? That could be a real PIA! | ||
Scott Smith Harms |
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Veteran Posts: 209 | I got the air conditioning stuff off the engine along with the other old rubber. AC stuff came of nice, no broken or screwed up parts, put caps on all the open ends and tucked it in the shop to stay dry. Any good sources for wiring for these cars or willI have to re-make it all on my own? Everything works but all of the under hood wireing is old, hard, and has chunks of the insulation breaking off. Edited by Scott Smith Harms 2009-04-01 4:58 PM (301 V8 A.jpg) Attachments ---------------- 301 V8 A.jpg (230KB - 379 downloads) | ||
MoparBrew |
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Extreme Veteran Posts: 461 Location: Brooklyn NY | Scott, for some rubber weatherstripping products, check Gary Goers, he has some station wagon stuff, not the sliding glass guides but tailgate stuff and door weatherstrip. check his website and mail away for a catalog.....Ralph from Brooklyn | ||
MoparBrew |
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Extreme Veteran Posts: 461 Location: Brooklyn NY | I think our cars are originally the same color...Bluebonnet Blue is what I,ve heard. I've recently painted my roof Iceberg White, because I couldn't stand to look at the surface rust anymore and I'm gonna 2 tone it anyway....Ralph from Brooklyn | ||
Scott Smith Harms |
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Veteran Posts: 209 | Thanks Ralph, Yes, my car was definately a pale blue (like robins egg/pastel blue with no metallics). Looked just like this one: More questions: Mine's missing the side trim or was it optional? It doesn't appear to have ever had any? What was the correct original engine color? Is there a source for crank pullies? Mine needs a single groove pulley, someone added a 3 groove to add A/C and I'd like to remove it. Edited by Scott Smith Harms 2009-04-02 3:31 PM (58 wagon Blue.jpg) Attachments ---------------- 58 wagon Blue.jpg (28KB - 327 downloads) | ||
Scott Smith Harms |
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Veteran Posts: 209 | Here's the Data Tag, not much on it! Can anyone here decode it? (57 Data Tag.jpg) Attachments ---------------- 57 Data Tag.jpg (192KB - 260 downloads) | ||
57burb |
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Expert Posts: 3967 Location: DFW, TX | That wagon is mine, it's a '57, and that is not a factory light blue. It was originally a dark blue metallic. Your factory engine color was all-silver. This is Bluebonnet (photo from plymouthcentral) Edited by 57burb 2009-04-02 5:15 PM (57PP2drBC.jpg) Attachments ---------------- 57PP2drBC.jpg (116KB - 865 downloads) | ||
Scott Smith Harms |
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Veteran Posts: 209 | Small world huh? It looks like the blue can vary allot depending on lighting, the blue (original paint) that I see on my car looksmore like the shade that's on your wagon than the blue in the other pic you posted. Pretty color none the less. | ||
Scott Smith Harms |
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Veteran Posts: 209 | BTW, is it normal for the doors to fit the car like crap? My hinges seem solid and tight and the doors close nice but they sure don't line up very well with the door openings. Edited by Scott Smith Harms 2009-04-02 5:53 PM | ||
jsrail |
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Expert Posts: 1590 Location: Scottsdale, AZ | Scott Smith Harms - 2009-04-02 12:26 PM Thanks Ralph, Yes, my car was definately a pale blue (like robins egg/pastel blue with no metallics). Looked just like this one: More questions: Mine's missing the side trim or was it optional? It doesn't appear to have ever had any? What was the correct original engine color? Is there a source for crank pullies? Mine needs a single groove pulley, someone added a 3 groove to add A/C and I'd like to remove it. Are you interested in getting rid of that 3 groove pulley? Wonder if it would fit my 315 Poly? I'll look and see if I still have my single grooce pulley, though you need to find out if it will fit your motor, mine's off my '56 315 Poly. Jay | ||
Scott Smith Harms |
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Veteran Posts: 209 | I planned on selling the entire A/C setup (every nut and bolt complete) so I shouldn't let go of the pulley by itself. However, if you have a single groove you know will work on my 57 301 I'll buy it for sure. Thanks! | ||
Scott Smith Harms |
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Veteran Posts: 209 | On another note, does anyone make headers for these cars? Not that I want to butcher the car but a headers would be a nice add on and I could keep and stash the OEM manifolds. | ||
Doctor DeSoto |
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Location: Parts Unknown | Scott Smith Harms - 2009-04-03 2:52 PM BTW, is it normal for the doors to fit the car like crap? My hinges seem solid and tight and the doors close nice but they sure don't line up very well with the door openings. ************************************* Yes ! 57 model cars, especially early production cars (yours is early December) were notorious for having poorly fitted body panels. Everything can look like new and work perfectly and still look like $#@! My old New Yorker required cutting the driver's door jam loose from the quarter, slicing a tapered cut from zero at the top to 3/4" at the bottom, beating the door jam rearward at the base until they met, and then welding it up ! The gap at the top was acually too big and had to be filled ! It was ugly ! .... but it was a low miles, never monkeyed-with original ! If you plan on painting it, bring it by and we can rough it in before you start your finish work. | ||
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