The 57 Chevy Tips for Restoring a Classic
In 1957 the Chevrolet Motor Company unveiled one of the most iconic cars ever built and although it was named the Belair, the car was so distinct that it is known today simply as the57 Chevy. With its wide bullet tipped grill and distinct high rear fins, the appearance of the car is representative of the classic American muscle car in every aspect. Popularized by American culture the 57 Chevy is a highly sought after car for automobile enthusiasts and restorators. If you've been fortunate enough to find one of your own and are planning a restoration then settle in for one fun project because this iconic car is sure to turn some heads when completed.
A rule of thumb when beginning any restoration is to salvage every usable part from the vehicle that you can; some parts may be extremely difficult to find or your budget may not allow it so it is crucial to reuse anything that can be refurbished. When performing a frame-off restoration everything must be removed from the frame and one great tip to help you keep track of valuable and reusable parts is to place them in sealed freezer bags (if they'll fit), label them, and place the bags in a box with other similar items and then label it as well.
For larger items such as trim or bumpers, set aside an area to store them where they will be both out of the way, and in the case of trim, placed on a flat surface so that it will not bend. Also, when doing a complete breakdown of a car it may be useful to take pictures throughout the process, both for prosperity when the build is complete, and to help you relocate areas where specific parts should be attached.
When the car wasoriginally releasedin 1957 it came in a variety of packages and it is important to know which one of these models you purchased, especially if you want to restore the car back to its original stock condition. The high end model was known as the "Belair", the mid-range model was the "two-ten", while the low end model was known as the "one-fifty". Chevrolet also released a wagon based upon the Belair platform called the Nomad, which is also a highly collectible car today. In addition to these was a convertible model, an upscale trim package named the Delray, as well as two and four door options for the sedans.
In 1957 Chevrolet offered a variety of engines for these cars although the standard engine was the 235.5 cubic inch in-line six-cylinder which produced 140 horsepower. Also available was the 265 cubic inch V8 which generated 162 horsepower, and two versions of the 283 cubic inch engine which produced 185 horsepower with the twin-barrel carb, and 220 horsepower with the optional four-barrel carb. For the first time ever, a fuel injected version of the 283 cubic inch was also offered and generated 283 horsepower.
Another unique option available to buyers in 1957 was the Turboglide transmission, which is essentially a turbine transmission, many buyers still opted for the Powerglide transmission however due to its known reliability. The manual transmissions that were offered in these cars were a standard three-speed manual with optional overdrive, and a four-speed manual. In addition to fuel injection and the Turboglide transmission, the 57 Chevy was also equipped with tubeless tires, although this did discourage some consumers due to the unproven state of the technology. The complete redesign of the 57 Chevy also included various frame changes, a decease in wheel size from 15" to 14", as well as suspension upgrades which made the car much more maneuverable and stable.
1957 was also a year of options for Chevrolet, in addition to the various trim packages other options included, air conditioning, power steering, power brakes, as well as power windows and seats. One really neat dashboard component of the 57 Chevy was called the autotronic eye, which sensed oncoming traffic and automatically dimmed the headlights. Unfortunately for Chevrolet however the new design wasn't as successful as they had hoped it would be at the time, it wasn't until years later that the popularity of the car grew and it came to be known as the car to beat during any drag race. The 57 Chevy also dominated the NASCAR ranks throughout the fifties and even won the Southern 500 three years in a row.
The true popularity of the car began to grow during the sixties when street rodders realized that the 57Chevycould easily be retrofitted with a much larger 327 cubic inch engine, and combined with the four-speed manual and the limited slip differential that the car was equipped with it was nearly unbeatable. Today these vehicles are as popular as ever and are regarded as one of the truly iconic cars, making them one of the most restored classics of all time. Many restorators restore the cars back to their original stock condition, which in turn makes them more valuable. Those who love the thrill of speed and the growl of a powerful V8 often equip these cars with either a 327", 350", 396", and often a 409 cubic inch engine.
The size of the engine installed during a restoration of one of these cars is inconsequential however compared to the quality of work that must be achieved in order to restore it to prime condition. The upholstery of the 57 Chevy has a very stylish look when restored to original condition, as well as being quite intricate. The car also sports a great deal of chrome and when performing a restoration it will likely be necessary to replace most chromed parts, if there is even so much as a pit of rust on one of the chrome bumpers it will be visible even after the process of cleaning and re-chroming it has taken place.
Perhaps the best tip when restoring a 57 Chevy is to know where you are going to find replacement parts before you even start tearing it down for the rebuild. With these cars now being made as reproductions using plastics and other weight saving materials, finding parts should be easy, although it may be a bit expensive for some items. Most importantly enjoy the build, for restoring one of these classics is truly an experience to be remembered.
