Taking the 57 Plymouth apart

[Mike P]

Well the mock up/fabrication on the 57 is done. It took just a little short of a year, (about 6 months of that were spent building the wifes car instead of working on the Plymouth).

At this point;

The front and rear suspensions have been rebuilt and NOSR V8 torsion bars installed.

Clutch and brake peddles hung, clutch linkage made.

6 Cly frame mounts removed and V8 mounts installed.

Transmission crossmember built.

Hemi (56 354) and 4 speed (A833 OD) installed and transmission tunnel modified.

73 Charger 9 1/4 rearend (4.10 Posi) installed.

All new brakes including steel and rubber lines, dual reservoir MC, and disc brake conversion (front).

67 Chrysler 300 front seats installed.

Heater box modified and hood scoop fabricated (really didn't want to do a scoop, but had to because of hood clearance issues).

This week's going to be spent taking it apart so it can go into the body shop. I pretty much figure it's on schedule to make it to Tulsa in 2007.

As the 57 going to be gone for at least 2-3 months, I figure I'll get the 64 Ford into the garage while it's freed up. The Ford should be a lot simpler build as he 390/C6 motor/tranny swap is pertt much a straight foward bolt in.

[Dave Severson]

Lots of good progress, Mike!!! What colors are you going to put on the Plym?? Anxious to see the car going together when it's out of the paint shop, should really be a beauty.!!!

[urotu]

I agree, that's a sweet ride and I can't wait to see it out of the body shop. What's Tulsa '07?

[Bob Parmenter]

Good progress Mike!

Now, if a body/paint guy is promising (or maybe that should be promissing since they're pros at missing deadlines ) 2-3 months you know you've got 6. DO THE TRUCK!!

Last weekend I saw a '38 Dodge that would knock your socks off. It was done VERY well, painted black and deserved to be. Even the wheels were black, with black wall tires. In words it sounds boring or bland, but in person the workmanship was SO good it just grabbed your attention. The interior was done with stock style brown, heavy grain vinyl, but in a nice pattern. The stance was right on. At first I was curious why the rear fenders looked wider than I thought I remembered they should be, and the stock looking steel running boards didn't look like they'd been widened, though they fit the fenders just right. Once the owner showed up I found out it had started as the longer 3/4 ton model which had wider fenders and matching running boards. He'd just shortened the frame and bed to match the length of a 1/2 ton. Anyway, it made me think of your truck that you had the good sense to buy back.

[Mike P]

UROTU... Check this out http://www.forwardlook.net/19571958P.../countdown.asp

Dave, I'm going to go Red/White. But I am NOT trying to make it a Christine clone. The 57 Plymouth has a soft spot in my heart as my folks had one when I was a kid (admittedly not quite like the one I'm building). I actually have spent hours looking at different color combinations for the car, and for me it always comes back to it looking best in Red and White.

".......Now, if a body/paint guy is promising (or maybe that should be promissing since they're pros at missing deadlines ) 2-3 months you know you've got 6. DO THE TRUCK!!....."

Bob you are absolutely right, and I'm going into this with that in mind. Actually there is a logic to my plan

The shop is pretty full right now, not only the parts for the Plymouth I'm taking off, but the stuff for the 64 Ford. The Ford has some body damage, so there is a replacement hood, fender, core support, bumper, disc brake conversion parts, engine, tranny, factory headers, wheels etc etc sitting around getting in the way. As the Ford is a bolt in motor/tranny swap getting it to the point where it's running and drivable SHOULD go pretty quick. I'm doing the 64 next as I pretty much figure it's going to be an easy project (especially compared to the Plymouth and 37 PU).

I pretty much figure the Ford will be up for sale from the time it gets put together and I should do OK on it when I find a buyer (I'm into the project for the right money, (under 1K for everything I have so far)) . The money I recover is earmarked for the 37 Dodge project, but you know how that goes .

[R Pope]

Love that car! My brother built a 57 Belvedere 4-door HT with a 354 and 3-speed stick back in the 60's. Gold with white spear. Still my favorite 50's ride. Didn't need a scoop, built a low air cleaner.

[Mike P]

Thanks for the nice comments.

"......Didn't need a scoop, built a low air cleaner....."

He probably wasn't running a hi-rise tri-power

Already lowered the air cleaner as much as I could without cutting off air flow.

I had briefly considered using a factory dual quad set-up with oval air cleaners I have access to, to prevent having to cut the hood............but ....that was the easy way out

[Dave Severson]

You got it, Mike !!! What fun would it be doing things in an easy, logical manner???? Doing things just a quarter turn off what everyone else does is just one of the things that makes hot rodding so much fun !!!

[urotu]

Originally posted by Mike P
UROTU... Check this out http://www.forwardlook.net/19571958P.../countdown.asp

I was wondering if that was what you were talkin' about, LOL. I remember that from the first time you posted it. I have even posted it on a couple of other forums, 'cause it's great. If we're both still here when that happens, hit me up. I've been thinkin' about hittin' it up myself. It's close enough for a weekend trip.

Also, did you mention a factory dual quad? You say you have access? Will it fit a 331? Is it possibly for sale? or something, anyway, PM me if you like I might be interested. The 331 I have access to has a single four intake.

[Mike P]

urotu .....

Don't know if you saw the 4 part Hemi info I typed up.

http://www.clubhotrod.com/forums/sho...threadid=15088

http://www.clubhotrod.com/forums/sho...threadid=15089

http://www.clubhotrod.com/forums/sho...threadid=15090

http://www.clubhotrod.com/forums/sho...threadid=15091

Part 2 covers the intakes. Short answer is that it will fit, but their may be water outlet issues (but they can be over come).

I'll check with the guy on the intake tomorrow.

[urotu]

I did check those out. I'll have to look again at #2. I been going to print them out just to have. Fortunately the one here is a late model without the extended bell housing. I just found the car for it. I gotta get it picked up this week. I'll post pics when I finally do, next I gotta pick a 4 spd. to boot up.

[Twitch]

Don't want to be petty cause I like the whole concept of your car but the glued on T-Bird scoop looks too "cut and paste." If you can mod the front contour some it would help from screaming "cheezy Ford part" an that nice Mopar.