Thread: 57 Chevy Cruizer

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Originally Posted by cffisher

they make a windshield rubber for use without the stainless trim,

I looked at that Charlie, had the rep from one of the body shop supply houses bring one over... IMO the seal looks even more massive without the stainless. Think I'm going to have to do some restructuring of the window openings to get what I want....

Dave the back of my cab looks the same. Every time I think I've smoothed out a beat up area, I find three more! I think your plans will improve the stock appearance.

I cut out the worst part of it (back half of the roof). It's 18ga. steel so it will match up very nicely with the .040 aluminum I plan on using for the quarters, door skins, and deck lid. So far by my calculations I've taken off over 300 pounds of ugly fat from the body. When I got the car it had no seats or anything in it so I can't really estimate how much lighter the pieces going in the interior will weigh. Getting anxious to set the body back on what's left of the original frame and see where I'm at for weight!

Looking good Dave, the bit your on at the moment is always very time consuming, full marks for sticking with it.

Never does get so it goes any easier or any faster, does it Steve? Just a necessary part of doing things right I guess...

Seeing as how the build direction for my '57 has changed, I had Bill change the title for me. Thanks again, Bill.

I've been doing some more little stuff, got the right side wheel tub glued and riveted in place and started working on the dash. (I'll get some pics tomorrow). I suppose because of the thread on the Dolphin gauges I got to thinking about gauges for the '57 while I was sanding on the dash... I like the Dakota Digital set, but I think it would be totally out of place in the car. So, maybe a set of Stewart Warner Wings or something similar--or just the old faithful Autometer's, like the Phantom series??? I want a 5" speedometer in the original dash hole, then in the 2 small holes a 2 1/16" fuel level and voltmeter fit perfectly... That's the easy part of it! I also want Oil Pressure, Oil Temperature, Fuel Pressure, and Water Temperature in 2 5/8" size--just thinking about a place to put them and have them look good. I don't really want to just flush mount them in the (now flat) dash panel, I've considered separate gauge mounting cups on the dash, and also thought about making some gauge pods that weld into the dash to hold them??? Fuel pressure gauge will have the Autometer isolater, certainly don't want any high pressure fuel lines inside the car with me!!!

I'll take some pics tomorrow so I can get some input on what other options I have on doing things inside the car...

An official "I'm sorry" to all of you who had the great ideas for the build when the car was going to be done up gasser style---It would be a kewl gasser, but just not for me... I also thought of selling the car to someone who was more in to the gasser look, but I have too much into the car when I got it and a lot of hours in it since I brought it in the garage. Kind of feel like I'm cheating a bunch of people cuz I changed my mind on the car....

Dave... With your dash filled and flat you could mount your gauages in that area but on an angle towards the driver like with the pods on an angle with faces towards the driver. Pods half in dash and half out welded in.and painted same as dash. I did that to one of my 64's but can't find any pictures. This is what I mean you have to put somthing there anyway hahaha

Yeah, something on that order Charlie.... But I'm thinking more on the top part of the dash and centered on that big rolled front edge.... a pod angled to the driver welded and smoothed to the dash....???? Got to do something a bit different, just my nature I guess!!!!

"......An official "I'm sorry" to all of you who had the great ideas for the build when the car was going to be done up gasser style---It would be a kewl gasser, but just not for me..."

Dave no need for an "I'm sorry" !!! Everybody on this site has preached build it for youself, not someone elses expectations at one time or another. I've always enjoyed the work you do, and really enjoy seeing this build thread....I'm really interested in seeing how the new suspension turns out.

Yeah Dave-caught me by surprise by the title change.Well the build changed so I guess it fits.

Doesn't matter if it's a cruiser or gasser, just that you like what you build. I've seen photos of what you've done and kind of think you could do just about anything and it would be pretty slick, no apologies needed!

Dave I do think with this change you opened a larger market when you want to sell it and you did say everything is for sale at one point or another.

Originally Posted by 1gary

Dave I do think with this change you opened a larger market when you want to sell it and you did say everything is for sale at one point or another.

Yeah, in the overall scheme of things this is the car that's going to pay for all the goodies going into the Ranchero... Checking results from the big auctions and talking to the guys who are in the biz of buying and selling Hot Rods the cars bringing the best money consistently are the one's that can be driven...the Sat. night Barret-Jackson cars are the exception, but building that kind of car is a bit out of my pay grade!!!!!!

Originally Posted by Dave Severson

An official "I'm sorry" to all of you who had the great ideas for the build when the car was going to be done up gasser style---

No apologies necessary, Dave. I like the gasser style, but ultimately it's YOUR car and you have to build what YOU like or it'll just end up collecting dust in a corner somewhere, unfinished... We're all waiting now to see how it turns out.

A nice winter project to keep yah busy!