Thread: 57 Chevy Cruizer

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Originally Posted by randyr

I have to admit I'm still in "wait & see" mode for this front section. It's hard for me to grasp much beyond some subtle shaving & tweaking on the front of a 57 Chevy because it's so cool to start with, but I'll keep an open mind.....

But as usual, whether I like the end result stylistically or not, the craftsmanship is excellent, as always!!!

I'm trying to keep things subtle, and at the same time build in some aerodynamics.... Mainly trying to stop the air from "piling up" in all the open places on the front end and in the wheel wells... Not sure I've got all the answers for getting this barn door to go thru the air smoothly yet, but I'll keep working on it.... Should see the reaction of the the real Tri-Five guys----they all hate me!!!!!

Originally Posted by Dave Severson

My old pal Lyle was here today, went through much the same thing!!! First, he said "You just can't keep your hands off anything, can you?".... Then, after looking over Mike's Buick and coming back to the '57 he said that I'm probably nuts, but it's going to be a neat car anyway!!!!!!

Heck, might be some sort of untouchable classic to some, but I guess to me it's just another car that I need to do some personalizing on...that's what Hot Rodding is all about!!!!!

It will surely be different and yes... that is what hot roddin' is all about!

Well, got the panel made for the other side of the hood, did some welding, grinding, and smoothing then shot it with a coat of epoxy primer to keep the surface rust away till I get back to it....

Even had Pepper the Super Guard Dog out there today, he doesn't usually work weekends!!!!

Watched World's fastest Indian last night about Burt Monroe and his 201 mph run at Bonneville! I think the aluminum will come in handy after a salt flats run!

Originally Posted by stovens

Watched World's fastest Indian last night about Burt Monroe and his 201 mph run at Bonneville! I think the aluminum will come in handy after a salt flats run!

Yeah, when Lyle was up yesterday we got to talking about B-Ville again. Should be a blast to go run there, but also on the old bucket list is running a car at Muroc and El Mirage---that's where it all started!!!!

Heck Dave, I like the vision you have with the Chebbie and that front end work will certainly have the purists screaming bloody hell fire. I wish I could be standing beside you to hear the comments too, it would be a laugh.

Originally Posted by Whiplash23T

Heck Dave, I like the vision you have with the Chebbie and that front end work will certainly have the purists screaming bloody hell fire. I wish I could be standing beside you to hear the comments too, it would be a laugh.

Well, nice guy that I am, I guess if my tweaking of a few panels bothers them too much they can give me what I paid for the car, plus all the money I have in time and materials and take it home with them and do it "correct"! (Whatever that is). Heck, they weren't that good of a car when they were brand new! Way I see it, if you're going to all the time and expense of a rebuild might as well change a few things around while you're at it!!!!!!

I've already done my time in "purist purgatory", spent about 5 years doing numbers correct, all the right hose clamps and chalk mark stuff for customers. Main thing I learned from that is that the majority of the restoration freaks want all their parts at 10% less then they cost me, all the labor should be free, and I should reimburse them for all the time it took me to do their car!!!!!!

Oh and of course if their car doesn't win that Concourse at Pebble Beach for ten years in a row,you have to pay them disappointment money for the next twenty years. Yeah, I have had the pleasure of meeting one or two of those types too Dave. Forgot to mention too, Pepper probably wanted a break from those two angels and decided time in the workshop would be a good escape.

Originally Posted by Whiplash23T

Oh and of course if their car doesn't win that Concourse at Pebble Beach for ten years in a row,you have to pay them disappointment money for the next twenty years. Yeah, I have had the pleasure of meeting one or two of those types too Dave. Forgot to mention too, Pepper probably wanted a break from those two angels and decided time in the workshop would be a good escape.

Well, I just hope the head dog in the Guard Dog Union doesn't find out Pepper worked today, Lord knows what that would cost me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Looks killer, Dave! Nice looking pooch, too.

Thanks Falcon, pretty much coming out the way I'd planned things. Just like anything else though, as I work on it I keep thinking of more things to do!

The radiator I'll be running is 31" wide tank to tank... The grille opening is larger, gotta wonder how much help downsizing the grill opening would be? I got the two pieces cut out for the front of the right side fender today, maybe have time tomorrow to start putting them on. Also have to finish narrowing up the bumper and get it smoothed out to make a mold for the 'glass bumper.

Turned my two piece bumper back into a one piece bumper today, made a cut on both pieces to account for the amount I moved it in then welded it back together. Now to decide how to finish the grille opening, then make some hood hinges and mold up the 'glass bumper!

I would radius the top and the bottom to look like the 55. Just think it would look better than a square opening

One that I saw somewhere was 3/8 round stock, run horizontally with a 1/4" or 3/16" spacing. The ends passed behind each side. It just looked very neat, simple and clean.