Pics of my 57 LS1 progress

[deadcarny]

Hi guys...just thought I would post a few pics out there for anyone interested in sharing my pain.....lol. Slowly but surely it is coming together!! gonna drive her next year.!!! http://caralbums.com/img/deadcarny


Later DK

[MikeKy55]

Looks great DK! Try to remember to take a picture of the steering shaft before you put the front clip back on. I'm sure many here will be interested in seeing the final setup.

[chevman57]

Man is that coming along. It is looking good, and looks like a pretty tight fit. Keep up the good work.
Terry

[PaPa Mike]

Lookin' good DK keep up the good work :cool:

[dseale4888]

That is looking sweet!!! What brand of rack and pinion is that you have on there? I see that you mini tubbed the rear wheels. Did you move the springs also?
Dave

[Toms57chevy]

That's going to be a sweet ride.

[1957chevy]

That's nice -- where's the rust? My car has rust, where's your rust? It looks like a new car you're working on! Thanks for the pics! :)

[deadcarny]

Hi guys.....thanx for all the support in your replys.!! Sumtimes its hard to keep going without a little boost.

A few things......my car is California built with 1 pc front bumper & series 1 rear bumper and factory air, so rust was not an issue (thankfully), I did install the rear spring pocket kit with 2" lowered springs and used an Extreme S-10 truck rear axle and sway bar (it has the exact spring perch width required), added 2" lowered spindle front disks, rack and pinion is self constructed cross member and GM rack system from 84 Celebrity (steering shafts must be shortened and rethreaded), 6 way leather interior is from 2000 Monte pace car, LS1 is from 99 Z28 and required oilpan and pick up tube modifications to clear the rack along with significant chassis mods to engine cradle area (I wanted to keep the alt and a/c pump in stock locations), and so on, whew.......wish I was born rich instead of so good looking, I'd be paying someone to do all this work ...LOL

Have a great day! I gotta go work on that chevy, 2007 and her 50th birthday is closing in fast.!!! DK

[dseale4888]

Wouldn't be as much fun as doing it yourself. Awesome job!!
Dave

[Late 55]

Looking Good!! I will be interested to see a photo of the steerring set-up as well....Looks like it may be a bit tight.

[trifive]

I really like those photo's , good luck, and Welcome to Trifive.

Otis:)

[PaPa Mike]

That's nice -- where's the rust? My car has rust, where's your rust? It looks like a new car you're working on! Thanks for the pics! :)

Mike; he's evidently done a lot of work on that frame to get it that clean, looks really good:) Hope I can get mine 1/2 that clean:D

[deadcarny]

I gotta tell you guys that finding a car that spent its life in the southwest makes life unbelievably better. I recently helped a friend with his 55 from california and we removed every single bolt without any issue.....incredible! I have worked on many cars from here in the midwest and there is no comparison. When I restored my Michigan 68 Camaro, I had to weld replacement metal in 13 different places even though it only had 27,000 actual miles!

My 57 got saved from a junkyard in New Mexico 10 years ago. I know how to count my blessings......!

This winter I get to find out how good of an electrical wizard I am.......you should see the wiring harness on this LS1...gotta be a bazillion wires and my goal is to see none of that mess in the engine compartment. Cant afford a Painless harness, so I'm gonna have a painful one instead...lol

Have a great day!! DK

[55fazzi]

Hey Deadcarny.....your work is awesome! Gotta love that big block. Winter is a great time to complete projects that don't require a test drive. I hope to install my rack and pinion power steering system this winter. Keep up the good work. Keep us updated.

55fazzi

[55delray]

hey nice work. how did you do the minitubs if i may ask?

[deadcarny]

HI - mini tubs are an exercise in "measure twice, cut once". You dont want to make a mistake..!! I dont think it makes sense to do unless you have installed the spring pocket kit. Wider tires will only hit the springs, unless you move them..!! I have a pretty detailed set of pics from doing my 57 h/t and a 55 sedan if you are interested, and I can pretty much walk you thru it. You will need a sawzall, rotary grinder, welder, metal shears and some 18 gage sheet metal......and the guts to take a sawzall to yer baby..!!! Let me know if you are interested..!!

Later DK

[55delray]

HI - mini tubs are an exercise in "measure twice, cut once". You dont want to make a mistake..!! I dont think it makes sense to do unless you have installed the spring pocket kit. Wider tires will only hit the springs, unless you move them..!! I have a pretty detailed set of pics from doing my 57 h/t and a 55 sedan if you are interested, and I can pretty much walk you thru it. You will need a sawzall, rotary grinder, welder, metal shears and some 18 gage sheet metal......and the guts to take a sawzall to yer baby..!!! Let me know if you are interested..!!

Later DK

yeah i already did the spring pocket and the 275/60/15 mickey thompson dr's rub a little when i corner. yeah i would be interested in your pics. i can cut weld about anything i just thought maybe it was a kit or something. i would like to see how you did yours because they look so nice and with a little paint i doubt anyone would know it was minitubed. thanks in advance
roger.

[deadcarny]

Hey Roger...I posted more pics in my album that show in detail how I did the mini tubs. Take a look and let me know how clear it seems and/or what else you need me to help clarify. If you are still interested in doing it , I can give you more info on my working dimensions and making the fillers, etc.

Have a great day!! DK

[dseale4888]

Nice work on the mini tubs!! I'll be doing the same on my '56.
Dave

[55delray]

Hey Roger...I posted more pics in my album that show in detail how I did the mini tubs. Take a look and let me know how clear it seems and/or what else you need me to help clarify. If you are still interested in doing it , I can give you more info on my working dimensions and making the fillers, etc.

Have a great day!! DK

yeah im def interested im gonna start it here in a few weeks. worrking dimensions would be great. and any other info you can provide.

[LXguy]

That looks great!

I'm looking to do an LS-series swap to my '55 also.

What is the spring pocket kit? Is that the TCI kit that moves the leafs inside the framerail? I was thinking of having the rear wheel-wells radiused, but I'm losing my nerve about cutting the immaculate sheet metal on my car, so mini-tubs might be a better idea...

Thanks and looking good!

Steve

[dseale4888]

The spring kit we are refering to repositions the spring directly below the frame rails. The pockets are in the front sunk inside of the rails and in the rear the frame is notched out for the shackle clearance.
Dave

[LXguy]

Also, what kind of headers are those? Bassani?

thanks!

Steve

[MOKANRACER]

yeah i already did the spring pocket and the 275/60/15 mickey thompson dr's rub a little when i corner. yeah i would be interested in your pics. i can cut weld about anything i just thought maybe it was a kit or something. i would like to see how you did yours because they look so nice and with a little paint i doubt anyone would know it was minitubed. thanks in advance
roger.
I used the C.C.P. spring relocation kit on my 55. I run 295x50x15 on the rear with out any issues. I purchased a special set of Center Lines that are almost flat on the out side.(look like vette wheels) A lot of inside off set ,like 7 1/2 ". But fill the wheel well.

[55fazzi]

Hey Dead, your progress looks great! I wish I had the knowledge and skill to do welding and metal work. One question......is your rack and pinion steering from DFBrakes? One of our web-site sponsors. What do you think about the fit and finish of their steering system?

55fazzi

[John]

That is just what I want to do. I'm going to use a 605 steering box. What motor mounts did you use.That is going to one nice car when your done,I like it already.
John

[deadcarny]

Hi guys..!! Thanx for the encouraging comments.!!

A few answers to your questions.......the rack and pinion is a kinda home made version. I fabricated the cross member and it uses a rack from a mid 80's Celebrity that I shortened and rethreaded the steering shafts on. I havent driven it down the road yet, but when I had it running, it turned the wheels properly and with great ease! Another plus is that the fittings from the donor '99 F body power steering hoses are the correct size to thread right into the rack.!! I had new hydraulic hoses made that use those original fittings on both ends.....was a great low cost alternative. I think it is going to work just fine. I will post a few more pics of how it looks!

The headers I'm using are Bassani. They were the closest fit I could find, but I still had to create a notch on the drivers side inner frame rail to provide the last bit of clearance needed. The passenger side worked perfectly!! They really sound awesome with no exhaust system connected..!!!

I did use the Classic Chevy spring pocket kit that is much like the one Dave shows in his post above. You must consider that you will lose part of your spare tire well by installing any of those kits.!!! I didnt care cause I eliminated it anyhow......I expanded my gas tank into that area by splitting 2 tanks in half and welding them back together..!! Came out really good...another low cost alternative.

Just finished painting the underside of my body and firewall gloss black and am getting ready to put that body back on to stay!! Got the huge task of reworking my wiring harness to go next.....think I will mount my PCM in the trunk area, that'll be a load of fun..!!

Have a great day!! DK

[dseale4888]

Some awesome progress you're making on it. I just checked your pics and saw the newer ones.
Dave

[Tenn210]

That is just what I want to do. I'm going to use a 605 steering box. What motor mounts did you use.That is going to one nice car when your done,I like it already.
John

John,
I'm using a 605 steering box with my LS1. I have Patriot headers and they clear the steering box just fine. I have the Street and Performance motor mounts and they bring the engine up just a little and help the tranny clear the tunnel.
Steve

[deadcarny]

Hi guys......just thought I would throw a few more pics in while I am doing the panel fit assembly. Lots of work to do yet, but I'm on a mission to complete this baby by next spring.!! Hope to see some of you guys in Michigan for the 50th anniversary activity at the GM tech center in august!!

http://caralbums.com/img/deadcarny

Later DK

[John]

Thanks for the information do you have any pictures.
John
Hey Tenn210 I grew up in Knoxville,Tenn

[dseale4888]

I just checked out the progress pics DK. Lookin' sweet!!!
Dave

[deadcarny]

Hey John - this is the link to my pics, http://caralbums.com/img/deadcarny ,if you need any other info, let me know !

Have a great New Year!! DK

[MikeKy55]

DK, are at all worried about your fuel pump being mounted the high? The reason I ask is my first pump lasted about a year. It was losing it's prime after sitting for a few weeks and was starting dry. (starting dry kills pumps) I learned from some guys the pump should be mounted as close to the bottom of the tank as possible. I moved my pump down next to the tank on the right frame rail. It hasn't been long enough to know if it mattered or if the first pump was just a bad one.

[deadcarny]

Hi Mike - I hadn't thought about that being an issue.......I wonder if any other members have had bad experience with fuel pump location..?? I have had it running a few times and didn't notice it having lost its prime. But obviously I havent been on the road yet. I now have the body final mounted so guess i'm gonna hope for the best and give it a try!!

Thanx for the comment tho.....and have a great new year! DK

[Tuned55]

HI DK,Looks like a real fine 57. I can imagine the time, effort and the work you have put into the car so far. Comming along real nice. It's going to be a fun 57! Good luck with your completion date.

[55ls1]

:) Sweet looking.....I'll soon post some of mine.....ls1 in 55....

[57-Z06]

I'm also working on an LS-1 / LS-6 installation in my 57 Chevy. I'm getting close to interior needs for my car. I've heard that the late model Caddy buckets and console will work.

Does anyone have experience with these specific seats and console?

Thanks. Ray

[hotrod55]

awesome job DK I have a 55 2DR sedan that my son and I are going to mini tub, I have the spring pocket kit but have been waiting to determine how I was going to cut out the tubs you have done a fine job and have shown me a better way to proceed. I will try and post photos of our ride soon.THANKS.

[deadcarny]

Glad I was of some help to you..!!! Get ready to be shocked when you see that gigantic hole yer gettin ready to put in your baby....lol!! Now that mine is done, i can say that i think it was worth it..!! Cant wait to get those fat tires on the back and make some smoke..!! If ya need any more info, let me know.>!

Good Luck..!! DK

[awhotrods]

Awesome work on your project! Getting an LS1 into a tri-5 is alot more work than most would think!