fuellie 57 convertible

[angs1957]

Hoping somebody in this forum can answer.

How do you identify an original fuel injected 1957 convertible with only the intake and fuel injection system missing. Also missing are the badges on the fenders.

Also how can you tell its a genuine convertible.

[oldchevvydude]

Well-firstly must have 57-1067D or 57-1067DTX on trim tag-and tag should have original rivets and look like they have never been tampered with(also check that paint code lines up with remains of old paint on body) Vin number must line up with trim tag (and still have original spotwelds to A-pillar)
As for FI-must have 3/8" fuel line on outside of frame-factory dual exhaust brackets on chassis(as well as dual exhaust brake line brkt bolted to chassis)
Engine number code should be GF-turboglide
FJ-powerglide
EJ-stick
EK-special camshaft (solid lifter 283 hp)
Does it have holes where FI emblems were taken off?
Does the car look like it has been tampered with?
I bet there are other differences too-but I cant find factory assy manual at the moment.
Remember anything can be faked with enough knowledge and skill!
:gba:

[nomadbrad]

It is very hard (if not impossible) to determine an original Fuel Injected car
without any documentation.
One thing to check is the build date of the car as Fuel Injection did not come
into production until March.

[Big Bob]

The 57 F.I. heads cast no. is 3731539 or 3740997.The eng. block no. is3731548. F.I. INTAKE no. is 3741193.
F.I. distributor-early 1110889 later 1110905
V8 harmonic balancer-3836196
V8 exh. manifold-pass.3733978 driver-3733975
The stainless steel vin tag is welded to the drivers dr. pillar post.The first two letters should be-VC- followed by two nos. for yr. of car followed by one letter only to indicate where car was assembled.Next is the s/n which started with 100001 at each assembly plant of which there 10.
Well,i hope this helps you to determine your 57 convert. originality.Good luck.
Big Bob U.S.A.F. 66'-70':flag4::flag6:

[angs1957]

I have my doubts wether its an original but thanks for the heads up, I will dig a bit more :)

[Original Pete]

Ang a few years back we had a guy that had all the parts to make a 57 convertible. So he took a 57 2 door hardtop and off came the roof, on wen the convertible windshield posts and he welded in the big X frame work on the chasis. It did look like it was a genuine convertible. He had it up for sale as he ran out of money. I had received a phone call from a guy in New Zealand who had my number as a part of the other Trifive clubs we had associated with, and he had expressed intrest in it when I told him it was not genuine he could not thank me enough. I had saved him thousands as he was prepared to pay big dollars for the right Convertible. He was like me and would only be happy if it was totally all original. I was just glad to help out but felt emabarressed as I had turned the sale away.

[Original Pete]

It is very hard (if not impossible) to determine an original Fuel Injected car
without any documentation.
One thing to check is the build date of the car as Fuel Injection did not come
into production until March.

Brad, your knowledge is invalueable. Glad to see you are back with us :shakehands::flag6:

[Big Bob]

Hi angs,your post on your 57 convert certainly spiked my interest even though i;ve never owned any chevy ragtop.Anyway there were a total of 47,562 converts built in 57 and of those only 68 were the fuelie F.I. belair convertibles.The frames on all converts came with a huge X-member in the center from the factory.Another interesting note from the 57 model yr. is that only a total of 1530 cars were ordered with the F.I. OPTION.Who knows how many of these are left,so hang on to yours.:anim_25:
Big Bob U.S.A.F. 66'-70':flag4:

[oldchevvydude]

I bet that there are a lot more than 68 F.I. 57 convertibles today :sign0020:

[nomadbrad]

Hey Big Bob
Where did you get the "68" from?
If it is from Mike Hunt's list then it is probably wrong.

[Big Bob]

Getting absolute verification of whether a car is a real fuelie or not almost requires an unbroken paper trail all the way back to the original window sticker or sales order,thats extremely difficult.All the cast nos. would need to be verified for counterfeit along w/ the DTX on the tag as previously posted.Also a true F.I. car can be spotted by the two holes on top of the rad. support LH SIDE and a big notch on the hood brace to clear the air scoop mounted to rad. support. In 57 pass. cars did not get the F.I. assy. unit till mid-year,rochester 7014520. My research led me to 68 F.I. converts built in 1957 Brad,but i'm not 100% certain of this and i haven't seen any listing from a mike hunt.
If this guys info is incorrect,then do you know how many FUELIE converts were actually built in 1957 Brad?
Big Bob U.S.A.F. 66'-70':flag4:

[Bert Hall]

After many years of research myself attempting to learn as much as I could about the FI convertibles I've come to realize that the only true way to determine if the car is authentic is if it comes with full documentation from the dealer.

All post that have been given from the gentleman are accurate from what has been published in resent years. I suggest that you pull up on Google 57 Chevy FI or a version of and the list of information is plentiful. I also suggest that you connect with a Corvette form that supports the early vettes because the vettes of the same year had all version of the FI. There are also FI restoration folks out there that are a wealth of knowledge.

Many of the early FI units in 57 were removed by the owners and replaced with carbs, because there were issues with the first FI units and very few good Techs out there during that time that new what they were doing.

As mentioned casting numbers on specific components are a key indicator and a must if you plan to build as a original FI car.

I'm having a 57 Rag Top being restored to original FI 283 Hi Horse with correct engine, transmission "Close Ratio" correct rear end "P". The restro is being done by DeWayne Morgan from TN. Check his work out on the project update forum.

I wish you luck and patients in trying to detriment if the car is an org. FI. I have even attempted to gain access to the plant records were the car was assembled to try and find out where the car was sold. Ran in to a brick wall with that one. Detriot GM arcive records may be something that you could pursue but I'm not sure if that would help and even if they provide the service any more.
:gba:

[nomadbrad]

No, I don't know how how many FI converts were built.

I have been researching "Original" Fuel Injected cars for several years and have been putting together a registry of them - so far I have about 25.
I own one of these cars. Of course your correct about most of them not having all of the original running gear especially the FI unit itself. 99% of FI cars you see today are clones!

I am very familiar with the list I believe you saw that shows 68 FI converts built. I had several conversations and correspondances with the writer of that list (Mike Hunt - now deceased) and how he came up with body style production figures. He did a lot of research on 57 FI Corvettes and at one time obtained a list of passenger car FI production. Unfortunately, all the list showed was letters and production numbers - Example 578M - 10 (578 is the RPO for Fuel Injection) and he was left to determine what letter corresponded to what body style. There were 20 letters altogether (A to V) one for each body style so he just took an educated guess and started with
150's (A to D), etc. He stated at the time that the list was tentative pending further research. In my research I have been able to document a few original FI 57 Bel Air 4 Door Hardtops. If you look at Mike's list it shows "0" FI production for that body style so that calls all the other numbers into question. That's why I stated the 68 FI Converts is probably wrong. It could be correct but I doubt it. The only body style that I have been able to verify FI production numbers on is the 150 Utility Sedan which is 434 (578 E).
I have a copy of a Chevrolet Letter that shows this. Mike's list shows 578E as a 210 2 door Sedan so there's another error.

Because a FI car can be cloned fairly easily the only way to say one is the real thing is if it has some documentation.

[nomadbrad]

In regards to the holes on top of the rad support and the cut out hood baffle
for the air intake I am unsure that any cars came from the factory this way. This was supposed to designate a 283 HP car but the few I have been able to document (they were rarer and have a lower survival rate than 250 HP cars) had the air intake beside the rad.

[maddogs1965]

This is why i love this frickin webb site so much, you two are a walking talking encyclopedia's of 57 Chevy's....:)

Its great to have a couple of guys around with your knowledge of these old American Classics.....and im sure there are a ton more of you out there on this fourum...

Its great to be able too sit back and suck up all the knowledge you guys have....

Rick

[angs1957]

This is why i love this frickin webb site so much, you two are a walking talking encyclopedia's of 57 Chevy's....:)

Its great to have a couple of guys around with your knowledge of these old American Classics.....and im sure there are a ton more of you out there on this fourum...

Its great to be able too sit back and suck up all the knowledge you guys have....

Rick

:tu

[finallyhavea57]

:tu

OK Angelo! I missed you last two Skype calls. What's this about a fuelie? You already have two 57's! :)

Hey Rick. Hope your staying inside with all that wind and cold up there. :)

Don

[maddogs1965]

OK Angelo! I missed you last two Skype calls. What's this about a fuelie? You already have two 57's! :)

Hey Rick. Hope your staying inside with all that wind and cold up there. :)

Don


Good morning Don!!!

The wind is finally gone today, but still a little chilly, i might go out and fire up the heater in the garage and keep working on the front end of the 57 :)

[Chrome Lugnut]

No, I don't know how how many FI converts were built.

I have been researching "Original" Fuel Injected cars for several years and have been putting together a registry of them - so far I have about 25.
I own one of these cars. Of course your correct about most of them not having all of the original running gear especially the FI unit itself. 99% of FI cars you see today are clones!

I am very familiar with the list I believe you saw that shows 68 FI converts built. I had several conversations and correspondances with the writer of that list (Mike Hunt - now deceased) and how he came up with body style production figures. He did a lot of research on 57 FI Corvettes and at one time obtained a list of passenger car FI production. Unfortunately, all the list showed was letters and production numbers - Example 578M - 10 (578 is the RPO for Fuel Injection) and he was left to determine what letter corresponded to what body style. There were 20 letters altogether (A to V) one for each body style so he just took an educated guess and started with
150's (A to D), etc. He stated at the time that the list was tentative pending further research. In my research I have been able to document a few original FI 57 Bel Air 4 Door Hardtops. If you look at Mike's list it shows "0" FI production for that body style so that calls all the other numbers into question. That's why I stated the 68 FI Converts is probably wrong. It could be correct but I doubt it. The only body style that I have been able to verify FI production numbers on is the 150 Utility Sedan which is 434 (578 E).
I have a copy of a Chevrolet Letter that shows this. Mike's list shows 578E as a 210 2 door Sedan so there's another error.

Because a FI car can be cloned fairly easily the only way to say one is the real thing is if it has some documentation.
57 FI Convertible was sold in Raleigh at auto auction yesterday. http://raleighclassic.com/new/events.php Owner had had own the car for 20 years. Car was super shape. Car has been seen for years as a part of the Raleigh Christmas Parade.
Guess the New Mayor will have to find a new ride.
Buyer got as great deal as I understand car sold for way below what the market should have been for the car. I believe if car had been take to a bigger action it would have easily sold much higher. But the owner said it was time and was happy with the selling price and thought the new owner would take good care of it. The car had made a lot of roll back rides over the years also do to the problematic Fuel injection.
http://www.trifive.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=2715&pictureid=27940

[wtmadhatter]

look for a wire clip left of the distributor on the firewall.it for temp sender on right side of engine,