Pacific NW '57 "Sleeper" ... says "HI!" - TriFive.com, 1955 Chevy 1956 chevy 1957 Chevy Forum , Talk about your 55 chevy 56 chevy 57 chevy - Belair , 210, 150 sedans , Nomads and Trucks, Research, Free Tech Advice

DUGS57 · 11-12-2008, 05:10 PM

A NW native, I've owned my '57 since May'72. Some of you NW folks may recognize this Chevy, especially if you frequent the drags. Since owning the car, it has always remained completely stock appearing with its whitewalls, full wheel covers, and column-shifted trans. The drivetrain is another story. In the summer of '73, it received an out-of-the-crate LT-1 (350ci, 11:1cr, 370hp) engine coupled to a built TH400. It ran mid-to-low 13's for quite awhile, but eventually improved to a best of 12.78 at 105+.

I was satisfied, but my two boys were not.

They found a 400ci 4-bolt main small block and had Dale Green (DG Machine - Auburn, WA) build me a gorilla short block that ended up being a 408ci. Again, this was in June of 2000. The car immediately dipped into the 11's, going 11.78 at 114. Whoa! The track manager said "Cage it or else!" as the NHRA limit for no cage at the time was 12-flat. Had to short-shift and dialed 12-flat for my bracket racing until NHRA lowered the limit to 11.50. Ah ha!

I thought ... Hmmmm? Wouldn't it be nice to challenge that 11.50 limit? So, this past summer, on went some AFR "210 Comp. Pkg" heads to replace the AFR "Street 195's". I coupled those with some new Hooker SuperComp headers that tuck-up nicely and out of sight, plus a new 3" exhaust system with H-pipe. Go here for some install details and pics.

Did the new pieces help? YOU BET! ... as on 10/19/2008, the car recently clicked off an 11.433 at 117.59 mph! Again, the track manager said "Doug, you're gonna have to cage it!"

The car will never receive a cage, as it will always remain my '57 "Sleeper".

Here's a photo taken on that day ...

Leaping '57 11-second "Sleeper" - 10/19/2008

For more stats, go here. While there, drop me a vote!

Nice to be aboard the TriFive forum!

UPDATE: On 10/10/09 with excellent air, my '57 went 11.385 sec @ 118.66 mph!

finallyhavea57 · 11-12-2008, 05:14 PM

Great story and a nice ride! Welcome to TriFive Doug.

Don

carls 56 · 11-12-2008, 05:18 PM

hi ya and welcome doug! cool story

great car

r66ss · 11-12-2008, 05:42 PM

Doug,

welcome aboard, nice sleeper, and quick

chevman57 · 11-12-2008, 05:48 PM

Welcome to Tri Five. Good story and good to see someone else that has owned their car for a long time. Nice looking 57 by the way too.
Terry

55mike · 11-12-2008, 07:03 PM

Hi Doug.. I sure know your car! I lived on Whidbey Is for a few years (I work for the Navy) and my friend Neal West (also of Bellevue Wa) and I attended a "Hot Chevy Show" a few years back at SIR. Your 57 was our favorite car.. it was so stock looking but yet sooooooo fast.! I've also been to the Triple X Drive-in Trifive show a few times and your car was there..

If you check out my link you will see Neal's 55 and 57. I'm sure you will recognize them.

Welcome to the site.

56-210sedan · 11-12-2008, 07:19 PM

Hello Doug and welcome to TriFive

how cool it is to see you have had this 57 all these years and kept it so stock looking, that is pretty cool

Will · 11-12-2008, 07:22 PM

Fast times in a cool car! Welcome Doug.

KINGS X 56 · 11-12-2008, 07:24 PM

Doug...Glad to see you made it to Trifive.com. Tell that track manager to go cage himself but don't do it to the 57 it's nice.

KINGS X 56

557B210 · 11-12-2008, 07:34 PM

Welcome Doug....Good to have you aboard....Your car certainly has a great history

11-12-2008, 05:10 PM	#1
DUGS57 Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2008 DUGS57's Garage Location: Bellevue, WA Posts: 145 Member #6958	Pacific NW '57 "Sleeper" ... says "HI!" A NW native, I've owned my '57 since May'72. Some of you NW folks may recognize this Chevy, especially if you frequent the drags. Since owning the car, it has always remained completely stock appearing with its whitewalls, full wheel covers, and column-shifted trans. The drivetrain is another story. In the summer of '73, it received an out-of-the-crate LT-1 (350ci, 11:1cr, 370hp) engine coupled to a built TH400. It ran mid-to-low 13's for quite awhile, but eventually improved to a best of 12.78 at 105+. I was satisfied, but my two boys were not. They found a 400ci 4-bolt main small block and had Dale Green (DG Machine - Auburn, WA) build me a gorilla short block that ended up being a 408ci. Again, this was in June of 2000. The car immediately dipped into the 11's, going 11.78 at 114. Whoa! The track manager said "Cage it or else!" as the NHRA limit for no cage at the time was 12-flat. Had to short-shift and dialed 12-flat for my bracket racing until NHRA lowered the limit to 11.50. Ah ha! I thought ... Hmmmm? Wouldn't it be nice to challenge that 11.50 limit? So, this past summer, on went some AFR "210 Comp. Pkg" heads to replace the AFR "Street 195's". I coupled those with some new Hooker SuperComp headers that tuck-up nicely and out of sight, plus a new 3" exhaust system with H-pipe. Go here for some install details and pics. Did the new pieces help? YOU BET! ... as on 10/19/2008, the car recently clicked off an 11.433 at 117.59 mph! Again, the track manager said "Doug, you're gonna have to cage it!" The car will never receive a cage, as it will always remain my '57 "Sleeper". Here's a photo taken on that day ... Leaping '57 11-second "Sleeper" - 10/19/2008 For more stats, go here. While there, drop me a vote! Nice to be aboard the TriFive forum! UPDATE: On 10/10/09 with excellent air, my '57 went *11.385 sec @ 118.66 mph!* Last edited by DUGS57; 11-08-2009 at 12:43 PM.. Reason: Added ET/mph update ...

11-12-2008, 05:14 PM	#2
finallyhavea57 Trifive Leaders Club Join Date: Oct 2007 finallyhavea57's Garage Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 9,492 Member #4062	Great story and a nice ride! Welcome to TriFive Doug. Don __________________

11-12-2008, 05:18 PM	#3
carls 56 Trifive Leaders Club 2 Ball Pool Champion! Alien Invasion 2 Champion! Altex Champion! Anti Aircraft Gun Champion! Baccarat Champion! Block Buster Champion! Cliff Diver Champion! Get-A-Head Champion! Ninja Turtles 2 Champion! Pong Champion! Super Kickups Champion! Ultimate Ping Champion! Weetabix Games:Running Champion! Clash`N Slash Champion! Graveler Gunblast Champion! Cone Crazy Champion! Bug Hunt Champion! PelPet Champion! Hamster Race Champion! pursuit Champion! Weetabix Games:Cycling Champion! Red Kens Pigeon Cull Champion! Lotads Lament Champion! Desert Dash Champion! Bubble Blubbs Champion! Ed, Edd, Eddy Champion! Snowboarding Santa Champion! piljard Champion! Mini Putt 2 Champion! Weetabix Games:Swimming Champion! J&B Snowman Punch Champion! Roving Reporter Champion! Cone Crazy Champion! Extreme Racing Champion! Pepsi Bucket Launcher Champion! Springfield Snow Fight Champion! Lumpy Artist Champion! Dribble Worldcup Champion! Flyswatter Champion! Subzero Champion! Starfrosch Champion! Tobby Stick Balance Champion! Flash Golf Champion! Fruity Shuffler Champion! Spy Hunter Champion! Juice Squeezer Champion! Spell Catcher Champion! Klingemon Champion! Harry Potter: The Marauder`s Map Champion! Chansey Champion! JigSaw Puzzle Dog Champion! Renault Mr.X Champion! Grab-A-Snack Hurdles Champion! Slider Puzzle Champion! Plops Champion! Conundrum 3D Champion! Join Date: Feb 2008 carls 56's Garage Location: brandy station, va Posts: 33,068 Member #4923	hi ya and welcome doug! cool story great car __________________ "DRIVE AND ENJOY THEM WHILE YOU WORK ON THEM, LIFES TO SHORT" my toys: 56 4dr 210 & 57 4dr belair ARMY NAM VET (so proud)

11-12-2008, 05:42 PM	#4
r66ss Trifive Leaders Club Join Date: Feb 2007 r66ss's Garage Location: ILLINOIS/Fulton Posts: 17,967 Member #2133	Doug, welcome aboard, nice sleeper, and quick __________________ Randy www.picturetrails.com/mrchevelle

11-12-2008, 05:48 PM	#5
chevman57 Sr. Administrator Trifive Leaders Club Join Date: Feb 2006 chevman57's Garage Location: Graham,Texas Posts: 35,644 Member #264	Welcome to Tri Five. Good story and good to see someone else that has owned their car for a long time. Nice looking 57 by the way too. Terry __________________ http://s1181.photobucket.com/albums/x437/chevman57/ http://www.cardomain.com/id/chevman57 http://www.trifive.com/forums/album.php?albumid=1177 1957 2dr sedan Bel Air, owned since 1978 1972 Chevelle Malibu, awaiting rebuild,owned since 1979

11-12-2008, 07:03 PM	#6
55mike Senior Member 2 Gold Stars Join Date: May 2006 55mike's Garage Location: Pensacola Florida Posts: 2,564 Member #608	Hi Doug.. I sure know your car! I lived on Whidbey Is for a few years (I work for the Navy) and my friend Neal West (also of Bellevue Wa) and I attended a "Hot Chevy Show" a few years back at SIR. Your 57 was our favorite car.. it was so stock looking but yet sooooooo fast.! I've also been to the Triple X Drive-in Trifive show a few times and your car was there.. If you check out my link you will see Neal's 55 and 57. I'm sure you will recognize them. Welcome to the site. __________________ Mike Check out my link.... http://www.trifive.com/webs/55mike/ Hear it run... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2wEETd57ubs A little power run... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_BJ8P2rP9-g

11-12-2008, 07:19 PM	#7
56-210sedan Senior Member 4 Gold Stars Join Date: Apr 2007 56-210sedan's Garage Location: Spokane, Washington Posts: 4,402 Member #2444	Hello Doug and welcome to TriFive how cool it is to see you have had this 57 all these years and kept it so stock looking, that is pretty cool __________________ 55 Belair 2dr Sedan 350/350 loving every minute of it. 56-210 2dr Sedan c4 front/rear suspension, and not sure when the ride will roll. Marty 56-210sedan saccc567.com

11-12-2008, 07:22 PM	#8
Will Trifive Leaders Club Join Date: Oct 2008 Will's Garage Location: Nebraska Posts: 5,802 Member #6794	Fast times in a cool car! Welcome Doug.

11-12-2008, 07:24 PM	#9
KINGS X 56 Senior Member 2 Gold Stars Join Date: Mar 2008 KINGS X 56's Garage Posts: 2,444 Member #5003	Doug...Glad to see you made it to Trifive.com. Tell that track manager to go cage himself but don't do it to the 57 it's nice. KINGS X 56

11-12-2008, 07:34 PM	#10
557B210 Administrator Join Date: May 2008 557B210's Garage Location: Orange Park, FL Posts: 17,780 Member #5571	Welcome Doug....Good to have you aboard....Your car certainly has a great history __________________ _______________________________ ____________________david aka POPS & sherry__________________ 55 Belair Sportscoupe/55 Belair 4 door sedan/55 B210 2 door sedan/57 B210 2 door sedan

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