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57hardtop · 11-19-2009, 11:16 PM

My Father and I rebuilt a 1957 Belair 2 door hardtop when I was 15 years old. What was going to be my first car soon turned into a car that I was not allowed to drive on a regular basis.

Then life happend and I am now 33, the car has not been driven in 9 or 10 years. I am going to work on it this weekend and bring it home. I am crossing my fingers that there will not be any major repairs to get it back on the road so that I can enjoy my youthful project and dream car.

I found this website when searching for pointers on what to do with a car that has sat for that long and decided to join so that I have a support staff for my new project of getting it back on the road and enjoying what a classic like this has to offer.

I am in Dallas, TX and hope to join some of the local clubs. If any one has any recommendations I would love to hear them.

Thank you,
Chris

PS I will post pictures later once I get her home

Kiwi56 · 11-19-2009, 11:20 PM

Welcome aboard Chris
lookin forward to those pic's
your support staff are all on standby......
all you have to do is ask

enjoy...and good luck getting that dream back on track

chevman57 · 11-19-2009, 11:38 PM

Welcome to Tri Five Chris. There is a local tri five club there. One of the members that is close by should get you a link to it.
Terry

NickP · 11-19-2009, 11:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 57hardtop

My Father and I rebuilt a 1957 Belair 2 door hardtop when I was 15 years old. What was going to be my first car soon turned into a car that I was not allowed to drive on a regular basis.

Then life happend and I am now 33, the car has not been driven in 9 or 10 years. I am going to work on it this weekend and bring it home. I am crossing my fingers that there will not be any major repairs to get it back on the road so that I can enjoy my youthful project and dream car.

I found this website when searching for pointers on what to do with a car that has sat for that long and decided to join so that I have a support staff for my new project of getting it back on the road and enjoying what a classic like this has to offer.

I am in Dallas, TX and hope to join some of the local clubs. If any one has any recommendations I would love to hear them.

Thank you,
Chris

PS I will post pictures later once I get her home

Fellow Texan and nearly neighbor! glad ta have ya!

pistoncan · 11-20-2009, 02:38 AM

Welcome, we will help any way we can

rwhit57 · 11-20-2009, 02:45 AM

Welcome from Tulsa Pardner, sounds like a great project. Got any pics?

r66ss · 11-20-2009, 07:27 AM

welcome to tri-5 Chris

glad to have you on board

mickeywestsr · 11-20-2009, 08:36 AM

Hoss, heres hoping you have great luck getting it home cause you are in for some great times.....plus there are lots of Tri-5 folks in your area.

whjco · 11-20-2009, 08:48 AM

Chris,

Welcome and congratulations on finally getting to drive "your" car!

I've found that two things to immediately address on a car that's been sitting for a long time are brakes and fuel system. I'd go completely through the brake system and either rebuild or replace the wheel and master cylinders and I'd replace all the flexible brake lines. Inspect all the steel brake lines and replace any that appear corroded. I like using DOT 5 silicone brake fluid and have had great luck with it in all my old cars. In doing the wheel cylinders, you'll be able to inspect the condition of the brake shoes and drums and replace if necessary.

I recommend dropping the fuel tank and cleaning it out. Remove any old fuel residue and take out the fuel sending unit. I'll then hook the tank over the tailpipe of a vehicle and let it fast idle for about 30 minutes. This will cook out the tank and make it safe to work with. (This is an old trick I learned working on the farm when we had to weld on a tank and it works great). Drop a piece of chain in the tank and shake it around real good to knock any scale loose in the tank then blow it out real well with compressed air. Then seal the tank with gas tank sealer. I'd also blow through the fuel line and replace any rubber fuel hose that may be on the car.

Now you'll have a car that will stop safely and won't be quitting on you due to the crud you stirred up in the tank. I'd also replace all the rubber hoses under the hood and you may want to take your radiator to a shop to have it boiled out and flow tested.

Good luck with your project!

the4x4pig · 11-20-2009, 09:13 AM

Welcome to trifive.

Dave

11-19-2009, 11:16 PM	#1
57hardtop Senior Member 1 Blue Star Join Date: Nov 2009 57hardtop's Garage Location: Dallas, tx Posts: 294 Member #11180	Hello I'm a New Member My Father and I rebuilt a 1957 Belair 2 door hardtop when I was 15 years old. What was going to be my first car soon turned into a car that I was not allowed to drive on a regular basis. Then life happend and I am now 33, the car has not been driven in 9 or 10 years. I am going to work on it this weekend and bring it home. I am crossing my fingers that there will not be any major repairs to get it back on the road so that I can enjoy my youthful project and dream car. I found this website when searching for pointers on what to do with a car that has sat for that long and decided to join so that I have a support staff for my new project of getting it back on the road and enjoying what a classic like this has to offer. I am in Dallas, TX and hope to join some of the local clubs. If any one has any recommendations I would love to hear them. Thank you, Chris PS I will post pictures later once I get her home

11-19-2009, 11:20 PM	#2
Kiwi56 Senior Member 3 Gold Stars Join Date: Mar 2009 Kiwi56's Garage Location: Invercargill , New Zealand Posts: 3,838 Member #8288	Welcome aboard Chris lookin forward to those pic's your support staff are all on standby...... all you have to do is ask enjoy...and good luck getting that dream back on track __________________ Chris 56 210 2dr Sedan -Cheap version ,could only afford 2 doors ! Good things take time......... and this happens to be an Exceptionally good thing ! Southland Chevrolet Club Inc

11-19-2009, 11:38 PM	#3
chevman57 Administrator Trifive Leaders Club Join Date: Feb 2006 chevman57's Garage Location: Graham,Texas Posts: 22,147 Member #264	Welcome to Tri Five Chris. There is a local tri five club there. One of the members that is close by should get you a link to it. Terry __________________ http://www.cardomain.com/id/chevman57 Upholstery picture link of work by B & T Trim Shop http://www.bttrimshop.com 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

11-20-2009, 02:38 AM	#5
pistoncan Senior Member 1 Silver Star Join Date: Aug 2009 pistoncan's Garage Location: Missouri Posts: 982 Member #9995	Welcome, we will help any way we can __________________ How come everything I do is now considered "Old School"

11-20-2009, 02:45 AM	#6
rwhit57 Senior Member 1 Gold Star Join Date: Oct 2009 rwhit57's Garage Location: Oklahoma Posts: 1,306 Member #10871	Welcome from Tulsa Pardner, sounds like a great project. Got any pics? __________________ RW in Tulsa (Randy) *57 Truck Project* Whoever said "Money can't buy happiness" Has obviously never seen a SPEED SHOP!

11-20-2009, 07:27 AM	#7
r66ss Trifive Leaders Club Join Date: Feb 2007 r66ss's Garage Location: ILLINOIS/Fulton Posts: 10,815 Member #2133	welcome to tri-5 Chris glad to have you on board __________________ Randy www.picturetrails.com/mrchevelle

11-20-2009, 08:36 AM	#8
mickeywestsr Trifive Leaders Club Join Date: Feb 2007 mickeywestsr's Garage Location: Chattanooga, Tennessee Posts: 8,126 Member #1970	Hoss, heres hoping you have great luck getting it home cause you are in for some great times.....plus there are lots of Tri-5 folks in your area. __________________ GO VOLS If Its Not Good Enough For Washington Then Its Not Good Enough For My Family

11-20-2009, 08:48 AM	#9
whjco Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 whjco's Garage Location: Lexington, KY Posts: 206 Member #10163	Chris, Welcome and congratulations on finally getting to drive "your" car! I've found that two things to immediately address on a car that's been sitting for a long time are brakes and fuel system. I'd go completely through the brake system and either rebuild or replace the wheel and master cylinders and I'd replace all the flexible brake lines. Inspect all the steel brake lines and replace any that appear corroded. I like using DOT 5 silicone brake fluid and have had great luck with it in all my old cars. In doing the wheel cylinders, you'll be able to inspect the condition of the brake shoes and drums and replace if necessary. I recommend dropping the fuel tank and cleaning it out. Remove any old fuel residue and take out the fuel sending unit. I'll then hook the tank over the tailpipe of a vehicle and let it fast idle for about 30 minutes. This will cook out the tank and make it safe to work with. (This is an old trick I learned working on the farm when we had to weld on a tank and it works great). Drop a piece of chain in the tank and shake it around real good to knock any scale loose in the tank then blow it out real well with compressed air. Then seal the tank with gas tank sealer. I'd also blow through the fuel line and replace any rubber fuel hose that may be on the car. Now you'll have a car that will stop safely and won't be quitting on you due to the crud you stirred up in the tank. I'd also replace all the rubber hoses under the hood and you may want to take your radiator to a shop to have it boiled out and flow tested. Good luck with your project!

11-20-2009, 09:13 AM	#10
the4x4pig Senior Member 1 Gold Star Join Date: Feb 2007 the4x4pig's Garage Location: Gig Harbor, Wa Posts: 1,771 Member #2059	Welcome to trifive. Dave __________________ It works in practice, but does it work in theory? Remember, the government cannot give anything to anyone -- that they have not first taken away from someone else. *Molon labe* http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2916357

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