57 BelAir

[Wolfe_Man]

This was a fun one, built in a super rush like most last min builds. The basics of it are 383, Supercharger, TKO600 trans, 9" and coilover/4link conversion, powdercoated frame too much else to remember really.

Motor makes 603HP at the wheels currently and ran out of fuel pump around 5600 RPM (single 340 pump) with a dual pump setup it should reach close to 800 at the wheels as the motor was built to spin/live to 7k RPM plus can change pulley on the procharger...

We tore the vehicle completely apart. Down to every last nut and bolt. It has a c5 corvette retrofit brake system on it and it stop/ handles like its on rails.

How it started

How it ended

Everything in the middle below


383 with procharger, roller cam, roller rockers, port injection etc etc... (once in vehicle it got an air to air inter-cooler as well)

All blown apart

more to follow

 

[mdmike]

Very nice!!!!!

 

[FJC11]

More of a 55 guy but that is sweet .

 

[Wolfe_Man]

To continue.

In these years the motor mounts at the front and the trans mounts at the sides. We needed to convert to side motor mounts and trans tailshaft mount. Easiest way after stripping old side mount trans mounts off the frame was to leave motor on its front mount, mount the trans, attach crossmember, clean the frame good and weld in. Then the from motor mounts were taken off and the conversion mounts attached to motor and checked where they sat/located on frame then welded in too.

I mentioned before this vehicle has a 4link conversion kit in it. The kit is supposed to be "bolt in" using self tapping bolts. With the planned power of this vehicle I didnt trust it. So everything was located, cleaned up and fully welded in.

Once frame was totaly stripped on unneeded brackets and all the new brackets were welded on, it was loaded up and sent to the sandblaster/powdercoater. While frame was away I began some body mods. We "tubbed" it, removed and filled in the spare tire well and patched some random holes someone mad in the trunk area.

Once the frame came back from powdercoating it was time to make it a roller. You can see the 9" (Currie with LS and 3.73? gearing) has already been mounted and rear 4 link in place (somehow I missed taking pics of that part)

 

[Wolfe_Man]

Then we started mounting up the CPP "big brake" conversion for Tri5. These work very well for a budget kit.

We tossed on some spare tires and made it a roller.

Then it was on to mounting the drivetrain.

Then it was time to fit it to the body and cut the hole for the shifter.

 

[Rooney77]

A 57 is my dream car. Wanted one since high school. They epitomize cool to me. Killer build.

 

[Tin Roof]

Awesome. I love the 57’s.

 

[Poriggity]

I dig this!!! Very sexy build.

 

[Lsxdowant]

Update?

 

[Wolfe_Man]

Update?

Sorry, been swamped with work and trying to finish my shop. Ill post more progress pics this weekend. The actual car has been finished 2? years and in multiple magazines now lol

 

[Wolfe_Man]

Finally had a chance to sit and found the other build pics I knew I had of this car.

One thing I like to do is when ​doing manual conversions is to mount he car/trans where its supposed to go then go underneath and mark the 4 corners of the hole that gas to be cut. Have never made a mistake this way and hole is never too big.

 

[Wolfe_Man]

When it came back from paint and it was time to finish exhaust, wiring etc

 

[Wolfe_Man]

2.5" exhaust from a generic "kit" with a single chamber flowmasters and the custom one off air extractor louvered hood (louvers were done by trackspecmotorsports)

 

[Wolfe_Man]

Any about the last photos I have. After a late night thrash we finished up our part and sent it off to have interior fit (last photo at TMI Products for fitting)

 

[Lsxdowant]

Love it! Thanks for sharing!

 

[Arps]

looks great!

 

[dnsfailure]

Glad to see a manual transmission in there! Is that the 500 or 600?

 

[Wolfe_Man]

Glad to see a manual transmission in there! Is that the 500 or 600?

600
Churched up reading about it here if you're interested


http://www.superchevy.com/features/1903-larry-ashleys-tri-five-began-life-as-honda-xl600r