Picking up the ‘57 Chevy I’ve always wanted next week

[Chuck A]

Good luck , keep us posted

[Grey Ghost]

I'm about 1 hr. north of Atl. I'm sure, I know the town where it's located.

You need to look at -

pans - floor and trunk. Top and bottom. And the area where the spare tire was located.

Rockers - inside from under the car and outer

bottoms of doors -

quarter panels - squat down at the back of the panel. Nod your head up/down while looking down the side of the panel for ANY waviness - it should be fairly flat and distortion free. It will have some shape to it. But, look for any distortion or something that just doesn't flow with the shape/contour. Any deformities are a sign of bodywork.

Does it have power steering? brakes? Disc brakes on all corners or drums? Where the fuel and brake lines replaced during resto? Is the gas tank clean of rust? what type radiator is in it? Electronic ignition? Was the wiring harness replaced or are you dealing with 70 year old wiring which is a complete fire hazzard. I would want details on the wiring system. Details on the brake system - has the fluid been changed and kept up? Coolant system?

You are paying a premium and maybe it's worth it if all is true. But, you have a lot of questions that need answered.

[Sea Six]

Grey Ghost, I owe you a tall glass of your favorite beer in an ice cold glass. I hope we get the opportunity to drink a toast some day. I thank you sincerely for the very detailed posts and the texts as I was going over this car.

Worst bondo job I’ve ever seen. Rust on every panel I could check. Trunk pan was filled with about two inches of foam sealant (the reason was for sound deadening and insulation… on the inside of a trunk).

As we had postulated, there was plenty more rust hiding in not so plain sight. Lots of door dings, too. Some of the rust was knocked off to the point where white bondo was showing through. As GG pointed out, in some of the pictures I took and texted him, you could see sanding marks in the amateur bondo job. I couldn’t quite see them in the bright sunlight of the parking lot where I took them, at least not until I got into my truck for the long ride home.

I took a hard pass. Cost me $150 in diesel fuel. My new fiancée and I spent an otherwise enjoyable 14.5 hours just talking and being together on a very scenic drive.

And next time I’ll know to ask to see about a dozen close detail pictures of some known problem areas before committing to a long trip.

Jerry: I’m enjoying some Crown and beer. Cheers.

[Louie Detroit]

Nice to see you leveraging the knowledge and wisdom of VB-OT!

I know at first you appeared hot to trot to buy the car, good to see you went prepared to turn down the deal.

[Sea Six]

Originally Posted by Louie Detroit

Nice to see you leveraging the knowledge and wisdom of VB-OT!

I know at first you appeared hot to trot to buy the car, good to see you went prepared to turn down the deal.

I’ve bought and sold about a dozen or so classic cars. Never a tri-five, hence my questions. It’s always been with Vettes so far. I really needed and benefitted from everyone’s input on this. Definitely appreciated.

[zeek]

Wow....That seller needs his ass kicked! Can you imagine if some one had paid that price and had it shipped to them without putting hands on it first?! People like that seller are the scum of the earth.

So glad you went to get it and look at it up close. There will be others....just remember this experience! Good luck in your search....

[Grey Ghost]

Saved yourself a lot of money doing the inspection in person.

The sheet metal was heavily pitted (not just surface rust) and a badly applied layer of body filler and paint applied over the top of it.

I spent $1500 to fly up and look at a midyear in Wis. one time after having several people tell it had no rust. It was pitiful. They either flat out lied or were stupid.

Hopefully we can get together on your next pass through here.

[Bill]

Originally Posted by Sea Six

Grey Ghost, I owe you a tall glass of your favorite beer in an ice cold glass. I hope we get the opportunity to drink a toast some day. I thank you sincerely for the very detailed posts and the texts as I was going over this car.

Worst bondo job I’ve ever seen. Rust on every panel I could check. Trunk pan was filled with about two inches of foam sealant (the reason was for sound deadening and insulation… on the inside of a trunk).

As we had postulated, there was plenty more rust hiding in not so plain sight. Lots of door dings, too. Some of the rust was knocked off to the point where white bondo was showing through. As GG pointed out, in some of the pictures I took and texted him, you could see sanding marks in the amateur bondo job. I couldn’t quite see them in the bright sunlight of the parking lot where I took them, at least not until I got into my truck for the long ride home.

I took a hard pass. Cost me $150 in diesel fuel. My new fiancée and I spent an otherwise enjoyable 14.5 hours just talking and being together on a very scenic drive.

And next time I’ll know to ask to see about a dozen close detail pictures of some known problem areas before committing to a long trip.

Jerry: I’m enjoying some Crown and beer. Cheers.

I think you know what the VB expects of you now.

(Preferably after you untie her first, but as always, we don't kink shame here, either way...)

[Sea Six]

Originally Posted by bill_daniels

I think you know what the VB expects of you now.

(Preferably after you untie her first, but as always, we don't kink shame here, either way...)

I’ve posted pics of her before. Same beautiful, classy smart woman.

[StaticCling]

Barton Family Motors?

[LATB]

Originally Posted by StaticCling

Barton Family Motors?

That’s now a church.

[GTOguy]

In the decades I've spent buying old classic cars, I always was amazed at the ability of some people to look you in the eye and flat out lie to you. One guy who lured me many miles from home with the promise of a rust free '66 GTO convertible I balled out to his face. And I was only 22 at the time, he was in his 40's. The car was so rusty it would have broken in half on a lift. I literally poked my index finger through the frame. Have seen rusted frame rails duct-taped over and shot with undercoating. Seriously. And that house-type expanding foam? It chemically reacts to steel and will start it rusting and there is no way to stop it. Saw pics of a '41 Packard that was totaled this way. The foam was sprayed into the A, B. and C pillars, rocker housings, etc. The entire car rotted from the inside out.

[Aerovette]

Originally Posted by LATB

That’s now a church.

Let us now read from the book of Chevrolet. Verily I say unto thee, change thy oil lest thy rods travel hither and yon. Roll not thine odometer to an earlier time.

[Don Rickles]

Got a quick glimpse of this beautiful beast, in my buddies shop. All done ready for delivery to it’s owner. A spectacular restoration, an all metal body. Paint work to drool over!!!

[GTOguy]

Twin WCFB 4 bbl's. NICE.

[Sea Six]

Dayum

[Grey Ghost]

Tri-Five Nationals are in Bowling Green, this weekend.

Already seeing some spectacular cars on FB

[Sea Six]

Originally Posted by Grey Ghost

Tri-Five Nationals are in Bowling Green, this weekend.

Already seeing some spectacular cars on FB

Yes I’m seeing lots of amazing cars on FB too.

Turns out my car does not have a 57 engine after all. I haven’t gotten around to checking all the numbers but I’ll bet it turns out to be a 283 from 1961. That’s what the other numbers so far are coming in as.

The accelerator pump is toast, and the carb likely needs a rebuild and some repair beyond just a basic rebuild from a serious carb shop. I’m thinking since it’s not the correct engine anyway that I may just get a really nice LS or a moderately built new 350 crate motor. I’ll keep the power glide transmission in there for originality’s sake, since it seems to be shifting just fine.

Any idea what this engine may be worth?

[Sea Six]

…

[Giraffe (He/Him)]

Bravo Sea! That thing is beautiful!