Betsy, The '57 210 Belair Wagon LS376/480
01-02-2018, 07:53 AM
#1
Betsy, The '57 210 Belair Wagon LS376/480 I bought a '57 210 Belair wagon on eBay last year (2016) with the idea that eventually, I'd like a classic. My in-laws are big car nuts, with a '57 pickup, a '70.5 Camaro RS/SS, a '48 Chevy somethingorother, etc. and I've messed around with LS stuff long enough for the itch to develop. I've always liked the styling of the '57, so it made sense to marry the LS and old car fascination.
Over the last year and a half, I started buying parts. Here are some of the highlights of what I have to date:
LS376/480 crate motor
4L80e Hughes trans
PSI conversion and Painless harnesses
Moser 12 Bolt w/3.73 LSD
Wilwood hydroboost and Brembo calipers
Viking coilovers and tubular suspension
BRP engine/trans mount kit
When I first got the car, I had kind of a plan to learn body work and really just do the whole thing perfectly. This meant acid dip, E-coating, perfect panel replacements, perfect interior, etc. Well, after getting all the components to make it move and literally watching the '57 squat to the bump stops after loading all the parts in the back of the car over time, I kind of abandoned that plan.
There will be tons of powder coating, I mean a ton. I took the stainless trim rings off the new lock set to powder them. We're nearing the end of a large oven build for the shop, large enough to fit any piece: bumpers, side trim, anything short of the frame. It should be operating in January, at which time I'll cure some serious powder.
A tentative goal of the 2018 Power Tour has been set, but more realistically, I'm aiming for the 2018 Cruisin' The Coast.
Over the last year and a half, I started buying parts. Here are some of the highlights of what I have to date:
LS376/480 crate motor
4L80e Hughes trans
PSI conversion and Painless harnesses
Moser 12 Bolt w/3.73 LSD
Wilwood hydroboost and Brembo calipers
Viking coilovers and tubular suspension
BRP engine/trans mount kit
When I first got the car, I had kind of a plan to learn body work and really just do the whole thing perfectly. This meant acid dip, E-coating, perfect panel replacements, perfect interior, etc. Well, after getting all the components to make it move and literally watching the '57 squat to the bump stops after loading all the parts in the back of the car over time, I kind of abandoned that plan.
There will be tons of powder coating, I mean a ton. I took the stainless trim rings off the new lock set to powder them. We're nearing the end of a large oven build for the shop, large enough to fit any piece: bumpers, side trim, anything short of the frame. It should be operating in January, at which time I'll cure some serious powder.
A tentative goal of the 2018 Power Tour has been set, but more realistically, I'm aiming for the 2018 Cruisin' The Coast.
Last edited by themealonwheels; 01-02-2018 at 10:19 AM.
01-02-2018, 08:01 AM
#2
Some pics to get to where we are today. Motor and trans are out, brakes are out, front suspension is done with all new spindles, hubs, A-arms (tubular), Viking coilovers and unisteer rack and pinion.
Last edited by themealonwheels; 01-02-2018 at 11:33 AM.
01-02-2018, 08:07 AM
#3
Like I said, tons of powder coating. I have around 45 colors, this car will feature Pearl Gunmetal Grey, gloss black, candy teal, "chrome", black starlight and likely some candy purple accents for my wife, who supports this wildly irresponsible build.
Last edited by themealonwheels; 01-02-2018 at 11:38 AM.
01-02-2018, 11:09 AM
#4
No pics are showing up. Grrrrrrr
01-02-2018, 11:55 AM
#6
TECH Senior Member
THAT is gonna be one cool ride!
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01-02-2018, 04:23 PM
#10
Thanks, guys! I just ordered a core support, radiator, dual fans and expansion tank from PRC, should be a nice little work of art up front once I powder it.
A-arms and spindles were an eBay gamble. Looks like it worked out, thought, seems the geometry is about right. It did require some machine work on the spindle to fit the CPP dual roller bearing hub conversion, I can look up the dimensions if required.
Regarding the "Scout" lurking in the background... the banana in the background is a converted 1994 Ford Ranger. It's got a 3 cylinder from a Geo Tracker and a tractor's 4 speed manual trans. The owner used exhaust tubing to make his last driveshaft, lol!
Regarding the "Scout" lurking in the background... the banana in the background is a converted 1994 Ford Ranger. It's got a 3 cylinder from a Geo Tracker and a tractor's 4 speed manual trans. The owner used exhaust tubing to make his last driveshaft, lol!
01-02-2018, 06:37 PM
#11
TECH Senior Member
01-03-2018, 07:04 AM
#12
Maybe a couple. He's "reserved" the FEAD from my LS1 Hombre build v1, and he got a FEAD on an LQ4 he picked up. He's powder coated both sets from what I can tell, so I'm fairly convinced he's serious about putting one motor in the bed just to rev while driving down the road!
01-03-2018, 10:47 AM
#13
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Maybe a couple. He's "reserved" the FEAD from my LS1 Hombre build v1, and he got a FEAD on an LQ4 he picked up. He's powder coated both sets from what I can tell, so I'm fairly convinced he's serious about putting one motor in the bed just to rev while driving down the road!
I am a little behind on the keyboard racing lingo, FEAD?? EDIT: Front End Accessory Drive, It came to me shortly after posting.
Oh yeah the LQ4 is going to get paraded around in the bed of the truck for fun. Going to need a throttle man for that. You available?
Last edited by locospl; 01-03-2018 at 11:35 AM.
01-03-2018, 10:50 AM
#14
TECH Senior Member
Front End Accessory Drive. Yeah, we tend to get caught up on acronyms.. almost as bad as the government! lol
Last edited by G Atsma; 01-03-2018 at 11:11 AM.
01-03-2018, 12:47 PM
#16
TECH Senior Member
01-04-2018, 12:01 PM
#19
Thanks for the encouragement, I knew a wagon was the way to go... as evidenced by the number of builds going on.
A few more details I missed before, I have a set of Hooker tri-five LS long tubes to use in conjunction with a Magnaflow dual exhaust and I'm doing some minor stuff while I'm in the car like deleting the vent window on the front doors and installing a decent stereo/entertainment arrangement as this will be a family cruiser... and while I'd love my kid to just enjoy the car, he does have a child's attention span!
Yesterday, I took the bumpers off after work so I could drop them off today for sand blasting. When I first got the car, I had plans to use a friend to get all the bright work chromed/re-chromed. When he quoted $900 a bumper for chrome, that's when the powder coating really got traction!
I do have a predicament that maybe some of you can weigh in on: The wagons use a unique shape for the fuel tank, kind of a wedge that contours the spare wheel well and the rear end. Due to the complicated shape, there are no off-the-shelf EFI tank solutions. I called Tanks Inc, they suggested an external pump or a custom tank. Despite all the custom work Betsy is slated for, I'd prefer to start with a stock tank and would like to go with an external pump. So, what's a good, reasonably mild external pump that will push 58PSIG to support maybe 600HP at the flywheel?
And some pics, because why not?
A few more details I missed before, I have a set of Hooker tri-five LS long tubes to use in conjunction with a Magnaflow dual exhaust and I'm doing some minor stuff while I'm in the car like deleting the vent window on the front doors and installing a decent stereo/entertainment arrangement as this will be a family cruiser... and while I'd love my kid to just enjoy the car, he does have a child's attention span!
Yesterday, I took the bumpers off after work so I could drop them off today for sand blasting. When I first got the car, I had plans to use a friend to get all the bright work chromed/re-chromed. When he quoted $900 a bumper for chrome, that's when the powder coating really got traction!
I do have a predicament that maybe some of you can weigh in on: The wagons use a unique shape for the fuel tank, kind of a wedge that contours the spare wheel well and the rear end. Due to the complicated shape, there are no off-the-shelf EFI tank solutions. I called Tanks Inc, they suggested an external pump or a custom tank. Despite all the custom work Betsy is slated for, I'd prefer to start with a stock tank and would like to go with an external pump. So, what's a good, reasonably mild external pump that will push 58PSIG to support maybe 600HP at the flywheel?
And some pics, because why not?
01-04-2018, 12:06 PM
#20
Here's a picture of the oven (in progress) for all the large trim... longest trim piece measured about 60" long (when the bumpers are broken down). I'll take pictures this weekend, as the controller should be here and I'll have a friend do the final internal bracketry if our steel is there.
