Wife's '57 Wagon "RADIO FLYER" project...

[ChiefRocka]

Some people over in the 60-66 got a taste of this build...but here's the full story. Some of these pics are really old, as it's been sitting for a LOOONNGGG time....Enjoy !
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THIS IS A PROMISED BIRTHDAY PRESENT...(same one promised for years !!)
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PICS AND TEXT FROM JUN 21, 2008:
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As some of you might know, the '57 wagon belongs to my wife (well between you an me, its OURS, but for my sake it's HERS!) She has been bugging me for years to get that thing going....So the time has come to get started on it.

Anyway, the 'Z069' rolling chassis is 95% complete, just finished up the exhaust. I am done using the Vette body for exhaust mock-up, so it's back on the stand and off to the painter to have the engine compartment, cowl area, and inside front nose painted. I needed the trailer, so the wagon had to come off.

All the rides looked cool out in the parking lot....Just thought I'd snap some pictures...BTW, it was HUCKING FOT today !!!!
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[ChiefRocka]

So I threw it up on the lift, and have the tranny ready to go in....
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Here's the story about this wagon, my father-n-law had it built years ago(last registered was '92). He had an all roller, 14to1, dual quad, sprayed small-block built for it years ago. He never drove it (like all his cars, and probably the fate of the vette too). So he decided to give it to us. The race motor and built TH350 only had about 100 miles on it from a one-time run over a decade ago at the Modesto cruise.....It always had this tranny leak. Years ago, I pulled the engine and tranny, picked up a brand new ZZ4, and resealed the whole tranny.(I figured the race motor was a little much for the StarBucks run). During the first 30 minutes of start up of the ZZ4, the tranny started piss'n again. I was so pissed, I slammed the hood, and never looked back. Turned out, the upper cooler line port had a crack in it (over tightened fitting) from a previous install. Since then, I had the tranny welded up, and it's being sitting.

So here we are in '08 finally getting back to it. !!
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This is how I left tonight..back on it on Monday...
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My wife wants me to leave it alone, but I have to do something about these "80's" wheels man...14" in the front and 15" in the rear...What the ??

I need to hit up RICH the CHEESE for some nice wheels in the future !!
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Here's a shot of my spare tire carrier...spare tire compliments of PRERUNNER ROB !!
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[ChiefRocka]

OK, since the above pics it has been sitting...in the corner...collecting dust !!
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The next pics are of THIS PAST WEEK !!! I need to clear the back-burner off so I can park some other in-op projects there !!
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The orignal wiring (52 yrs old) was wasted...a fire wating to happen..so it was time for the new harness (purchased over 4 yrs ago sitting in my sons book shelf at home)
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FEB. 20, 2009
While my shop area is held up (construction of a manditory firewall)...I used the showroom to start the "Painless" rewire of the wagon...Worked on it for a couple hours yesterday:
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I started by removing the wheel (for more working space) and so I could slide the collars up in order to remove the guage cluster:
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Here's the kit, and check out the difference between the OG Fuse panel and the new stuff:
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Ebay.....?
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Under the dash....the kit supplies an adapter bracket to use their larger fuse panels in the OG spot:
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[ChiefRocka]

FEB 21,2009:
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A little progress is better than none...
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I spent a few minutes today on the '57...
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I had to 'rebuild' the original dash light sockets...What I did was cut off the wire, and solder on new wire on the center bulb contacts.
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I purchased this Painless Kit years ago....it's been sitting on the shelf at home. If I had to do it all over again, I would of purchased the kit from American AutoWire....they include ALL the light sockets, new ignition and headlight switches, correct connects and grommet tubes for the headlight buckets/tail lights etc.
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Painless is an awesome system, and I will use them again, I just wish I would of known about them before....
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When wiring your car, the best way to start off (once you have the fuse-panel mounted) is to seperate and run the harness' to their corresponding spots:
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...at least the dash aint cut-up...
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Yellow, 12 gauge wires are for power-locks/windows which will NOT cut, just tie up and save for future use...
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Used spades to make future cluster removal easier....
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Cluster wiring:
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Done and ready to go....
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This dash sure good use a good bead-blast and paint....but for now she just wants to drive it....This car really needs a FULL STRIP/BODY OFF JOB...no time for that, though....-

[ChiefRocka]

THIS PAST FRIDAY AND WEEKEND:
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Pics from last night and this morning:

I had my son help me out pulling the wires through the protective grommet as I fed them from under the dash...


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I tape the wire with black tape, as I run them along the engine compartment...
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The front parking light pigtails really need replacement....but I can't wait for orders right now...so I made these work. The terminals were good, just the insulation was bad. So I cover the ends with shrink tube...solder them to the harness, then shrinked them again:
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[ChiefRocka]

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Crimp, solder and shrink tube is the only way to go for a long-lasting, no resistance connection...
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I had my helper remove the rear sill plates in preperation of the rear harness:
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[ChiefRocka]

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Still working on the screws...they were really tight ... :biggrin:
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Overall...the wagon is in pretty good condition...
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More soon...

[ChiefRocka]

Wow...No responses....I'm surprized !!

[ksjh1316]

WOW that is one sick ride I have been begging my wife for years to let me get her one. Looks like you are doing a heck of a job on her making it safe. Keep us posted on how it is going I have to see how it turns out

[79gmcc15]

that is awesome work! your wife is very lucky.... or maybe your the lucky one for having a wife that loves that car! either way, that is awesome work your doing!

[ChiefRocka]

Originally Posted by ksjh1316

WOW that is one sick ride I have been begging my wife for years to let me get her one. Looks like you are doing a heck of a job on her making it safe. Keep us posted on how it is going I have to see how it turns out

Thanks ksjh....At least the harness is fresh, and won't have to worry about it for another 52 years !!

Just noticed it had no brake pressure...might just need a bleed or the master might be shot.

I might just do the same thing I did on my truck...Actually I WILL do the same thing and that is split the lines and run a dual-master (drum/drum) style for now.

There is no extra money for a power-disc conversion right now...at least with the lines split, it'll be safer that way !!

[Mudder]

I could drive it daily............

[GOPAPA]

My favorite of all time the 57 Chevy ,,as I owned one once upon a time when they were worth much much less.. great looking wagon and glad you are fixing it up for her..

[thelonerife]

thats a nice daily driver!

[ChiefRocka]

Originally Posted by 79gmcc15

that is awesome work! your wife is very lucky.... or maybe your the lucky one for having a wife that loves that car! either way, that is awesome work your doing!

The way I see it is:...."SHE IS LUCKY FOR HAVING A MAN LIKE ME !!!!" Thanks !!

Originally Posted by Mudder

I could drive it daily............

That's what see wants to do...on occasion...Although, it's been preserved just sitting. Gonna suck when she gets the first door ding or freeway rock-chip. Thanks !!

Originally Posted by GOPAPA

My favorite of all time the 57 Chevy ,,as I owned one once upon a time when they were worth much much less.. great looking wagon and glad you are fixing it up for her..

Thanks !!

Originally Posted by thelonerife

thats a nice daily driver!

I think it'll make a cool cruiser !!

[jason65]

When you would close your eyes after all that wireing, could you still see wires? Looking good Rocka.

[72BlckButy]

What a great looking wagon, nice work John!

[Old Dave]

Very cool wagon and you're doing a great job. Your wife should be proud.

[ChiefRocka]

Originally Posted by Old Dave

Very cool wagon and you're doing a great job. Your wife should be proud.

Thanks Old Dave...I'm gonna print this phrase, and pin it right to the dashboard...that way she'll realize....
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Pics from this past week.....I actually got it all done, and fired it up !! The ZZ4 has only literally 30 mins on it (first start, cam break in). It purred like a kitten !!! Although, not as much cam as I would like....
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Removed the rear panels, and part of the carpet to run the harness to the rear...what's up with the plywood ??
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Years ago, I made a battery tray for positioning the battery in the back. However, I think it's gonna go back into the engine compartment...
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I had my gorgeous little "Mad-Madison" help me with the taillights...
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The NOS bottle from the old engine, will remain mounted...by the request of the wife...
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I love the wagon headliners:
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[blu87]

Great work, I've restored 5 57s. FYI if you don't replace the steering column, you'll probably need a horn bearing kit to go in there.

[El Jay]

Looking good.

Great looking pair of helpers you got there.
They favor their momma?

Thanks for the updated progress/pictures.

[TimE]

Just ran across this thread. Glad you're putting that 57 on the road for her!!

[ChiefRocka]

Originally Posted by blu87

Great work, I've restored 5 57s. FYI if you don't replace the steering column, you'll probably need a horn bearing kit to go in there.

Thanks for the FYI...it seems to be pretty solid so far...Might of been replaced at one time. We'll definately keep an I on it, though.

Originally Posted by El Jay

Looking good.

Great looking pair of helpers you got there.
They favor their momma?

Thanks for the updated progress/pictures.

You think ??

Originally Posted by TimE

Just ran across this thread. Glad you're putting that 57 on the road for her!!

She'll be happy for sure !!


When my pops had this car buit back in the ninetys, someone installed some kind of Chrysler rear-end (??) So I took the driveline in yesterday to have a rear u-joint installed (Could of done it myself, just couldn't ID it).

When I walked up to the South Bay Driveline counter...the guy said (looking from a distance) "Nice...a FORD driveline, with a CHEVY front yolk, and a CHRYSLER rear....."

I was like "WTF !!!!"

He checked it out, and said I should have a new one built...so will do...after other "bills" are taken care of.

Couldn't believe it when he told me that....Actually I could, there were other items rigged on that car:


The cable operated wipers are missing everything, and half the heater is gone.....so it'll be a summer ride for a while !!

Also, when I replumbed the fuel lines...I found two different ghetto fuel pumps, with copper lines, rubber hoses and a million hose clamps (defiantely not a pro NOS installer)

My 'pops' has been taken a few times....but now that he has me, it's all good !!

Later....

[TimE]

If it's a chunk type rear like a Ford 9", it would be a Chrysler 8 3/4". If so, that's a nice rearend. I have one in my Demon.

[ChiefRocka]

Originally Posted by TimE

If it's a chunk type rear like a Ford 9", it would be a Chrysler 8 3/4". If so, that's a nice rearend. I have one in my Demon.

Check out post #2 up above....I think your right. When we had it on the lift, I grabbed a tire, and my buddy grabbed the other, and we could not get any slip out of it !! Not sure it its welded up, spool, or just a super tight posi.