1957 Chevrolet 150 Army Staff Car Junior Stock 270

Description

This is an original, factory built 1957 Chevrolet 150 Army Staff car. It was originally owned by the U.S. Army and was later used by the Texas Army National Guard. It the went to a school system in Texas and was painted school bus yellow over the original Gloss OD Green paint. There was no sanding or prep work before the yellow was applied (except where the lettering was on the doors and trunk lid) and I have carefully removed what you see gone with a razor blade and a heat gun. The car was found in a Texas salvage yard in about 1985 and was then stored inside dry storage until I bought it in September of 2015. This is a very solid car with two very small, pencil end size rust holes in the driver side rocker. The floors have a few scattered small holes around the edges near either side of the front seat. All floor braces are like new and not even pitted. Both front floor pans needed replaced and all spot welds were drilled and the pans replaced. Front and rear under seat pans, rear floor pans, rear wheel houses, dog legs, trunk floor, tailpan, etc are original and super solid. Front Fenders are new and the hood is a beautiful used piece. Front End has fresh OD Green paint that was scanned and matched from the rear quarter panel. Everything under the car has been cleaned and painted semi-flat black. Every nut and bolt under the car is the correct original color and if natural were matte cleared. Front suspension and steering is all new and detailed to factory specs. An idler arm bearing kit replaced the bushings. Steering box, pitman arm, and idler arm are all restored and matte cleared for long lasting appearance. All new pre-bent brake and fuel lines were used front to back. Brakes are the original drum type and completely new on all corners. All emergency brake parts are either new or restored. Front hubs were changed to the '61-'64 tapered bearing units. Rear springs are original and restored. Shackle bushings are Energy Suspension polyurethane. I also Installed a set of Traction Master style traction bars. Rearend is stock 1957 and has a 5:13 Posi in a"P" case. Rear wheels are new Cragar 15 x7 direct bolt. New 8" cheater slicks are from Towel City Tires. Front wheels are original U.S. Indy Mag direct bolt 15x4.5 and the tires are Coker, Firestone Champions. Transmission is a rebuilt early Borg Warner 4-Speed. A diaphragm style racing clutch was used with an original, early Schiefer aluminum flywheel. Scattershield is an early '60's Wedge Engineering one piece cast unit. Engine is a '65 small journal 327 bored .040 with flat top pistons. Heads are 1965 '461 casting 2.02's. The engine is completely dressed as a '57 283/270; including the oil pan, oil filter, all plug wire shielding, correct reproduction plug wires, radiator hoses, '891 dual point distributor, deep groove pulleys, generator, intake, Tom Ordway built and restored Carter WCFB's, etc. Headers are original 1969 dated Hooker adjustable fenderwell headers. Air cleaners are original GM '56/'57 Corvette units. Cam is a Duntov 30-30 solid. Radiator is a new Desert Cooler 4 core and the car has yet to get above 180 degrees. Wiring is new factory style with the radio and heater wiring omitted like original. The dash has all original delete plates including the cigarette lighter, heater, radio, and clock. NOS Delco headlight and ignition switches were used. All lights inside and out work as original. Horns were sent out and professionally restored and work as original. I installed an original, working 1960 Sun 10,000 tach on the column and original working Stewart Warner gauges under the dash. The original fuel and temperature gauges are also hooked up as original and work as they should. The gas tank is new; as is the 3/8" sending unit. All glass is nice original and the side window regulators we're removed, cleaned, and lubed. All of the chrome is very nice used original pieces (no junk) including the one piece front bumper. The fender scripts are NOS and the hood script is new. The interior has an original black rubber mat front and rear, a decent original 150 front seat, a new Utility Sedan rear seat delete (rear seat springs included), no headliner, original rear door panels, old black diamond vinyl front door panels, a new black package tray and new black kick panels. The dash and all of the garnish Moldings have original patina, surface rust paint. That just about sums it up, but if you have any questions, please let me know. The car has possibly 30 miles at most since being put together. It drives and stops great. It idles good during stops and doesn't require three feet to drive. With a rear gear change and exhaust, the car would be very streetable. The car has a clear Kentucky title in my name and is licensed and insured for the street. The car has been finished less than two weeks and debuted at the Tri-Five Nationals last weekend. I have many hours and a lot if money finding just the right period correct parts for this car. I didn't want to disturb it's Military history, but I also wanted to build a Junior Stock tribute. And by the way; his name is "Ike"! If you have no feedback, please don't waste my time unless you are completely serious on the purchase.