This car is all over the Internet having been auctioned and traded a few times. At one point had large iron cross stickers as part of a 68' retro restoration. Needs interior, paint and all of the jewelry restored. In hindsight probably paid too much but the frame is solid. Anyone who has gone thru the interior restoration and has suggestions on a fair source would be appreciated. Figure I do the inside first, then the body.
Welcome aboard. Seen that one out there, looks nice and solid. I would let the interior be until the rest is finished. Never know what will be found and it is hard on the interior parts to be put in - taken out - put in - taken out.....
How stock? you'll have to find a y-block of some sort instead of the 302 that's in it.
Looks nice from the outside.
Welcome to the sight! I really like the color combo.
Tim :unitedstates:
Quote from: Ford Blue blood on 2014-01-14 07:42
Welcome aboard. Seen that one out there, looks nice and solid. I would let the interior be until the rest is finished. Never know what will be found and it is hard on the interior parts to be put in - taken out - put in - taken out.....
X2. A stray welding/grinding spark can cause a whole load of damage.........
What Bill said. I'd hold off long enough so you know exactly what you have there. Welcome to the forum, btw. That is a beautiful wagon. Upholstery search should start with Lebarron Bonney from all reports.
What Bill was refering to, is to make sure the underside of the body is solid, or that any past repairs to floorboards, floor supports, etc that may have been done were done correctly. Unfortunatly, it is really hard to tell what's under the nice paint until you get under it. Extensive bodywork and painting is really risky at best with a new interior installed, and imposible on underbody work.
While you're checking stuff, look at the rubber cowl drains to make sure they have been replaced.
Good advice. Was hoping to ride the exterior for a few years as I've heard sad stories about what you find when the paint is lifted. Figured I'd leave the Hurst floor shifter despite not being stock and the engine is very clean leaving me with the trim as the first major project. Truly, I didn't know enough to realize it didn't belong in there. I simply fell for the 2 door with the clamshell rear.
My other 57 Ford is a Fire Truck but I figured that was too out of the mainstream to post pictures of.
Don't think I've ever seen a '57 Ford fire truck...post away if you would. funny, today at my sandblaster's place I was looking at a '61 Chev. fire truck with just 9K miles and a 348.
Nice rig,I do believe I saw it out there also.I like the idea of getting some of that original stuff back in.I plan on my Ranchero Being 85-90 percent original.That way you can still see the old girl,but are free to add creature comforts or performance/reliability.I think you should drive that baby the way she sits while you research what you want,make a plan,and save the cash.If you love the rig and dont need to sell it,then you did not pat too much.Them dogs are getting pretty hard to come by.Welcome aboard,the guys on this site can really help.Have fun and best of luck. Al
F600
Love that truck...I don't know what it is about firetrucks, but they sure are neat. Thanks for posting. Your Dalmation is missing a few spots though.
Cool wagon...302 with a 4-speed. Looks like many mechanical mods...disc brakes? Steering changed?
Mucho work to get back to stock. I like the floor shifter. Stock would be column shift 3-speed, right?
Of course, the VIN would tell you what engine/ tranny/color the car was originally. See this for VIN info...
http://1957ford.com/asp/gallery.aspx?catmstrid=7&catdetid=29
I was really looking for a 2-door Ranch Wagon with a manual tranny when I found my 4-door Country Sedan. Price was right for me and also a good foundation with interior and paint finished. I made it more driveable by swapping motors to a 302 (from a Chevy 350...just wrong), C-4 trans (wish I had done an AOD), rack and pinion steering, front power disk brakes, and front and rear sway bars.
Short video...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vj-5odSvX7E
Have fun!
Highly recommended is aftermarket front and rear anti-sway bars if it doesn't have them. A station wagon that drives like a slot car is pretty fun! Look for the thread(s).
I like tasteful resto-mods. Maybe go to a more stock paint scheme, steel wheels with baby moons, slight stance for a real "sleeper hot rod" (lower the front end a tad with Aerostar springs-see thread)...love that!
But...your mileage may vary!
Rob
Thank You for the suggestions above. I've followed them.
On the M715 (military truck) site I follow, we normally post updates to renovations so people can see the progress of a mess and get feedback suggestions along the way. Following that method....
This car has a good foundation with no rust I can see, a working 1965 Galaxy engine, rear end from some unknown source and original glass. Everything else is shot, wrong or missing.
Was going to sell and cut my losses but once I drove it, even before needing the control arms, springs, shocks, brakes and who knows what else, I fell in love with the 57 all over again. So, going to ignore the lessons I learned once before on a 67 and fix this one.
Based on the above, the LeBaron interior will wait till last.
Will collect the jewelry in the meantime.
Traced the engine problems to a gelled fuel tank so a steam clean and recoated interior later, we are gtg. Fortunately, the new gas sending unit was available online. Unfortunately, it seems the dashboard gauge is reading 50 pct. so a bad resistor perhaps?
Found an 80yr old guy who recognized the carb, rebuilt it properly, twice (before the gas tank was identified as a problem) and the car purrs. So now I know to be on the lookout for non stock parts.
Windshield wiper was replaced with a period electric unit at some point but the cable is shot. Going to have to think creatively on that one.
Still looking for a proper stock photo of the dashboard as I don't know what was supposed to be there.
Prior owner painted the interior and put carpeting on the doors. Yes, they did.
Did these come with padded dashboards or was that an add on?
If this running dialogue is not ok on this board, just let me know.
All the car boards have very different cultures ant this is my first true mess.
First...absolutly no problem with the "running dialog"..this is a forum for one year of one manufacturer, therefore it is hard as you can imagine to keep coming up with new topics. With that in mind, we like the details, the pics, the problems, etc..and you won't run into a lot of ...."use the search feature, Bud" here..LOL we need the redundantcy!
Padded dashes....they were an option on '57's, so your's may have had the painted steel, a factory padded option, or one added on a later time. The factory padded dashes had chrome trim pieces....maybe someone can provide a pic.
electric wipers...I recall a number of guys saying they were able to use the factory '57 oem wiper cable with their new electric motor..so yours may be one of those. I do believe the cable is available as a repop.
Keep us posted with updates, questions, answers, etc.!
Yes, do keep us updated. I have to ask where you found the fuel tank sending unit? I've looked everywhere and can't find one. I was able to take mine apart and clean it and got it working but I would prefer a new one
great you got this Rio. I had been talking to James, the owner, for quite some time, and either at one time I had too little money, or then he wouldn't sell. Yes it is a bit messy here and there, but it is an original 312 manual trans Del RIO, black/white with white/red vinyl interior !!!! Hope you will restore it properly and have lots of fun with it. still a beautiful ride !
oh yes, please take off the B pillar trim, it is from a 56 parklane and doesn't fit the 57 at all, looks very strange and out of place. I also might want to lose the rocker trim, but of course it's your car. I just had figured out what to do because I really wanted to buy it.
Quote from: hiball3985 on 2014-04-14 08:51
Yes, do keep us updated. I have to ask where you found the fuel tank sending unit? I've looked everywhere and can't find one. I was able to take mine apart and clean it and got it working but I would prefer a new one
I found mine at this site:
http://www.wheelstiresandmore.com/c-3415-fuel-sender-assemblies_ford-delriowagon.aspx
It only registers half at full but I can't confirm that the gauge is working properly. The part was an exact replacement.
Quote from: Awca12a on 2014-04-15 06:43
I found mine at this site:
http://www.wheelstiresandmore.com/c-3415-fuel-sender-assemblies_ford-delriowagon.aspx
It only registers half at full but I can't confirm that the gauge is working properly. The part was an exact replacement.
Thank you for that info. If it helps you can remove the wire from the sending unit and use a jumper wire from that wire to a good ground, the gas gauge should then go to full, if it doesn't the gauge could be bad, if it does the problem is with the sending unit.
So this is the part where I ask for feedback and suggestions.
The Engine is coded C1545A 6H22A which a supplier suggested is a 1965 Galaxy.
The Rear End is unknown but coded WCC-VI 79 7GC 930.
The VIN Plate says it should have a "D" engine which is a 312.
My guess is that sometime in the 1960's the owner pulled the big engine, transmission and rear-end and replaced it with what is there currently perhaps because it was blown.
What would be the rationale to put the car back to the original engine & drivetrain as I imagine the cost to do so would far exceed the value of the vehicle once assembled?
Any suggestions on where to find such a drivetrain if in a moment of weakness I decided to do so?
Thoughts?
One of the neat things about this forum, is all the different approaches taken on our '57's. For the most part, everybody gets along real well as far as those differences, lol, the original restoration guys give us resto-moders a hard time once in a while, but that's ok. The bottom line on your question about the rational behind restoring the drivetrain is....this is our hobby, as far as expense goes, rational is pretty much out the window as almost everybody that does a build is upside down on it. I'm sure you know it's not a '57 Ford problem, but a car hobby problem in general. So the bottom line is you'll get a variety of answers with what you should do with the drivetrain, but the best way to go is whatever makes you happy.
A comment about a previous post you did mentioning you've heard the horror stories about what hides under paint. That certainly is true in probably the majority of restoration...it was the case on mine. However, you may luck out..Bob/57Agin a few years back noticed a rust bubble on his '57 Custom 300. It was a car he had purchased already painted and drove it for many years before the bubble appeared. Bob decided to do a major paint/interior/ton of other upgrades and figured he had better have the car totally stripped of it's otherwise sound paint so he would know for sure what was under the paint he couldn't see. As it turns out, that small rust spot was the only place on the entire car! But, he now sure has the peace of mind knowing that.
My wagon had a Chevy 350 in it when I bought and a totally frankensteined steering.
A friend had a Ford 302 and offered to make it a fun project to rebuild, and this forum influenced me to go towards the ST Fabrications rack and pinion, plus front and rear sway bars.
Mine is a restomod...and I couldn't have enjoyed the engine build-and-swap process more! Far from perfect, however.
I have a rust bubble or two, the glass could be changed out...but my pockets are very shallow and cannot do the full resto on the paint at this point. A/C would be nice (could bake a pizza in the summer in these wagons!), working windshield wipers would be good, next is to get the speedo and fuel gauge working.
It's all about what makes you happy...but you will probably never be satisfied!
Here is the latest video...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vj-5odSvX7E
Cheers!
Rob
robhaerr - That was an inspiring video and I really like the dash without the pad that's on mine. You have the 302 but have enhanced it which to me makes so much sense. Modified but kept to its roots. Thanks for sharing. I guess the Dodge really will be going now because I can see I'll be upside down yet again.
Oh...we had fun with video...
Here is much of the series when you really have nothing better to do!
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLWq06-maBfWW4aNFqeF4dcm_3dh1AUHcg
There's more from the very beginning, but the first 9 "episodes" are on Vimeo...for when you really have too much time on your hands...
https://vimeo.com/1149979
https://vimeo.com/1151734
https://vimeo.com/1296363
https://vimeo.com/1297002
https://vimeo.com/1597852
https://vimeo.com/2009079
https://vimeo.com/2149602
https://vimeo.com/2263923
https://vimeo.com/3042325
https://vimeo.com/4376668
https://vimeo.com/2263923
LOL...Rob kinda made a good point....do what makes you happy, but whatever that ends up being, don't put a CH$#Y 350 in it!!...the Ford Gods will get ya!
Quote from: RICH MUISE on 2014-04-16 15:09
LOL...Rob kinda made a good point....do what makes you happy, but whatever that ends up being, don't put a CH$#Y 350 in it!!...the Ford Gods will get ya!
Try putting a Ford in a Chevy....... :005:
After much internet searching for the correct shocks on the Del Rio without a conclusive reliable answer, NAPA came-through with a physical match.
The #94019 and #94002 were in stock and delivered next day.
The rubber bushings on the stabilizer bar were gone so a call to Macs Auto (www.macsauto.com) (part #B7A-5493-BKT) for $25.95 should set things right when they arrive.
Front springs were riding on blocks and a call to Eaton Detroit Spring (www.eatondetroitspring.com) yielded new springs plus insulator 3-days after placing the order.
The shop installed the right side in about 2-hours.
Sadly, the driver lower control arm is shot so everything is waiting, again, for the right parts to show-up.
Some things I'm just not qualified to even try to hack away at.
I received the car in December and it hasn't gone more than 1/4 mile since then but I'm hoping to see how it drives sometime in late May.
Most importantly, I've decided it will be a custom/stock restoration with a proper 312 containing as much horsepower as I can figure out how to put into it, a period interior with as many interesting options as could have gone in by 1965, and a transitional exterior while keeping the Hurst floor shifter.
Took a while but finally have it back in my driveway after the local shop found a guy who is older than the car able/willing to do a full and proper alignment on the wagon after it got new springs, shocks, torsion bar bushings, lower control arm, ball joints, the works. Figure after a couple of weeks the front will settle down more but just turning the key and hearing the loud strong engine was worth it all.
Not sure if the new sender is bad, the guage is off or was sold a bill of goods but you have to interpret the gas gauge. Since the old sender had rusted away, I'll have to work with what I have.
LeBarron Bonney sells a reproduction interior which I think is a better use of funds than pulling a working engine. Plan to shake it down for a couple of weeks before making the next move.
Great progress....I totally agree..as long as you have a strong running engine, let it be for a while until you get the rest of the problems ironed out. Thanks for keeping us posted.
John Wolf Instruments rebuilds gas tank sending units. He rebuilt the sending unit in my Ranchero(not reproduced) and it worked great. The company is in Ohio.
Quote from: Awca12a on 2014-06-09 20:56
Not sure if the new sender is bad, the guage is off or was sold a bill of goods but you have to interpret the gas gauge. Since the old sender had rusted away, I'll have to work with what I have.
I took a chance and ordered one of the sending units from the link you provided as that was the only place I have seen that has them. It was a total waste of money, I had to file a notch in part of it to even fit the tank correctly, the arc that the arm travels is not like the original and I had to bend the arm to approximate the same arc and the gauge still doesn't read correctly ( I know the gauge is good ). I've had it out a dozen times trying to fix the problem. What was strange was the shipping in voice was from them but the actual invoice for the part was from NAPA, possibly the bought up some old Napa stock at on time?
Please don't take this the wrong way, I'm not blaming you in any way. I just wanted to post this for other peoples information.
Glad you got your 57 running.
Been a while since I updated. New control arms, sway bushings, shocks and springs are in and had them sized for a future 312. The thing holds the road perfectly now that it is aligned. Found a shop near Charlotte who will strip it down, take the paint to metal and reassemble this coming winter. Very fair pricing by the hour and their work seems excellent. Plan to go Black upper and either ford cream or 2012 Hundai grey.
So after two days at Hershey, I've discovered that nobody has Restoration parts for the wagon so I'm doing it the usual way, one table at a time. Good thing about being here is that the window channel guys have all their stuff on display so getting the right items for the slide windows will be easier than I projected.
One vendor even has a used but complete ranch exterior wagon trim set; but of course, the Del Rio was special even with that so I walked on to the next booth. Easily found missing trim pieces but will wait till next year to pick up the interior door hardware after the paint job.
Best of all, one vendor has a correct 312 he will be pulling and rebuilding this winter so I grabbed his card. Who knows. Perhaps next year he will bring the engine.
So I've finally gotten the Del Rio mechanically in great shape leaving the bodywork to be done.
That said, I've had to make a choice between three vehicles that need work and the '57 is going to be sold.
As soon as I get organized, it's going to be listed on Craigslist in NY for sale.
Car needs someone comfortable with doing the body work to sand & paint, replace the side glass, weatherstripping, etc before redoing the interior.
Keeping the '57 Ford firetruck now that the restoration is complete.
Figure I'd post here first as this thread documents fairly accurately everything I know about the vehicle in case a member on this site is interested in the car.
Looking to get $15,000 for the car now that it's running reliably.
The car is off the market and has been sent to NC to be blasted & painted in what will be a frame-on restoration. New window glass for the sides, restoration of the interior but keeping the "attitude" with the wheels and graphics. Hope to post finished pictures sometime July 2016 or so. Will pick-up the missing parts at Hershey this October and let the body experts do their job so I can install the interior and glass.
It will remain a driver that gets used in the winter snow but I forsee disk brakes for safety.
In the meantime, the 1964 Galaxy Mayberry police car will have to do for this winter.
Would this one be a candidate for a move to the build thread, will be keen to follow progress.
Hershey has been outstanding as expected. Found the parts for the police car across five booths but when it came to the Del Rio, I only scored the horn ring ($20). Never found the steering wheel so that will be a hunt for the winter unless someone reading this has one they want to sell. That said, I did make half a dozen good contacts for parts so hopefully I can round out whats missing by UPS. Saw one 1956/7 (don't remember) 4-door Ranch Wagon being sold in the car corral ($42,000) and one 1957 in the Chocolate field. An owner gave me the contact for a close reproduction of the material on the back of the 3rd row seat. I'll post a contact listing from this show in a later post along with my take on what I found out about them. Ford hubcaps were everywhere for $45-$120/set and I found every logo piece except the rear door pull. Jacks were easy to find as was door hardware but no door skins.
But first need to get it disassembled.