My New Project.... 57 Ford 300

[Jeff Norwell]

I have been a 57 Ford fan for a long time.I have been a gear-head for a long time.But of any 50's type car... The 57 Ford is and always will be my favorite.
I have been heavily involved in traditional hotrods most of it..owning a 32 ford 5 window,34 3 window and a 32 ford truck.(just made the cover of this months R&C!)....(pretty stoked 'bout that)
At any rate..I bought a 57 Ford and now in the process of collecting parts.
My plan is to drop in a FE engine(just bought a complete 390 yesterday out of a running 62 bird) use a wide ratio TKO tranny and leave the rest bone stock.
The car will be total black,with factory bench seat...wanna make a simply factory kinda race car.
here is a pic.....needs some love... but the sheetmetal is in great shape.I do need floorpans and I was thinking EMS. Any other alternatives?
i do need some other parts..but it is gonna take some time.
As mentioned...I have other projects..finishing my 32 Ford Coupe and build a 30 A drag roadster.... I got enuff too do! hahahaha

But my 57 is a big deal for me.
I think this site is AWESOME and some really great people and info here

here is my car

[Jeff Norwell]

Sorry for the crappy shot......

[Jeff Norwell]

And here is my Target....EVIL,MEAN and NASTY!

If a member here owns this beauty...pm me!!!

[RICH MUISE]

Jeff...Can't go wrong with black. That's a sharp looking car you've got for inspiration. With you having a basically sound car to start with, it's gonna save hundreds of hours on the restoration work. Ems is your best shot for any of the repro panels. They are not always spot on, but they're miles ahead of everyone else's. I haven't heard any complaints about their floorpans as I have occasionally about their outer panels, If you can catch their rep at a big swap meet, you can usually get deals on shipping.
I've heard alot about your artwork, and being a former (20 years) art gallery owner, I'd sure like to see some of it...do you have a website? Keep us posted on your progress.   Rich

[Jeff Norwell]

Jeff...Can't go wrong with black. That's a sharp looking car you've got for inspiration. With you having a basically sound car to start with, it's gonna save hundreds of hours on the restoration work. Ems is your best shot for any of the repro panels. They are not always spot on, but they're miles ahead of everyone else's. I haven't heard any complaints about their floorpans as I have occasionally about their outer panels, If you can catch their rep at a big swap meet, you can usually get deals on shipping.
I've heard alot about your artwork, and being a former (20 years) art gallery owner, I'd sure like to see some of it...do you have a website? Keep us posted on your progress.   Rich

Rich, thank you.....
sorry about the "quote" thing..but I like using to help me respond.
I live in Southern Ontario.... and the car at this present time is in the great State of Texas..... Wellington to be exact! Our family travel to Texas often and I call it my second home!
but I digress...
I plan to collect all the parts I need before I jump in.....
I think the small stuff may be the hard items(Window stainless trim,glass,interior parts..... things of that nature.I dunno..I am just learning on the 57 stuff.(be gentle hahahah)
But MANY thanks on the EMS panels and such.
Rich..I understand you have roots in the east coast?.. awesome... my etter half is from Newfoundland.

I have een an illustrator(commercially for over25 years now....I mainly work in T.V./FILM... COMP ARTIST...
At the present time my web site is down(getting revamped) but I have 2 blogs to fill the gap....
http://drawnandquarrtered.blogspot.com/

and a fast blog for Storyboard work
http://slaughterhaus5.blogspot.com/

I have done some gallery work.... but some of the folks I delt with...left a bad taste in my mouth(read:I got ripped off!)

Anyhow.... Thanks for the response....

[Jeff Norwell]

This is a few samples of some things I do.....

[RICH MUISE]

Awesome artwork Jeff. I like your graphic style. That garage scene would be great with a '57! I'll check your blog sites tonight after work.
Some of the parts you mentioned...glass won't be a problem. In the past year or so they have started making the back windows, so now complete kits are available in clear, green or smoke. One suggestion I would make is to think about the 70D(business coupe) conversion to a fixed back window. The brackets and seals are available in repros. The glass is smaller for the fixed window, and since most of the new flat side glass is tempered, it won't be able to be trimmed from the larger roll-up glass, so it would be good to make that decision before ordering glass.
You talked about the window stainless trim...are you missing pieces? If you need a list of what is restorable stainless, and what is chrome, let me know.
New since the last time you posted..we've got a new section for '57 Ford-specific links for suppliers. I'm still adding to it, but there's about 20 or so links listed already.

[shopratwoody]

Jeff,
In the picture that 57 of yours looks to have the original paint on it!
FE is a good choice for sure. My Ranchero has had some hard running 390's in it in the past. Hell, it was running mid 12's in the 70's
with a 390. Have fun & show us some 57 artwork that we can buy
some more T shirts.
Ron

[Jeff Norwell]

Hi Ron!
Yep, that's the original paint/ raven black and colonial white.
Anybody know what the HP Rating of a 62 390 out of a bird?

[Bubba]

Jeff:
I am a long standing admirer of your work.
To answer your question in 1962 the Thunderbird had two 390 engines available.
A single four barrel engine rated at 300 HP and a rare, optional "M" code three duce engine rated at 340 HP.
BuBBa

[Jeff Norwell]

Thanks Bubba!.... Well ,ok. I definitely have the single 4 barrel unit....that solves one mystery.

[Frankenstein57]

Just got the Christmas sale catalog from dearborn classics, ems pans were on sale for the 57,  Mark

[tarheel57]

Welcome Jeff,its great having a talent such as you join us.Theres a lot of great members and information on this site. Rich do you have any information on were to get the fixed back window kits for the custom 300  2dr.that you could pass along ? Thanks,Tarheel57

[Jeff Norwell]

Thanks Fellas!

[RICH MUISE]

Welcome Jeff,its great having a talent such as you join us.Theres a lot of great members and information on this site. Rich do you have any information on were to get the fixed back window kits for the custom 300  2dr.that you could pass along ? Thanks,Tarheel57

Tarheel...John Gambil at www.1957ford.com is reproducing the brackets. If you go to their website, he has an add in the classified section I believe.They are being laser cut in stainless and they're doing a real nice job. The brackets come with s.s. screws and includes the full size glass "blueprint" to recut the original glass to the correct size. The kit is $85.00, including shipping if I remember. The 70D seals are available at dennis carpenter and are $50. a pair. The brackets, seals and proper size glass are all you need. I converted my front windows to electric, was going to do the same to the back and decided who actually rolls down their back windows...I never do. I elected to go the more watertight route with the 70D conversion...and it was cheaper than electric conversion until I realized the new glass I already had couldn't be cut because they were tempered, not laminated...next month I'll order the glass again. (150.)