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Hi, just wanted to check in with the group here I'm Steve and I have been a GM guy since before I could drive. "Like Father Like Son" they say. I recently inherited my father's 1957 3100 pickup, on which I will be doing some further restoration work. The 57 was a fun hobby for my Dad and I and we loved going to shows together. I'll post some pictures of "The Tiger" soon. Any other Sovebolters here in Alabama?

welcome to the garage Wolf, lots of 'Bama 'Bolters here, check out the Southern forum .... and we'll all be waiting for some pics

Bill

Here's a link to some pics of the 57

https://plus.google.com/photos/115011897262066599304/albums/5874961262172710449

The Tiger looks like its on the prowl. That's one nice looking tiger for sure!
Welcome to the Stovebolt Page, wolfman. You'll enjoy this site regardless if its for information or just some good reading and keeping up with others projects.
Let us know how we can help....thanks for the pics.

Welcome Steve, sure is a nice truck. What sort of work does it need?

Leo

Leo,thanks for our kind words. There were some things that my Dad had wanted to do to the truck to make it a little easier to drive. The low rear end gear (plan on swapping to mid to high 3 range) The door hinges are showing their age, so door and body panel fit need some teaking. Hood hinges and springs are weak, so you have to hold up hood. Just minor things that the first builder didn't complete before my Dad bought the truck. I also plan on repainting the engine to the factory gray. It's blue flame blue at the moment.
Steve

your dad had good style in trucks keep the dream alive

Just thought I'd post this picture of my Dad and his 57. He shared his passion for Cars and Trucks with me from an early age. Happy Fathers Day I Miss You !

Dad and His 57

Nice looking truck. Are you planning on keeping it custom or returning it to stock? Was it a rust free truck before your dad and you started the work?

The truck is stock. Except for the Rally Wheels (which are 6 lug)and a custom looking seat cover. It has it's original drive train, 235 six, 3 on the tree and either a 4:11 or 4:56 rear gear. I want to locate a set of stock wheels and hubcaps to put on the truck. Most of the paint and body work had been done when Dad bought the truck. We finished the job by adding mirrors, emblems and some mechanical, plus the engine compartment was a wreck. Everything was painted black.

Steve

Nice Truck!
Great pic of your Dad and the 57

Good luck with your project.

Welcome, Steve -

Beautiful truck.

Stovebolt engine colors changed over the years. This link says that 1957 truck 265's and some 283s were gray, but 6-cylinders were not.
> Engine colors

Here is the GM Resto Kit for your '57. A ton of info in one pdf file - so it's not real easy to use.
> GM Heritage Ctr 1957 Chev Truck

The '57 Resto Kit is not available on Keith Hardy's site, but almost everything else is.
> Keith Hardy's OLD ONLINE CHEVY MANUALS

But the best sources of info are Stovebolt.com members.

BTW - I learned something new while I was answering your post. I didn't know that 265's were still available in 1957 until I found them in the 1957 GM Heritage Center link above.

- Lonnie

I have noticed that there seem to be a lot of questions when it comes to the engine color. Even this document is noted that it is an assumption that they were green. I have spoken to others that say it depended on the plant and time of build. I also read that replacement blocks were black. (any idea on that) ? I did have another Chevrolet source say they were grey. It will probably remain Blue for now. I have a leaky valve cover and side plate gasket, so they get attention before painting. Thanks for the great links to the pdf and web site. Lots of cool stuff there for sure.

Steve

For full stock, bed woood and rails should be an almost gloss black. Firewall should be body color. Yeah a good, real restoration is a very rare thing. I have still not ever seen a TF with a true resto.

Also that pdf at the heritage site is info in the salesman data book that Carter trucks has for 57's I think it was about $45 or so.

Wolfman, welcome to the forum. Lots of good knowledge here. Beautiful truck, maybe soon, mine will look almost as good. I am also in Alabama, the far southeast area..Just north of Dothan....my truck is a 56 chevy 3100....

I was aware that the factory beds were black and usually made of pine lumber if my memory serves me correct. I should have said the truck is stock in it's running gear, straight axle, engine, etc. There have been some custom liberties taken with it's apperance. As I begin to further detail the engine compartment, do you have or know any one that has pictures of decal placement, hoses and clamps etc. There are so many things in catalogs and parts houses its hard to know what was on what.

Steve

Very cool ! I look forward to chatting with you and seeing some pictures as your project progresses.

Steve

welcome from Tx,,nice truck and I love red

The so called 1955 to 1959 Factory Assembly Manual, will pretty much have what you need. Problem is its really only for 1955 model years. So there is nothing about front end sheet metal or fleet side beds in it for 57 up. Nor can it be trusted for other things that may have been updated in the later years, that we don't know about. I think I may have found a 1/2 inch discrepancy for the location of the lower rear front fender mount point from the FAM to 59. Since I don't have a 55-57 cab can't be sure of the changes. It is specific on some decal locations like the 6 cyl valve cover.

Wolfman;

What wheels are you running on your truck (size, backspace, source etc.)? I have a 58 suburban that I am looking to put new wheels on. I'm having a real hard time finding modern wheels that will work. Your's look perfect.

The wheels are rally style GM They were on the truck when my Dad bought it. I am not sure as to backspacing.
They are 6 lug. I believe they are at least 7" maybe 8" wide. LMC Truck has a chrome rally wheel in 6 lug But, they don't list width and spacing in thier catalog. I will make note to check my wheels. I have a set of 5 lug Chevy steel wheels that are early 70's for sale if you are interested. Here is a link to ebay these look lke the wheels on my 57.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/15-Rally-Silver-Wheels-Rims-Chevy-1500-6-Lug-Special-/151059720271

Welcome Wolfman28. I'm in Talladega and also have my Dads old truck but mine was in really bad shape when I got it. We are getting there. Your truck looks really good.