60 replies to this topic

[IMORAL]

So
As some of you already know a couple of weeks ago I finally fulfilled a dream or mine and bought an LJ 2 door. Unfortunately I had another dream of owning a 57 2 door chev. Preferably pillarless.
As it turns out either from good fortune or bad luck I haven’t worked out yet I ended up picking up a 57 2 door sports coupe 2 days after the LJ.

While I have enjoyed having the two sit side by side with the hatch unfortunately the LJ had been sold to help fund parts for the 57.

It is currently a driver and registered. Has a 350 crate engine , turbo 350 box and standard diff. 4 wheel drum brakes which are as useless as 4 wheel drum brakes!
Paint is reasonable but won’t be long lived. Wheels are 15" American racing which also won’t be long lived. Interior is quite respectable so will only have a few changes down the track.

I have a 572 engine ready for it but need some time to get a gear box and diff made along with other suspension mods.

Immediate plans are just to fit disk brakes to the front, drop spindles and lowering blocks for the rear springs. Set of 20" wheels but limited to width while it has leaf springs. Paint it matt black and just enjoy driving it around while I build up the parts supply.

Then over time rip the 350 out, convert to RHD. Big block in, turbo 400 with a gear vendors overdrive. 4 link rear end and shortened 9".
While out mini tub the rear so 20x12's will fit with ease. Then once all done paint it a nice shiny red. Bucket seat for the front. Dakoda dash. A few other tidy up interior bits etc.
Coil overs, power steering and a/c. Electric windows but use the original handles as the switch to keep its looking original.
Time frame? unknown at this stage but I am thinking farken ages!

 

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Edited by IMORAL, 05 March 2015 - 04:34 PM.

[N/A-PWR]

A real beauty Paul,

 

Well done. 

So when are you selling this girl?

[V-SLR5000-P]

If your jamming a 572 into it I'd think about a Holden front graft which will give you RHD, power steer, disc brakes and better geometry.
The graft will also get the steering box up front and out of the way of your exhaust. It will be really tight with a steering box in the original location
and a rack conversion is not cheap either.
What ever you do it looks like a great project!
Hope you rethink the bucket seats, digital dash and 20" wheels. But its your car!

Edited by V-SLR5000-P, 05 March 2015 - 05:16 PM.

[IMORAL]

.



Well done.
So when are you selling this girl?[/quote]Thanks Dave. And yeah lol shut up

Edited by IMORAL, 05 March 2015 - 05:23 PM.

[IMORAL]

If your jamming a 572 into it I'd think about a Holden front graft which will give you RHD, power steer, disc brakes and better geometry.The graft will also get the steering box up front and out of the way of your exhaust. It will be really tight with a steering box in the original locationand a rack conversion is not cheap either.What ever you do it looks like a great project!Hope you rethink the bucket seats, digital dash and 20" wheels. But its your car!

Cheers. Thanks for the ideas. The digital dash will be the old school style. Not the black screen with the blue numbers

[wot179]

You can gain a heap of room on the back by moving the leafsprings inboard the chassis rails.

Swap the brackets side to side and weld them back on.

Edited by wot179, 05 March 2015 - 06:07 PM.

[IMORAL]

Yeah. A mate has done that but want something decent for the big block.
Through I priced the wheels I wanted today. Need another LJ to sell lol.

[Potta]

I wouldn't Matt black it, that red looks great!!

[IMORAL]

Its only tempoary. Will be red once all the panel work is done

[Dave6179]

Love it as is! Personally I hate old cars with big ugly rims and no rubber. Leave it to the backwards hat wearing Honda lovers. Seen an HQ on 20's.... ruder than the missus after a bottle of wine! No rubber in the sidewall means a hard/harsh ride. But, it's your money right?

[Bart]

Agreed with Dave^

One of the best looking cars on the planet

[IMORAL]

Funny. I am not a fan of big wheels on old cars either but dont mind 20's on a chevy.

SOme other older cars seem to get away with bigger wheels but not many. But then each to their own which is good otherwise we would be looking at the same thing all the time.

[V-SLR5000-P]

Should also add to check engineering requirements in your State before putting a Holden front graft onto the old girl.

[Dave6179]

j.e.d, yeah, thats just too much. Maximum 17s but only for decent tyre selection. 14s and even 15s are getting difficult to put good rubber on. Unfortunately we're being deprived of suitable tyres for the wheels we have.

I've had my 14x7s  for 28 years. Don't wanna go up in size... I have to!

[IMORAL]

Should also add to check engineering requirements in your State before putting a Holden front graft onto the old girl.

Yes. I probably be doing that. Have a different idea I am trying to sort. Engineering isnt a problem which ever way I go..

 

j.e.d, yeah, thats just too much. Maximum 17s but only for decent tyre selection. 14s and even 15s are getting difficult to put good rubber on. Unfortunately we're being deprived of suitable tyres for the wheels we have.

I've had my 14x7s  for 28 years. Don't wanna go up in size... I have to!

Yep. And the 14's you do find are old as fk and they want a fortune

 

I reckon would look awesome on 20's Paul, with some big dish   .... the thing is bloody big anyway, so will look in proportion.. 

 

Those 15's look like little lawn mower wheels on it !

100% agree. It will have 20's but each to their own.

[IMORAL]

So. Tart up started. Found a set of cheap second hand 20's this morning.
3" lowered in the back now. Just waiting on the drop spindles and disk brakes to turn up then can go cursing while I save up for the rest of the parts.

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[N/A-PWR]

Nice start Paul. 

[IMORAL]

I even waved to gene in the pic

[Ice]

I noticed biatch

Nice wheels

[IMORAL]

Hahaha

[IMORAL]

Lol I didn't see that. It was a bit hot today

[IMORAL]

So. Still waiting on the drop spindles from my mate. Still haven't driven the old girl. As I am leaving the 350 in it for awhile I ordered a cam, lifters and springs today just to give her a bit of a note. Not worrying about performance with this donk. Cam is 224@50 108 with408 lift so should have a nice choppy idle without loosing power (what little it has anyway)
And might just tidy the red paint up for now. Seen a flat black one on the weekend and it looked shit house.