Pivot shafts, Lower A-Arms, transmission clean-up, etc.

Valve covers: crackle black or aluminum?

Decisions decisions.  ; )

Installing the A-Arm bumpers

Installing the lower pivot shafts

Mounted the lower A-arms/pivot shafts to the front crossmember

Upper A-arm issue-excess powder coating on the threads. Ugh...needed to do some clean up.

Upper inner & outer pivot shaft ends installed

Onto the Transmission clean-up prior to rebuild. It's rough.

Documenting the linkage prior to disassembly

Got the 3-speed trans about 30% cleaned up.

Coming along!

It's sitting on wheels - real axles, shocks, brake lines...

Parts Review

The new DeWitts radiator showed up!

We received the bolt kit to mount the transmission crossmember

Crossmember installed

Rear wheel backing plate & gasket on - axle installed w/fresh bearings

Rear axle vent & tube installed

Torquing all the bolts to spec per the A.I.M.

Installing the rear shocks

Shocks didn't have AC/Delco stickers in '57.

Heated up the labels & removed.

Pass. side rear hard line -> brake hose

Installing the brake line clips

Installed the rear axle brake block and got the hard brake line all formed correctly

Brake & Fuel lines going through the frame

Front brake line and clips all installed & formed

It's sitting on rear wheels!

Rolling on the assembly...

 

Starting with a clean slate...

Bolted on the front crossmember

Attached the engine mounts.

Notice the front crossmember aluminum shim plates installed.

Installed front stabilizer bar, brackets & bushings

Began laying out the brake & fuel lines...

Running a tap through some of the threads

We saved all the old brake lines for fitment

Comparing the new front cross-member brake line to the old one.  Looks great!

Fitting front brake line

Had some brake line fitment/routing Q's, so we moved onto the rear...

Preparing to install rear leaf springs

Installing leaf spring front hangers

Rear leaf shackles & bushings

Cleaning up some powder coating "overspray" that was on the carrier housing mating surface. Can't have that.  We want a perfect seal.

Rear axle carrier to housing gasket installed. Getting ready to install rear carrier posi gearset into the housing.

Installed rear axle u-bolts over rear axle housing and onto spring mount plates

Rear axle housing & carrier installed. Good progress!