[Jay236]

I must have lost five pounds, driving the 1957 Chevrolet 3200, the steering was a major workout session.

I want to stay as close to original as possible, beside adding new tires, paint and upholstery, maybe lowing it a bit, I cant think of anything else I would change.

The little 235 is strong with 21000 orig. miles, and sat since 1985. I got it from the second owner who had it 50 years. only change he made was he added a sunroof, that I will have sealed, and out the shifter on the floor.

Any suggestions would be appreciated

[techinspector1]

My best advice is to put gas in it, drive it and leave it alone. There isn't much you can do to improve on a little sweetheart like that. You need the exercise anyway.

[1ownerT]

Originally Posted by Jay236

I must have lost five pounds, driving the 1957 Chevrolet 3200, the steering was a major workout session.

I want to stay as close to original as possible, beside adding new tires, paint and upholstery, maybe lowing it a bit, I cant think of anything else I would change.

The little 235 is strong with 21000 orig. miles, and sat since 1985. I got it from the second owner who had it 50 years. only change he made was he added a sunroof, that I will have sealed, and out the shifter on the floor.

Any suggestions would be appreciated

Suggestions for what?

[Jay236]

I want to change the steering column, in my 1957 Chevrolet 3200, I am looking for information to help me on the conversion.

What would mount up with the least modification


Thanks

[powerrodsmike]

If the current tires are old and getting worn, new tires will help a bunch with the steering effort.

Putting a new column on requires cutting off the old column, leaving enough of a stub coming out of the steering box to machine a double d or some splines to adapt to a rag joint or U joint that will couple the new column to it...any competent machine shop can do that if the box is out of the truck.

I have seen folks drill and pin smooth bore adapters or weld an adapter to the stub, but that is not a good way to do it, in my opinion.. welding is strong, if done correctly, but then you can't ever get the steering box upper bearing off, and pinning a shaft can weaken it 30%..not a good choice IMO for a manual steering box.

Once the old column is cut off, it is a good idea to find a seal that will seal the input shaft at the top of the box..most industrial bearing supply houses will have grease seals listed by dimension, the 57 chevy 1/2 ton pu steering box I have here in my junk collection had the stock column cut off and pinned..the seal would have a 3/4" shaft size and go into a bore of 1.3",(the ID of the old column tube that is left inside the steering box after cutting), so it should not be too hard to find a seal that fit.

Borgeson has a line of couplings that can be welded or pinned to the stub shaft.http://www.borgeson.com/CATALOG/06Borg_Catalog.pdf

see page 8 in that PDF.

Once you have the steering box figured out, you can figure out which length of steering column you need and either get a junkyard column, or go to a company like Ididit or Flaming River for a universal column in the length you need and a column drop, rag joint or u joint and a floor mount for the column to go through.

One of the businesses that specialize in that era chevy truck may be of more help, and have better solutions.

Later, mikey

[Jay236]

Everyone I know is saying the same thing: leave it alone! and I am listening. The 235 is running strong, 21000 orig. miles, of course the hoses, gaskets and, belt are going bad, and it has a small rust spot on the pass. door, but other then that, it is a cherry pick.

The last owner changed the lights, mirror, and antenna, cut the dash for a modern radio system, and I am going back original. heading over to the rodders classified next to look for the original ones.

@ Tech. and your right I need the exercise....lol

[fast68]

hey there well my $.02 is:


id leave it alone... especially if its all original and clean and solid and straight and stock!


we have a couple 57's ourselves here.


one is a bel air 2 door HT converted to a striaght axle front gasser in the '70's or '80's by a local racer guy who was my neighbor here until he passed away last year

and the car still is the same way

straight body real solid nice not rotted at all, solid trunk and pans and all, in primer currently interior and all glass removed and all trim also

firewalla nd dash cut the engine sits under the dash

have a 4 door 57 210 as a stock unmolested rollling chassis donor for the 2 door, also for the rad support so we can do awya with the custom tilt front nose on the 2 door,

also a rear glass donor in which is missing for the 2 door

the 2 door we have had since the early 80s when i was little

the 4 door we got for 150 bucks last summer it was abandoned and sitting down by the IL river


totally stock with 235 and powerglide dash but is manual trans ?? hmmm weird.......


pics of the 4 door so far:

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v2...partsvehicles/

pics of the 2 door some day, currently covered up and in storage


got pics of yours??

[Jay236]

I posted a couple of pics in the HotRodder photo gallery. Its a cherry, I was thinking about changing the steering column.