1957 150

[55 Chevy]

Originally Posted by ss wannabee

Softer "modern" clutch set-up may help extend rear-end life in 10-bolt over what your brother experienced...but if he builds stick car...ONLY a 12-bolt should be used in the '57.

Your brother should have used a Dana in the conditions you mentioned!


IMHO...the '57 150 being not that heavy, and the smaller carb(s) limiting rpm a bit (depending on which combo he ends up with ), the gear ratio wouldn't have to be that "steep", and tire diameter/gear would be sorted out in testing. If considering to keep the car original and running AUTO TRANS, I still think the early 10-bolt has a chance but to be practical...you'd have to be able to do most of the work yourself . Mike T. makes some good points too.....

Well my brother was anal about keeping the car as stock as possible kinda something I am slowly learning to overcome. The car was not even tubbed!He suffered for it both in hard labour and a slower car. The next '55 he built(early eighties) indeed had a Dana 60 w/6.50's and I don't think he ever had the cover off it but he is long since retired from racing.
The gear ratio in my combination which is the 265 single four barrel needs to be no less than 6.20 with some apparently running as low as 7.17.


Allan

[bill dedman]

Originally Posted by 55 Chevy

Well my brother was anal about keeping the car as stock as possible kinda something I am slowly learning to overcome. The car was not even tubbed!He suffered for it both in hard labour and a slower car. The next '55 he built(early eighties) indeed had a Dana 60 w/6.50's and I don't think he ever had the cover off it but he is long since retired from racing.
The gear ratio in my combination which is the 265 single four barrel needs to be no less than 6.20 with some apparently running as low as 7.17.


Allan

The first TurboGlides appeared in 1957 (not 1958) sedans and hardtops. and were generally available through the 1961 model year. Not all engines were available with this transmission, but I think most V8's were. It featured a compicated internal planetary geartrain that gave 3 separate ratios for accelleation, with no actual "gear shifting." When one planetary could no longer accellerate the car (turning too fast) it would simply "overrun" on its sprag, and the next higher ratio would take over (since it was already pulling, all the time.) I think the planetary gearsets were something like 2.5:1 and 1.5:1.... not sure about the exact ratios. The engine would wind up to about 3,500 rpm at stall, and stay at that rpm until it ran out of breath (the transmission) and then the engine rpm would begin to increase along with the vehicle speed.
Buick had a very similar transmission called "Triple Turbine Dynaflow," during the same period of time.

[mopar68]

M68

[rod]

I raced my '57 J/S car for a few seasons. one time I pulled the rockets out of the hood, and made a full sheet of aluuuuminuuuum to go from fender to fender and rad. to firewall, with only a hole over the carb. got by for a while till someone, at the big end noticed how the hood 'puffed' up. must have really packed the air in. funny at the time.
Rod in AZ

[Dwight Southerland]

My first race car was a '57 150 business coupe with a 283 two barrel. Raced it one year before they outlawed the 4-speeds. The trick of the day for the rear end was to use MoPar side gears in the positraction case and modified MoPar 30 spline axles from 8 3/4 rears. That stopped the axle twisting for me. SS&DI had an article about it.

[Lyn Smith]

Was looking in the NHRA blue print specs for the 1957 Chevrolet engines.Do not see a listing for the acceptable intake manifolds?

[rod]

yes, the Chevy [57-64] posi units were the same as MoPar units, with the exception that the Chevy used 17 spline axles [just less than 1" dia.] and the MoPar posi used the larger 30 spline axles. took 4 gears to complete the swap. back in the day, the backing plates were the major hurdle. today, of course, Moser could whip out a set of much better custom axles using all Chevy parts. and yes light weight. years ago I meet a SS racer from BC,Canada who had a red '56 SS/NA with a 2x4 PG with Brake and he actually went back to the Chevy/MoPar rear. he was not easy on it.
Rod in AZ

[T Pogue]

Originally Posted by Lyn Smith

Was looking in the NHRA blue print specs for the 1957 Chevrolet engines.Do not see a listing for the acceptable intake manifolds?

Odd there is no list but according to note 5 the 459 is accepted.