1957 Gunmetal Grey Restoration

This area is for posting questions/information concerning 1955-57 year Thunderbirds NO FOR SALE POSTINGS

Moderator: Joe Johnston

Splash440
Posts: 70
Joined: Tue Apr 24, 2018 8:42 am

1957 Gunmetal Grey Restoration

Post by Splash440 »

I staretd this restoration about a year or so ago, but have not taken the time to post the progress. This is a D Code with the basic options. The original color is Gunmetal Grey with full red interior. It has the original factory white porthole hard top as well.

The previous owner had started the restoration and decided it was too much and put it up for sale.
Attachments
T007.JPG
T006.JPG
T005.JPG
T004.JPG
T003.JPG
T002.JPG
T001.JPG
Thanks,
David Langston
Dover, NC
Splash440
Posts: 70
Joined: Tue Apr 24, 2018 8:42 am

Re: 1957 Gunmetal Grey Restoration

Post by Splash440 »

Basically, this is a basket case that has spent most of its life in Florida.

There was some poorly thought out attempts to repair the inner fender well. They used galvanized tin cut every couple of inches to make the turn. Most of the trunk floor and the rear quarters were gone.
Attachments
T023.JPG
T022.JPG
T021.JPG
T020.JPG
T019.JPG
T018.JPG
T017.JPG
T015.JPG
T011.JPG
Thanks,
David Langston
Dover, NC
Splash440
Posts: 70
Joined: Tue Apr 24, 2018 8:42 am

Re: 1957 Gunmetal Grey Restoration

Post by Splash440 »

The previous owner removed the outer door skin and I guess gave up on the door, this was probably the beginning of the end of his restoration progress. The inner frame of the door is basically gone. I could only find a couple of replacment doors and both were about $2000 each. Based on this I decided to repair the door, it is doable but time consuming.

Some of the previous work is a little suspect. I had to repair some of the welds and make some adjustments.

Some time in the past the transmission tunnel was butchered.

Have to figure out the right way to load pictures so they are in the proper order.
Attachments
T070.JPG
T069.JPG
T066.JPG
T065.JPG
T064.JPG
T063.JPG
T062.JPG
T061.JPG
T060.JPG
T059.JPG
T058.JPG
T057.JPG
T056.JPG
T055.JPG
T054.JPG
T053.JPG
T052.JPG
T051.JPG
T045.JPG
T044.JPG
Thanks,
David Langston
Dover, NC
Splash440
Posts: 70
Joined: Tue Apr 24, 2018 8:42 am

Re: 1957 Gunmetal Grey Restoration

Post by Splash440 »

Had to build a frame to hold body so I could mount it to the rotisserie.
Attachments
T048.JPG
T031.JPG
T029.JPG
Thanks,
David Langston
Dover, NC
55blacktie
Posts: 1088
Joined: Sat Sep 05, 2020 2:43 pm

Re: 1957 Gunmetal Grey Restoration

Post by 55blacktie »

You're a better man than I, Gunga Din.
ranchbird
Posts: 213
Joined: Sun May 11, 2014 10:53 pm

Re: 1957 Gunmetal Grey Restoration

Post by ranchbird »

Looks like you have the shop and tools to do the job, way over my head. I thought replacing the clutch was a big job on mine, you gotta be dedicated to take on a job like that good luck.
Splash440
Posts: 70
Joined: Tue Apr 24, 2018 8:42 am

Re: 1957 Gunmetal Grey Restoration

Post by Splash440 »

Thanks guys, I enjoy working on cars, it is an exercise in patience. Generally I have all the tools I need, but you can always use more. I decided when I retired I wanted to restore cars. I just finished a 51 Ford F1. It is an exact duplicate of my Grandfather's truck I grew up with. His truck was scrapped in the mid-sixties, however my mother keeps all the paperwork so I knew actually what I was look for.
Thanks,
David Langston
Dover, NC
Splash440
Posts: 70
Joined: Tue Apr 24, 2018 8:42 am

Re: 1957 Gunmetal Grey Restoration

Post by Splash440 »

The rear wheel wells were in pretty bad shape. I had to do it in pieces to get the angles right.
T033.JPG
T034.JPG
T038.JPG
T040.JPG
Thanks,
David Langston
Dover, NC
Splash440
Posts: 70
Joined: Tue Apr 24, 2018 8:42 am

Re: 1957 Gunmetal Grey Restoration

Post by Splash440 »

The welds from the previous owner were a little suspect, so it had to grind and re-weld most of them.
T081.JPG
T082.JPG
The shifter area was butchered. There must have been a transmission swap sometime in the past. I had to make it in several pieces to match the contours.
T085.JPG
T086.JPG
T087.JPG
Thanks,
David Langston
Dover, NC
Splash440
Posts: 70
Joined: Tue Apr 24, 2018 8:42 am

Re: 1957 Gunmetal Grey Restoration

Post by Splash440 »

The rear wheel well body mounts were pretty much gone. They have two layers so had to cut them
T095.JPG
T100.JPG
T101.JPG
T102.JPG
T102.JPG
T103.JPG
T104.JPG
Had to do the same thing with the convertible anchor mounts.
T089.JPG
T090.JPG
T091.JPG
T105.JPG
Thanks,
David Langston
Dover, NC
55blacktie
Posts: 1088
Joined: Sat Sep 05, 2020 2:43 pm

Re: 1957 Gunmetal Grey Restoration

Post by 55blacktie »

Save those "Before" photos, so we can compare them to the "After" photos. Gunmetal Gray over red is a great combination, but you might consider painting the top gray as well (less paint to buy).

Happy Thanksgiving!
ranchbird
Posts: 213
Joined: Sun May 11, 2014 10:53 pm

Re: 1957 Gunmetal Grey Restoration

Post by ranchbird »

That was my next question if you were retired, a lot of time involved to do what your doing. Just curious why you took this project on compared to finding one in better shape.
Splash440
Posts: 70
Joined: Tue Apr 24, 2018 8:42 am

Re: 1957 Gunmetal Grey Restoration

Post by Splash440 »

55blacktie wrote: Mon Nov 23, 2020 6:55 pm Save those "Before" photos, so we can compare them to the "After" photos. Gunmetal Gray over red is a great combination, but you might consider painting the top gray as well (less paint to buy).

Happy Thanksgiving!
I will post all of the progress here. I have a lot more that I keep for when I put it back together. I have a friend that does my painting so the paint is not an issue.
Thanks,
David Langston
Dover, NC
JimCunn
Posts: 262
Joined: Thu Oct 08, 2020 11:02 pm

Re: 1957 Gunmetal Grey Restoration

Post by JimCunn »

Amazing work. I love seeing these 'lost causes' come back to life.
Splash440
Posts: 70
Joined: Tue Apr 24, 2018 8:42 am

Re: 1957 Gunmetal Grey Restoration

Post by Splash440 »

ranchbird wrote: Mon Nov 23, 2020 11:59 pm That was my next question if you were retired, a lot of time involved to do what your doing. Just curious why you took this project on compared to finding one in better shape.
Actually, I looked for a basket case. I like metalworking and figuring out how make the pieces work. I get extremely good deals on projects that other people get burnout on. I do all the work myself with the exception of the paint.
Thanks,
David Langston
Dover, NC
Post Reply