help with A & C Pillar replacements

BFS57 · December 14, 2013, 05:02:41 PM

Hello;
Well, the 57 is at the body shop. Finding some pretty daunting rust problems. Of course the front A pillars Drivers and passenger sides are pretty darn rusty. Also the C pillar at the back of the roof has a nice big rust spot on either side.
Trying to find some already made up metal is like impossible! Don't know what to do. I'm thinking that someone here may have a solution or two for this PIA! My car is not one of the more popular models, it's the 57 4 door hardtop!
Any suggestions welcome at this point!

Bruce

Digger · December 14, 2013, 05:45:27 PM

I believe Danchuk has the A pillar parts .Rear pillar for a 4dr ht wil more than likely have to be fabricated.

Good Luck!

BFS57 · December 14, 2013, 08:46:55 PM

Quote from: "Digger"I believe Danchuk has the A pillar parts .Rear pillar for a 4dr ht wil more than likely have to be fabricated.

Good Luck!

Hello;
I looked on Eckler's site and what I saw was the door opening instead of the post that goes from the top of the door up to the roof! Thats what I need on boath sides!!
I do have a shop locally that might be able to fabricate those parts but don't know trhe cost. This shop doesn't do paint, just metal fabrication and mechanical mostly on real old classics such as Packards!

Bruce

Digger · December 14, 2013, 10:31:52 PM

Danchuk has a pretty extensive list of pillar parts.
You also might want to contact Sams Chevy Parts in Moline Il,
That's who we deal with, if you call them, they are very helpful and have a wealth of knowledge and huge inventory.
Sam's number is 309-797-5757

junkyardjeff · December 15, 2013, 07:29:22 PM

Post some pics of the pillars where they are rusted and there is a 57 4 door hard top in a local junkyard that I can look at the next time I am there.

BFS57 · December 16, 2013, 10:13:22 AM

Quote from: "junkyardjeff"Post some pics of the pillars where they are rusted and there is a 57 4 door hard top in a local junkyard that I can look at the next time I am there.

Well, I tried in vain. It seems my photos are too high of resolution.
And when I mark the photo for e mail, computer wants me to go to Yahoo email! Whats the magic in order to get these photos posted??

Bruce

BFS57 · December 17, 2013, 11:47:36 AM

Hello;
Well, after a conference with the shop foreman he says that it would be much better for me to put on a new roof. So . . .
Junkyardjeff, or anyone else that sees a 56 or 57 chevy 4 door hardtop in pretty good condition, a local salvage yard I need the complete roof with pillars! Now keep in mind that the 4 door hardtop style will be the only one to fit my car.
Lets see where this goes! This is turning into my worst nightmare!

Bruce

wayne petty · December 17, 2013, 08:13:35 PM

just in case you missed it..

http://www.shermanparts.com/ecat/base/dropdowns.php?last0=Chevrolet&last1=Bel+Air%2F210+4+Dr+Hardtop&make=Chevrolet&model=Bel+Air%2F210+4+Dr+Hardtop&year=1957

BFS57 · December 17, 2013, 09:28:18 PM

Thanks Wayne:
You are always helpfull, will give them a call tomorrow!

Bruce

wayne petty · December 17, 2013, 11:16:41 PM

this won't help you find sheetmetal parts per say...

but its a LOT of fun and hours and hours of clicking thru individual catalogs..

http://gmpartswiki.com/browse

http://gmpartswiki.com/getpage?pageid=65288

http://gmpartswiki.com/getpage?pageid=65329

http://gmpartswiki.com/getpage?pageid=67985

12.840

pillar, panel-front body hinge

http://gmpartswiki.com/getpage?pageid=67970

but its nice to know...

some of the other books might have better diagrams but you probably already have those..

best of luck...

if the body panels that need to be replaced.. need to be recreated..

if i were doing it at home.. or in a shop if i had one.. i would sand and finish the piece i want.. coat it with some of the adhesive plastic film.. and smear it with bondo.. so i can make a negative off it.. then from that.. vacuum form a thin piece of plastic.. so i can hand the metal forming guy a plastic prototype to have in his hand.. and or.. vacuum form a thin piece of plastic into the negative.. so you have duplicated the metal thickness..

you could pour a plug into that.. so you would have a buck to test the new part....

these are just ideas.. and probably how sherman gets patterns for their tooling... there was an article in one of the magazines.. HR.. CC PHR.. SR.. something on one of the model T or model A repro companies and they use a material thats NOT tool steel as stamping die materials.. they can get about 50 good parts before the die starts to wear.

papastoyss · December 18, 2013, 03:34:35 PM

Try www.rodsnrides in Calhoun, Ga. , I bought floor pans from them for my '57 project, they had some parts cars also. A little further up the road in Manchester, Tn. a place is parting app. 50 trifives. Their contact #s are 931.247.4486 or 931.273.4666. They have ads on Nashville Tn. Craigslist constantly but no website that I have noticed. Good luck!