ACP department heading TECH

InTheGarageMedia.com

1. Jerry Dixey wanted a vehicle that was both practical for traveling around the country and had classic good looks; he got both with this ’57 Chevrolet station wagon.

ONE FOR THE ROAD
A Station Wagon Built for the Long Haul
By Ron Ceridono with Jerry Dixey Photography by Dana Srbinovich & Jerry Dixey
A

lmost everyone who grew up in the ’50s can relate to a station wagon; it was the minivan of the era. Jerry Dixey spent a large portion of his early years in his parents’ station wagon, doing everything from going to the drive-in to taking family vacations. Station wagons were true utilitarian vehicles back then and they make cool cruisers today, as we’re about to prove.

Over the past 25 years Dixey has traveled many miles in state-of-the-art hot rods leading road tours all over the country, first as a magazine staffer and now on his own (see Jerry Dixey’s Road Tourians Facebook page or visit roadtourians.com). Some time ago Dixey decided a station wagon would be the perfect mode of transportation for his weeklong road trips and, as luck would have it, a friend spotted a ’57 Chevy four-door wagon that was available at the NSRA Nationals. Most of the expensive things already done—the body and paint were fine, the glass was new, a nice 283ci Chevy was underhood bolted to a good automatic transmission. Best of all, the owner was looking to sell or trade. After some negotiating, Dixey was down a ’27 T roadster and a few bucks and up a station wagon.

It’s often said, “Be careful what you wish for, you might get it.” Well, Dixey got the wagon he wished for, and it was in fact a solid car, but the chassis he got revealed technology straight out of 1957. As Dixey describes it: “When I drove the wagon I realized there was a problem. The ride was horrible. It swayed and wandered and bounced and bucked. The Chevy needed help, so a call was made to Dana Srbinovich at Dana’s Tri Five Garage.” An expert on these cars, Dana summed up the situation succinctly by explaining, “This is how a 65-year-old Chevy drove.”

With the wagon delivered to Dana’s shop, a plan was formulated to improve the Chevy’s ride and handling characteristics without blowing up Dixey’s budget. With the front sheetmetal removed, the OEM suspension components were replaced with new and improved parts from Classic Performance Products (CPP). A major improvement was made by replacing the original manual steering gear with a CPP power steering box. This all-new 500 Series steering gear features a one-piece housing with all-new internal parts. The 14:1 steering ratio provides crisp steering response with little effort. In the rear, new springs, bushings, and shackles were installed and new CPP brakes and double-adjustable shocks were added all around.

Once the chassis was squared away, Dana turned his attention to the inside of the Chevy. A new Dakota Digital RTX instrument cluster was added. While it looks to be straight out of 1957, there is a TFT (thin film transistor) digital readout window (offering over 30 user-selectable color options) with tach, oil pressure, and voltage displays made up of hidden LED bars only visible when the key is on.

In addition to the gauge cluster, Dakota Digital supplied a VLC series clock. It has a cool analog face with LED backlighting and lighted needles. Installation is easy as it simply plugs into the instrument’s controller.

To keep Dixey comfortable in all kinds of weather, the Chevy’s original heater was swapped for a Vintage Air heat and cooling unit. The complete kits included the evaporator plus all underhood components, such as the compressor and brackets, condenser with brackets, preformed refrigerant lines, drier and fittings, hardware, and installation instructions. The electronic servo motor controls the Fly-by-Wire Vintage Air system and is regulated by a stock-appearing heater control panel.

An oddity of Tri-Five Chevys is the cable system used to drive the windshield wipers. Over time the cables stretch and the operation of the wipers becomes erratic or fails completely. To prevent potential problems, the original wiper system was replaced with a complete Rain Gear lever and link system.

Once Dana pronounced the Chevy complete, Dixey took a few short trips around town then headed to the Woodward Dream Cruise in Detroit four hours away. Dixey reports the trip proved all the changes made to the ’57 were just what was needed. It was comfortable, rode like a late-model car, and had that perfect lowered look. “I’m all set for the upcoming Road Tours, and I might even take it to the drive-in for old times’ sake.”

Dana Srbinovich started the wagon’s updates by removing the front sheetmetal. Note the Chevy had been updated with front disc brakes and a dual master cylinder.
2. Dana Srbinovich started the wagon’s updates by removing the front sheetmetal. Note the Chevy had been updated with front disc brakes and a dual master cylinder.
With the original suspension components removed, Srbinovich cleaned and painted the framerails. The 283ci small-block was found to be in good shape and was left alone.
3. With the original suspension components removed, Srbinovich cleaned and painted the framerails. The 283ci small-block was found to be in good shape and was left alone.
CPP supplied new upper and lower control arms that provide increased caster for improved straight-line stability. Also included were new ball joints, crossshafts, and poly bushings.
4. CPP supplied new upper and lower control arms that provide increased caster for improved straight-line stability. Also included were new ball joints, crossshafts, and poly bushings.
New front brakes from CPP included 13-inch cross-drilled and slotted rotors, billet aluminum hubs, and two-piston calipers. They are said to provide 60 percent more braking power than the previous conversion.
5. New front brakes from CPP included 13-inch cross-drilled and slotted rotors, billet aluminum hubs, and two-piston calipers. They are said to provide 60 percent more braking power than the previous conversion.
All four well-worn shock absorbers were replaced with Viking double-adjustable units that allow compression and rebound damping to be fine-tuned for the best ride quality.

6. All four well-worn shock absorbers were replaced with Viking double-adjustable units that allow compression and rebound damping to be fine-tuned for the best ride quality.

Along with the front shock absorbers, a fresh set of stock-height coil springs were installed along with new rubber snubbers.

7. Along with the front shock absorbers, a fresh set of stock-height coil springs were installed along with new rubber snubbers.

For easier, more precise steering, Srbinovich swapped the Chevy’s original manual steering gear for a CPP 500 Series power steering box. The conversion kit comes with a power steering pump, hoses, and early model small-block power steering pump bracket.

8. For easier, more precise steering, Srbinovich swapped the Chevy’s original manual steering gear for a CPP 500 Series power steering box. The conversion kit comes with a power steering pump, hoses, and early model small-block power steering pump bracket.

For a sleeker stance, CPP’s 2-inch drop spindles were part of the suspension update. They accept bolt-on caliper mounting brackets and steering arms.

9. Along with the front shock absorbers, a fresh set of stock-height coil springs were installed along with new rubber snubbers.

To eliminate the common slope that comes with a worn-out steering linkage, a new centerlink and tie-rod ends from CPP were installed.
10. To eliminate the common slope that comes with a worn-out steering linkage, a new centerlink and tie-rod ends from CPP were installed.
The idler arm was replaced as it is often a source of vague steering response. Note the CPP tie-rod adjuster uses locknuts to maintain proper alignment rather than the factory split sleeves and clamps.
11. The idler arm was replaced as it is often a source of vague steering response. Note the CPP tie-rod adjuster uses locknuts to maintain proper alignment rather than the factory split sleeves and clamps.
CPP’s new power steering box accepts the stock pitman arm, however Srbinovich opted to install a new replacement.
12. CPP’s new power steering box accepts the stock pitman arm, however Srbinovich opted to install a new replacement.
To increase stability in corners, 11/4-inch sway bars equipped with poly bushings and endlinks were added to both ends of the chassis.
13. To increase stability in corners, 11/4-inch sway bars equipped with poly bushings and endlinks were added to both ends of the chassis.
Stopping power is enhanced by a CPP hydraulic brake booster. Rather than engine vacuum, the booster is powered by the power steering pump. Included with the master cylinder kit is an adjustable proportioning valve.
14. Stopping power is enhanced by a CPP hydraulic brake booster. Rather than engine vacuum, the booster is powered by the power steering pump. Included with the master cylinder kit is an adjustable proportioning valve.
This is typical of Tri-Five Chevy front engine mounts. The new left side engine bracket bolts to the block and mounts the CPP power steering pump.
15. This is typical of Tri-Five Chevy front engine mounts. The new left side engine bracket bolts to the block and mounts the CPP power steering pump.
Here the power steering pump has been installed along with a new A/C compressor and one-wire alternator with bracketry from Vintage Air.
16. Here the power steering pump has been installed along with a new A/C compressor and one-wire alternator with bracketry from Vintage Air.
In the rear of the wagon new springs with five leaves were installed. They use rubber bushings in the front eyes and shackles with poly bushings in the rear.
17. In the rear of the wagon new springs with five leaves were installed. They use rubber bushings in the front eyes and shackles with poly bushings in the rear.
To increase stopping power, the rear drum brakes were replaced with 12-inch drilled-and-slotted rotors and Lincoln calipers with built-in parking brakes.
18. To increase stopping power, the rear drum brakes were replaced with 12-inch drilled-and-slotted rotors and Lincoln calipers with built-in parking brakes.
A Vintage Air SuperFlow condenser was added to the existing aluminum radiator. Note the radiator is mounted ahead of the core support in the “six-cylinder” position.
19. A Vintage Air SuperFlow condenser was added to the existing aluminum radiator. Note the radiator is mounted ahead of the core support in the “six-cylinder” position.
To keep engine operating temperatures under control, Srbinovich installed dual electric fans with a shroud from Vintage Air.
20. To keep engine operating temperatures under control, Srbinovich installed dual electric fans with a shroud from Vintage Air.
Keeping things simple is often the key to success. The mild-mannered, carbureted small-block may not be a tire shredder but it’s a great cruiser, not fussy, and absolutely reliable.
21. Keeping things simple is often the key to success. The mild-mannered, carbureted small-block may not be a tire shredder but it’s a great cruiser, not fussy, and absolutely reliable.
Inside the wagon, a number of improvements were made. Dakota Digital supplied the Retrotech RTX Analog/Digital Instrument System.
22. Inside the wagon, a number of improvements were made. Dakota Digital supplied the Retrotech RTX Analog/Digital Instrument System.
Dakota Digital provided the vintage-appearing but high-tech clock to go along with the instrument cluster.
23. Dakota Digital provided the vintage-appearing but high-tech clock to go along with the instrument cluster.
The Gen IV Vintage Air climate-control system uses a fully electronic microprocessor control system that eliminates cables or vacuum connections.
24. The Gen IV Vintage Air climate-control system uses a fully electronic microprocessor control system that eliminates cables or vacuum connections.
Srbinovich completely rewired the wagon from front to back with an American Autowire kit. The fuse block was mounted to the cowl on the left side.
25. Srbinovich completely rewired the wagon from front to back with an American Autowire kit. The fuse block was mounted to the cowl on the left side.
Below the fuse block are the Dakota Digital RTX instrumentation control box and the GSS-3000 gear shift position decoder.
26. Below the fuse block are the Dakota Digital RTX instrumentation control box and the GSS-3000 gear shift position decoder.
Dixey’s Rod Tours are on rain or shine, so the original cable-driven windshield wipers were updated with a Rain Gear hidden wiper system that mounts the motor on the inside of the firewall.
27. Dixey’s Rod Tours are on rain or shine, so the original cable-driven windshield wipers were updated with a Rain Gear hidden wiper system that mounts the motor on the inside of the firewall.
While the upholstery was untouched, a new CPP tilt steering column was installed along with a Lokar shifter.
28. While the upholstery was untouched, a new CPP tilt steering column was installed along with a Lokar shifter.
Dixey’s cool cruiser wagon rolls on American five-spoke wheels from Speedway Motors. Due to the 13-inch front rotors, a minimum of 17-inch wheels must be used. Front wheels are 17x7, rears are 18x8; tires are 215/55R17 and 245/45R18, respectively.
29. Dixey’s cool cruiser wagon rolls on American five-spoke wheels from Speedway Motors. Due to the 13-inch front rotors, a minimum of 17-inch wheels must be used. Front wheels are 17×7, rears are 18×8; tires are 215/55R17 and 245/45R18, respectively.
American Autowire
(800) 482-9473
americanautowire.com
Classic Performance Products
(866) 517-0273
classicperform.com
Dakota Digital
(888) 881-0532
dakotadigital.com/ac
Speedway Motors
(855) 313-9173
speedwaymotors.com/allchevyperformance
Lokar Performance Products
(877) 469-7440
lokar.com
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