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DRiVE! Magazine Project Surf Wagon

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Apple Valley, CA
DRiVE! Magazine Project Surf Wagon

This full resto-mod project started in Drive! Magazine in 2005. Follow us here on Facebook & Motorto

03/20/2024

In this edition, we are installing the new windshield and all related exterior trim. With a brand new windshield from JRD International of Montclair, CA, and a new rubber seal from Steele Rubber, Inc. we called on a local professional to handle the actual installation. With over 5000 cars on the books, we called Paul's Auto Glass. Paul and his son had it installed in under an hour.
The upper trim goes in WITH the windshield and the seal, so the remaining lower trim was left up to us. All 5 of the lower trim pieces were still intact, but with the typical rusty hardware. So, we hit up ebay motors and scored an Ol'55 hardware set from trusted seller I-5 Classic Chevy. It was somewhat of a puzzle, but we managed to get it all back in order again with a bit of patience and attention to detail.
What a difference to see this car with the front glass in!
Thanks for following along.
-Kw

10/02/2023

Project Surf Wagon will proudly be using AutoMeter products, ordered from the AutoMeter Custom Shop! https://fb.watch/nqKQFPO-88/?mibextid=CDWPTG

08/05/2023

1957 Chevies rolling down the assembly line. ❤️

08/14/2022

I'm sitting down to place an order for a full factory interior set for my 57 wagon, just to find out that Danchuk has gone out of business as of March 11, 2022. 🤔

11/28/2021

Drive! Magazine Surf Wagon is proudly sponsored by Steele Rubber Products.

10/28/2021

This man was a huge inspiration and invaluable technical advisor for Project Surf Wagon, and we lost him to cancer last week. He was a mentor, friend to many and the best mechanic I ever met.
I will continue to build this car to completion and drive it proudly in your honor some day.
You will be greatly missed, Dad.
Rest in paradise, Len Williams of Len's Performance Automotive.
-Kevin

08/15/2021

This '57 Bel Air 4 door wagon was spotted at this year's Tri-5 show in Bowling Green, Kentucky. Notice the rear side doors feature the beltline dip, only used on the sedans in 57. You saw it here first on project surf wagon. Kudos to this owner for getting their car project completed. Beautiful job.

07/18/2021

Coolant overflow tank installed this morning.
I chose a polished aluminum unit measuring 3"x16", and the mounting tabs & holes are the same location as the 2 right side radiator mount bolts, so it fits perfectly. The plumbing will go from the passenger side of the radiator, down below the support and back up to the tank. We wanted to save space on the passenger side for the air conditioning components, coming soon by Vintage Air.
Thanks for following along.

07/07/2021

Today, the inner fenders got installed in preparation for the air conditioning system.
First, we took the pre-painted OEM inners and prepared them by installing a set of new Danchuk A-frame dust shields with brand new hardware from Totally Stainless.
We also strongly suggest getting a front fender anti-squeak kit from Danchuk. It replaces all of the factory rubber and foam-rubber that keeps things quiet wherever metal meets metal. Factory assembly used staples, but we used 3M black super adhesive to do the job.
Although it can be a one person job, we suggest getting a helping hand when installing the inner fenders, or "fender skirts" as the original Chevy assembly manual calls them. There are two steel brackets (not shown) that will need to be reused, to tie the rear of the inner fender to the vertical body brace, with four sheet metal screws each side.
Also, two machine screws and 3 sheetmetal screws will fasten the forward section to either end of the core support assembly. Totally Stainless fasteners were used throughout.
Estimated time, approximately 2 hours.
Thanks for following along. 👍🏼

06/12/2021

Flashing back to the beginnings of this project....the frame was freshly powder coated by Daytec and we were getting some chassis work done by Dale's Speed & Marine in Hesperia. 2009.

06/01/2021

Today, we installed the new high efficiency aluminum cross-flow radiator / transmission cooler unit from U.S. Radiator to the core support. New custom-fit cooler lines from Bowtie Overdrives will do the job of keeping the ATF cool, and it all went together with stainless steel fasteners from Totally Stainless. Thanks to Len's Performance Automotive for the shop space and technical support.

05/10/2021

A glimpse into the past.

04/03/2021

Good stuff coming soon.

03/10/2021

Baby steps...
This day, we installed the radiator core support, attached the upper cross support and the side baffle plates. Our new radiator is a cross-flow (replacing the old vertical unit) so a custom installation is in the works. All new hardware from Totally Stainless will be used in the final assembly. More to come.

02/23/2021

Making the final piece of the fuel system, we created a flexible line to connect from the hard tubing to the Holley mechanical fuel pump. With a section of steel braid hose, a few Russell anodized aluminum AN fittings, and a very cool tool kit from Koul Tools, we fashioned up a professsional, permanent fuel line.
If you plan to go the steel-braided route, do yourself a favor and check out Koul Tools. It saves time and your hands, too, with great results.
Special thanks to Len's Performance Automotive.

02/13/2021

Adventures in electrical wiring... nothing huge to share, but routing and terminating some of the wiring up in the engine bay. 👉 3/8" chrome tubing was sourced in the plumbing section of our local home improvement store to hide the wires. Thanks to Len's Performance Automotive for the shop space and expert advice. 👍

02/12/2021

Vintage ad from 1958.

01/21/2021

Just a minor detail, but a cool story...
I started shopping around for a set of new spark plug wires, when I remembered this new-in-box set I had stashed on the shelf: this Taylor 8mm black V8 set I had won in a raffle at a car show, some 8 years ago. In fact, the winning raffle ticket was still in the box where I stuffed it.
So I installed them and routed them below the exhaust to the back of the engine. They fit and look great, were made in the 🇺🇸, and only cost me a buck.

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Our Story

My name is Kevin Williams. I have been an independent delivery agent for my favorite magazine, "Drive!" in the Southern California High Desert for the past 20 years. I established and maintain a clientele of about 150 retail locations where readers can find their favorite car magazine on a monthly basis, including local car shows as needed. In 2004, the former owner and founder of Drive! Magazine, Mike Calamusa approached me with the idea of taking my old family be**er to the pages of Drive! and doing a complete renovation with the full editorial support of the magazine and its resources. I loved this idea, put together the plans, and started my contact list. Three print articles have shown up in the magazine so far, but major staff changes and this little "recession" thing have resulted in delays beyond our control. The original completion goal was Sept 2007, the FIFTIETH birthday of the car, but to no avail. It was reset to Sept 1, 2011, and now it is again reset to march 1, 2019. I am determined to not let this project die. Please "Like" this page and follow along. Thank you for your continuing readership of Drive! We appreciate your support. -Kevin