1957 alternator conversion & adding A/C

[Beginner]

Hello all in the forum, I'm new here. I've acquired a 1957 and I'm determined to bring it into daily driver status. As I live in Texas, no snow or salt, just plenty of heat. The condition is not too bad. There is a previous restoration that changed the color from white to red which includes changing the interior from blue to red / white. Various holes in the trunk and floor have been welded over. As there was a broken window on the passenger side, the door panel had to come off and alas, a disaster! The close out cover was entirely missing and along with that, the lower window stop. The window regulator and channels were bent and an upper window stop was missing (the first part fabricated for the car). The passenger door panel was removed to see what was in there, and the news was marginally better. The close out panel was there, but the lower window stop was not.

Future plans for the car include pulling the power train to repair the numerous leaks in both it and the power steering, and while the power train is out, replacing the wire looms.

Then there is the plan to put disk brakes on the car. As it is a 57, it has 14 inch wheels, and many of the disk brake kits require 15 in wheels. I also want to go from stamped steel to spoke wheels. Does anyone have experience with disk brakes and 14 inch spoke wheels, or running 15 inch spoked wheels with disk brakes on 57?

Then there is air conditioning. As I am in Texas, that is required for survival. I'd hate to arrive at my destination dead. Anyone have experience / advice on adding air conditioning?

And lastly, there is generator to alternator conversion. I'm thinking Powermaster to keep the old school look under the hood, but I'm looking for someone with experience to let me know if that is a good idea.

I appreciate any wisdom folks can provide on the above.

This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated. As an eBay Partner, and Amazon Associate I may be compensated if you make a purchase at no cost to you.

 

[Ward 57]

One step at a time unless you have mucho bucks to throw at it all at once. Fix the doors and windows and make it drivable as is before you start making other changes. They are a great driver as designed. Fun and yes a little quirky but that's the pleasure of driving a true classic. You don't see people doing that to the pre-war cars. You can throw 10s of thousands at it to try to make it more modern but don't plan on getting your investment back other than bragging rights.

 

[jimntempe]

I know a lot of people like the original look and it's their money but IMHO it's not worth the $$$ and if you are doing it as part of adding AC keep in mind that the AC compressor is over the generator/alternator hiding that high-$$$$ powermaster. You can always paint a GM alternator black.....

This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated. As an eBay Partner, and Amazon Associate I may be compensated if you make a purchase at no cost to you.

 

[CSPIDY]

"Classic Air" out of Texas no less sells an air-conditioning kit for the baby birds. kit is very well made and fairly easy to install.
I installed one in my 57 and it went fairly well only dad to buy a different bracket for the compressor and alternator to make it work
they may offer it now, be sure to ask

is your car a standard or automatic?
do you have any overheating problems, if so air-conditioning will only make it worse.

 

[Beginner]

CSPIDY - thank you for the reply on the A/C. The car is an automatic. I have had the car less than a week, it has a new aftermarket radiator in a new gas tank, many new sensors under the hood, all brand new so someone was restoring it. The person I bought it from only had it about 18 months and sold it because the transmission was leaking. Looking under the car the transmission and power steering are both leaking badly. There is a tremendous amount of oil on the bottom of the car so it was driven with the leaks for some time. I have some experience working on cars so pulling the drivetrain and fixing the leaks is a hobby, part of the ownership experience.

 

[CSPIDY]

CSPIDY - thank you for the reply on the A/C. The car is an automatic. I have had the car less than a week, it has a new aftermarket radiator in a new gas tank, many new sensors under the hood, all brand new so someone was restoring it. The person I bought it from only had it about 18 months and sold it because the transmission was leaking. Looking under the car the transmission and power steering are both leaking badly. There is a tremendous amount of oil on the bottom of the car so it was driven with the leaks for some time. I have some experience working on cars so pulling the drivetrain and fixing the leaks is a hobby, part of the ownership experience.

sounds like a lot of fun, I get much more enjoyment out of working on them than driving
looks like your on the right track, get it running then sort out all the issues then modify as desired

This site contains affiliate links for which I may be compensated. As an eBay Partner, and Amazon Associate I may be compensated if you make a purchase at no cost to you.