[COLOR=black][FONT=Verdana]I am new to the forum and really like what I have read. However, the '57 Styleside is not mentioned very often and appears to be a kind-of step child , as I understand all you guys love the fat fenders. However, I acquired my truck from my dad, who started to tear it apart in 1983 when we had a flood that ended his desire. It has been sitting since, though not in the same place. My truck is a long bed with the large rear window. I want to maintain the original look with a modern luxury style ride. I am looking for tips/tricks and to avoid pitfalls. I am trying to find a shop manual cd, but not sure which one to acquire. I am a lucky lady as my husband has rebuilt a few vehicles, but his father and I are trying to convert him from a Ch#$% guy. Look forward to any suggestions or comments.

 

I can't give you any help but want to welcome you to our little play house for old ford trucks, you'll have lots of fun here and get lots of answers, maybe not the right ones but then some of these guys do really know what they are talking about, again welcome from Kentucky, Garry--aka HOMADE

 

i love these years And glad to hear another is being saved. What motor is in it and is there any pics of your truck and welcome and enjoy to the site.

 

Currently no motor and trying to find one of the door hinges. Fingers are crossed.

 

Welcome 57 Stepchild

Ya they're often called "Fridges" here haha. And I've got one too. I've got a 58 styleside with the big rear window--its a Custom. My truck is totally modded and I read you're going stock looking etc--all good. And it 's less common to find stuff for these fridges in the after market. But some stuff does exist. I've bought a few patch panels and even an entire replacement tail gate at Dennis Carpenter. And Sacramento Vintage Ford has some stuff for these years too.

The 57 is probably my favorite fridge. I myself prefer the single headlights and the simpler--to me--front grill etc.

I don't know about a shop manual CD etc. I'm sure there's something out there. Hopefully someone will chime in. You've probably checked Amazon or eBay parts etc?

Good luck with that.

 

I've quickly looked through some of my catalogs and dont' see any of mine offering a hinge itself, but they all offer hinge pins. You could put a Wanted Hinge Pins add in Craigslist or keep browsing eBay and Amazon or etc. These things are around for sure. Probably hard to get off of OEM trucks being parted out. New old stock would be your best move. So you have one hinge totally missing? Not a hinge that could possibly be repaired?

I see that Sacto Vintage Ford, Sacramento, calif, offers a $95 57-63 Ford Truck Parts & Accessories "illustration catalog" part number 9264-6 and a set of sister books 57-63 that is a Text only Catalog. I guess one would use them all together to sort things out etc. And the text catalog is part number 9264-5. If I'm reading this right the illustration catalog is one volume and the text catalog is two volumes. One illustration catalog for $95 and two text catalogs for $95(both text catalogs) or $190 for all three volumes etc. Hope that's not too confusing.

I've used these type books on F1 and they were helpful but imo they're certainly not a "shop manual". But better than nothing. And one can often see all the parts in a particular area, and that helps for sure.

Other aftemarket catalogs will likely carry shop books too. Hopefully someone will chime in with a source of shop manuals. I' sure someone is selling them. I just haven't bought one myself. So don't really know.

 

Specifically I'm wondering if you can repair the hinge problem. I know the hinges on my 58 are kinda different than what Ford was using earlier. They're a recessed kinda elaborate device with an arm that comes out and goes into the door etc. I'm guessing yours are the same on a 57. One of mine was badly torn/damaged etc, and I couldn't even easily remove it. As I recall I was able to patch together a repair in place by adding a little metal plate and support or? etc and it still all works! I can't remember if I looked for one or not. Its been years ago, but the "fix" is still working.

 

welcome kjdungan! as far as what to call the 57-60, i have settled on orphan fridge. i have also been looking for nos or new repop hinges for years and all i have found are the pins. the biggest part of that job is getting the old ones out. i trashed one of mine trying and had to get a new used hinge that wasnt much better than the one i wasted. as far as the manual goes, i just ordered one from Chuck @ chuckstrucks LLC. i dont know what his web address is but you can google it. it is a repop of the service manual, so it should have all the good stuff in it. i have a trans to rebuild, so we will see how good the book really is. is yours a half ton or larger?

 

There's a CD on Ebay! FORD 1957 Pick Up & Heavy Duty Truck Shop Manual CD '57 - eBay (item 230510576315 end time Apr-08-11 13:20:31 PDT)

about 35 bucks! They also have the printed book which I prefer for $60.

 

Here's a pic of the doors removed and you can hopefully get some notion of how my 58 door can be removed with the "hinge arm?" intact etc and then I went in and repaired some of the area inside the front fender and modded a little to work adequately. Earlier F1 hinges and most trucks of a similar vintage have a door hinge more similar to a common hinge in ones home. And as you can see these hinges are definitely not. I hope you can zoom in on this pic a little?

 

Hey Nice. Good going.

 

Though mine's a '59, I really like the '57's body styling the best, with the single headlights, simplified grill, and ribbed hood.It looks to be older than the 58-60's, which of course it is.Sort of harks back to the previous generations of Ford trucks in its' simplicity.The one thing I do prefer on the 59/60, is the white steering wheel/*****,as opposed to the black of the 57/58.

 

Ya for sure. That's pretty much how i see it too. I'm happy with my 58 but imo the grill and 4 headlights on the 58 are a little "too much" or? similar
You know what I mean. I just like the more simple look of the 57. After the 57 they begin to look like they're trying a little too hard. And really the basics are what counts. Not the frilly stuff. At least that's my opinion.

 

That's about the best description of 58'-60' that I have heard. I have a 60' and would definately trade for a 57', as long as I could keep my steering wheel!

 

Welcome. You can check out my gallery to see the more modern conveniences we added to our 60. (57-60 are for the most part the same except the front grill, lights and the such, there are a few other more subtle differences i.e. dash **** color). We installed power disc brakes, power steering, AC, bucket seats, modern gauges, etc.

On the door hinge, if you have the old one it is easily fixed. Dennis Carpenter sells new pins and bushings. You can drill out the old, install a bushing and with the new pin it is good as new. If you don't have a hinge, you will have to find a used one and maybe rebuild that one. I have pieces but I don't think I have the entire hinge. If you only need part, let me know via email and I will check if I have. mr4speedford also may have a complete hinge. I would also check ebay.

Welcome and good luck.