VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND NEWER 1955-1957 1957 Engine Types

I have been looking ( just looking so far ) at 57 convertibles. I did have a 55 when I was in high school, but am unfamiliar with some of the 57 engine options. I looked at a Dunlop (sp) solid lifter car,( claimed it came from the factory this way. How can you tell?) with the fuel injection heads that had been converted to dual quads. I don't know why they would do that or how you use FI heads with a carb. system. Is it hard to find the parts to convert back? Also, what was the power pak option? One last question, how do you tell a Del Ray from a Belair?
I know you 57 guys will know these answers and appreciate anything you think I should look for. BTW can't believe how the prices have come down.
Richard

pull the valve covers and look at the casting numbers. If they are 283 HP fuel injection heads, the casting number must be 3731539. if they were the 57 250HP fuel injection heads, the casting number must be 3740997. Many 57 chevy pass cars currently fitted with and claimed to be original FI cars have been cloned. it would be unlikely that a cloner would go to the trouble and expense of finding the above mention casting numbered heads. another item frequently not acquired by the cloners is the electrovac and its microswitch which ALL 57 Chevy Pass Car Fuelies had originaly. this device assisted the vacuum driven windshield wiper motor(the electric wiper motor interfered with the taller FI distributor). If the pass side exhaust manifold is in fact a fuel injection manifold, there will be no hole drilled in the top of the manifold for the choke stove pipe that all carburated manifolds had. also, all 57 pass car
fi cars had dual exhaust and the larger 3/8" main fuel line from tank to fuel pump. be cautious when evaluating what's purported to be or has been a 57 chevy pass car fuelie. mike

1957 head casting numbers
2 bbl - 3731554
4 bbl and 283 HP FI - 3731539
2 4 bbl 245 HP, 2 4 bbl 270 HP and 250 HP Fi - 3740997

There were three series in 1957, Cheap = 150, medium = 210, Top of the line = BelAir

The Del Ray was a 210 2 door with a fancy interior. Had vinyl seats, full carpet, fancy door panels. Was the last year for that model which began in 1954. In 1958 the DelRay name was used for the 210 series.

In 1957 the Power Pac had a higher 9.5 to 1 compression ratio, 4 barrel carb and dual exhaust.

There are more red fuel injected convertibles available today than the total number of FI cars produced in 1957.

Not Dunlap but Duntov.....he was the engineer that designed the solid lifter camshaft used in the 270 ans 283 HP engines as well as other high performance items.

Thank you for the information.
Richard