Cover Story // December 2007
Kick-Starting an Old ’57 Chevy
Story By Ron Wolf
A locked-up engine was no match for Denny Goodman’s determination to drive his newly acquired ’57 convertible. After pouring a wide selection of oily brews into the slug holes, as suggested by several friends, he still couldn’t get the engine to start.
Next it was off to a deserted section of old Route 66 near his hometown of Bois D’Arc, MO. That’s where Denny towed the ’57 in gear for about a quarter mile. At that point he started the engine and proceeded to drive the car for the next 16 years. Denny calls that technique, “Kick-starting a motor.”
This scenario brings back memories of my younger days in Detroit in the early sixties. A pal bought a ’55 Chevy that wasn’t running. There was no deserted highway nearby to push or pull the car like Denny Goodman used, but a bunchof us got behind and pushed...and pushed for what seemed like a mile. The old rod finally kicked over as we were about to collapse. What was great about the old Chevys was that given enough persistence, muscle and sweat those old motors would eventually come back to life, even when their life expectancy was near the end.
The sixteen years of daily driving his ’57 were “uneventful” in Denny’s words. The car was utterly reliable while being fun to drive. It was used primarily in the summer months hauling people, feed, parts and anything related to the farm. However, over that time and through the Missouri winters Denny realized that he would soon need to take some major steps toward preserving the car. It was at that point that he decided to visit some car shows to see what people were doing with these old Chevys. Seeing so many beautifully customized old Chevys at the shows, he came away inspired to turn his ’57 into a custom convertible.
Before we get into the details of how Denny transformed his “ordinary” ’57 into a show-stopping custom, here’s a little history on the car:
During the seventies, a friend, Bob Lawmaster, found this car for sale in the front yard of a home in Springfield, MO. He bought the car and drove it for several years and then parked it outside for the remaining 15 years of his ownership. Bob told Denny that he decided to sell the car because the top had a hole in it and was taking in water. In actuality, Bob probably needed the money for his daughter’s college education that was beginning soon. Denny bought the car without hesitation.
When it came time to begin building this car, Denny, a farmer, used equipment he had on his farm. A tractor was used as a lift and a flatbed truck was used to move the body onto a flatbed truck for transport to the body shop. His son Daryl and son-in-law Bryan Perry were his primary helpers on this project. Using the farm tractor the first time worked out fine, but when trying to unload the car off the truck when it came back from the body shop a chain broke and pinned Daryl under the car and he couldn’t breathe. Fortunately, Denny managed to free him in time to get him breathing again while waiting for an ambulance to arrive. Daryl spent two days in the hospital and three months in recovery with some internal injuries and torn muscles in the chest, arms and legs. While Daryl was recovering at home, Denny moved the car into a barn and left it there.
However, as the old saying goes, “Time heals all wounds” and with Daryl’s encouragement Denny brought the car out of storage and back into his shop. All disassembly and assembly took place in his farm shop.
The motor is an LT1 out of a ‘95 Camaro. Denny got the 4L60E transmission, air conditioning condenser and radiator out of the same car. A Vintage Air unit was installed.
The car still has the original front suspension, with disc brakes and Classic Chevy rack and pinion power steering. Rear suspension is located in the original position and Denny added a Positraction rear end from a Chevelle with 3.31 Eaton gears and drum brakes. The master cylinder is mounted backwards under the driver side floor board on the frame. To change the look and stance of the car, 2" lowered front spindles and rear springs were installed while Boyd Coddington 17" wheels provide rolling elegance to the front and rear.
Denny’s idea was to build a car with a totally smooth look, both inside and out. To achieve this appearance, the door handles were removed from the outside, the dash, interior, engine compartment and trunk area all got the smooth treatment. Underneath, the frame, rear end housing, A-arms, brake parts and all other parts attached to the frame were sand blasted, ground down smooth and powder coated gloss black. The latch system for the trunk is a hidden pull cable. The Secret Audio System is hidden in the front console with speakers concealed in the interior and the transmitter located in the trunk. The rest of the interior is totally customized and was designed and installed by the Recovery Room in Plattsmouth, NE near Omaha, owned by Tracy Weaver.
The rear quarter panel inserts were left off this car and replaced by paint. Denny and his crew used white pearl paint to make the lines and design for the inserts. These lines are very subtle and can be seen when the sunlight hits them just right and at just the right angle. It’s a unique look and one that can fool the eye at first glance. The paint on the car is Porsche red base coat clear coat.
Denny said his wife Judi is very proud and protective of the car now, but she kind of insulted the body shop owner in the early stages of the project. He took her to the shop to see the body after it was painted and put back on the frame. Bud Martin, the body shop owner, asked her what she thought and she said, “Well, at least it looks better than it did when you got it.” It seems Judi didn’t really like the car until she saw it completed.
In addition to help from his son Daryl and son-in-law Bryan, there were five other people who helped Denny on the project:
Wendell Royster- engine work
Jimmie Houston- electrical
Don Arnall- air conditioner
Vern Vire from the Springfield Classic Chevy Club who referred Denny to Wendell, Jimmie and Don for help.
Previous owner Bob Lawmaster helped with the brakes.
After completing the car, Denny was driving into a Street Machine National Car Show and overheard four men talking about his car. They said, “Look at that car, the owner has just ruined a 210 Convertible.” Of course Denny wasn’t offended by their remark because he knew that these guys didn’t know what they were looking at; there was never a 210 convertible!
BIO :
I am retired from the Burlington Northern Sante Fe Railroad after working 42 years. I’ve also had a dairy farm, stock cattle and hay business. I have always been interested in cars, but have only completed two cars. The first was a 1937 Chevy in 1969 before marriage, children and work. The second car is this ‘57 Chevy completed and shown for the first time in Tulsa, OK in February 2005. I enjoyed water skiing competition when I was younger. I sold my 37 Chevy to buy a boat. My main hobby now, which has priority over my love for Chevys, is serving the Lord Jesus Christ in my church and community.
My wife Judi has worked for the St. Louis San Francisco railroad, which is now Burlington Northern Sante Fe railroad. She left that job years ago to take care of our children. She is now retired from the US Postal Service after working there 25 years as a Post Master in Halltown, MO. Judi serves in different areas of the church and donates the rest of her time in helping me and taking care of the grandchildren.