The Ford Barn

Jeff Norwell · 04-25-2026, 04:58 AM

After 3 years from completion... finally have all the bugs worked out on my57 ford Custom.
I had many early Fords.. but always have had a nagging thought of having, building one of these cars
I wanted to stay faithful to use all and only Ford parts.. which was attained up to a 99%.
The only non Ford part is the MSD box.

At any rate... the last issue was the 406 tri power carb set up.. which, is now fully settled.
I run a FE swap... (a 66 Merc 428 PI) mated to a Toploader.
I would have searched for a Y-Block, but I was even more fascinated by the popular early FE swap in the early sixties.

After ironing out bugs in the past 2 years... we have tested it extensively locally and it runs flawlessly...
Looking forward to a fun summer.
(*note) Fuel mileage and FE'S don't speak the same language.

Thanks for listening guys.

Jeff Norwell · 04-25-2026, 04:59 AM

trying to upload pic.....

Jeff Norwell · 04-25-2026, 05:01 AM

pic

https://imgur.com/a/EOUgpff

Jeff Norwell · 04-25-2026, 05:01 AM

Mmmmmm for some reason I can't load up a pic....

Jeff Norwell · 04-25-2026, 05:03 AM

miker98038 · 04-25-2026, 07:50 PM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

That’s such a cool car. Dead serious. Sleeper. And the FE is true to form for the day. As much as I like Yblocks, I’ve always thought of an FE in the bird. Much more practical and useful as you’ve done it.

sugarmaker · 04-25-2026, 08:03 PM

Jeff,
Great looking 57! Thanks for posting. Love your art work!
Regards,
Chris and Cheryl

yblock57 · 04-27-2026, 01:03 PM

Hard to beat an all black '57 custom! All business! Have any engine shots?

Bleach · 04-27-2026, 04:09 PM

A “like” button is really needed.

Jim.UT · 04-28-2026, 09:37 AM

I'm getting "Thunder Road" vibes. Be careful where you flip your butts.

Jeff Norwell · 05-01-2026, 05:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yblock57

Hard to beat an all black '57 custom! All business! Have any engine shots?

Thanks All.
Let me see if I can paste a shot.....

Jeff Norwell · 05-01-2026, 05:11 AM

See if this works....

Jeff Norwell · 05-01-2026, 05:12 AM

Well thats incredibly oversized....

cos · 05-01-2026, 08:51 AM

hi like a lot things on your car, TB hood scoop is my favorite, been looking for one for a long time.

mhsprecher · 05-01-2026, 08:54 AM

Love it.

Gene F · 05-02-2026, 01:16 PM

Nice car. As far as gas mileage goes, my 57 left the factory with a 2-barrel. At 70MPH the thing got 12 MPG. It has a tri-power on it now.

Jeff Norwell · 05-09-2026, 05:54 AM

Thanks guys.

Hot Rod Reverend · 05-09-2026, 05:41 PM

looking good!

04-25-2026, 04:58 AM	#1
Jeff Norwell Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Palookaville Posts: 143	Just having fun... My 57 custom After 3 years from completion... finally have all the bugs worked out on my57 ford Custom. I had many early Fords.. but always have had a nagging thought of having, building one of these cars I wanted to stay faithful to use all and only Ford parts.. which was attained up to a 99%. The only non Ford part is the MSD box. At any rate... the last issue was the 406 tri power carb set up.. which, is now fully settled. I run a FE swap... (a 66 Merc 428 PI) mated to a Toploader. I would have searched for a Y-Block, but I was even more fascinated by the popular early FE swap in the early sixties. After ironing out bugs in the past 2 years... we have tested it extensively locally and it runs flawlessly... Looking forward to a fun summer. (*note) Fuel mileage and FE'S don't speak the same language. Thanks for listening guys. __________________ https://www.jeff-norwell.com https://www.norwell-equipped.com

04-25-2026, 04:59 AM	#2
Jeff Norwell Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Palookaville Posts: 143	Re: Just having fun... My 57 custom trying to upload pic..... __________________ https://www.jeff-norwell.com https://www.norwell-equipped.com

04-25-2026, 05:01 AM	#3
Jeff Norwell Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Palookaville Posts: 143	Re: Just having fun... My 57 custom pic https://imgur.com/a/EOUgpff __________________ https://www.jeff-norwell.com https://www.norwell-equipped.com

04-25-2026, 05:01 AM	#4
Jeff Norwell Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Palookaville Posts: 143	Re: Just having fun... My 57 custom Mmmmmm for some reason I can't load up a pic.... __________________ https://www.jeff-norwell.com https://www.norwell-equipped.com

04-25-2026, 05:03 AM	#5
Jeff Norwell Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Palookaville Posts: 143	Re: Just having fun... My 57 custom __________________ https://www.jeff-norwell.com https://www.norwell-equipped.com

04-25-2026, 07:50 PM	#6
miker98038 Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Kent, WA. Tucson, AZ Posts: 1,765	Re: Just having fun... My 57 custom Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) That’s such a cool car. Dead serious. Sleeper. And the FE is true to form for the day. As much as I like Yblocks, I’ve always thought of an FE in the bird. Much more practical and useful as you’ve done it.

04-25-2026, 08:03 PM	#7
sugarmaker Senior Member Join Date: Dec 2016 Location: Albion PA Posts: 1,861	Re: Just having fun... My 57 custom Jeff, Great looking 57! Thanks for posting. Love your art work! Regards, Chris and Cheryl __________________ 1932 AAB Truck 1953 Ford Jubilee 1965 Mercury Comet Caliente 1966 Ford F100 2015 Ford F250 SuperCrew Lots of Allis tractors Some Cub Cadets

04-27-2026, 01:03 PM	#8
yblock57 Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2020 Location: Round Rock, TX Posts: 130	Re: Just having fun... My 57 custom Hard to beat an all black '57 custom! All business! Have any engine shots? __________________ Kent — Round Rock, TX '56 F-100 \| '56 Crown Vic \| '57 Fairlaine 500 \| '57 Thunderbird

04-27-2026, 04:09 PM	#9
Bleach Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: SW WA state. Posts: 582	Re: Just having fun... My 57 custom A “like” button is really needed. __________________ 1956 Ford Fairlane Town Sedan 292 V8 with Ford-o-Matic

04-28-2026, 09:37 AM	#10
Jim.UT Member Join Date: Mar 2025 Location: Washington, Utah Posts: 57	Re: Just having fun... My 57 custom I'm getting "Thunder Road" vibes. Be careful where you flip your butts.

05-01-2026, 05:11 AM	#12
Jeff Norwell Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Palookaville Posts: 143	Re: Just having fun... My 57 custom See if this works.... __________________ https://www.jeff-norwell.com https://www.norwell-equipped.com

05-01-2026, 05:12 AM	#13
Jeff Norwell Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Palookaville Posts: 143	Re: Just having fun... My 57 custom Well thats incredibly oversized.... __________________ https://www.jeff-norwell.com https://www.norwell-equipped.com

05-01-2026, 08:51 AM	#14
cos Member Join Date: Sep 2022 Posts: 48	Re: Just having fun... My 57 custom hi like a lot things on your car, TB hood scoop is my favorite, been looking for one for a long time.

05-01-2026, 08:54 AM	#15
mhsprecher Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Takoma Park, MD Posts: 3,025	Re: Just having fun... My 57 custom Love it. __________________ 1910 Model T Touring 1924 Model T Coupe 1928 Model A Roadster 1930 Model A Town Sedan 1939 Deluxe Fordor 1945 pickup 1951 Custom convertible

05-02-2026, 01:16 PM	#16
Gene F Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Ohio Posts: 2,689	Re: Just having fun... My 57 custom Nice car. As far as gas mileage goes, my 57 left the factory with a 2-barrel. At 70MPH the thing got 12 MPG. It has a tri-power on it now.

05-09-2026, 05:54 AM	#17
Jeff Norwell Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Palookaville Posts: 143	Re: Just having fun... My 57 custom Thanks guys. __________________ https://www.jeff-norwell.com https://www.norwell-equipped.com

05-09-2026, 05:41 PM	#18
Hot Rod Reverend Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Red Lion, Pennsylvania Posts: 952	Re: Just having fun... My 57 custom looking good! __________________ Red Lion, Pennsylvania Visit hotrodreverend.com to view hundreds of pictures and videos of the build of the 1955 Ford Club Sedan!