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Forward Look Frank

Posted 2025-12-08 7:00 PM (#642241)
Subject: Looking for 57 Super D-500 owners

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Hello, I'm looking touch base with 57 Dodge super d500 owners. I went to compare notes on the engine brackets and items unique to the super d500 package. Please touch base with me if you can. Thanks for your time.

wheelcover

Posted 2025-12-10 1:09 AM (#642252 - in reply to #642241)
Subject: RE: Looking for 57 Super D-500 owners

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I’m hoping I correctly understand what the 1957 Super D500 is and I’ll be interested to hear what comes of this. From my understanding, a Super D500 is basically a D500 car with the engine upgraded to dual WCFB 4bbl carbs, an aluminum Offenhauser intake manifold and dual Super D500 air cleaners (57 Fury, 57 300C style). Someone please correct me if I’m mistaken.

I’m also under the impression that some ‘regular’ D500 cars were converted at the dealership to Super D500 cars. Is that correct?

56D500boy

Posted 2025-12-10 2:47 AM (#642254 - in reply to #642252)
Subject: RE: Looking for 57 Super D-500 owners

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.
D500 and Super D500 info from the 57 Dodge Brochure:

Forward Look Frank

Posted 2025-12-10 6:01 AM (#642255 - in reply to #642252)
Subject: RE: Looking for 57 Super D-500 owners

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Hello, I haven't seen a Dodge service bulletin or merchandiser ad that said they were converted at the dealership if it wasn't equipped at the factory but it is entirely possible. The Plymouth merchandiser ad illustrated a conversion for Plymouth engines for 2-4 barrels. From what I've gathered, factory order code 372 was a standard d500 4 barrel engine and option code 49 (which in punch cards showed up as DeSoto trim was the code for a super d500. I'm really interested in finding folks who own factory examples as I want to compare the linkage and other chassis features. Another item of interest, is the camshaft. Early cars had a camshaft with the last four of the part number 6050, the later cars at a camshaft with a number 2012. The 2012 cam would have raised peak horsepower RPM to around 5,200. There's also the discussion of how many super d500s were equipped from the factory. I'm trying to work with offenhauser now to see if they have any records of production for 1956 and 1957 and ultimately, if they have any records of how many they sold to Chrysler for that model year. The possibility is looking grim but they are checking there are archives to see if they have any sales records. I will keep everyone posted.

ToMopar

Posted 2025-12-10 6:23 AM (#642256 - in reply to #642241)
Subject: Re: Looking for 57 Super D-500 owners

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here's a picture

Forward Look Frank

Posted 2025-12-10 6:36 AM (#642257 - in reply to #642256)
Subject: Re: Looking for 57 Super D-500 owners

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Nice! Is this your car?

Lancer Mike

Posted 2025-12-10 10:58 PM (#642259 - in reply to #642257)
Subject: Re: Looking for 57 Super D-500 owners

Location: The Centennial State

According to Jeffrey I. Godshall, there were 17,782 1957 D-500s produced. No breakdown of supers versus standards. I thought Darrell Davis was digging in on 1957 D-500s, but it might have been the D-501s? He's done '60 and '61, but if he published a '57 book, I haven't seen it.

Finsinthemirror

Posted 2025-12-11 12:30 AM (#642260 - in reply to #642259)
Subject: Re: Looking for 57 Super D-500 owners

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I'm not an expert by any means on the Hemi D500 or super d500s but I've had two original 4 barrel versions.. I'm not sure I'd use that pic for reference as I don't think the 57's had the painted and stamped "red ram" valve covers, that seems like a non stock alteration. I can say for sure the 4 barrel versions didn't. Neil knew this stuff inside and out...

56D500boy

Posted 2025-12-11 3:09 AM (#642261 - in reply to #642260)
Subject: Re: Looking for 57 Super D-500 owners

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Finsinthemirror - 2025-12-10 9:30 PM
I'm not an expert by any means on the Hemi D500 or super d500s but I've had two original 4 barrel versions.. I'm not sure I'd use that pic for reference as I don't think the 57's had the painted and stamped "red ram" valve covers, that seems like a non stock alteration. I can say for sure the 4 barrel versions didn't. Neil knew this stuff inside and out...

I agree that the photo of a Super D500 engine with "Red Ram" valve covers is wrong. Those are either 1953 or 1954 241 Dodge "Double Rocker" valve covers, like these on a 1954
241 Indy 500 Pace Car engine.

The owner of the car in the Super D500 photo could get away with installing those embossed "Red Ram" valve covers because the 1957 325 Double Rocker engines used in the 57 D500s and Super D500s used hydraulic
valve lifters which did not need relief bumps unlike the solid lifter 56 315 D500 engines. (Despite that, the real 57 D500 and Super D500 engines used the 1956 315 D500 valve covers with the
rocker/valve adjuster clearance bumps).

As shown here:

REFERENCE: http://www.forwardlook.net/forums/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=75719&...

Neil Vedder knew his stuff (from what I can see) *BUT* he didn't leave as much behind for us as he could have. He seems to have kept a lot to himself and it died with him.

(Sorry - I would tell him that to his face if he was still around)

Finsinthemirror

Posted 2025-12-11 4:17 AM (#642262 - in reply to #642261)
Subject: Re: Looking for 57 Super D-500 owners

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I understand what you mean. In his defense he had a ton of horrible things happen in a short amount of time. I do believe someone came from far away to help his wife sort through car stuff and also wound up with Horrie - his Dodge. Neil is a big FL community loss and gone far too soon. He helped me greatly when I bought my Dodges and was very active on the forum. I will always appreciate all his help, knowledge, conversations and candor.

57plymouth

Posted 2025-12-11 6:04 AM (#642263 - in reply to #642241)
Subject: Re: Looking for 57 Super D-500 owners

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Neil was unique for sure. I don't think he grasped how much data was in his head that was not on paper anywhere.

I also enjoyed drinking moonshine in the trunk of Horrie in Tulsa, as seen in my avatar.

ToMopar

Posted 2025-12-12 6:32 AM (#642275 - in reply to #642241)
Subject: Re: Looking for 57 Super D-500 owners

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Forward Look Frank - 2025-12-10 11:36 AM

Nice! Is this your car?

No, its not my car,- but I have had 2014 the offer to buy it, and I annoy not have done.

Finsinthemirror - 2025-12-11 5:30 AM

I'm not an expert by any means on the Hemi D500 or super d500s but I've had two original 4 barrel versions.. I'm not sure I'd use that pic for reference as I don't think the 57's had the painted and stamped "red ram" valve covers, that seems like a non stock alteration. I can say for sure the 4 barrel versions didn't. Neil knew this stuff inside and out...

What I can say this is a real Super D500 according to previus owner in Netherland which he was as GOOD friend of Neil.
Neil and Jim (D500Jim on forum) knew each other well, and I think Neil would have told him if he had the wrong valve covers.

56D500boy

Posted 2025-12-12 9:33 AM (#642276 - in reply to #642275)
Subject: Re: Looking for 57 Super D-500 owners

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.
Whatever D500Neil said or didn't say about those valve covers, they are incorrect for any 1957 D500 or Super D500 engine.

WRONG WRONG WRONG

Finsinthemirror

Posted 2025-12-12 2:43 PM (#642279 - in reply to #642263)
Subject: Re: Looking for 57 Super D-500 owners

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57plymouth - 2025-12-11 3:04 AM

Neil was unique for sure. I don't think he grasped how much data was in his head that was not on paper anywhere.

I also enjoyed drinking moonshine in the trunk of Horrie in Tulsa, as seen in my avatar.

That sounds like a good time.. sad I missed out!

Forward Look Frank

Posted 2025-12-16 6:49 PM (#642302 - in reply to #642279)
Subject: Re: Looking for 57 Super D-500 owners

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Good pics. Trying to see a super D-500 that has intake to air cleaner brackets installed. I find it has to believe they weren't used. I know a guy with a 57 Fury who didn't install them and he stripped the air cleaner stud threads out of the wcfb main body. Anyone seen a super d500 with air cleaner brackets installed? Also looking for photos of 57 CRL seat fabric. I want to see what OE was. Thanks everyone for your time.

56D500boy

Posted 2025-12-16 8:16 PM (#642304 - in reply to #642302)
Subject: Re: Looking for 57 Super D-500 owners

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Forward Look Frank - 2025-12-16 3:49 PM.
Also looking for photos of 57 CRL seat fabric. I want to see what OE was. Thanks everyone for your time.

What is the trim code on your car's cowl data tag and/or IBM card?

Here is a thread with as many 57 Dodge trim codes and examples that we could find at the time:

http://www.forwardlook.net/forums/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=74465&...

Finsinthemirror

Posted 2025-12-18 1:58 AM (#642323 - in reply to #642302)
Subject: Re: Looking for 57 Super D-500 owners

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Forward Look Frank - 2025-12-16 3:49 PM

Good pics. Trying to see a super D-500 that has intake to air cleaner brackets installed. I find it has to believe they weren't used. I know a guy with a 57 Fury who didn't install them and he stripped the air cleaner stud threads out of the wcfb main body. Anyone seen a super d500 with air cleaner brackets installed? Also looking for photos of 57 CRL seat fabric. I want to see what OE was. Thanks everyone for your time.

57 Dodge CRL 2dr HT

(1957-dodge-crl.jpg)

(1957-dodge-crlrr.jpg)

Attachments
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1957-dodge-crl.jpg (144KB - 39 downloads)
Attachments

1957-dodge-crlrr.jpg (166KB - 33 downloads)

Forward Look Frank

Posted 2025-12-18 8:31 AM (#642325 - in reply to #642323)
Subject: Re: Looking for 57 Super D-500 owners

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Thank you so much for the pictures. Is this car yours? I'm trying to determine if this fabric is correct...This appears to be the same.

(IMG_20251009_162107564_HDR.jpg)

Attachments
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IMG_20251009_162107564_HDR.jpg (3141KB - 37 downloads)

56D500boy

Posted 2025-12-18 12:30 PM (#642330 - in reply to #642302)
Subject: Re: Looking for 57 Super D-500 owners

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Forward Look Frank - 2025-12-16 3:49 PM
Good pics. Trying to see a super D-500 that has intake to air cleaner brackets installed. I find it has to believe they weren't used..

This not exactly what you are looking for but this shows you how subtle the brackets can be:

REFERENCE: http://www.forwardlook.net/forums/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=67152&...

Finsinthemirror

Posted 2025-12-18 4:14 PM (#642336 - in reply to #642330)
Subject: Re: Looking for 57 Super D-500 owners

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Hi Frank, yes that fabric seems to be right. No, that car isn't mine.. I don't have any Dodges anymore but I do have red CRL seat covers that were under plastic for most of their service life.

Forward Look Frank

Posted 2025-12-18 5:29 PM (#642339 - in reply to #642336)
Subject: Re: Looking for 57 Super D-500 owners

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Thank you very much for the interior information, I appreciate it. On the brackets I definitely feel they would be fairly easy to make but i want to see what correct brackets would have appeared as. Information is so obscure, I appreciate the help!

56D500boy

Posted 2025-12-18 8:59 PM (#642345 - in reply to #642339)
Subject: Re: Looking for 57 Super D-500 owners

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Forward Look Frank - 2025-12-18 2:29 PM
Thank you very much for the interior information, I appreciate it. On the brackets I definitely feel they would be fairly easy to make
but i want to see what correct brackets would have appeared as. Information is so obscure, I appreciate the help!

Okay. It has taken me awhile to (potentially) figure this out:

If this is the style of the 57 Super D500 air cleaners

Then they are similar to the 57 Plymouth Fury dual quad air cleaners which used metal "steady" brackets from the bottom
of the tube between the carburetor and the air cleaner element holder and the intake manifold as shown here:

You might be able to find something here that could be adapted to a Super D500 application:

https://www2.vtwinmfg.com/classic_pre_1984/fuel_air_system/air_clean...

Something like this one:

Forward Look Frank

Posted 2025-12-19 5:17 AM (#642348 - in reply to #642345)
Subject: Re: Looking for 57 Super D-500 owners

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Posts: 105
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Location: Baltimore, Maryland

Hello David. Yes, that is the correct style of air cleaner. They have little tabs at the bottom to receive the bracket. I'm trying to determine whether the bracket was attached to the valve cover or one of the intake manifold bolts. I'm going to take a look this weekend and see exactly where they line up in relation to the engine. Thanks for the continued support. I still like to think somewhere out there someone has a super d500 where brackets were installed. I appreciate the assistance. And thank you for the link. The brackets looks simple enough to fabricate but I wish to remain as correct as possible.Talk with you all soon.

56D500boy

Posted 2025-12-19 3:01 PM (#642350 - in reply to #642348)
Subject: Re: Looking for 57 Super D-500 owners

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.
Intake manifold bolts.

Don't be fooled by the gold 57 Fury air cleaners. The 57 Dodge Super D500 are 99.9% going to be the same, only painted black.

This is like the 56 Fury and 56 Dodge D500 oil bath air cleaners. One was gold (Fury) and the other (D500) red, but internally they were
the same. Different paint = different part number.

Different intake manifolds (Fury 318 poly vs 325 Dodge hemi) = different brackets (but much the same)

The connection to the intake manifold bolt is very clear here:

Edited by 56D500boy 2025-12-19 3:28 PM

56D500boy

Posted 2025-12-19 8:26 PM (#642353 - in reply to #642350)
Subject: Re: Looking for 57 Super D-500 owners

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I think this is my last attempt at convincing you that the brackets on 57 Super D500 Air Cleaners go from the underside of the
air cleaner tube down to the intake manifold.

REFERENCE: https://www.hemmings.com/stories/d-500-dodge-custom-royal-convertibl...

(57DodgeSuperD600ShowingAirCleaners.jpg)

(57DodgeSuperD600ShowingAirCleaners_Detail.jpg)

(57DodgeSuperD600ShowingAirCleaners_Detail_BracketToIntake.jpg)

Attachments
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57DodgeSuperD600ShowingAirCleaners.jpg (156KB - 30 downloads)
Attachments

57DodgeSuperD600ShowingAirCleaners_Detail.jpg (137KB - 31 downloads)
Attachments

57DodgeSuperD600ShowingAirCleaners_Detail_BracketToIntake.jpg (151KB - 34 downloads)

Forward Look Frank

Posted 2025-12-19 10:23 PM (#642355 - in reply to #642241)
Subject: Re: Looking for 57 Super D-500 owners

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Bingo! Now I've seen the real McCoy. Would anyone happen to know who the owner of the car is?

CaprockClassics

Posted 2026-01-18 2:37 PM (#642669 - in reply to #642355)
Subject: Re: Looking for 57 Super D-500 owners

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Here's an article on that car: https://www.hemmings.com/stories/d-500-dodge-custom-royal-convertibl...

Appears Diran Yazejian is the owner, and it's not a factory Super D, but seems to have been done quite well.

~Peter

Forward Look Frank

Posted 2026-01-18 3:08 PM (#642671 - in reply to #642669)
Subject: Re: Looking for 57 Super D-500 owners

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I know Dirian as well. Very humble gentleman. I've always enjoyed talking with him about Chrysler in the '60s. He had to rebuild that motor twice . It was originally a D-500 and he wanted to add the two fours for more pizzazz.

Finsinthemirror

Posted 2026-01-18 5:38 PM (#642674 - in reply to #642671)
Subject: Re: Looking for 57 Super D-500 owners

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There is some one making the football style aircleaners and bases. wouldn't it be possibly easier and maybe cheaper getting a pair of those, cutting out the carb throat horn and making the wing nut indent stamping that looks like a body mount stamping cup and welding that in?

Forward Look Frank

Posted 2026-01-18 6:09 PM (#642675 - in reply to #642674)
Subject: Re: Looking for 57 Super D-500 owners

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I considered that often as I have the spare base and other parts available. I'd rather not cut up any original parts. Realistically by the time I perform all this work I could have had a fabrication shop get it done and helped others who have the same need.

Finsinthemirror

Posted 2026-01-18 9:42 PM (#642679 - in reply to #642675)
Subject: Re: Looking for 57 Super D-500 owners

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No, I wasn't suggesting cutting up an original part. There is someone selling pretty good repops of the 58-later style dual quad air cleaners and the bases of those look really close to your pics here other than you'd need to fab up and weld in an insert piece where the carb air horn goes. Seems simpler to me, possibly?

Edited by Finsinthemirror 2026-01-18 9:44 PM

Forward Look Frank

Posted 2026-01-18 10:37 PM (#642680 - in reply to #642679)
Subject: Re: Looking for 57 Super D-500 owners

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Definitely possible, just feel better making the part fresh instead of spending the hours, cutting, splicing, welding, grinding, etc. 20 years ago i would have spent a crazy amount of hours making what I need. I've gotten to the point where it's just easier to hand it over to a Fab shop and get the time back. I appreciate your input in any case.

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