The semi-elliptic leaf springs were two inches longer, and the front ends were pinned on the side rails for the primary time. Though 1957 marked the twenty-fifth anniversary of Ford’s first V-8, engine modifications were comparatively minor, geared to improve both performance and the economic system. The last modifications mixed with 14-inch wheels and tires, an inch smaller than before, for another two-inch top discount. Reduced hood top dictated new low-silhouette carburetors at some point of the board, with simplified manage linkages and different environment-friendly designs. Ford’s ball-joint front suspension, launched in 1954, was simplified and improved for 1957, with 33 percent fewer components and new “swept back” lower control arms for a smoother, softer trip. As an alternative to the vertical placement of 1955-1956, the A-pillars angled again in the direction of the bottom more especially — and normally painfully: the “dogleg” was a knee-banging nuisance on most mid-Fifties Detroiters.
Also, the crossover pipe on their standard single exhaust was dropped in favor of an extra-efficient Y-system. But the large gun was a low-compression (8.6:1) supercharged 312 with a single 4-barrel carb. Returning at 223 cubic inches, the pennywise “Mileage Maker” six, with a one-barrel carburetor, additionally received a compression enhancement (to 8.6:1), lifting horsepower from 137 to 144. the base 272 v-8 now produced a rated 190 horsepower (versus the sooner 173) on the identical squeeze. In contrast, the popular 292-cubic-inch “Thunderbird” unit, non-compulsory completely on fair lanes and wagons, had 212 horsepower (up from 200) on healthier 9.1:1 compression. At the highest of the chart sat two premium-gasoline “Thunderbird 312” powerplants — 245-horsepower four-barrel “Special” and 270-horsepower twin-quad “Tremendous” — sporting dual exhaust and better, 9.7:1 compression.
The 1957 drivetrain chart listed six engines, each on hand with any one of the three transmissions: typical column-shift three-pace handbook, the identical with optionally available overdrive, and two-pace Fordomatic self-shift. Both had 5 cross members for energy, three of them tubular. There were brief- and long-wheelbase variations, in fact, identical except that the latter used slightly stronger metallic George Merch stock and was five inches longer at the rear. There may be little difference between companies and charities in attracting cash. Extending from a brand new, tapered driveshaft changed into a redesigned hypoid axle placed in addition back on the springs to cut back rear-finish squat under acceleration. All V-8s acquired larger compression, larger consumption valves, manifolds, and redesigned camshafts with higher valve raise, plus vendors with combined centrifugal/vacuum timing developed as opposed to the outdated complete-vacuum mechanism.