Urban myth or proven fact?

[G B.]

I've never seen a completely original, unrestored '58 - '61 Corvette with the factory low horse fuel injected engine option. I believe it was rated at 250 - 275 hp. I've encountered a few of the FI units and distributors, but never a whole unmolested car.

Did they use the same cold air intake set-up (at the core support) for the air cleaner as the solid lifter FI engine? Is this documented anywhere in an AIM?

[Loren L.]

I think you'll find that the air cleaner page

for option 579 has a note "5" pertaining to the forward hose bracket & screw that reads to the effect "Used with high-lift cam only".

[G B.]

Thanks and follow-up

I appreciate the AIM reference. I don't have that sheet.

Loren, have you ever seen one of these cars in unrestored condition to be certain they were actually built like that? I can't help but think of other AIM notes and drawings that weren't followed on the assembly line. My favorite is the backwards vacuum hose hook-up shown for the headlight switch during the seventies. That went undetected in the AIM for years.

The reason I'm questioning this particular air intake set-up is because it seems so illogical to me. By 1958 GM knew about the FI sensitivity to underhood heat. I doubt the cost savings were worth any assembly line confusion and questions from customers. I just can't think of an advantage for leaving off that hose, clamp, and inlet screen(I guess?).

[Dennis C.]

Jerry, I inspected a 1958

that I determined to be a low horse FI car. It was not what you would call unmolested, but all signs pointed to it being a 250 horse and no forward signs of any hoses, retainers, etc. Block off still in place on rad support. That's my one car's worth... Best, Dennis

[William C.]

Re: Jerry, I inspected a 1958

My first Corvette was originally a 250 Hp, 3 speed, no radio. verified by the original owner. It had the blockoff plate at the rad support.

[Ed Jennings]

Re: Jerry, I inspected a 1958

My first resto (circa 1974-5) was a 58 250/PG. The drivetrain was long gone, but the tracks were still there. I dug out some old pictures and the left hand hole was open. Car was very molested, downright raped, for that matter. For what all that's worth.

I'm kinda with Jerry. I can't see the logic of leaving the hose off. GM wasn't always logical. If the hose wasn't used on the hyd lifter cars, the question remains: Why?

[William C.]

Re: Jerry, I inspected a 1958

Were the reinforcements for the straps in place?

[Ed Jennings]

Re: Jerry, I inspected a 1958

I wish I could remember. Actually, I sold that car in 1977. I wish I could remember what I had for lunch today, much less 1977!!

[Don H.]

Re: Urban myth or proven fact?

I believe my 60 was originally a low HP FI. I have owned it 30 years and it IS / WAS very molested. I believe it never had a block off plate. Don H.

[Ed Jennings]

Re: Urban myth or proven fact?

Don, are the three screw holes where the plate attaches still "virgin"? ie no evidence of threads? Also, do there appear to be any screw holes in the inner fender where the fresh air hose brackets might have been attached? Depending on whether your 60 is early/late, there could be three brackets spaced out along the hose, or just one sort of in the middle. These brackets are similar to the ones used on the heater fresh air hose and attach in the same fashion. If late, the first bracket is just behind the radiator support and there is a small nut plate where it attaches at the bottom.

[Paul B.]

Re: Urban myth or proven fact?

Jerry, I am an original owner of a 59 250H.P., regular cam with hydraulic lifters. The car hasn't been restored. It does not have the cold air intake hose you are asking about. At the radiator support is a rusted metal plate on the forward side attached with three Phillips headed screws. Midway between the radiator support and the air cleaner are one pair of holes. They appear to have been pierced with no evidence of screw threads.

[G B.]

Thanks Paul

That settles it for me.

[Ed Jennings]

Re: Thanks Paul

Jerry, it would appear that the hose was indeed omited on the hyd lifter versions. The remaining question, to which we probably won't get an answer, is: Why?

[Joe Pennington]

Re: Thanks Paul

PD's car is truly a rare find. Not only is it allmost all original (it does have a few replacement parts), it's a LoPo FI car, it also is one of the 223 out of 9670 1959 Vettes painted RPO 508A Classic Cream- and its never been repainted. Original interior, original carpet, etc,etc,etc. No spray can restorations. This car is the real deal. PD is the original purchaser and has all the paper work including the canceled checks where he paid for the car. I believe he very likely has every receipt for all work that has been done on the car since day one. He has a spread sheet showing Where/What/How Much and can pull the original invoice for the work done. As PD stated the car is unrestored. I wish the NCRS had a group like the "Storm Chasers" on the Weather Channel that would stop at nothing to document these very rare Vettes when they do show up. A Vette like this needs to have 10,000 photos and volumes written about it's originality. Folks, it won't be around forever-no one knows what tomorrow will bring. PD and I have discussed what he intends to do with the car, leave it alone, do a mechanical restro so he can drive it, partial restro including paint and interior, full blown frame off, etc. I wish I could win the Power Ball-I would make PD an offer he couldn't refuse.

[G B.]

I'll do it

Joe, you have clearly stated an idea that has great potential. I think one of the primary goals of the NCRS should be documenting the few remaining original Corvettes from the fifties and sixties. I'd like to see every issue of the Restorer filled with information like this. (Let me see if I can put this politely. Hmmmm... You can take those road tour articles, judging result lists, and group photos of show fields and shove them up... No, wait, I can do this...uh...)

I'll even come out of my article writing retirement to help. If Paul doesn't want to do it himself, I will take the photos and write an article about him and his car for the Restorer. I can't guarantee that it will be published, but I'll sure write it.

How about it, Paul? I'll come to you. Just give me the word.