58 front fender brace (inside, upper fender well)

[Joseph R.]

I believe 58 Corvettes had this "Z" shaped brace that ran from near the headlights back to hear the firewall, and that is was not used in 59 thru 62 Corvettes. Why was it used in the first place and why was it discontinued ? I plan to use them on my 59, as advised by my body/paint guy. A fellow Vette fanatic enlightened me regarding these braces, he has them on his 58 and plans to put them on his 62 also. It makes sense to me to use them on my 59.

[John H.]

Re: 58 front fender brace (inside, upper fender we

Never heard of any such animal; have never seen any sort of factory brace that ran from the headlights to the firewall.

[John H.]

Re: 58 front fender brace (inside, upper fender we

Never heard of any such animal; have never seen any sort of factory brace that ran from the headlights to the firewall.

[Roy B.]

Re: 58 front fender brace (inside, upper fender we

Start looking under 58's fendered old boy!and be surprised

[Roy B.]

Re: 58 front fender brace (inside, upper fender we

Start looking under 58's fendered old boy!and be surprised

[John H.]

Re: 58 front fender brace (inside, upper fender we

Roy, maybe I would be - I've had 57's, 59's and 61's and never saw any 4-foot long Z-braces from the firewall to the headlights, but I haven't had a '58

[John H.]

Re: 58 front fender brace (inside, upper fender we

Roy, maybe I would be - I've had 57's, 59's and 61's and never saw any 4-foot long Z-braces from the firewall to the headlights, but I haven't had a '58

[Wayne W.]

Re: 58 front fender brace (inside, upper fender we

Yep, they were there on some of them. I think the main reason is to hang the cooling ducts for the big brakes.

[Wayne W.]

Re: 58 front fender brace (inside, upper fender we

Yep, they were there on some of them. I think the main reason is to hang the cooling ducts for the big brakes.

[William B.]

Re: 58 front fender brace, Use Them!!

I had a fender repair on my 59 and my body guy was worried. Got a set of braces used in 58's, installed them and they are hardly noticeable. The fender sure stiffened up after we put them in. I epoxied them in on the bottom, so the top fender moulding would not be doing all the work. suggest them if any top fender repairs were made, or just to prevent any other problems.

[William B.]

Re: 58 front fender brace, Use Them!!

I had a fender repair on my 59 and my body guy was worried. Got a set of braces used in 58's, installed them and they are hardly noticeable. The fender sure stiffened up after we put them in. I epoxied them in on the bottom, so the top fender moulding would not be doing all the work. suggest them if any top fender repairs were made, or just to prevent any other problems.

[Roy B.]

Re: 58 Mechanic 's Brace, Pot Belly

We use to call them a "Mechanic's brace" under a 58. Why ?GM did it !
could have been to keep old beer belly smelly un-shaven ugly pig Mechanic's from leaning on the fender as they pondered how to get as much money out of the owner he could.
Have you ever seen cracks in a 58 fender above the wheels having them installed ?? GM always trying to save money did away with them later and now you've seen may Corvettes with cracks RIGHT??? ( those Pigs )
Any one think I'm serous??

[Roy B.]

Re: 58 Mechanic 's Brace, Pot Belly

We use to call them a "Mechanic's brace" under a 58. Why ?GM did it !
could have been to keep old beer belly smelly un-shaven ugly pig Mechanic's from leaning on the fender as they pondered how to get as much money out of the owner he could.
Have you ever seen cracks in a 58 fender above the wheels having them installed ?? GM always trying to save money did away with them later and now you've seen may Corvettes with cracks RIGHT??? ( those Pigs )
Any one think I'm serous??

[John M.]

Re: 58 front fender brace, Use Them!!

Those fender reinforcements were a 58 only item, and they do a nice job of stiffening up the top of the fender. They bolt under the studs that hold the windsplit mouldings on. The problem is, that I know of no one still producing them. I have been trying to buy a set for my current 59 resto-rod, and have gotten the same story from every supplier I have tried, "we have discontinued them"! If anyone knows of a source that still produces them. I would appreciate knowing about them. These should be a must-have for any 58-62 car which is not being judged.

Regards, John McGraw

[John M.]

Re: 58 front fender brace, Use Them!!

Those fender reinforcements were a 58 only item, and they do a nice job of stiffening up the top of the fender. They bolt under the studs that hold the windsplit mouldings on. The problem is, that I know of no one still producing them. I have been trying to buy a set for my current 59 resto-rod, and have gotten the same story from every supplier I have tried, "we have discontinued them"! If anyone knows of a source that still produces them. I would appreciate knowing about them. These should be a must-have for any 58-62 car which is not being judged.

Regards, John McGraw