1958 to 1960 Corvette purchase help

[Jim Cochrane]

I am in the market for a 1958 to 1960 corvette and would like any and all help on things I should look for or look out for in a C1. I restored a C2 recently but this is my first C1. Any thoughts on specific items with the body, frame suspension, etc would be helpful. Also, I'm looking at a 1960 car that was supposedly a FI car originally. How can you tell if a car was originally a FI car or a 2X4 car.

Thanks in advance, Jim Cochrane

[William C.]

Re: 1958 to 1960 Corvette purchase help

Lots of FI reference in the archives, but some of the things to look for are the mounting bracket for the air cleaner under the edge of the fender on the driver's side, if a hi-rpm tach car, look for the reinforcements in the inner fender (low along the area just above the frame) to mount the straps that held the air cleaner duct n place, again if a high horse car there should be no cover on the air inlet beside the radiatorm and no evidence of a screw being in the holes, washer bottle should have a shield or at least three vertical holes in the inner fender where the shield would have mounted. Hi horse would have hole in center of firewall for the tach drive....

[Don H.]

Re: 1958 to 1960 Corvette purchase help

Also check the frame for rust. Especially the rear crossmember (the rear of the leaf spring mounts to it. Don H.

[Bill B.]

Re: 1958 to 1960 Corvette purchase help

Jim, besides having the "right" numbers on major FI components and engine stampings think the firewall accelerator lever shape might also give you some confirmation--I don't know the exact differences unfortunately (think the carb models were straighter than the FI had some bends)?

If I had it to do all over again, I would not have bought a 58 basket case with a 59 motor, no transmission, a passenger car banjo, no trunk spears, one wrong door, a 59 hood and a lot more things! However, I love her now as I have nearly corrected everything except the trunk spears. If you aren't going to try and "pedigree" your purchase, just get one that is priced right with all or most of the stuff there that would allow it to kinda drive down the road without the wheels falling off. You know you are going to tear everything apart and replace many things anyway. But, you are at least starting with a full deck.

[Ed Jennings]

Re: 1958 to 1960 Corvette purchase help

The FI accelerator rod on a 57 is different, but so far as I know the 58-62 models were the same for carb and FI cars. If you subscribe to Corvette Enthusiast, there is an article (with lots of pictures) in one of last years' issues. I'd have to look around and find the issue to tell you which one. Might have been July '04???