In my Noland Adam's book (The Complete ... Vol I)(1st Ed, 5th Printing), he talks about a flange over the exhaust pipe exit on the rear corners of the back fenders. He states "On 1958 Corvettes, the area around the hole is plain, without any build up. This construction continued until AIM date 10-24-58, about serial number J58S100300". An AIM date of 10/24/58 would affect serial numbers beginning with J59Sxxxxxxx. This must be a typo, but is it the AIM date or the serial number that is in error? The sole purpose of this flange is to cover the exhaust pipe as you look straight down at the space between the body and the bumper.
The reason I ask is that I have J58S100501 and it has a built up flange. The body is totally stripped, and I can see that this built-up flange is not part of the top fender half (as seen in AIM Sect E, Sheet 2), but a third piece "sandwiched" between the top and bottom pieces.
The body is unaltered in any way, so I think it is unlikely that this was modified after assembly. Also in strippping the paint, I noticed that the primer was continuous in this area as well.
Question (finally): Does this piece belong on an early 1958?
The reason I ask is that I have J58S100501 and it has a built up flange. The body is totally stripped, and I can see that this built-up flange is not part of the top fender half (as seen in AIM Sect E, Sheet 2), but a third piece "sandwiched" between the top and bottom pieces.
The body is unaltered in any way, so I think it is unlikely that this was modified after assembly. Also in strippping the paint, I noticed that the primer was continuous in this area as well.
Question (finally): Does this piece belong on an early 1958?