1957 Corvette Super Sport

[Richard M.]

Re: 1957 Corvette Super Sport

The thick, one-piece plenum base gasket was factory installed on all '57 model injection units and most '58 units. The FDF manufacturer's marking means it's probably an assembly line GM part. I've never seen a reproduction gasket with that marking, only originals. Chevy realized it didn't really reduce fuel percolation so they stopped installing it around the time they went to die-cast fuel bowls. Warning: if you don't use the thick gasket with a sand-cast fuel bowl, your bowl may contact the right valve cover.

Jerry,

Thanks. I found out later the other day what you just confirmed. The gasket under this 4360 unit on the car is the identical one as I showed pictured separately.

I don't remember what I paid for the kit, but it was no where near $35. That's $15 for each $1 rubber seal. Fantastic! But that seal fit good, unlike the seal in the basket that wouldn't work no how. I have been following this thread and I saw your pics of the floor pan. That sure is a neat car.

I don't know what radiator cap pressure you will be running - stock was 4# I think. But even 7# is not a lot of pressure so I don't think it is too hard for that valve to seal.

Boy, you sure have all the fun!

-Dan-

Dan, We should be okay with my new seal, but I'd like to find a new correct seal at a more reasonable cost. It's really just "in principle".

According to the 1957 Corvette AMA specification, (pg 21 of the PDF)... the "Radiator cap relief valve press." spec is 6 1/4 to 7 1/2 PSI.

We have a SM Co. 7# cap on the car. It was chrome plated originally. We had it re-chromed last week, along with the oil cap at the same time. I'll have to get a photo of the engine bay with the chromed caps as the same profile as below for reference.

Chicago Auto Show1957

[Richard M.]

Re: 1957 Corvette Super Sport

Here's a stab at a photo I took with the chrome caps. However I wasn't at the exact same angle as the photo taken at the Chicago Show. I resized and converted to Grayscale. There are a few items I noticed that have to be changed to match the original photo taken in 1957. That one is the only photo ever seen of the engine bay.



edit....A friend just sent this to me after he lightened my image and put the 2 together.
Top=1957, Bottom=2017


Chromed radiator and oil caps.


Original Generator end frame Helicoil repair. Tag details.... Nov 2, 1956. We thought it is strange that the "2" is so far over to the right.


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Some trivia photos. I almost tripped over this taking the other photos. A 1956 2x4 distributor 111087x (I forget what the x is, 2 or 9). I never saw one of these either. It appears that the 091 coil is original with the low location of the number.

We think the oil pipe is the wrong one. It should be accessible from the front, not the rear. The flat of the lower shaft allegedly is supposed to point to the passenger side of the engine. The 1959 Corvette Racing Book shows the pipe facing front.






Here are some of a original Eaton (1956?) radiator cap.

[Richard M.]

Re: 1957 Corvette Super Sport

We're mostly finished except for a few small items. We got the hood on yesterday afternoon, but the original hood cable assembly was hard to pull. I removed it and let it soak in light lube overnight. Going back this morning to reinstall and tidy up a few things under the dash that I missed.

Hood back on from a 11 year sabbatical.


I did another Grayscale conversion with the hood on this time, trying to get the same angle as the January 1957 Chicago Show. Pretty close.

Top 1957, Bottom 2017


We also did a rear brake bleed and to check fluid condition. All good. While I was under there I took a few photos. The rear shocks are original to the car and returned during restoration. This car started life as the 589th 1956(#1589).


Rear leaf spring date and rebound strap. Note rivet head shape and both rivet pair heads face rearward.


Also the off-road exhaust, except for the engine pipes. Interesting crimps and spot welds on the mufflers. These may be the first off-road mufflers.


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[Richard M.]

Re: 1957 Corvette Super Sport

We had some issues with hood fit, so I posted a separate thread for some guidance for future reference Here.
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It has been confirmed. We are taking the Super Sport to the Amelia Island Concours and will be displayed on Sunday. Bill Warner, Founder and Chairman of AIC, is excited that it's coming as he has been waiting a long time for it's appearance. Additionally, the car has been selected already for a unique award, the Presentation of Significant Cars Award. The car will be among many other special cars also selected for this award.

Coincidentally, Al Unser Sr will be there at AI as a Honoree this year. As you may recall from the earlier story from Dale Schafer, when Larry Poole drove the car from Illinois to Albuquerque in the spring of 1958 after his dad Ralph bought it, Larry stopped at the Indy 500 Race. In that race Jerry Unser, Al's brother was there and had a mishap in a serious accident and went over the wall. He had injuries but was okay.


Rich

[Michael J.]

Re: 1957 Corvette Super Sport

Al is our favorite NM racer and his museum in Albuquerque is stunning. He has judged my cars twice at the annual Santa Fe Concorso, and is a valuable concours car circuit resource. He may remember Mr. Poole, and even this car.

[Loren L.]

Re: 1957 Corvette Super Sport

The 1958-60 taillights were installed by Rich Mason as a precautionary protection for the almost one-off pair of modified 1956
taillights, removing them from danger when the car was vintage raced. I'm reasonably sure that the original taillights were included when the SR2 was sold.

Bruce,

Jerry was the youngest son.

https://article.wn.com/view/2016/10/15/Design_legend_Harley_Earls_last_surviving_son_dies/

Harley built the SR2 for him to distract him from the Ferrari crowd in 1956. It was originally white/blue stripes. When it went back after it's racing stint I was told they later put a 327 in it and other changes too, like the 58-60 tail lamp housings, etc.




Richard is the Grandson.

http://www.harleyjearl.com/mission/

BTW, The SR2 wheel was modeled from the actual Super Sport wheel if I remember correctly from past discussion. That's why they look the same.

Rich

[Richard M.]

Re: 1957 Corvette Super Sport

Al is our favorite NM racer and his museum in Albuquerque is stunning. He has judged my cars twice at the annual Santa Fe Concorso, and is a valuable concours car circuit resource. He may remember Mr. Poole, and even this car.

This is very interesting, Thanks Michael. We'll have to ask Al when we're there. Feel free to contact him if you can and let him know. It'd be a real treat.

The 1958-60 taillights were installed by Rich Mason as a precautionary protection for the almost one-off pair of modified 1956
taillights, removing them from danger when the car was vintage raced. I'm reasonably sure that the original taillights were included when the SR2 was sold.

Thanks Loren.

[Richard M.]

Re: 1957 Corvette Super Sport

John got a call from Bill Warner the other day as we were working on the Super Sport. Bill wanted to do a news release of the entry at the concours. If you're on the AIC email list you'd have gotten it. Soon afterward, several folks replied back to Bill. One reply stated that the 1957 NY Auto Show was not at the Waldorf Astoria as told to us years ago.

It actually was at the Coliseum on Columbus Ave. I did more research and found these photos.


Mayor Robert Wagner was there to open the show.


Also shown is a photo of the Super Sport during show setup.


There is also a nice shot of the Corvair Concept car.


Full photo sequence of above photos and more HERE.

Found this one, included HERE.


I also discovered this.....I wish I could go back in time to attend this show, It looked fascinating.

The Super Sport shows up at 2:20.

[Jerry W.]

Re: 1957 Corvette Super Sport

I recognize Ford and Romney behind Mayor Wagner...who are the others ? Heads of Manufacturers ?

[Richard M.]

Re: 1957 Corvette Super Sport

I recognize Ford and Romney behind Mayor Wagner...who are the others ? Heads of Manufacturers ?

Yes, all of the big guys at their steering wheels. Harlow Curtis of GM too.

[Richard M.]

Re: 1957 Corvette Super Sport

This afternoon we had to "readjust" the left male hood latch. It wouldn't catch on the teeth of the pin. I used a pipe cutter and cut several new ring teeth on the pin and it solved the problem.

However, with the 1/4-20 bolt/rubber bumper stop at it's maximum length, it doesn't reach the top of the female latch stop tab. This allows the hood to drop down below the top surround a bit.

Is this a common issue? They both need to be about 3/8" longer to be effective. We latch the hood and have to manually eyeball it flush to the surround.

Pics of the final fit below.

Rich
PS Dale gave me the name of a local Albuquerque resident who witnessed the accident in 1958. I asked him if he remembered who was driving. This is what he said..... "I have no idea who it was. I was 16 and street racing my Studebaker. When it happened I had to rush to put the mufflers back on so I could get out of there before the cops showed up.
db"
Dale also told me that one of them was thrown out of the car, but both were okay with scrapes and bruises. Lucky boys.

[Richard M.]

Re: 1957 Corvette Super Sport

Those rubber stop bolts were bugging me thinking about them this morning. I found my replated originals for another later C1. They're longer IIRC. These are 2". I made new ones out of 1/4"-20 Carriage Bolts of same length. No bother to make the slot..... judges will not see the bolt heads, but i had to thread up to the underside of the head in case they peek under them.

Will install later but this should solve the problem.

Lathe shots.

[Leif A.]

Re: 1957 Corvette Super Sport

Ingenious!! Necessity is the Mother of invention...

[Richard M.]

Re: 1957 Corvette Super Sport

Thanks Leif. The new bolts for the hood rubber stops worked. Hood sits nice and even with the surround now and latches just fine.

Rich
edit PS...Make sure you see the next post.

[Richard M.]

Re: 1957 Corvette Super Sport First Ride

John and I finished the hood work and decided today is the day. It started up fine. He wanted me to be the first to drive it.

I said "NO WAY! YOUR car, YOU do first drive!"

So he did. He drove it around on the grass fields and we took some photos. Then he said YOU drive it back. I said "OKAAAAY!!"

So I did. He had his camera and took some more shots. I was driving the '57 Super Sport. What a treat!

Rich