NOS 58 front shocks

[Troy P.]

I have a NOS spiral front shock dated 7C58. The part number is 5519443. It looks just like the shocks on my 54 and 55 so it looks correct for a C1.

Is this the correct shock for 58 Corvettes? If not what is the application?

[Tom B.]

Re: NOS 58 front shocks

My March 1, 1954 parts manual lists 5519443 as the front shock for 1953 and 1954 passenger cars. There are no Corvette parts listed in this manual which lists all passenger cars and variations of light trucks. Later manuals, like the 1960 one I have, lists the Corvette parts with the rest of the products. The 1960 manual lists a different number for 1953 to 1959 Corvette. Obviously the newer part number has replaced the earlier part number as the service replacement. I'm not sure how Corvette parts were listed for the first few years or at what point they were included in the Chevrolet Master Parts and Accessories Catalog. I've never seen a 1953, 1954 Corvette parts manual.

Nolan Adams book shows a factory drawing listing 5520278 is the number carried on the shock in the 1953 to 1955 section. I'd say you have a new 1953/1954 passenger car shock, not a Corvette one.

Tom

[Troy P.]

Re: NOS 58 front shocks

Tom, following your post I discovered that I had a 2-1-57 Delco shock absorber catalog that I'd forgotten about. Sure enough it lists this shock as the correct front for 1949-54 Chevrolet passenger cars. The 58 date code made me think it was later.

Other research discovered that the spiral design was eliminated on 9-30-58. Didn't know that.

BTW I have Corvette parts manuals printed in 54 and in 55. They do exist. The 53 Corvette was covered in the regular Chevy book.

[David B.]

Re: NOS 58 front shocks

A separate 1953-1955 Corvette Parts Catalog and Dealer price schedule effective July 1, 1955 was published by Chevrolet Motor Division. Purchased one at Michigan NCRS meet earlier this year. A rather rare bird I had never seen before.

[Troy P.]

Re: NOS 58 front shocks

The 54 edition of the P&A is rare because it is not reproduced whereas the 55 edition is.

[Tom B.]

Re: NOS 58 front shocks

I'll have to keep my eyes open for these older Corvette manuals. There's nothing like the original old manuals with the original parts numbers in them. If you happen to find any Parts History manuals pick them up. You can often find an original number and trace what it was replaced by over the years or when it was deleted without a replacement.

Tom

[Loren L.]

Re: NOS 58 front shocks

1953 PBk is dated August 1, 1953; 1954 PBk is dated June 1, 1954 and the 53-5 PBk, as Dave stated, is July 1, 1955.

[Tom B.]

Re: NOS 58 front shocks

Thanks for the information.

Tom