RPO 579E Airbox Option Contents?

[Rick G.]

In the January 2018 issue of Vette Vues magazine there is an article on a "1957 Corvette 'Airbox' Roadster" which had been displayed at the 2017 SEMA show. Within this article, the description of the RPO 579E Airbox Option includes "Heavy-duty right-side engine mount". Does anyone have any information on this?

Thank you,
Rick

[Mike M.]

Re: RPO 579E Airbox Option Contents?

never heard tell of such a critter. doesn't mean it couldn't exist tho, but I doubt it. mike

[Loren L.]

Re: RPO 579E Airbox Option Contents?

"Sales" just never quits selling....

[Richard M.]

Re: RPO 579E Airbox Option Contents?

1957 AIM RPO 579 Sheet 1.02 shows a different right bracket,
3749190 vs stock 3711640. But it looks like 3749190 was used 1958 onward.

[Loren L.]

Re: RPO 579E Airbox Option Contents?

Kudos, Richard. Now, for the next 475 "airbox" cars you will see, practice this: Stroll casually up on the RH side fender when the hood is open, with clipboard and pen, give a quick scan of the RH mount/fuel pump area and say "Couldn't find the right mount, huh?". Probably best to have an EMT on standby.

[Richard M.]

Re: RPO 579E Airbox Option Contents?

Kudos, Richard. Now, for the next 475 "airbox" cars you will see, practice this: Stroll casually up on the RH side fender when the hood is open, with clipboard and pen, give a quick scan of the RH mount/fuel pump area and say "Couldn't find the right mount, huh?". Probably best to have an EMT on standby.

Kudos have to go to Rich Mauser. I'm just the poster. He pinged me and said it might be in the AIM, I sent him the AIM, then he saw it.

LOL....I'll keep a eye out for those brackets weekly while scouring all of those Airbox cars here in Florida. I just wish I knew what the difference was.

A blueprint would be good to see.

[Gary C.]

Re: RPO 579E Airbox Option Contents?

IIRC Mr. Ken Kayser has the 3749190 motor mount blue print in his book and the footnote says no difference with 3711640 except different metal

As Mr. Lundberg so aptly pointed out "sales never quit selling". There were several sales promoted items that never made it into production such as the heavy duty radiator and special metal high tension wiring.

JMTCW,

Gary
....

[David B.]

Re: RPO 579E Airbox Option Contents?

R H mount #3749190 does not appear very special, '58 parts book indicates it could be used on 55-58 Corv. It probably changed due to right hand mounted generator. Front engine bracket between block and water pump also redesigned PN# 3754586 probably for same reason.
H D radiator #3138094 was produced by Harrison under special order (Low volume) same with HD spark plug wires & supports.

[Mike M.]

Re: RPO 579E Airbox Option Contents?

dave: I always thought the front motor mount bracket changed after 57 to allow access to the freeze plug. and I can't understand why a right hand mounted generator would interfere with the non-airbox right hand frame mounted motor mount bracket. I took a quick look at the R H mount on our two non-airbox 57 FI and the one on our airbag. casual inspection revealed no morphological differences in the three mounts. regards, mike

[Loren L.]

Re: RPO 579E Airbox Option Contents?

Rehearsals of the quick scan (open to only those with clipboards and pens) and comment will open on Dr Mike's Duntov candidate at Las Vegas on the day AFTER arrival. EMT requirement will be waived due to the Doc's medical training ONLY when he is present for the rehearsal - no exceptions!

[David B.]

Re: RPO 579E Airbox Option Contents?

Mike, The point I was trying to make about front motor mount 3754586 and R H mount 3749190 is that they appear to be standard production parts for the '58 Corv. Nothing unusual in '58 but if first used in '57 on RPO 579E one COULD possibly claim they were special H D parts.

[Mike M.]

Re: RPO 579E Airbox Option Contents?

thanks dave. mike

[Tom P.]

Re: RPO 579E Airbox Option Contents?

Has NCRS not officially changed the RPO579E to D? I thought it was now a foregone conclusion that the correct RPO designation should have always been D, and consequently, it is now accepted that it is recognized as RPO579D. Yes, no?

[Loren L.]

Re: RPO 579E Airbox Option Contents?

Tom, it's funny that in our 44th year, somehow the powers don't like to listen to other views - change resistance growing? To illustrate, elsewhere you'll see an interrogatory about "EN" suffix motors from Dave Bartush; I proofed a submission to the CR from Dave on this and a # of other items gleaned from a "Confidential", limited access GM document in the '70s titled "Production Trends"; it offered some possible changes to what we thought we "knew"; never saw/heard of it again.
I'll say it again - NCRS exists because of an Editor who would not accept other than new material generated by people who cared about how and why the car was built and who built it, and it was MAGIC.

[Tom P.]

Re: RPO 579E Airbox Option Contents?

Ya, I read that, and chose NOT to reply. BUUUUUUUUUUUUUT, if, and what, Ken Kayser has published in his book (I suspect his info is correct), then the likely hood of a 57 block being stamped with an EN is somewhere between UNlikely and not at all. MOST likely, the solid lifter FI engines were in fact stamped EL, as a result of Ken's VERY BELIEVABLE explanation.
As far back as 35-40 years ago, RPO579E NEVER made sense to me. So, EVEN IF Ken's explanation as to why it should be D, instead of E, is wrong, it sure makes a heck of a lot more believable sense!!!!!