1958 front fender reinforcement?

[Edward M.]

I am wondering when the factory installed the front fender reinforcement on 1958 Corvettes.

I am talking about the fiberglass sort of "Z" shaped reinforcement that was attached directly underneath the stainless trim that ran along the top of the front fenders.

I know it was done in 1958, but was it done for the entire 1958 model year? What about later years?

Inquiring minds....

[Tom D.]

Re: 1958 front fender reinforcement?

See page 40 of the yellow covered (4th Ed.) NCRS TIM&JG. "1958's up to approx. SN 5000 have a steel C-channel reinforcement..."

This is judged in EXTERIOR, item number 21. That's on page 43 near the bottom, where it says "Some 1958's up to approx. SN 5000 have a steel C-channel reinforcement..." Note the word "Some".

For a time, this manual was out of print, but I think you can buy them now.

[Edward M.]

Re: 1958 front fender reinforcement?

See page 40 of the yellow covered (4th Ed.) NCRS TIM&JG. "1958's up to approx. SN 5000 have a steel C-channel reinforcement..."

This is judged in EXTERIOR, item number 21. That's on page 43 near the bottom, where it says "Some 1958's up to approx. SN 5000 have a steel C-channel reinforcement..." Note the word "Some".

For a time, this manual was out of print, but I think you can buy them now.

"Steel?" I thought that reinforcement was made out of fiberglass.

Are we talking about the same thing?

The reinforcement I am talking about was attached to the underside of the top of the front fenders, using (I believe) the same attachment studs and nuts that were used to hold the stainless trim on the top of the front fenders. It is not (as I recall) a "C channel" reinforcement, it was shaped more like a "Z",but without the slant on the down bar.

Something like this: (ignore the '"b" characters, they are blanks.
------
bbb |
bbb |
bbb |
bbb -------

[Edward M.]

Re: 1958 front fender reinforcement?

OK, I think I figured it out.

The factory parts were made out of steel, and used on early 1958 Corvettes (until about serial number 5000 apparently). Sermersheim used to make (and may still make) a fiberglass reproduction of this part.

[Frank D.]

Re: 1958 front fender reinforcement?

The vendors were selling steel versions for a while for about $100 -- I put a set in my '61 car.....don't know if they are still available (in steel)..

[Tom B.]

Re: 1958 front fender reinforcement?

Corvette Central has them.

Reinforcement

Tom

[Paul S.]

Re: 1958 front fender reinforcement?

paragon sells them , i put a set in a month ago. 1 would put them in any 58 to 62 it really makes the upper panel alot stronger .