1958 corvette frame numbers

[Richard M.]

Re: 1958 corvette frame numbers

Anthony, I just sent you a email through the message system.
if you want, email me some of your hi-res photos and I'll try to enhance them.

Rich
P.S.

Mark, Yes it may help him. Trouble is the image is a tough one to enhance.

Edward, Good idea. Early cars may have some oddities, but his is vin 5xx, so within the first week or so of production.

[Anthony M.]

Re: 1958 corvette frame numbers

Anthony, does the body have any features that looks like it was a race car? Holes drilled in body for added features? How about dated components like wheels ? Any running changes during that model year, something that could narrow the last 4 digits, forgive me I am not a C1 guy, but Rich is Maybe something will ring a bell for him.

no there are no show that it was a race car at one time but then I'm not sure what to look for there.

[Anthony M.]

Re: 1958 corvette frame numbers

Gary, Yes a higher resolution would help, but he needs to get to a better surface before the photo. Black & White would be best.

I tried enhancing his existing photo using Irfanview which has many image edit features. No smoking gun yet.

First I cropped the last 4 digits.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]114580[/ATTACH]

Then Grayscale
[ATTACH=CONFIG]114581[/ATTACH]

Then I inverted(Negative)
[ATTACH=CONFIG]114583[/ATTACH]


Anthony for reference, here are several C1 frame stamps to compare yours to if you get a clearer view.
[ATTACH=CONFIG]114589[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]114588[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]114587[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]114586[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]114585[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]114584[/ATTACH][ATTACH=CONFIG]114590[/ATTACH]

we have takin a wire wheel to try and better surface. Might try the suggestion of Lilly hitting it with the 180 sand paper. Then rubbing some paint across it. The metal seams to be very rough.


Thanks

[Richard M.]

Re: 1958 corvette frame numbers

Anthony, A motorized wire wheel may smear the edges of the stamped numbers too much. I'd just use the sandpaper by hand.

Reluctantly, I'm going to post 2 videos.(see below) One of them a friend sent me some time ago. The other during a search for "serial number restoration". HOWEVER, I suspect this procedure may not work in your case as the base metal(frame) is very thin and you may not be able to polish the surface properly after grinding. If you attempt this I would only do it on one set of the numbers, the lightest set, as it may deem it totally unreadable. I've never attempted this process.

You might be able to use the "liquid agent" directly on the numbers to try to enhance them but unsure if it would work or not.

Rich
PS The offer still stands if you want to email me your photo collage.

Videos:

[Edward J.]

Re: 1958 corvette frame numbers

Anthony, Any signs of it being a fuel injected i car, what about the rear end is it dated 58 and what the date of rear end, maybe the gears are dated and what ratio does it have? Maybe Rich or Gary may have some way of knowing if it was a fuel car? There should be a casting date on rear end center chuck. I thought I once Hurd that fuel injection had a relay bolted to firewall???
I wonder if you took a white crayon like the tire guys use and ever so lightly rub some on the last digits and take a close up photo?

[Anthony M.]

Re: 1958 corvette frame numbers

Anthony, Any signs of it being a fuel injected i car, what about the rear end is it dated 58 and what the date of rear end, maybe the gears are dated and what ratio does it have? Maybe Rich or Gary may have some way of knowing if it was a fuel car? There should be a casting date on rear end center chuck. I thought I once Hurd that fuel injection had a relay bolted to firewall???
I wonder if you took a white crayon like the tire guys use and ever so lightly rub some on the last digits and take a close up photo?

Yes its a fuel injection car. I will have to get the numbers off the rear-end

[Dave S.]

Re: 1958 corvette frame numbers

Yes its a fuel injection car. I will have to get the numbers off the rear-end

[Richard M.]

Re: 1958 corvette frame numbers

Dave, Yes, no FI codes there. 1957 to 1962 had rear end codes for HD and Metallic brake options. If he has the original differential.

From the Spec Guide.

In 1958 if Manual Trans & HD Brakes/Suspension.
AS 3.70
AT 4.11
AU 4.56

Same for '59/'60. '61 same except 4-Speed mandatory on 3.70 gears.
'62 used different codes. CQ,CR,CS respectively, but 4-Speed mandatory on all.

Rich

[Dave S.]

Re: 1958 corvette frame numbers

Dave, Yes, no FI codes there. 1957 to 1962 had rear end codes for HD and Metallic brake options. If he has the original differential.

From the Spec Guide.

In 1958 if Manual Trans & HD Brakes/Suspension.
AS 3.70
AT 4.11
AU 4.56

Same for '59/'60. '61 same except 4-Speed mandatory on 3.70 gears.
'62 used different codes. CQ,CR,CS respectively, but 4-Speed mandatory on all.

Rich