1958 Generator Bracket

[Charles H.]

Hi,
On the 1958 with the hood support on the "rider" side, the bracket mounts directly to the exhaust manifold without the mounting plate. Is this correct? Thanks for your input. Chuck

[Dan H.]

Re: 1958 Generator Bracket

Hi, I assume you have a very 'early' 58? The entire generator mounting is totally different from the 'driver' hood support side 58 cars. I wrote an article for the Restorer about early 58's about 1990, see if you can locate it. The very early RH hood support 58's had the following differences from the later 58's:
Generator mounted by 'U' clamp directly to exhaust manifold with a heat shield between them.
Gen pulley was set forward 1/4" with gen fan. Rh engine mount was 'dented in' to allow clearance for fan belt.
Water pump and engine pulleys were closer to engine to align with gen pulley.
A hose clamp was used to pull the radiator hose reward away from the fan belt to prevent the belt from cutting into the hose! It was clamped to the fuel line exiting the fuel pump.
Late 58's were like 59 gen set-up.

[Don E.]

Re: 1958 Generator Bracket

Dan, I am also interested in the information as I have '58 with Dec 2nd b-date. Any chance that you have a picture of the heat shield and can you narrow down the timing for the article you posted in the Corvette Restorer?

Cheers,

Don

[Dan H.]

Re: 1958 Generator Bracket

Don, for the heat shield you can 'modify' a 57 shield for your RH side mounting. Maybe a vendor has them now, not sure? Which side is your hood support on? The 'U' clamp for the early RH hood support is the early one without rubber grommets due to heat from manifold etc. The article was in Fall 1991, Vol 18, #2. Also the engine mount was only 'peened' in on very early 58's. Mine was Vin 297, made Oct of 57. Have also worked on Sn 003, it really had some weird stuff on it! You might enjoy Spring of 86 and Spring of 87 Restorers. Engine compt. and chassis detailing for 58-60 cars. Once the hood support moved to LH side the later spacer plate, pulleys etc. could be fitted, eliminating the problem with cutting the bottom radiator hose by moving the gen forward.
Dan

[Ted S.]

Re: 1958 Generator Bracket

Hi, I assume you have a very 'early' 58? The entire generator mounting is totally different from the 'driver' hood support side 58 cars. I wrote an article for the Restorer about early 58's about 1990, see if you can locate it. The very early RH hood support 58's had the following differences from the later 58's:
Generator mounted by 'U' clamp directly to exhaust manifold with a heat shield between them.
Gen pulley was set forward 1/4" with gen fan. Rh engine mount was 'dented in' to allow clearance for fan belt.
Water pump and engine pulleys were closer to engine to align with gen pulley.
A hose clamp was used to pull the radiator hose reward away from the fan belt to prevent the belt from cutting into the hose! It was clamped to the fuel line exiting the fuel pump.
Late 58's were like 59 gen set-up.

Dan, I have a very late '58 with a drivers side hood support. Was the plate added to space the generator up when the hood suport was moved to the left? Also was the heat shield removed then? I recently received a deduct because I didn't have a heat shield in place. The TM&JG is exactly clear on the subject. It depends on how you read it. Thanks Ted

[Dan H.]

Re: 1958 Generator Bracket

Hi Ted, looked at all my 'untouched' 58/59 engine photos taken many years ago of 'late' generator mounting, ie with the spacer plate, LH hood support mount, forward spaced crank and water pump pulleys etc. also looked at the AIM and cannot see any heat shields with this set-up! My early vn 297 had a heat shield due to being mounted directly to the exhaust manifold, after the spacer etc. was added the heat shield wasn't needed to protect the tach drive. Try to find a 'untouched' late 58 and see what the setup is.
Dan