Early 58

[Brad H.]

Is the water pump pulley the same for the early 58 and the pump a 4 bolt? also does this change the generator hardware for the same and how the gen is fastened? My hood support now is on the drivers side, does this change the above if I leave it alone and or change support later? What do I need to order for the above? Thanks Brad

[Dan H.]

Re: Early 58

Hi Brad, what is your Vin number? The early 58's were a lot different than the later ones with LH hood support. Let me know more details of your car, Thanks.
Dan

[Brad H.]

Re: Early 58

Dan no. is J58s101925 Dec 14 57 Thanks Brad Am reduing another motor I purchased correct dated.

[Dan H.]

Re: Early 58

Brad, I wrote an article for the Restorer Vol 18 number 2 Fall 1991, that covers the early 58 quirks and how they differed from mid 58's. If you determine your car had RH hood support, then there are many items that will need to be considered to correctly configure the engine. Differences are the crank, water pump and generator pulleys. The gen. mounting bracket and it's heat shield, right hand motor mount fan belt clearance, a hose clamp attached to the fuel line pulling the lower radiator hose away from the fan belt (which does a nice job of cutting into the hose). In a nut shell, basically when the generator was moved from left to right in 58, it still used the 57 pulleys that created a problem with fan belt hitting the lower radiator hose. Later, the pulleys and gen. were all spaced forward to cure that but then the hood support hit the gen., sooooo, they moved it to the LH side of hood.
Dan

[Brad H.]

Re: Early 58

Dan, My generator has the 3 3/4 approx. pulley, dont have the pulley or fan yet, and crank pulley is in town so dont know what size it is yet, what parts would I need to just be prepared to go either way as far as the gen. hardware and pulley for water pump etc? Brad

[Dan H.]

Re: Early 58

Brad, here's a list of 'early' pulleys for RH mounted hood support:

water pump: 3713974
crank: 3742991
gen. with 1/4" forward offset: 3750545

Assume your RH motor mount is the later 3749190 part that will clear the fan belt.
Gen. with 'U' bracket mounts directly to exhaust manifold. (no spacer plate). Happy hunting!
Dan

[Brad H.]

Re: Early 58

Dan, If I order the early 58 water pump pulley and the early crank pulley and correct generator hardware will I be fine if I leave hood support on left? My new water pump is 493 gen tag says 043 also 2416 or 8 on pulley end inside flange on body or a 186? on other end under rubber cushion crank is in the shop so would have to check it for no. If none of this would fly what is my easiest install? Thanks Brad

[Dan H.]

Re: Early 58

Hi Brad, if you leave the hood support on the left then your only concern is if all the pulleys align well together. Early or late set up will work fine but must match up alignment wise! Later set up is better!!!!! Check out the 58 AIM for details, probably shows later set up though. Hard to tell until it's all on the engine! Regards,
Dan