1958 drive train and engine

[Hannah Blake]

Please forgive me if I'm using incorrect terms but at this point I don't know what else to call it. I'm an author and here to learn more about the car I've chosen for one of my stories, a '58 convertible. The driver of the vehicle is on a slick street and has lost her brakes (not the owner of the car). She's panicking and down-shifting quickly. Can anyone tell me if this model year has a certain sided drive train? That is, when down-shifting, will this car spin to one side or the other due to a right or left-wheel drive. (and am I using the correct terminology?)

I'd also like to know if it would be possible for this car to handle a 350 Chevy small block or if I'm better off having my character trying to restore it to it's original condition. What are some of the pros and cons to messing with the original configuration? (other than committing an act of sacrilege)

As you can probably tell, my fictitious car will not be surviving this story (it pains me to destroy a car that I'm coming to love). If anyone has experience with how this car will react and the likely outcome of a wreck I'm interested in discussing it.

Thanks for any help you can give me. I've been researching this for over a week online and I'm spinning my wheels so to speak. I've thought about trying to purchase a repair manual but I'm not even sure it will give me this type of info.

[Dave Suesz]

Hmmm...

Please forgive me if I'm using incorrect terms but at this point I don't know what else to call it. I'm an author and here to learn more about the car I've chosen for one of my stories, a '58 convertible.
-From 1953 'till 1962, all Corvettes were "convertible", or more precisely, roadsters. Originally all were soft tops, later (56) a removable hardtop was added as an option. Some had both, and are referred to as having "two tops".

The driver of the vehicle is on a slick street and has lost her brakes (not the owner of the car). She's panicking and down-shifting quickly. Can anyone tell me if this model year has a certain sided drive train? That is, when down-shifting, will this car spin to one side or the other due to a right or left-wheel drive. (and am I using the correct terminology?)
-No, the Corvette is rear wheel drive, and overdoing this, by letting the clutch out too fast would cause the the rear end to skid toward whichever direction was downhill on a straight road, to to the outside (left or right) on a curve.

I'd also like to know if it would be possible for this car to handle a 350 Chevy small block or if I'm better off having my character trying to restore it to it's original condition. What are some of the pros and cons to messing with the original configuration? (other than committing an act of sacrilege)
-Actually, installing the later 327 and 350 engine in place of the original 283 was common practice back when these cars were just "used cars", and the owner was not particular about originality or wanted to use the larger engine. My car (a 55) had a 283 from 65-70, when we located a correct 265, but back then people though we were strange for going to all the trouble. A 58 could have been a "fuelie", that is, equipped with a fuel-injected engine. This was the hottest setup, although there were several other engine options. Nowadays, a "correct" restoration is the usual direrction for those working on such cars, people will even go to great lengths to find an original engine block.

As you can probably tell, my fictitious car will not be surviving this story (it pains me to destroy a car that I'm coming to love). If anyone has experience with how this car will react and the likely outcome of a wreck I'm interested in discussing it.
-The fiberglass body actually absorbs impact better than normal steel bodies in some ways, they just look worse afterward. The strong, heavy steel frame of the Corvette resists crushing.

Thanks for any help you can give me. I've been researching this for over a week online and I'm spinning my wheels so to speak. I've thought about trying to purchase a repair manual but I'm not even sure it will give me this type of info.
-Noland Adams "The Complete Corvette Restoration & Technical Guide Vol. 1 1953-1962" is available elsewhere on this site, and would make you well-versed in the original configuration of these cars.

[John H.]

Re: 1958 drive train and engine

Hannah -

The driver could also just reach for the emergency brake handle to the right of the steering wheel and yank it, which will mechanically apply the rear brakes; "brake failure" is generally hydraulic, which doesn't affect the emergency brake system. It's actually the "parking brake", but the average non-car-nut person would probably refer to it as the "emergency brake".

[Hannah Blake]

Re: Hmmm...

Thank you so much! The more I research the more I get little bits of info thrown at me. After awhile I start to second guess myself. This really helps. I'll look into that restoration guide too.

[Joe L.]

Re: Hmmm...

Dave-----

Actually, in the strictest sense of the term, 1957+ Corvettes are NOT roadsters. They are CONVERTIBLES (or, if you wish, "cabriolets"). The only Corvettes EVER built that were ROADSTERS in the strictest sense of the term, are 53-55 models which, of course, did not have roll-up windows. In the strictest sense of the term, roadsters are 2 seater vehicles with fold down or removable top AND WITHOUT ROLL-UP WINDOWS. Convertibles (or, "cabriolets") are the same BUT WITH ROLL-UP WINDOWS.

Of course, the term "roadster" has evolved (or, more accurately been MIS-USED) over the years to describe any 2 seater with folding or removable top to the point where "roadster" has almost been re-defined in the vernacular. I think that folks (and, marketing types) like the "cachet" of the term "roadster".

In any event, I do not use the term "roadster" to describe any 1957-2007 Corvette with fold-down or removable top, including my 1969. I use the term CONVERTIBLE, because that's what they are.

[Mike E.]

Re: 1958 drive train and engine

John--
Not to be picky--but on a 58 to reach to the right of the steering wheel for the e-brake handle would only catch air--mid-years are to the right--solid axles (including 58) to the left---we don't want Hannah to give an improper location. (And John, I know that you just mis-spoke, because your knowledge of Corvettes is extensive and I, as one among many, appreciate all you add!)

[Hannah Blake]

Re: 1958 drive train and engine

When driving a manual, using the parking brake doesn't usually cross my mind. Since my hand is almost always on the gear shift that would be what I would use first, down-shifting. I'll definitely keep it in mind though, thanks.

[Mike B.]

Re: 1958 drive train and engine

Hannah,

Note that "it's" is never used in the possessive form, only as a contraction for it is. Your usage... "trying to restore it to it's original condition" is incorrect. This is one of my pet peeves for sure but if you happen to use it in your story, please use "its". Good luck on your story.

Were seatbelts an available option in '58? If so, be sure to buckle up!

Mike

[Dave Suesz]

Well, I will

continue to call my car a roadster.

[Dave Suesz]

When I

was in the Navy, another officer was beaming one day about his college-age daughter, who I had never met. Seems the day before she was driving her car down a hill when the brakes failed. It had the e-brake between the seats, and she held the lock button in and pulled the brake on, pumping it to avoid skidding, and pulled into a gas station at the bottom of the hill.

I proposed marriage immediately. Sadly, she turned out to be engaged already.

In the Corvette, which has a pull handle on the left, all you need to do to keep the brake from locking in the "on" position is to keep a slight twist on it.

[Roy B.]

Re: 1958 drive train and engine

If your Corvette or car has a cast iron PG moving it to "R" will lock the rear wheels like using the hand brake, (just a little trivia.)

[Joe L.]

Re: Well, I will

Dave-----

Well, so would I. Like I say, 1953-55 Corvettes ARE roadsters; they're the ONLY Corvettes that are.

[Hannah Blake]

Re: 1958 drive train and engine

My apologies, that one must have slipped by. Thanks for bringing it to my attention, Mike. Believe me, my editor wouldn't let me get away with improper usage.

Good question too. Did the '58 come with standard seatbelts, or even as an option? To be street legal now, do they have to be retrofitted if they didn't have them? Lap belts or shoulder harnesses?

[Jim K.]

Re: 1958 drive train and engine

Hanna:
Tell us more about this book, or story, or movie. Whan can we expect to see it? What is the title? "Jim" is a good name for its main character, and he wouldn't dream of puttng a 350 in it!

[Joe L.]

Re: 1958 drive train and engine

Hannah-----

1958 Corvettes were factory-equipped with seat belts, the first model year for this. They were lap belts only. No shoulder belts were factory-installed or optionally available. The first year that shoulder belts were optionally available in Corvettes was 1966. In 1968, shoulder belts became standard equipment for Corvette coupes, but optional for convertible models and this practice continued through 1975. After 1975, when convertible production ended for C3 Corvettes, all Corvettes were equipped with shoulder belts.

As far as I know, the laws of most, if not all, states do not require the installation of seat belts or shoulder belts for cars not originally so-equipped.