58 transmission tunnel mistery hole´s ?

[Sander B.]

hi a friend of me has a 58

and we pulled the boddy for a chassis resto and cleaning the under boddy.

when we pulled the boddy we found these 3 hole´s (and an other one on the left in the pic at the passenger side) the are shut of from the inside with a fiberglass plate (glued on)
could these be original from the factory ? if so why ???

it doesnt look like its done by bubba

the car is from late februari with a original 230hp and powerglide

[Verle R.]

Re: 58 transmission tunnel mistery hole´s ?

These holes are factory.

I believe they are for access to the upper bolts holding the powerglide to the engine adapter plate.

Verle

[Sander B.]

Re: 58 transmission tunnel mistery hole´s ?

so these hole´s supose to be only on powerglide cars ?

[Edward M.]

Re: 58 transmission tunnel mistery hole´s ?

My old 56, SN 3298 has these holes. It was a manual trans car. My new 56, SN 2117 does not have these holes. It is a powerglide car.

[Roy B.]

Re: 58 transmission tunnel mistery hole´s ?

PG or stick !Originally had a metal plate Cover held with four screws to get to the bell housing bolts 3 or 4 speed or PG adapter

[Edward M.]

Re: 58 transmission tunnel mistery hole´s ?

When did they start putting the holes in. As I said, my 56 (SN 2117 doesn't have them, but my old 56 (SN 3298) did.

[Roy B.]

Re: 58 transmission tunnel mistery hole´s ?

A great question that has never been investigated that I know of!

[Anthony F.]

Re: 58 transmission tunnel mistery hole´s ?

Sander,

I have a 1959 290hp 4 speed that was built in Dec. 1958. I have owned the car from Nov 1961.

A couple of years ago I took these pictures.

The first is under the dash and the second is from underneath like yours.



I hope these pictures come through.

Tony Feckter

[Bill B.]

Re: 58 transmission tunnel mistery hole´s ?

Sander, my May 28 build 58 has these holes and it was a powerglide.

[Rob M.]

Re: 58 transmission tunnel mistery hole´s ?

My late '59 doesn't have these holes... (#9573, August 6, 1959)

[Harmon C.]

Re: 58 transmission tunnel mistery hole´s ?

I never owned a 58 but could the holes have been put in at the dealers or the factory if needed for bolt removal to make repairs eaiser. The factory could have had a kit with the location of the holes and a cover plate so they are in the same location and size. This is a total guess but could result in the random way they are found.
Lyle

[Bill B.]

Re: 58 transmission tunnel mistery hole´s ?

Sander, noticed that in Noland's book (top photo page 266)it has a procedure for mounting auto transmission. Shows screwdriver being used, an access plug top of trans, and contact with the torque converter. I don't quite understand what this access hole in trans is really for but the tunnel access middle hole is the only way you could probably get to it-or at least it probably made it a lot simpler operation? My car no longer has the automatic and these holes don't seem to be as useful with a 4-speed. I don't ever recall seeing or hearing about a car of our year not having the holes no matter what trans was in it.

[John H.]

Re: 58 transmission tunnel mistery hole´s ?

The holes were factory - my '57 #4275 (4-speed) had them, with the cover. The holes were in the panel as received at St. Louis, and the installation of the cover plate is shown in the '56-'57 AIM in Section A, Sheet 3.00. The sheet was released in September, 1955.