Gaps on 53 to 55 Cars

[Russ U.]

Everything I read says that the 53 to 55 cars had body fit issues, typically resulting in large gaps. The 53-55 TMJG simply says that body fit might be less than perfect. Over-restoration can result in point deductions.

I have been looking closely at pics of new 53 to 55 cars for the last few years. And one thing strikes me as I look at pics taken of new cars. I'm not seeing much in the way of significant gap issues. The pics of new cars look pretty darn good in fact.

From the pics I have of 53 #276, I can see the gaps grow on the car as it ages, especially in the door area. Starting with nice gaps in 1957, the gaps become very noticeable in the late 60s and early 70s. And the gaps are pretty bad now. I understand that the lack of support under the dash is a real problem for 53 to 56 cars, with GM curing the problem in 57 sometime.

Attached below are a pics of a very early new 53 Corvette (probably in the first 40 cars built). You cannot see much in an 800x600 pic. But I can view these pics in great detail on a large monitor. And the car looks great. Even a couple of old C1 guys have commented about the lack of gaps issues on the car.

I know that conventional wisdom is usually well-founded. But I have seen enough pics of new 53 to 55 cars without bad gaps to make me want to dig deeper. Does anybody have pics of new 53 to 55 cars showing significant gap issues??

Thanks,

Russ
My Corvette Websites

[Michael L.]

Re: Gaps on 53 to 55 Cars

Russ, after I get my doors hung and the body shimmed, I'll send you pices of mine. Won't be for a while, but I'll send them when I'm done. I did not alter either the dor jambs or the door skins on my '55 when I did the body work. My doors had gaps and also issues following the flow of the rocker panel on the car, one side had a noticable bulge that I have seen in photos of other cars...

Mike

[Mike M.]

Re: Gaps on 53 to 55 Cars

very common for the 53 to 57 left door to "flare out" on the lower rear skin to frame area on known unmolested originals. mike

[Chuck P.]

Re: Gaps on 53 to 55 Cars

Check closely the fit of the trunk on pictured car--check gaps on sides and look closely at foreward to backward fit in center of rear bottom--lip on body extends beyond lid.

[Tyler T.]

Re: Gaps on 53 to 55 Cars

My 55 goes to the paint shop tomorrow. Any one have info on what was done for 'additional support' under the dash to correct the problem of the sagging doors?

Tyler

[Russ U.]

Re: Gaps on 53 to 55 Cars

My 55 goes to the paint shop tomorrow. Any one have info on what was done for 'additional support' under the dash to correct the problem of the sagging doors?

Tyler

I am not an expert on this. So I think you should post a separate question on the chat board.

But I think the reinforcement is part #3727767 in the 57 AIM. Here is a pic (reinforcement is on the driver's side):




The part is shown on Section B sheet 4.00 of the 1957 AIM. I have a scanned copy of an original 57 AIM on my website: 1957 AIM. You just need to download Section B. Should be a 5mb file or so.

Again, you should talk to somebody who knows 57s, or a 53 to 56 guy who added the reinforcement. All I have on this is a faint memory of an article (can't find it) or a chat with a guy who has been there/done that.

Good luck,

Russ

[Russ U.]

Re: Gaps on 53 to 55 Cars

Check closely the fit of the trunk on pictured car--check gaps on sides and look closely at foreward to backward fit in center of rear bottom--lip on body extends beyond lid.

Fair enough Chuck. The gaps aren't perfect in that area.

But the 53 in the pic doesn't look all that bad. And nothing like the horror stories I have heard about 53-55 cars, especially the 53 cars, when it comes to gaps.

I know these cars developed real bad gaps as time marched on. I still wonder if the time induced ugly gaps colored people's judgment about the extent of the gaps that existed at the time the car left the factory.

Any thoughts on that?

Russ

[Roy B.]

Re: Gaps on 53 to 55 Cars




The 53-56 don't have the dash supports and over time the soft top material shrinks or is to tight causing the dash area to drop at both sides.

Rear door gap over time opens when the front and rear rubber cushions get soft .

The in ward bulge under the rear door area (body) is from to much tress to close the rear door gap at the rear fenders shimming . 53-55 worst gaps are at the trunk area from body stress.