Early 58 hood support

[Brad H.]

I bought the RH hood support, bottom must fasten to top of radiator support so did that, when I lower hood, support comes down and rests on Gen. brace about 1 inch toward pass fender from top hole on Gen. that bolts to brace and hood is 4 inches from closing, I believe my pulleys are for later 58 but that is supposed to make a small bit of diff? seems Gen is supposed to rotate towards engine so the hood support will pass by the Generator. Is the fan belt the problem being to long? Thanks. Brad.

[Cecil L.]

Re: Early 58 hood support

Is the generator the correct 1102043 (except for 290hp with FI) or is it the replacement 1102115?
The 115 is for 58-59 pass car with power steering and sits taller than the 043.

[Brad H.]

Re: Early 58 hood support

Generator was purchased from John Pirkle for my 58 and is dated correct for judging. Could check it anyway, Also the early 58 had only the U Bracket fastened to the manifold and not the plate and bracket as do the later 58s, as I am told, is the plate the thing that may mount the generator up higher on the u bracket so would need to come off? This should be an easy one for someone, who knows of who has had this same problem, Please chime in, Thanks, Brad.

[Dan H.]

Re: Early 58 hood support

Brad, does the generator mount directly to the exhaust manifold on the 'U' bracket or is it also mounted to the steel 4 holed plate which is bolted to the exhaust? (which moves it up and forward to clear the fan belt) You'll need the early pulleys and correct 'U' plate for it to clear the hood support. When this is done, the fan belt will be VERY close to the lower radiator hose and may cut into it. The 'fix' was to pull the bottom radiator hose back against the fuel line with a hose clamp, very high tech.
Dan

[Brad H.]

Re: Early 58 hood support

Dan, mine has the plate as well as the u bracket, I can see now that does raise the Gen. higher with this set up, Are the U brackets different on later 58s? Now the question is points deduction for an early car with left hand hood support and later pulleys ( I think I only need the fan pulley) vs. changing everything over to the right side? Thanks, Brad.

[Dan H.]

Re: Early 58 hood support

Brad, it would be much more interesting to do it right, the way it came from St. Louis, can only make a neat car neater!
Dan

[Brad H.]

Re: Early 58 hood support

True, is there a difference between water pump pulley and the crankshaft pulley dimensions early vs late 58 with the correct gen U bracket?, or can I use the pulleys I have (late) with a new U bracket? they must all mate I guess, Thanks again, Brad, I will do it right whatever it takes.

[Dan H.]

Re: Early 58 hood support

Brad, in the Restorer Magazine, Vol 18, Number two, Fall 1991, I wrote an article on early 58 Corvettes and their characteristics etc. The pulleys are 57 type, water pump 3713974, crankshaft 3742991, the generator had a 1/4 inch off set forward to align with these. U shaped mount was bolted directly to exhaust manifold with a small heat shield back by the tach drive. What's your Vin?
Dan

[Brad H.]

Re: Early 58 hood support

Dan, my vin is 101925, Dec. 57 built 58, my question was then do I need the water pump pulley, crankshaft pulley and U bracket (only these three items) for the early cars for everything to line up properly, am I hearing that if I only get the early U bracket and leave the later pulleys then the bracket only would move the gen. forward? throwing off the alignment of the belt? Thanks, Brad.

[Dan H.]

Re: Early 58 hood support

Dan, my vin is 101925, Dec. 57 built 58, my question was then do I need the water pump pulley, crankshaft pulley and U bracket (only these three items) for the early cars for everything to line up properly, am I hearing that if I only get the early U bracket and leave the later pulleys then the bracket only would move the gen. forward? throwing off the alignment of the belt? Thanks, Brad.

Brad, does your generator pulley have the 1/4 inch space between it and the pulley fan? Need all three pulleys as a set and the U brkt. The later pulleys were designed to move the fan belt forward away from the bottom radiator hose, plus making the left hand hood support mandatory.

[Brad H.]

Re: Early 58 hood support

Dan, No, my pulley is tight to the fan, and measures 1 7/16 from outside of gen. (at brace side) to outside edge of pulley. I'm thinking this is correct? if not can a spacer be put between the two or are these welded together? Thanks for your prompt replies, thats the way I do everything also. Brad.

[Dan H.]

Re: Early 58 hood support

Dan, No, my pulley is tight to the fan, and measures 1 7/16 from outside of gen. (at brace side) to outside edge of pulley. I'm thinking this is correct? if not can a spacer be put between the two or are these welded together? Thanks for your prompt replies, thats the way I do everything also. Brad.

Paragon offers the pulley you need: pn 814, also the heat shield pn 2715. These are welded assemblies, buy as a whole pulley. Other vendors may also have these. Remember to tell them you're NCRS, 10% off.
Dan

[Brad H.]

Re: Early 58 hood support

Dan are you saying I need the Gen. pulley with the 1/4 spacer, and the heat shield I have on mine now for Plate and U bracket is diff. than heat shield for early U bracket only, am I making sence, so I would need all three pulleys and the U bracket and heat shield? Brad.. P.s. these pulleys must be 1/4 longer to folow the length of the ge. pulley?

[Dan H.]

Re: Early 58 hood support

Dan are you saying I need the Gen. pulley with the 1/4 spacer, and the heat shield I have on mine now for Plate and U bracket is diff. than heat shield for early U bracket only, am I making sence, so I would need all three pulleys and the U bracket and heat shield? Brad.. P.s. these pulleys must be 1/4 longer to folow the length of the ge. pulley?

If you already have a heat shield for RH side, use that one. The water pump and crank pulleys are for a 57 LH generator set up. When the generator is moved to RH side that manifold sets it back 1/4 inch so the off set pulley was used. It still wasn't adequate for the lower hose clearance so later 58's used the plate, forward spaced pulleys and moved the hood prop to LH side. You might need a 57 U mount? See how it all works together.
Dan

[Brad H.]

Re: Early 58 hood support

This is not getting through to me, What would happen if I take off the gen. fastening plate and use the U bracket only,( which is late 58) would this work leaving everything else, or very simply yes or no, do I have to have the 991 crankshaft pulley, 974 w. pump pulley and the 1/4 offset Gen. pulley, and early U bracket to make it work, I have the heat shield on their now, is this the same for early also. Phew. Thanks, Brad.