SMSC1

Just for the heck of it I'll show some progress shots here. Started slow but making good headway now.

SMSC1

Paint is Eastwood's standard chassis black. (except shroud)

Brake lines are complete Inline Corp. stainless kit with braided clear coated flex.

Sway bars are old Addco's with poly bushings.

Springs are Guldstrand 550#.

Shocks are Bilstein's with valving by Guldstrand.

Brakes are to be like DZAuto's "Big Brake tribute".

Fast steering adapter from Corvette Central.

DZAUTO

Don't stop now, looks like you're on a roll!

GCD1962

Looks good, but keep in mind that the black paint will not last very long. It's all apart now, why not have it powdercoated?

SMSC1

Thanks for the support! Actually trying to get ready for a drive event on May 5 so there sure isn't time to stop. Biggest hassle right now is finding the finned drums. Junk yards are picked over, and new A-body wagon drums from the parts store are cast with little bitty cooling fins,not like the originals so probably not worth the effort, but still looking.

SMSC1

I forgot the wheels and tires that are going on it:

jimh_1962

Looks good!

o2bnkc

I read somewhere that the suspensions used on our c1's were first used in 1949, without much change over the years. Is that correct?

DZAUTO

ABSOLUTELY!
The 49-54 pass car and 53-62 Vette have virtually identical front suspensions. There are a few minor variations with the Vette steering linkage, but when ordering a rebuild kit for the frontend, the parts are the same.
The cross member, A-frames (upper & lower), wheel bearings, spindles, spindle supports, brake backing plates and related parts and replacement parts are the same (on 53-54 pass cars, the knuckle for the kingpin is in a slightly different position, but it is still interchangeable).
The biggest difference is the center steering arm. The Vettes have a big ball bearing and the pass cars have a kingpin/bushing type setup. The Vette ball bearing setup is much better and is an excellent upgrade for the 49-54 cars (which I have done to my 51 Chevy). Also, the steering box/column is the same design, but with a slightly different turning ratio and a different length column.The Vettes and 53-54 pass cars share the SAME turn signal mechanism/housing. This is one of those little interchangeable things that is MUCH cheaper if you order parts for a pass car instead of for a Vette. Interchangeable parts between Vettes and cars is about 10 times cheaper when ordered for a pass car than when ordered for a Vette!!!!!!!!!! The Vette vendors like to rob us Vette owners.

SMSC1

With assistance from all your support, more progress this weekend on the 59:




And mocked up to check stance with the #550 springs. Looking ready for Sebring 1960:

Loren Smith

Where'd you get those sweet-looking Hoosiers?

SMSC1

Hoosier has a few stores in Indiana, I went to the one in Plymouth, but they would have shipped. They are the Road Race TD's, 26.5 x 7. The wheels are 15 X 6 from a mid 80's Caddy in the junk yard. Perfect bs and fit, and have nubs for dog dish caps.

Had the tires mounted at a local Firestone retail store and the young man who did the work really took an interest in the job, recording order of weights for proper car corner and marking tire circumference on each one for me. That pic from last night is the first time they hit the ground however, so the verdict is still out on how they drive!

SMSC1

BTw Loren, that in one nice chassis project you have going in your photos link!

o2bnkc

Thanks for the info, dzauto. Very interesting. I need to replace my turn signal cancellation switch. Was that the same in the other Chevys, too?

benspruce

Thanks for the info on the interchangeable parts with the 53, 54, etc Chevys. No sense paying the vette tax when I don't have to.

SMSC1

DZ is right. The very same front end kit that costs $399 for the Vette is $260 for the passenger car. In fact, ever wonder why some "Corvette" front end kits come with only 2 tie rod ends? The pass car only has one adjustable tie rod, thus clearly the same kit repackaged.

Loren Smith

Thanks, SMS. I found their website, but its seems all of their tires come with the warning "NOT FOR HIGHWAY USE", which is a kind of scary disclaimer.

DZAUTO

The turn signal switch, housing and internal components are the same for 53-62 Vette and 53-54 Chev pass cars (and maybe, just maybe, 55-59 Chevy pickups, I haven't personally compared).

SMSC1

Here are a few shots to show that it actually got finished. Man does this thing drive and stop great. Hung with the late model guys all day.

INMYBLOOD

Awsome look to your car.