rfn026

Why not just build a nice 350? There's no value in the current motor - no matter what you do to it. Just build a motor you would enjoy.

Richard Newton

Frankie the Fink

Since there is no VIN derivative on that year C1's engine stamp pad you could find a date correct '58 283 with a Flint stamp and correct casting number and make a 'period correct' car. Not all that much advantage over a crate motor but it would make a difference to a certain cadre of buyers....

DZAUTO

I'm in TOTAL agreement with Richard and Frankie above. It would be quite difficult and VERY expensive to come up with a correctly coded 283 block for your car. Thus, ANYTHING will NOT be the correct engine. PERIOD! So why not just build a correct appearing engine and add the 2x4 setup and go on down the road.

The only worthwhile value that would be added to the car, if you invest in a correctly dated and coded 283 for your car, would be if you intend to have it judged at an NCRS event. NO MATTER what engine is in the car, EXCEPT a correct engine, there will be a TOTAL point deduction for the entire engine. Thus, ANYTHING from a passenger car 283 to a well built 350 will be wrong in NCRS judging.

MikeM

I expect the ncrs cops to be along just any minute.

MikeM

He wants to increase the value of the car to both his Dad and a potential buyer.

Does he pretty the current engine up with a set of finned covers and a 2X4 setup or does he pay thousands of dollars for some kind of crate engine plus the costs of add on accessories to dress up the new engine. Unless a buyer was even interested in the numbers it'd be a sure way to bump the selling price. Some people like myself don't care if the numbers match, just that the piece appears period correct without getting out the periscopes.


He can remove the fancy stuff depending on a potential buyer and sell the car with the current engine and get his money back on the bling.

If he goes with an expensive engine change, that engine HAS to go with the car. He can't sell it and get his money back and his 283 he removed is of little value to sell.

He didn't say anything about spinning the tires or swerving around corners. Just added value but I'd think he'd be interested in getting all or more of that money back on resale. The first option I listed is the only way that will happen.

Of course, he could always paint the car red if it isn't already and not only command premium money but would be guaranteed a quick sale.

FastEddy

Love dual quads

Can't imagine any return on the investment of switching over... Not cost wise if you are selling it. $3000 plus the time and aggravation will end up equaling $4,000.

MOXIE62

Original or not, 2 carbs with fin covers is very sharp and I believe car would bring more money. The general public do not know about numbers. They just know what looks good.

Frankie the Fink

Hard to beat the 'cool' factor....I've had spectators just stare at my 61s dual quads for a long time - almost ignored the rest of the car

MMJ

Thanks, guys. I like the idea of putting the dual quads and aluminum intake on it. One question I have is; if the motor was originally a 185 hp with a turboglide, can I put dual carbs on there and leave the cam alone? I don't care about speed or power. I just want it to look good, sound good and drive nice.

MikeM

Yes.

I don't know what will happen if you use the carbs for the solid cam or vice/versa, nor do I know what will happen if you don't buy a matched set of carbs for that application.

I had four sets of them over the years and I had no idea what engine they originally came off of. I just knew they were a matched set to fit a Chevrolet engine.

emccomas

If increasing the value of the car is a prime objective, that same $3K would be better spent putting a correct "matching numbers" engine in the car.

Even a correctly dated and correctly stamped single four engine would add more to the value of the car than installing a two four setup on this engine.

And realistically, you could do both.

Get the correct engine first if you are going with a factory two four setup.

Here is a short block on Ebay stamped with a 'C' engine code. Add a letter to make it whatever Corvette engine you want.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1958-corvette-impala-nomad-283-short-block-/291320070666?pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&hash=item43d407820a&vxp=mtr

emccomas

What is the VIN or the build date of this 58? 58 283 engines are not that hard to find.

Frankie the Fink

Seems you have an array of choices...

1) Put dual quads on what you have (and yes you can put them on your current motor as many do)
2) Find a period correct Corvette 283 to install in the car
3) Do both #1 and #2

Might want to confer with Dad and see what he thinks...nothing else to be gained here but more philosophical debate ....

MMJ

I think that is going to be the problem in finding another engine. The vin on the car is J58S100393. So that means it was built in the first month of production, Oct of 57, right? And I believe the correct casting code started for the 1958 model year cars. So if that is right, I would only have 392 engines that were made that would work with the correctly dated stamp. Am I right?

MikeM

You're only counting Corvette blocks. What about all the pass car, truck, marine, industrial, etc. blocks?

MMJ

They won't have the correct suffix, will they?

emccomas

Get a C code (manual trans) or D code (power glide) block and add a letter to the end for the engine combination that you want.

This is an easy conversion with the right stamps. Happens a lot.

You could hold out for a already correct Corvette engine, but there would not be any guarantee that an extra letter has not already been added.

Looks like 58 production started about 10/14/58, and 393 was built around 10/28/14.

I have a friend with an NOS 58 long block assembly with a blank pad. I cannot recall what the dates are right now.

jbar1

Take the $3K and buy some trunk bars as it appears that your dad's 58 doesn't have any. In my opinion they are the icing on the cake to make it a 58.

emccomas

One vendor has the following casting dates available that would work for your car:

3737739 H 28 7 (Aug 28, 57)
3737739 I 4 7 (Sep 4, 57)
3737739 J 11 7 (Oct 11, 57)
3737739 J 22 7 (Oct 22, 57)
3737739 J 24 7 (Oct 24, 57)

emccomas

I agree, the trunk bars would add a lot to the car.