Projects No Fuzzy Dice...Digging the History of my '57 Chevy Convertible Drag Racer

Not sure if you saw this thread a while back? Also not sure if I've inserted the link correctly? Apologies in advance if I haven't. There may be some handy tips and tricks for you.
https://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum...ext='62 CORVETTE GETS '63 LATHAM SUPERCHARGER

 

You've won a trip to Dreamland ! Thanks for the detailed Latham info.

 

I hadn't seen this thread. Cool. I'll need to spend some time reading through it. Thanks!

 

You might also want to talk to @LAROKE , as he has a lust for lathams. AWESOME score , by the way! Looking forward to your progress!

 

More documents. Apologies if some are repeats...there's a lot of stuff and m multiples of some

 

Ho-Lee-Chit…. What a find! Thanks for taking care of this time capsule!!! I‘d say all three of you may call yourselves lucky, you because you found the holy grail, the family because they found the right person and this little hot headed ragtop because it‘s being put back to use and taken care of…. Congratulations!!!!

 

Here's some of the letters from Norman Latham to Edgar Irving. It tells the story of Edgar researching in April of 1962 for a 327 build, apparently buying, and shipping back off for repairs in February 1963.

 

Some of the other documentation...perhaps not all pertaining to this car. The battery kill switch is with the car and never installed. Same for the reverb unit and accessory speakers. I haven't seen any evidence that the engine heater was ever on the car but may have been removed. I need to crawl under the car and see if there's an electric fuel pump...work has kept me too busy but I have seen a lot of references to using one with the Latham.
I'm including some of it just because it's interesting and may benefit someone

 

This is a wealth of knowledge for everyone, not to mention a grand slam home run for you. The previous owner kept everything and had a need for speed.

 

What an incredible find. Wish I had a pair of those Cylinder Heads. All the paperwork just makes it so complete. You are now living his dream.

 

Finally got a chance to get the car up on the lift. I found 2 minor rust spots...one on the inner face of rocker panel at the front and one spot on the dog leg support just forward of the rear wheel well.
I was able to get a good look at the trans...1962 T10 from a Corvette. Has a tag on the side cover with HH...all my searches haven't revealed what HH represents, but I have found other posts of people asking about the same code.
The differential is an early non-x, non-P posi (January build) that decodes as a 3.36 rear. However, the gears are 4.11s. Looking at the Z bar, mount welds are a little bubble gum-ish...so with the 3.36 I'm thinking it may have been an auto originally. However, there is another late '56 built empty hogs head that is a non-posi 4.11 that decodes to 3 speed manual with OD. I'll have to look for remnants of mounting for an OD pull cable.
I'm a little surprised there is not a rearward mount on the T10. I'm guessing the mounts at the scattershield are original trans mounts for 57?
Overall, still stunned at the condition

 

Wicked cool! A veritable gold mine... That rig is a definite keeper with few, if any, parts to buy. We trust you'll add a rear trans mount, right?

 

While going through stuff, I had found the fuelie specific electrovac. However, 2 things were eluding me: the bracket and the radiator support side panel that would have the mounting provisions for the electrovac AND the extra hole and grommet for the vacuum lines. The radiator support was off the car when I got it and stored under a shed and I was convinced the side panels were lost in transport years ago or lost to time.
While re-boxing parts guess what I came across in the bottom of one of the boxes?
Truly the last pieces of the fuelie puzzle.

 

Congratulations, this just keeps getting better. Especially with how clean and complete the car is and then add in the vintage speed parts

 

There are a couple of pictures in Pat Chapells (sp?) book “The Hot One” showing ‘57 Convertibles ready to race. Did not realize there were so few.

 

Is that an oil temp sender or an oil heater in the oil pan?

 

I believe oil temp...there's SW gauges for each.

 

Any updates??

 

Nothing significant as I've been working crazy hours. I did find in the bottom of one of the boxes the original radiator support panel with the mounting for the electro-vac and the grommet with the 2 holes for the vacuum lines. That's really the final piece I needed to confirm originally fuelie.
I've been spending my free time trying to locate a correct pre-April fuelie block. With all the research I have done, I believe this car was a 250 hp version and an automatic. I need to determine which auto, but I need to move the tach out of the way to see what shift pattern is displayed on the odometer face...it was a detail I missed (the shift pattern on the odometer). I just assumed it was a pointer system mounted on the column like an old Chevy truck. I can see there is an auto shift pattern there, but can't see which one. Also, the rear differential is date correct but started as a 3.36:1 (4.11 gearset now) which indicates an auto.
I'm also trying to find a correct 4520 air meter, and a 1962 Corvette block. I have an air meter I can't identify - it doesn't come up on any search (7014054). I was told by one person that was helping me identify fuelie parts early on that it was experimental but that's 1 person. With the cracked plenum and clear evidence of an under hood fire, I'm guessing the original air meter perhaps melted down. The 1962 block will be to build it out to "Day 2" with the Latham and the Super Port Flow package.
I'm also trying to find the original microswitch assembly for the vacuum wiper. I may have it with some of the NOS wiring - I'll have to dig back through.
I did run into the son of the original owner at the grocery store on Saturday. He was intrigued by what I told him I had discovered. They're still clearing out the parents house (mom is moving in with his family) and have yet to go through any of the old photos and additional paperwork.
I also talked to a family friend that was the painter for Childress for years and has long standing "ins". He thinks he can get the original plenum that's cracked welded and shot blasted to restore it by some of the best. I'd love to save it, especially with the Bill Thomas racing mods. The friend is looking to build a black widow clone so would love to get the 4800 unit off me...and wants to go to "Jr's" to look at his Black Widow as a reference.

 

As a kid growing up in North Jersey in the late 50's early 60's My neighbor worked at Gearhart Chevrolet in Denville, NJ in the service department and had a Black 57 convertible with the Fuel injected emblems on the front fenders and it had (I believe) a 4 speed in it, His name is Bobby Shanks, he got married early and I think sold the 57, maybe the same car?

 

Not the same. I bought from the son of the original owner (and have the original title), plus this was incan silver. Thanks for looking out though.

 

So, after the update post above I got poking around on the web on the Bill Thomas racing plenum mods. I came across the following articles.
I didn't realize that they actually split the plenum. I'm guessing what I thought was a "cracked" plenum was actually a split plenum. I always thought it was a very clean break.
In one of the pics I shared was a print from Bill Thomas. Does anyone know if the print could be bought back in the day for the do-it-yourselfer? I'm curious on how old Edgar came across it (he was an engineer btw).
https://chevroletfuelinjection.com/bill-thomas-plenums/
https://www.corvetteforum..com/forums/c1-and-c2-corvettes/3261936-original-57-fuelie-2.html

 

Congratulations, What a Car . It’s got to be every tri Chevy guys dream car. That is if they are wired correctly and wouldn’t want to restore it. Good luck with the preservation.

 

Give me your thoughts...
I'm going after this fuelie engine Friday. Before I do the 14 hour drive, thought I'd let others weigh in...
Does the final F look correct? There's not a lot to compare it to.
This engine isn't 100% correct for my car because it's an August build and my car is an April build, but I also feel that it's better than nothing until I find a block with the right build date.

 

I'm no expert but I have owned a lot of Chevys, I find the more inconsistent and imperfect the stamping, the more legitimate it is. Forgers are too careful, GM wasn't. Just my opinion.

 

That is a find of a life time. Used tri five chevy stuff is going up like crazy, I'm building a 57 also but the convertible stuff is sky high. I know a guy that just sold a rusty one and I mean rusted completely away for $20,000. The only good thing I seen was it had a title with it.

 

If the price is right, grab it! You can use it for a bargaining chip if needed when you find an April build EK block.

 

My thoughts...only questioning the stamp on the final F and whether it's legit or added. I haven't come across many photos for comparison