Any specific things I should be looking for when it comes to inspecting these cars? Any rust that would make the car a deal breaker? This would be my first 50s car, so any help is appreciated!
Rust in the floor and trunk pans would be a deal breaker for me. Floor pans are an expensive and time consuming repair.
Check: frame for rot......body mounts....kinks.......non-factory welds. Body- mounting areas, excessive bondo, rust under exposed bondo. how the doors work....binding, sagging, pinching. the sheet metal parts are easy to fix and replace weld on.........
The first thing to look at = If it has a TURBOGLIDE trany,it will need to be replaced with atleast at powerglide. Look at the shift indicator . If you see the letters '' GR'' = grade retarder ,its a TURBO GLIDE or maybe its already been replaced. and all of the metal /rest .bondo . Take a magnet along to test for filler . Bill aka Tnomoldw
Give me a call and I would be glad to tell you what I have learned about 58 Chevy's over the years. Andy (626) 398-4848
The area above the gas tank is a place where even "good 58s" could harbor rust. There was a mat above the tank, under the floor that held moisture. All of the pan rust is repairable, It'll teach you to repair if you don't already know. Lots of cobbled ways to do it but doing it right is rewarding. Trunk lip is another. Remember, it's 55 years old so it'll need work most likely. My Impala was bought be me in 1981, north of Ft. Worth and it spent it's entire life in that area. It needed a trunk pan that wasn't available at the time.
Left you a message I will take a little more time on the trunk, I know it has some rust already but I didnt know about the trunk lip Thanks!
Rear axel swing arms might be worn. Check it by jack it up in the rear and yank the axel back and forth lenghtwise.
If somebody stuck a magnet on my car ,painted, patinad or what not I'd probably knock his teeth in..if you can't tell where hidden issues are, take somebody that can..With bondo, most hacks get lazy when it comes to smoothing out the edge of filler on lower parts, and tight spots on a car....
check the eyebrows above the headlights , those areas collect mud ,pics of my 2 door wagon parts car attached , (by the way , it's for sale) Joe
The frame where it goes over the rear axle is not very strong and prone to rust out. Fenders, rocker panels, floors, etc. like to rust out too, cars were not built to last or rust proofed.
The Jalopy Journal
