What’s under the tarp: the Yard Find Story
Proof that nice guys don’t always finish last!
Kevin had always been a “car guy”- collecting and enjoying several classic Chevrolets over the years. In 2014, he learned that the father of a co-worker had an unusual car sitting in the back yard covered by a tarp. The fantastic detail was that the car was a 1958 Corvette stored in the backyard for FORTY YEARS! Despite higher offers- the family (wisely) sold to Kevin. This article is part 7 in the continuing story. Click here to read “The Yard Find Story” from the beginning.
His unique vision for the yard find 1958 Corvette #J58S100317
Kevin realizes that this car has quite a story to tell. His unusual concept for the vehicle is to leave parts of it unrestored- especially the exterior. The Corvette will be cleaned up, and everything will operate correctly because he plans to drive it. It will NOT become a “Trailer Queen.” Our last article covered Kevin’s work on the electrical system.
The Motor and Transmission
Since this Corvette sat outside for over forty years, Kevin knew that there was much work to be done to get it back on the road. Thankfully, Kevin’s son is also a “car guy” and was a huge help in the project. The images below document the work completed in installing the new engine.
When I saw the motor for the first time- I wondered if it was salvageble- Kevin
Forty years outside caused some of the motor internals to be very rusted. The pistons could not be reused, but the rods were determined to be good. The original block was cooked to clean out the rust and dipped in an electrostatic solution to thoroughly clean it. Kevin really wanted the car to have the original block- it was just a crazy amount of work necessary to make it happen!
The crankshaft was reground- 20,000 on the mains and 10,000 on the rods. The super happy news is that Kevin and his family are waiting for some parts to arrive and then they’ll reassemble.
Gently cleaned and ready for inspection and disassembly
First look at what’s under the hood
It’s pretty much all there!
Forty years in a backyard
It can be brought back
Engine compartment after removal
We had great help with the project!
The radiator
The replacement engine on the lift
Getting it seated
Not an easy task
Motor mount
Looking great!
Keen Parts’ Diagram-based Parts Search Option
When you are not sure of the exact part that you need, or the “official” name of the part- our 1,100 diagrams make your life so much easier! First-time visitors to KeenParts.com need to start by choosing a model year (1953 through 2017) or at least a Corvette generation (C1-C7). The reason should be apparent. It makes sense to drill down to the exact diagram you want instead of combing through 1,099 others! Once you choose a model year or generation, you can either go to our “Categories” to select between 71 different topics like “Generator” or “Electrical,” or you can choose the topics on the left side of the screen. A copy of our 1958 Engine diagram is shown below with the associated parts that we carry.
Who are Keen Parts?
Keen Parts is a leading manufacturer and retailer of Corvette parts and accessories. We have over thirty years of happy customers all over the world and look forward to helping you with all of your Corvette needs. Our five catalogs cover more than 26,000 Corvette parts and accessories. Our retail shop and warehouses are located in Cleves, Ohio, just north of Cincinnati. We are right off Interstate Highway I-74 and only six minutes from Cincinnati. We stock parts for Corvettes from 1953 to the present. If you own a Corvette- we have the parts and accessories that you need!
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