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Old 01-18-2013, 03:53 PM   #1
Wade Mahaffey
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Default 58 Corvette RACEtoration is back online!

Built on the premise that "LESS IS MORE" This project is a multi-use, small tire car with a little baby motor for Super/Stock racing among other things. All of the design and fabrication work that you will see was performed by myself. All of the fiberglass enhancements I did as well. This will be the first car I ever painted. I like to do everything myself, all the construction, finish and most of all... the driving! The car is designed to do it all, NHRA Super Stock, IHRA Super/Stock, Nostalgia Super/Stock, Bracket Race, Stock suspension type 10.5 Racing, Car Shows, Street Driving/Cruisin, Hot Rod Power Tour, Super Chevy Shows, Goodguys Shows, National Street Rod Asso. Shows. Who knows...maybe a shot at the salt, out in Bonneville! Can one car fit in all of these programs? Who knows, but I'm trying to build the car with the opportunity to compete or enjoy life in many arenas! .......Should be done in the spring or summer of 2015.......I had to take a break from the project due to hurricane Irene damage to my shop building on 8/2011. I rebuilt the damaged portion of the building (500 sq ft) (did I mention I like to do it all myself...yes the building too) to even better than it used to be. Now (11/2012) I'm finishing the body and paint booth area. Then it's wide open on the Corvette project! The challenge is to win in a car you created....in a building and shop you created from scratch ! The car will be named "The Firefighter Special" and will be involved in the promotion of Firefighter reccognition and awareness.

Here is where the car is today



Here is what I started with...yes it is a ton of work...but the more effort you put into the journey....the greater the reward...I look at it like, the more you do yourself...the more you win...it's like you win a little bit everyday!







This is the frame that I pulled out from under the car. Complete with tow bar mounts and straight axle leaf spring mounts



This is the frame after being stripped of all unneccessary brackets and being dipped and cleaned. I bought this stock front suspension off of Ebay from a seller going to a Mustang II front end



This is the front suspension today



These are the headers I made and had dipped at Nitoplate. The hand made collectors have a slip connection welded into the core for crankcase ventilation. The shroud uses a Flex-a-lite 3300 CFM fan. The front motorplate detail won't be completed till the body is back on the frame.



The rear frame section needed to be narrowed slightly to fit a 10.5 tire under the car and the leaf springs were moved into the frame rail. A 9" ford housing was narrowed and fabricated using all Strange Engineering components.





More to come later on the Body and Roll Cage detail

Last edited by Wade Mahaffey; 09-14-2014 at 10:48 AM.
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Old 01-18-2013, 04:20 PM   #2
Jerry Hatch
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Default Re: 58 Corvette RACEtoration is back online!

Really nice looking project Wade. I certainly have to agree with the concept of doing everything yourself. There are very few people left who have the desire and commitment to complete a long term project such as yours. The level of gratification achieved upon completion of such a venture cannot be compared to anything. My hat's off to ya, enjoy your build. Jerry.
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Old 01-18-2013, 08:20 PM   #3
Wade Mahaffey
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Default Re: 58 Corvette RACEtoration is back online!

A few photos of the roll cage detail









I made the seats to provide maximum driver comfort in the small Corvette interior.

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Old 01-18-2013, 11:00 PM   #4
gmonde
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Default Re: 58 Corvette RACEtoration is back online!

imagination, thought , engineering very nice work gmonde
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Old 01-19-2013, 12:07 AM   #5
Wade Mahaffey
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Default Re: 58 Corvette RACEtoration is back online!

To address the wheel tub issue, I fabricated a mold from 22 ga steel. I wanted a rounded corner from the sides to the top for a nicer stock appearence. I hand formed a nice wheel tub complete with beads for strength. I then hand laid the fiberglass mat with resin to form a great looking and strong 35" X 14" wheel tub



I then trimed the finished tub to fit the car and glassed it into place for a very sweet finish.



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Old 01-19-2013, 12:23 AM   #6
Wade Mahaffey
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I noticed some cracking where the top or the front fender meets the step down for the hood on both sides. I think it must be from leaning on the front fenders while working in the engine bay. So I added two foam strips under the fenders and glassed them in to provide extra support. I call it the "Daytona Package" LOL

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Old 01-19-2013, 12:33 AM   #7
Wade Mahaffey
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The firewall and inner fender panels had 158 holes to be filled. I reduced that to just a few for the master cylinder and steering column...yep, fiberglassed um all up!

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Old 01-19-2013, 12:47 AM   #8
Wade Mahaffey
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Default Re: 58 Corvette RACEtoration is back online!

The darker areas are where I had to perform a repair from previous owners, fill factory holes or missing pieces, and of course a few racing enhancements

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Old 01-19-2013, 01:02 AM   #9
Geerhead55
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Awesome job so far,, Wade. I can't wait to see it finished. If you're thinking about competing in all those different style events,, then you've got to take it to Hot Rod Magazine's Drag Week, at least once. It'll blow them away. Take care.
Danny Durham
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Old 01-19-2013, 08:43 AM   #10
FrankChastain
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Default Re: 58 Corvette RACEtoration is back online!

What a great project, workmanship and the detailing is very different world for some folks. Thanks for sharing and good luck. 265 or 283 cu in engine and what HP? frankchastain
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