I almost sold this '58 Corvette a couple of years ago-it was that bad. It was just a total pain to drive. It moved all over the road and would never stay in a straight line. This old straight-axle just wasn't any fun to drive. I'm not into garage decorations, so it was time to move the car down the road. But then I decided to use some new current technology and give it once last shot.
A new set of BFG radial tires and a good alignment cured most of the problems, but there was another step-four new shock absorbers. New shocks would take the final bounce out of those old springs and let the car go smoothly down the road. Since I was going to keep this '58, and even drive it to work a couple of days a week, it was time for new shocks.
The only question was which sort of shock would work best. I knew I didn't want a set of resto shocks with all the proper markings-those are for the trailer queens that don't get driven. The resto people will pay a fortune for a set of really bad shocks, and they're more than welcome to them. Why anyone would put 42-year-old shocks on a perfectly good car is beyond me. On the other hand, these same folks have "invested" in Corvettes while the rest of us have made a nice chunk of change in the stock market.
The real problem is that most of the shock companies don't have high-tech shocks for a '53 Chevy chassis. Remember, if you're driving a straight-axle Corvette, your chassis is really from a '53 Chevy Sedan. We're talking about some really old technology here. On the other hand, the real purpose of the cylindrical shock absorber hasn't changed since 1953-only the way the shock absorber works has changed.
We want a shock absorber that keeps the car from oscillating every time the spring moves. The English use the correct term: "damper." The shock absorber dampens the movement of the spring. If it wasn't for the shock absorbers, your Corvette would look like a pogo stick going down the road. Every bump you hit would send the spring into an oscillation that wouldn't stop until the next one started.
At any rate, I decided I needed new shocks to make the old '58 drive better. It took a little searching, but I discovered that Vette Brakes and Products carries the KYB line of gas shocks, and even makes them for the old straight-axle Corvettes. Considering that the car is almost 50 years old, gas shocks are pretty high-tech.
When I was in the automotive service business, KYB was one of my favorite products. They were an exceptional value and the manufacturer was always good about replacements should a problem arise. When Vette Brakes said they had a set for my '58 I was pleasantly surprised.
The next good surprise was how much the ride of this old beast changed, improving to a new level. I would best describe it as a sport ride. It's not BMW-quality, but it's a lot closer than any other straight-axle I've ever driven. The gas shocks are firm, but without the harshness usually associated with high-performance shocks.
I just may be proving that these early Corvettes can be used like a real car. How about using one as a daily driver, and not just a couple days a week? I guess I would have to have a top on the car, though, and I'm not quite ready for that.
Richard Newton has written two best-selling Corvette books in the past few years: How to Modify and Restore Your Corvette: 1968 to 1982 and Corvette Restoration Guide: 1963 to 1967. These are both available from Motorbooks International at (800) 826-6600 or www.motorbooks.com.