69ttop502

I had to change the pinion seal on my 62 and while I was under there, decided to check out the numbers. It is a posi rear with the casting number 3789812 and date L201 with a thin P cast into the drivers side. On the passenger side was stamped CB and l17. My question is, is it possible for the stamping date to precede the casting date ie; l 17 before L 20. The dates are consistent with the build date of the car. Its serial # 1243. It could be I just didn't read it correctly as I did it kind of fast and the stamping wasn't real deep.

Thanks, trying to learn something here.

Bill

DZAUTO

The L201 is Dec 20, 1961.
The I17 is actually 1 17 (Jan 17). There is NO year in the stamped date because the year is provided in the CAST date.

Tom Parsons

69ttop502

Thanks Tom,

What is the 1 then at the end of the casting date? I had assumed that meant 1 for 61. I guess from your info I can assume this could be the original rear for the car. The build date I think was October 1961.

Bill

MICK3

Vin # 1243 would have been built some time in October of 61, the stamped CB is the gear ratio, 336 posi, The rear end was cast after your car was built, L201 = December 20, 1961.

69ttop502

Ok thanks, I didn't see that Tom edited his post as I was typing mine. Thanks Mick and Tom. It is the first thing on this car that didn't turn out to be original, at least in date and casting numbers. I had never checked it before. As I am going to be selling the car in the next couple of months, does this hurt the value of the car at all since the motor and transmission appear to be original to the car?

Bill

62Jeff

In my opinion, not by much. It should be disclosed when you sell the car, but I believe a measurable majority of people are most interested about the engine and transmission data above all else. I'm not sure if NCRS even looks at the rear end date codes, they didn't 25 years ago when I was last judged, but that's not a fair data point due to age.

Given the build date of the car, and the date of the rear, I would be more inclined to think:
1) The dealer swapped out the rear at the time of sale because the customer wanted a different ratio

2) The rear was replaced under warranty when the car was still new

Frankie the Fink

I think having a posi rear (even if not original) versus having an original 'peg-leg' (open) rear is probably a wash money-wise. I have my original '61 non-posi rear but wouldn't have paid any less if it had been a posi from some other year (I'm still thinking about swapping!)

GCD1962

I have three units. One original & two replacements sitting on a shelf. I recently went with a 9" Ford rear.

69ttop502

Thanks guys, I have collected all the casting numbers and dates on the car at this point and certainly when it is ready to sell there will be full disclosure on all dates and numbers. Trying to get an ad ready for the March/April Driveline so need to get the car ready by then. Thanks for all the help. I guess I need to crawl under there again and mark the wheels and driveshaft and see what ratio is really in there.

Interestingly, I found in a chassis book that I have, it said in 62 through about serial# 1800, the units had a drain plug, and mine does not so I guess 2+2 does equal 4 sometimes in relation to these old cars.

Bill

DZAUTO

Bill,
Across the board (EXCEPT for early 62 models), the last year for a drain plug (pass cars & Vettes) in the bottom of the axle housing was 1961 (first year was 57). So, generally speaking, 62s will not have a drain plug, only a fill plug. Also, on posi equiped cars------FROM THE FACTORY-----------there should be a round metal tag retained by the fill plug which says something like USE POSITRACTION FLUID ONLY. If your 62 does not have one of these "posi" tags, they are available from all the Vette/Chevy pass car vendors. And they are reasonably good repos.
Also, even if your posi rear is not original to the car, I think the majority of buyers would MUCH PREFER to have the posi rear. At least it is correctly coded and is a 62 rear. To Tom Parsons, the date discrepancy is a NON-issue!

Tom Parsons

Gman58

My 58 came with a open rear end. It is dated coded correctly for the car. I bought a correct Posi case for it. I probably won't build it and put it in but it will go with the car when I sell it. Posi or non Posi it didn't keep me from buying the car. Greg

Fawndeuce

When I had mine judged at the MI regional last year, they were not judged, but I was told that the NCRS plans to judge them in the future. I don't know when that would be, but I agree that other than on a 98% type car, adding a posi shouldn't hurt the value.



Paul

DZAUTO

I know that I've covered this here before, but for those who haven't seen it, or have forgotten due to old timers disease, here is a brief reminder regarding the addition of posi to a non posi car.

For those who may have a NON-posi rear, THAT IS ORIGINAL to their car, and REALLY, REALLY would like to have a posi, but DO NOT WANT to replace their center section, it is too easy to convert the rear to posi. FACTORY posi units are becoming scarce, expensive, AND old, stressed and possibly cracked. But it you can locate a good posi unit, your non-posi can be converted with minimal effort. Also, Eaton is now making an EXCELLENT posi unit to fit the 55-64 pass cars/56-62 Vettes. I have done several of the Eaton installations for customers, as well as a couple of my own rears. In my opinion, the BEST way to convert one of these early rears is to install the Eaton unit.
With either a factory posi or Eaton conversion, the ORIGINAL non-posi center case can be retained with its original gears, dates and codes. When installed, NO ONE can tell if it is or is not posi.

Tom Parsons

muncieman

Let me see if I understand, the cars are judged sitting on the ground or in a parking lot. Without a jack, solid ground and some jack stands how do they think this will play out??? I can't see them slithering under these cars sitting on the ground, they set to low and many of the judges are shall we say full figured

Having you car judged is already a royal pain in the butt, let's make it even more fun

Drivers for me, trailer queens for others

Fawndeuce

Here is a pic of the undercarriage my car being judged at the Michigan regional last year, as you can see the guys really get under there, despite it having been driven 600+ miles through heavy rain and muck to get there.



The detailed feedback that the judging process provided me was extremely informative, I highly recommend it to anyone who is interested in learning more about their car.
BTW, NCRS judging is not a white glove check for dust kind of deal, despite not being able to detail the undercarriage after the long drive, it still rated a TopFlight (even pre millage credit).



Paul

62Jeff

You probably have the original rear housing in your car with a replacement case/gears