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A couple questions on Tanker cars as I've not been around one
1) I'm assuming the "tanker" bodies are molded differently vs "non-tankers" to compensate for the large tank? Is this correct? or do they simply not have the floor pan in the trunk?
2) Were all bodies produced at St. Louis? Were any of these AO Smith bodies?
A couple questions on Tanker cars as I've not been around one
1) I'm assuming the "tanker" bodies are molded differently vs "non-tankers" to compensate for the large tank? Is this correct? or do they simply not have the floor pan in the trunk? The body, interior and exterior are the same as "non-tank" cars. The tank was installed on/in the luggage area and had a molded fiberglass cover. It was filled the same way as a non-tank car.
2) Were all bodies produced at St. Louis? Were any of these AO Smith bodies?
I think the floor and rear area were the same as cars with the standard tank. Changes were just made to the standard rear compartment, such as trimming away some of the wheel houses, cutting the numerous holes needed for things like the filler tube, wiring, mounting brackets, etc, and I think a support might have been added to the floor. I don't have an Assembly Manual near by, but the AIM will show all the changes needed for installing the big tank. The page posted by Ol Blue shows what needs to be done by a dealer to install a big tank in a customer's car, which would be a little different than installing it on the assembly line.
ALL TANKERS had different REAR fenders. The plant kept then in a store room. Thety were all made the same time. So 64-67 tankers had 63 special fenders.
2025 C2 of the Year ('64-'66) Finalist - Unmodified
2025 C2 of the year Finalist - Modified
Originally Posted by jimgessner
ALL TANKERS had different REAR fenders. The plant kept then in a store room. Thety were all made the same time. So 64-67 tankers had 63 special fenders.
And all components are white fiber glas, allthough the color of the fiber glas has changed in the middle of 65 for all Corvettes.
ALL TANKERS had different REAR fenders. The plant kept then in a store room. Thety were all made the same time. So 64-67 tankers had 63 special fenders.
Different rear fenders, or different inner fender liners / luggage compartment wheel well covers?
If you were to measure the rear quarter panels that came in 1963s, you would see they were just a bit wider at the apex of the fender than the subsequent C2s. The reason there were only 2 1967 tankers was that they ran out of these special parts, as the 1967 was supposed to be a Shark C3, not another C2.
Not trying to dispute, just trying to learn here. Are the wider rear fenders really because of the big tanks or was it to fit wider tires since the Z06 package originally included the big tank? Can you draw an arrow or circle a picture of one of your cars to help me get it?
Thanks
Gary
Not trying to dispute, just trying to learn here. Are the wider rear fenders really because of the big tanks or was it to fit wider tires since the Z06 package originally included the big tank? Can you draw an arrow or circle a picture of one of your cars to help me get it?
Thanks
Gary
I think it was due to the extra weight and having tire clearances
I think it was due to the extra weight and having tire clearances
Yes. But all '63s have wider quarters panels, not just Z06. That is why all tankers maintained the '63 quarter panels through 1967 and yes had the cuts in them for wider tires.. And remember the more weight on the rear axle produced a distinct negative camber on the rear wheels as well.
Please forgive my density, I can readily understand how the inner fender panels described in the bulletin I posted would allow for larger tires including making more room for the negative camber caused by the heavier weight over rear axle due to the larger fuel tank filled weight.
What I can't get my arms around is in what way would the rear fenders, and I mean the outboard rear fender panels be wider than a stock 63 Corvette. Perhaps it's just nomenclature differences.
Thanks
Gary
2025 C2 of the Year ('64-'66) Finalist - Unmodified
2025 C2 of the year Finalist - Modified
Here a picture of my actual project, my 65 tanker in sunfire yellow. Here you can see the inner fender:
Also a nice documention for N03. We found 2 markings N03.
Please forgive my density, I can readily understand how the inner fender panels described in the bulletin I posted would allow for larger tires including making more room for the negative camber caused by the heavier weight over rear axle due to the larger fuel tank filled weight.
What I can't get my arms around is in what way would the rear fenders, and I mean the outboard rear fender panels be wider than a stock 63 Corvette. Perhaps it's just nomenclature differences.
Thanks
Gary
The inner is kind of indented or cut out. White glass!
One has to remember that an additional 20 workers were put on the lower body line in St. Louis to create a tanker, much modification and fabrications were needed. That is why many were batched. And why several areas on the lower body were marked with "N03", to alert workers as it came down the line.
Welllll, after reading through these threads my conclusion is that the outer fender panels on a Z06/BigTank are no different than a stock Corvette fender. The difference is in the inner fender/wheel housing and luggage/BigTank compartment area as identified in the bulletin previously posted. I can easily see how additional effort/workers would be required to make the significant changes to a stock bodied Corvette.
Thanks to all who posted.
Gary
Welllll, after reading through these threads my conclusion is that the outer fender panels on a Z06/BigTank are no different than a stock Corvette fender. The difference is in the inner fender/wheel housing and luggage/BigTank compartment area as identified in the bulletin previously posted. I can easily see how additional effort/workers would be required to make the significant changes to a stock bodied Corvette.
Thanks to all who posted.
Gary
Yes, correct, the outer fenders on all tankers are no different than any stock '63 coupe's fenders, all the widening is on the inside of the wheel well.
"Tanker" question
Dennis
