Removable crossmember?
Thread Starter
Crackin' on...
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 9,440
Likes: 124
From: Somewhere in Tucson AZ
St. Jude Donor '09
Removable crossmember?
Hey guys,
Wondering if anybody could take a picture of their factory removable cross-member, as in from an auto frame? Maybe the whole thing off the car if available? Or at least where it bolts to the body?
I looked under my car again yesterday for the hundredth time, only to 'see' something new! I think mine is removable, even though mine is a factory 4-speed car! Could it be???
Just want to make sure I'm looking at the right thing!
Thanks!
Wondering if anybody could take a picture of their factory removable cross-member, as in from an auto frame? Maybe the whole thing off the car if available? Or at least where it bolts to the body?
I looked under my car again yesterday for the hundredth time, only to 'see' something new! I think mine is removable, even though mine is a factory 4-speed car! Could it be???
Just want to make sure I'm looking at the right thing!
Thanks!
Thread Starter
Crackin' on...
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 9,440
Likes: 124
From: Somewhere in Tucson AZ
St. Jude Donor '09
That's what I thought, but when I looked under there, there are 2 bolts on each side going up into the frame rails, and there is a kick up just before the rails where there are 2 more bolts going fore-aft. It's like it could be removed, but I don't know what an actual 'removable' member looks like to verify that's what I'm looking at.
All I know is that this IS an original '73 4-speed car, and I don't see any welds on it, except for around the exhaust holes! Maybe this is a one-off 'mistake' car?
All I know is that this IS an original '73 4-speed car, and I don't see any welds on it, except for around the exhaust holes! Maybe this is a one-off 'mistake' car?
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 19,610
Likes: 778
From: Forked River NJ
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 3,802
Likes: 61
From: Wichita KS
That's what I thought, but when I looked under there, there are 2 bolts on each side going up into the frame rails, and there is a kick up just before the rails where there are 2 more bolts going fore-aft. It's like it could be removed, but I don't know what an actual 'removable' member looks like to verify that's what I'm looking at.
All I know is that this IS an original '73 4-speed car, and I don't see any welds on it, except for around the exhaust holes! Maybe this is a one-off 'mistake' car?
All I know is that this IS an original '73 4-speed car, and I don't see any welds on it, except for around the exhaust holes! Maybe this is a one-off 'mistake' car?
cc
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 4,206
Likes: 8
From: Belmar NJ
The a/t crossmember is sooo nice to have even if you own a stick (clutch changes much better 
). Unless you're the original owner, theres no way of truly knowing what your car really is/was. Everything can be faked and it's been going on so long, many folks are very good at it.
If the car is a 4 speed car, then the frame was altered or changed. If the frame is original, then a previous owner didn't like the automatic. Either way, it never left St. Louis like that. Don't stress over it too much, you have the best of both worlds now. /:\
). Unless you're the original owner, theres no way of truly knowing what your car really is/was. Everything can be faked and it's been going on so long, many folks are very good at it.If the car is a 4 speed car, then the frame was altered or changed. If the frame is original, then a previous owner didn't like the automatic. Either way, it never left St. Louis like that. Don't stress over it too much, you have the best of both worlds now. /:\
Thread Starter
Crackin' on...
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 9,440
Likes: 124
From: Somewhere in Tucson AZ
St. Jude Donor '09
Well, what Will just posted is what mine looks like! That's what I've got.
The last owner was my last boss and I don't believe he would lie about this, and he gave me a file with all the receipts of everything ever done on the car. No transmission change indicators anywhere in there.
Hmmm, definitely a poser here.
Thanks for all the inputs here guys. Is there any other indication I could look at (almost 0 chance for finding any build sheet) that would tell me for sure if this was an auto car to begin with? Any other "auto only" (or "stick only") options I could look for?? Like a specific gear or code on a option plate somewhere?
This is all very confusing!
Thanks again!
The last owner was my last boss and I don't believe he would lie about this, and he gave me a file with all the receipts of everything ever done on the car. No transmission change indicators anywhere in there.
Hmmm, definitely a poser here.
Thanks for all the inputs here guys. Is there any other indication I could look at (almost 0 chance for finding any build sheet) that would tell me for sure if this was an auto car to begin with? Any other "auto only" (or "stick only") options I could look for?? Like a specific gear or code on a option plate somewhere?
This is all very confusing!
Thanks again!
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time
Verdad Gallardo
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 4,206
Likes: 8
From: Belmar NJ
Well, what Will just posted is what mine looks like! That's what I've got.
The last owner was my last boss and I don't believe he would lie about this, and he gave me a file with all the receipts of everything ever done on the car. No transmission change indicators anywhere in there.
Hmmm, definitely a poser here.
Thanks for all the inputs here guys. Is there any other indication I could look at (almost 0 chance for finding any build sheet) that would tell me for sure if this was an auto car to begin with? Any other "auto only" (or "stick only") options I could look for?? Like a specific gear or code on a option plate somewhere?
This is all very confusing!
Thanks again!
The last owner was my last boss and I don't believe he would lie about this, and he gave me a file with all the receipts of everything ever done on the car. No transmission change indicators anywhere in there.
Hmmm, definitely a poser here.
Thanks for all the inputs here guys. Is there any other indication I could look at (almost 0 chance for finding any build sheet) that would tell me for sure if this was an auto car to begin with? Any other "auto only" (or "stick only") options I could look for?? Like a specific gear or code on a option plate somewhere?
This is all very confusing!
Thanks again!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 971
Likes: 7
From: roanoke va
Look at the frame on the drivers side behind the rear wheels, just about where the #4 body mount is. There is a vin.# stamped there, you will need a mirror to see it. If it match's the one on the pillar post the frame is original. If you look on the side of the trans. it is stamped with a section of the vin. number as is the engine.
If everyting matchs it must have came from the factory that way.
There are probally a few other ways to check and I am sure others will let you know and pass along other ideas.
If everyting matchs it must have came from the factory that way.
There are probally a few other ways to check and I am sure others will let you know and pass along other ideas.
Racer
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 331
Likes: 44
From: Cincinnati Ohio
Wills670 has good advice. You may need to move the line to the evaporator to see the number. I found out that this may be positioned to cover up a number on a frame that had been changed. I know because the frame in my 73 had been changed, it has removable cross member in a 4 speed car. The only other place you can find a number on the frame is under the driver door sill and you can't get to it without lifting the body. I found the actual frame number when I got the body off as part of a restoration. Unless you are building a NCRS car, be happy because it sure makes a clutch change much simpler.
