Help identify the year for this chassis please
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,145
Likes: 5
From: South of London, Engerland
Help identify the year for this chassis please
Can anybody tell me for sure what model year the chassis below is designed for please?
It was installed under my '76 but I'm sure it's not the original chassis. If anybody can give me clues on how to identify it accurately I'd be very grateful.
So far I've learnt:
- '68 chassis don't have the diagonal braces at the rear kick-ups
- the rear cross-member suits a rubber-bumper car
- a friend's '79 has a rear cross-member that is a different shape
- the fact that the welding on the side seams over the rear wheels is continuous (rather than spot) indicates it could be a later chassis
I can provide more photos if it'd help.
It was installed under my '76 but I'm sure it's not the original chassis. If anybody can give me clues on how to identify it accurately I'd be very grateful.
So far I've learnt:
- '68 chassis don't have the diagonal braces at the rear kick-ups
- the rear cross-member suits a rubber-bumper car
- a friend's '79 has a rear cross-member that is a different shape
- the fact that the welding on the side seams over the rear wheels is continuous (rather than spot) indicates it could be a later chassis
I can provide more photos if it'd help.
Racer
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 279
Likes: 0
From: Bellport NY
It's at least a '75 or newer. Try the driver's side frame rail, near the rear kick-up. (near the guy with the blue jacket) However, it may have been ground off during the sanding. I think I may have also seen it on the driver's side, upper, rear leg. All on the top surfaces.
I have some pics of where I found them that I can post later.
I have some pics of where I found them that I can post later.
Drifting
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,944
Likes: 22
From: Yooperville MI
That is a '75-'77 automatic transmission frame. Identifiable by round holes for impact absorbers in the rear crossmember that started in '75. The rear crossmember was changed again in '78, the holes were square and the crossmember had a different shape.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,145
Likes: 5
From: South of London, Engerland
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Race Director
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From: Tampa, Florida
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2001
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From: Wellington, FL
St. Jude Donor '11 thru '25
Have a look at this thread regarding partial Vin on 2 locations of the frame.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1363395
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1363395
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,145
Likes: 5
From: South of London, Engerland
My '76 is a 4-speed L-82.
This is another reason why I think it's the wrong chassis for the car. No frame VIN + wrong cross-member. But it does have the clutch linkage bracket.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,145
Likes: 5
From: South of London, Engerland
Have a look at this thread regarding partial Vin on 2 locations of the frame.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1363395
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1363395But thanks for posting the link - I just discovered that my transmission is original!
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 4,359
Likes: 57
From: Mundelein Illinois
What year did removeable cross members start. I know in 78 - 81 if you had a speed it was removeable. I think in 1980 - 82 all crossmembers were removeable wether Auto or Man.
Here's a pic of the rear of my 81 frame
Maybe a new frame from the guys in Michigan. That is why no vin. Your original may have rusted out.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,145
Likes: 5
From: South of London, Engerland
The welding on the chassis is very bad though - it looks so bad it's factory-original
Race Director
Joined: Sep 2001
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From: Wellington, FL
St. Jude Donor '11 thru '25
Last edited by Jud Chapin; Mar 3, 2008 at 05:44 PM.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
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From: Crossville TN
Or it has been ground off in a prior restoration or repair... You could always stamp in the VIN on the frame, as long as you put some kind of designation along with it to show it isn't factory original.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 1,145
Likes: 5
From: South of London, Engerland
Also, I've just finished painting it
I don't mind that it doesn't have a number. I'm just trying to learn as much as I can about it while I'm doing the body-off, so it's good to find out that it's a '75-77 chassis and therefore it is roughly correct (as are the components that bolt to it).
