1970 crossmember question
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 184
Likes: 1
From: Oak Grove MO.
1970 crossmember question
i was reading a restoration book and it said that in a 70 vette that Automatic trannys have a bolt on crossmember and manuel have a welded in crossmember. Does anyone know if this is true?
I bought a 70 that i am restoring and it has a auto in it with a welded in crossmember???? I dont see any other signs of this being a manuel tranny.
Also is there anyway to tell if this had a big block in it?
I bought a 70 that i am restoring and it has a auto in it with a welded in crossmember???? I dont see any other signs of this being a manuel tranny.
Also is there anyway to tell if this had a big block in it?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 2,387
Likes: 123
From: CA.
ITS TRUE ABOUT THE CROSSMEMBER. AS FAR AS A bb NOT SURE HOW TO TELL ON A 70. 72 HAD A W IN VIN. FOR bb, i know this is true for 72, i assume its true on 70 but someone will know for sure. i had a 70 bb and the crossmember was welded. oh, and it was a 4 speed.
Last edited by nutsy; Oct 11, 2008 at 08:55 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 2,140
Likes: 7
From: Ohio
Look on the frame below the master cylinder for a bracket that would hold the crosshaft for the clutch. The backet will be on top of the frame rail. Their is a threaded hole in the bock that lines up with the bracket which is welded on the frame. A 70 may have had a sway bar in the rear but I only know 73-454's had a sway bar in the rear. Caps on the U-Joints instead of straps is another BB clue.
Drifting
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 1,259
Likes: 2
From: MS
A welded crossmember means manual transmission, period.
Another thing to consider is that the frame could have been swapped sometime over the last 38 years.
There are two VIN stamps on it, one over the driver side rear wheel and another on the passenger side around the door.
Check the VIN stamps and verify this is the car's original frame.
EDIT: Disregard, I just noticed you have a 77, sorry.
As far as small block/big block, nothing really on the frame is different but there are other clues.
SB has 3/4 inch fron sway and none rear, BB 15/16 front and 9/16 rear.
Another thing to consider is that the frame could have been swapped sometime over the last 38 years.
There are two VIN stamps on it, one over the driver side rear wheel and another on the passenger side around the door.
Check the VIN stamps and verify this is the car's original frame.
EDIT: Disregard, I just noticed you have a 77, sorry.
As far as small block/big block, nothing really on the frame is different but there are other clues.
SB has 3/4 inch fron sway and none rear, BB 15/16 front and 9/16 rear.
Last edited by wfo76; Oct 11, 2008 at 09:36 PM.
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 3,802
Likes: 61
From: Wichita KS
The rear sway bar and the caps on the u-joints are the best clues.
You can also check the redline on the tach. 1970 big blocks had 390 hp for the LS5 and 425 I believe for the LS6. RPMs should read 5800 or 6000 for big block.
If I'm wrong someone else I'm sure will correct me.
cc
You can also check the redline on the tach. 1970 big blocks had 390 hp for the LS5 and 425 I believe for the LS6. RPMs should read 5800 or 6000 for big block.
If I'm wrong someone else I'm sure will correct me.
cc
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Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 184
Likes: 1
From: Oak Grove MO.
is the rear sway bar different on vettes than other rear sway bars? i do have some cross bars under the half axels that my other vettes did not have ? any one with a pic of the rear sway bar?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 2,140
Likes: 7
From: Ohio
The ones below the half shafts are strut rods. The sway bar is above the half shafts and full length from one frame rail to the other and very small about 1/2 inch diameter if original.
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 3,802
Likes: 61
From: Wichita KS
They have links that attach to the top of each trailing arm above the spring and the bushings and retainers attach to the bottom side of the frame on each side just in forward of the spare carrier.
cc
Last edited by CCrane65; Oct 12, 2008 at 11:37 AM.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 184
Likes: 1
From: Oak Grove MO.
thank you all for your help this is a small block car that has the original frame and it was a stick. tach redlines at 5300 and there are no sway bars : (
This might be another thread topic but i will put it here 4 now.
how do i tell what HP the 350 had? the one i took out is date coded correctly with the right heads (186) and block ( 4 bolt ending in 010 dated Feb 1970)but the suffix code does not come back as a vette. (VO612TBC)
This might be another thread topic but i will put it here 4 now.
how do i tell what HP the 350 had? the one i took out is date coded correctly with the right heads (186) and block ( 4 bolt ending in 010 dated Feb 1970)but the suffix code does not come back as a vette. (VO612TBC)
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 2,140
Likes: 7
From: Ohio
thank you all for your help this is a small block car that has the original frame and it was a stick. tach redlines at 5300 and there are no sway bars : (
This might be another thread topic but i will put it here 4 now.
how do i tell what HP the 350 had? the one i took out is date coded correctly with the right heads (186) and block ( 4 bolt ending in 010 dated Feb 1970)but the suffix code does not come back as a vette. (VO612TBC)
This might be another thread topic but i will put it here 4 now.
how do i tell what HP the 350 had? the one i took out is date coded correctly with the right heads (186) and block ( 4 bolt ending in 010 dated Feb 1970)but the suffix code does not come back as a vette. (VO612TBC)
