Hi All.
I seem to have a little problem with German part suppliers.
Apparently I have purchased a 1979 vette with a 1980 Rear end.
Tried to order bushings for the "Bat wing" only to get the wrong ones.
Parts guy insists that he is correct ,and I don't know what I'm talking about.


The vehicle was imported in Feb.2011 from southern Cali to Germany.I bought it directly from the handler that imported it.
Vehicle came with a California "Salvage" Title,so I contacted the previous owner in cali to find out some history.
Apparently he bought it new in 1980,was stolen in 85,paid out by the insurance and then ,in 89, recovered by the police,in pretty bad shape.


I had to run all the #'s in order to get a German title and to prove that it was 100% original to recieve a "Historical" registration.
The VIN (1Z8789S440833) checks out to be a 79 model,built between May and June 1979, and the last four digits match the last four digits of the motor application code,and the casting #'s on the block point to Corvette.Was good enough for the inspection officials.

Heres my questions:
I know that new year models are introduced in the summer.
Could it be that my 79 was produced after the middle of the year and
thats why it has an 80 rear end? Or has someone put a 79 body on an 80's frame?
Is there a number somewhere on the frame that would tell me if it belongs to the body or not?
Parts are very expensive here and I hate buying stuff that don't fit.

 

Put up some pics of the batwing if you can.

 

There is a serial number stamped on the drivers side of the frame next to the fuel tank on my 80'.

 

Sorry.I can't post any attachments for some reason.

I have placed them in my profile gallery.

Anyway.I have some buddies here one with a 79 and another with a 74 vette.Both have the steel cross member bolted on top of the diff..

my 79 has the big aluminum triangle.It's bolted directly to brackets welded to the frame. If it is a mod then they did a really good job.Have seen pics of 80 rear ends in earlier models and they used some sort of adapter,and you can still see the "nipples" where the steel crossmember used to be.

None of that on mine.

will have to get under in the morning and see about finding a number.

 

Here's where you'll find the frame VIN. In line with the power antenna.
Pretty impossible to see without the tank or mufflers removed.


And no, the factory wouldn't put the 80 rear end under the 79. Someone else did that, probably like you suspect an 80 frame was used under your 79.

 

to narrow your build date I checked the C3 registry with your VIN 1Z8749S440833
the closest VIN is below and shows a June build date. Yours would have been the same day or the following day.

VIN 1Z8749S440828
Car's approximate birthday: June 23, 1979

 

Well then,
We have a birthday to celebrate.Thanks

 

BeeJay did a swap where he used an aluminum "batwing" in his car (a '78 or '79). He started a thread on it.

EDIT: here it is -

http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c3-t...g-install.html

 

Yep.Thats where I got the pics.
Currently nursing broken ribs,so as soon as I can I'll see about getting some pics of what "I" have,and drop the mufflers to see about the frame #.And If I saw correctly mine also has a cast diff..