C3 Tech/Performance V8 Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine, Basic Tech and Maintenance for the C3 Corvette
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Name This Part!

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Dec 29, 2004 | 02:14 PM
  #1  
69_BigBlock's Avatar
69_BigBlock
Thread Starter
Advanced
 
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 93
Likes: 0
From: Cary NC
St. Jude Donor '03 & '05
Default Name This Part!

Had to pop start my vette the other day at work and jerked the car pretty hard when I popped the clutch. When I came in this morning I found 3 of these lying in the parking lot exactly where I popped the clutch. Two are about 3/16" thick, one is about 1/16". I'm guessing some kind of shim but don't know for sure. Took a quick peek under the car and didn't see anything obvious. Any ideas???



Thanks!

Ron
Reply
Old Dec 29, 2004 | 02:20 PM
  #2  
Chuck Gongloff's Avatar
Chuck Gongloff
Race Director
Supporting Lifetime Gold
25 Year Member
Active Streak: 90 Days
Community Favorite
Top Answer: 5
 
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 10,866
Likes: 717
From: Beverly Hills/Pine Ridge Florida
Default

Rear trailing arm shims...the later "slotted" design as opposed to the earlier "2 hole" design. If you have this kind of shim, they should be retained by a large...6 inch or so....cotter pin through the frame.

69's didn't originally use this type of shim. Chuck
Reply
Old Dec 29, 2004 | 02:22 PM
  #3  
68raggtop's Avatar
68raggtop
Racer
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 263
Likes: 1
From: 20,000 leagues under the sea
Default

Those are for sure the shims for the rear trailing arm! You will need to get your rear aligned, or at least get the shimming back in so the TA won't move.
Reply
Old Dec 29, 2004 | 02:22 PM
  #4  
Paul L's Avatar
Paul L
Team Owner
15 Year Member
 
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 30,995
Likes: 99
From: Ontario
Default

Chuck wins the prize! You must have a pretty loose rear end at the moment.



If you look closely you can see the head of the shims retaining cotter pin in this old pic.


Last edited by Paul L; Dec 29, 2004 at 02:41 PM.
Reply
Old Dec 29, 2004 | 02:28 PM
  #5  
jdmick's Avatar
jdmick
Safety Car
20 Year Member
 
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 3,725
Likes: 5
From: Minnesota
Default

Man I wish mine would have come out that easy. You're half way there on a rear suspension rebuild now. You better keep going.
Reply
Old Dec 29, 2004 | 02:36 PM
  #6  
MEGALADON's Avatar
MEGALADON
Safety Car
 
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 3,997
Likes: 1
From: WAY DEEP INSIDE AMERICO,YES YOU LIVE HERE TO!! TX
Default

Originally Posted by jdmick
Man I wish mine would have come out that easy. You're half way there on a rear suspension rebuild now. You better keep going.
Yea, get it fixed, I would not drive to much like that
Reply
Old Dec 29, 2004 | 02:41 PM
  #7  
LOTAHP's Avatar
LOTAHP
Le Mans Master
 
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 5,446
Likes: 2
From: Not Correctly Restored Stingray Fla.
Default

Originally Posted by jdmick
Man I wish mine would have come out that easy. You're half way there on a rear suspension rebuild now. :




Maybe pop the clutch a couple of more times and the trailing arm will come out. OR just to do a wicked HOLE SHOT
Reply
Old Jan 4, 2005 | 11:49 PM
  #8  
69_BigBlock's Avatar
69_BigBlock
Thread Starter
Advanced
 
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 93
Likes: 0
From: Cary NC
St. Jude Donor '03 & '05
Default

Thanks everyone for the quick responses. I was able to get the shims back in until I can get it aligned properly.

Odd thing is that the frame does not have the hole for the retaining cotter pin. The shims are just kind of resting inside the frame "bracket".

I haven't taken a real close look yet, but during a quick inspection with the wheels still on I couldn't find the hole on either side of the car. Is it common for these holes to be missing on a '69 roadster?

Thanks again!

Ron
Reply
Corvette Stories

The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts

story-0

10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

 Joe Kucinski
story-1

Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

 Brett Foote
story-2

10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

 Michael S. Palmer
story-3

8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

 Joe Kucinski
story-5

How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

 Joe Kucinski
story-6

Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

 Michael S. Palmer
story-7

Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

 Joe Kucinski
story-8

150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

 Joe Kucinski
story-9

8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Jan 5, 2005 | 03:21 AM
  #9  
Chuck Gongloff's Avatar
Chuck Gongloff
Race Director
Supporting Lifetime Gold
25 Year Member
Active Streak: 90 Days
Community Favorite
Top Answer: 5
 
Joined: Apr 1999
Posts: 10,866
Likes: 717
From: Beverly Hills/Pine Ridge Florida
Default

Corvette didn't use the slotted shims till mid 1970 as I recall. Before that, 63 and up used the "2 hole" shims. Those shims did not need a cotter pin to retain them, as the T Arm bolt went through one of the holes to retain them.

Problem was at alignment time, you had to pull the T Arm bolt to change shims.

My late 69 has the holes in the frame for the cotter pins, but they weren't used. Somewhere along the line, your shims have been changed to the "later" style slotted shims. Chuck
Reply
Old Jan 5, 2005 | 07:31 AM
  #10  
MYBAD79's Avatar
MYBAD79
Le Mans Master
20 Year Member
Conversation Starter
All Eyes On Me
Photogenic
 
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 5,269
Likes: 54
From: Orlando Florida
St. Jude Donor '05
Default

Originally Posted by Chuck Gongloff
Corvette didn't use the slotted shims till mid 1970 as I recall. Before that, 63 and up used the "2 hole" shims. Those shims did not need a cotter pin to retain them, as the T Arm bolt went through one of the holes to retain them.

Problem was at alignment time, you had to pull the T Arm bolt to change shims.
I didn't know that they had the 2-hole design - what a dumb idea, shim changes are nearly impossible without major frustration and/or pain..... at least they got smart and changed it....

The shim shown in the picture appears to be stainless, it's from either VBP, Ecklers or one of the other suppliers. If there are shims missing, you better order another shim/bolt/cotter pin kit - it's only $30 and comes as a complete set.

Once the shims are installed properly you should drill a hole for the cotter pin to secure the shims.
Reply
Old Jan 5, 2005 | 08:35 AM
  #11  
69_BigBlock's Avatar
69_BigBlock
Thread Starter
Advanced
 
Joined: Apr 2003
Posts: 93
Likes: 0
From: Cary NC
St. Jude Donor '03 & '05
Default

Originally Posted by Chuck Gongloff
Corvette didn't use the slotted shims till mid 1970 as I recall. Before that, 63 and up used the "2 hole" shims. Those shims did not need a cotter pin to retain them, as the T Arm bolt went through one of the holes to retain them.

Problem was at alignment time, you had to pull the T Arm bolt to change shims.

My late 69 has the holes in the frame for the cotter pins, but they weren't used. Somewhere along the line, your shims have been changed to the "later" style slotted shims. Chuck
Makes sense. Thanks again for the quick reply!
Reply
Old Jan 5, 2005 | 08:59 AM
  #12  
Edzred72's Avatar
Edzred72
Le Mans Master
10 Year Member
 
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 5,943
Likes: 3
From: Wildwood IL
Default

Originally Posted by Chuck Gongloff
Problem was at alignment time, you had to pull the T Arm bolt to change shims.
Yeah....and the "cheezy" alignment shops just jammed them in, wrote up the bill...and sent you on your way. Might be why yours fell out!!
Eddie
Reply

Get notified of new replies

To Name This Part!





All times are GMT -4. The time now is 06:19 PM.

story-0
10 Ugly Corvettes That We Still Kinda Love

Slideshow: 10 ugly Corvettes that we still kinda love.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-06-03 10:34:17


VIEW MORE
story-1
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer

A lot of money has changed hands at the online auction house over the years.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-03 10:21:50


VIEW MORE
story-2
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)

Slideshow: 10 great gifts Corvette enthusiasts actually want for Father's Day!

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-06-03 15:43:40


VIEW MORE
story-3
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems

Slideshow: These are the quirks, annoyances, and oddly lovable problems that every Corvette owner eventually learns to live with.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-28 09:31:39


VIEW MORE
story-4
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years

Slideshow: 10 reasons why the C6 Z06 is still a performance benchmark after 20 years.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 17:20:09


VIEW MORE
story-5
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972

Slideshow: How much horsepower every Corvette engine lost in 1972.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-27 16:54:53


VIEW MORE
story-6
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!

Slideshow: How to Protect A Convertible Top: 10 DOs & DON'Ts

By Michael S. Palmer | 2026-04-03 00:00:00


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!

Slideshow: The 10 most explosive Corvettes ever built based on power-to-weight ratio.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-20 07:23:03


VIEW MORE
story-8
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter

Slideshow: From C1 to C8 we compare every Corvette generation by the numbers.

By Joe Kucinski | 2026-05-12 16:54:12


VIEW MORE
story-9
8 Coolest Corvette Pace Cars (and Replicas) of All Time

Slideshow: Some Corvette pace cars became collectible legends, while others perfectly captured the look and attitude of their era.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-11 09:50:51


VIEW MORE