I found the remnants of this one on top of the fuel tank. Today, you can buy this lower crossmember panel to really clean up this often rough-looking area. Still, it was a lower compression 300-hp 327-ci engine coupled to an automatic transmission. Corrosion is considered scaling of the metal surfaces. 300 hp engine and three speed manual transmission started at $4,084. Table of Contents: Jump to your Corvette year here for our Corvette VIN Decoder: Visit our Corvette Answers Consulting Tab if you need help decoding! General Motors stamped the engine block with the last six digits of the VIN. Second sequence is: 95800001. 1963-1967 (C2) BODY TRIM PLATE: Located on the crossbrace under the dash, it identifies the month and day built, model year, body style, body number, trim combination and paint color. Rare Silver on Silver 1966 Chevrolet Corvette Convertible 427. How much of the major work can you do? 02B. On the left side of the trim tag is the word Trim, which designates the interior trim code of that particular car. Corvette bodies are comprised of numerous fiberglass panels bonded together. The last six digits (112xxx) tell you it was built about two-thirds through the model year. Required fields are marked *, By using this form you agree with the storage and handling of your data by this website. this year. The next position to the right is the body sequence number. We have also included a table with the C2 Corvette production figures. Parts available and how to videos. They may be very valuable to someone with a factory-correct Camaro, Chevelle, Impala, or early Chevy truck. forum) The C2 Registry doesn't garantee the authentication of the posted photographs and . Someone took a right front fender corner and hacked it onto the original fender. Press-molded fiberglass costs quite a bit more to manufacture so hand-laid is popular for replacement panels. Cracks occur around the front spring pockets and steering box mount area. Pick the right one, and youll have a fresh new exterior, perfect for looking fantastic at a track or classic car show. The serial number followed the coupe or convertible code, to give you an idea when the Corvette was built. 1. Ive owned several 427 big block especially 1967s with TriPower setup with Holly 2 bbls. Copyright 2022 Ecklers Automotive. Protect-O-Plates also had the original purchasers name, along with the other data. The same water/salt slurry attacks the frame behind the front wheels causing corrosion. Advertised Engine Ratings - Horsepower and torque figures. So, if youre looking to refresh the color of your car, your first step is ensuring that you pick the right one. As I mentioned earlier, if there is no documentation, beware. We have included an easy to use search feature too for quickly finding specific RPO codes. C represented Cleve- land-built Powerglides, T for Toledo-built Powerglides, P for Muncie, and S for Sag- inaw-built 3-speeds. The format is not the complete VIN, but enough to conclude the original VIN's number. All catalogs are also online with full search and order features. The 1967 had early and late versions of both the rectangular- and oval-port heads. This buyers order spells out what options and trim level this 1967 had from the factory. C3 (1968-1982): Windshield Glass, Rear Glass, Door Glass. Power Team Combinations - Engine, transmission and rear axle. This is somewhat exaggerated, but they do analyze every number carefully. 327ci 350HP Engine, 427ci 390HP Engine, 427ci 425HP Engine, 3-speed manual (standard), 4-speed manual (optional), 2-speed Powerglide (optional), Our newsletter delivers all the Vette news, rumors, deals and events directlyto you each week. This is not a Corvette Protect-O-Plate; it is from the 1965 GM car line. One of the worst cases I have seen was a 1966 that arrived in baskets for assembly. Intake manifolds have a date code along with a casting number. The base model Corvettes, however, still came with the 327 CID V8 that had been used since 1962. Midyear frame flex commonly occurs at the steering box, and over time the flexing causes cracks around the box. Everything can be difficult to take apart due to corrosion. RR, SS, and TT were 2.20:1 first-, 1.64:1 second-, and 1.31:1 third-gear ratios. Lastly, it required stouter, shot-peened half shafts and U-joints, as well as a higher-capacity radiator and sump. They signify how the vehicle is built during production and thus the specific configuration of a vehicle as it exits the factory up to and including the paint color. Worse yet, major body panels were replaced on tweaked frames and nothing fits properly, such as hoods, doors, etc. Lastly, less notable upgrades like the addition of Corvette Sting Ray scripts to the hood and the introduction of standard backup lights were introduced. The best procedure is to remove all crud and paint from the area for a thorough inspection. Midyears are often found with incorrect engines and transmissions because of the hard life that many early Corvettes had. The Trim tag is located on the driver side "A" pillar, just outside of the dash area. In 1966 and 1967, Holley supplied all the small- and big-block carburetors, including the Tri-Power setup shown. The 5A14 build date is correct: 5 for the year 1965, A for January like the engine date coding, 14 for the day. The stamping is close to the outside edge of the frame rail directly above the driver-side rear tire. If you see one wheel back or forward noticeably farther than the other, it is often an indication of collision damage. On A/C-equipped cars, such as this one, it is usually difficult to read the engine deck stamping on the block, which is in front of the passenger-side cylinder head. Information is still sparse but our speculation has provided the following: 4 =Car Line or Series: Y=Y-body series(Corvette), 5= Corvette Specific information Model/Equipment (Still Decoding as data become available)9=NON USA/CANADA, 6= Body style:2= Coupe,3= Convertible, 7= Restraint system:D=Front/Side AJ7 Airbags with manual seat belts, 9= Randomly generated check digit: 0 - 9 or "X" Security CodeCheck Digit Calculator, 12 to 17Production sequence number:1G1YC2D44L5100001, Experimental Vehicles Digits 16 & 17 end with"EX", LT2 Engine with M1L8-speed dual clutch automatic shifting transmission, Corvette VIN Number Build Sheets and Window Stickers are available for 1981+ Corvettes from the Corvette Museum, Corvette news releases from around the Corvette Universe. Given the fact that, especially in the Sixties, engine outputs weresometimes deliberately understated, it is not unreasonable to assume that the output of these two engines was closer to 420 and 450 horsepower respectively. Not many novices want to tackle major body reconstruction resulting from hidden corrosion damage. A.O. The 1968-78 Corvette trim tag is very different from the 1965-67 Corvette trim tag. I would repair this and not be concerned about future problems. Produced from 19651972, the differential is [Click here to read more], In this article, I am going to rebuild a Delco tall-cap distributor from the ground up. Corvette trim tag from a silver/dark blue 1964 convertible built on November 9. The only way that you can positively verify the original paint and/or interior is to acquire the original dealer invoice or other original paperwork. However, when the body was lowered onto the frame, it was obvious something was seriously wrong. Wadded-up pieces of fiberglass cloth sticking out from the underside of a repair that never got saturated with resin are common. The frame has been tweaked or the body was reassembled incorrectly after an accident. The paint and interior were dated and could use some TLC to get it back on track. Here's the hidden vin on a Camaro. Production Options Color Options for 1966 Color Codes: B=Blue, BB=Bright Blue, BG=Beige, BK=Black, G-Green, L=Leather, R=Red, S=Saddle, SI=Silver, V=Vinyl, W=White, WB=White and Blue Interior Colors 1966 Corvette Specifications Mechanical Dimensions Engine Specifications The front and rear fender split line meets the upper panels about an inch below the surround panel. Fuelies: Fuel Injected Corvettes 19571965 by Robert Genat has excellent focused information on these revered Corvettes. There are Corvette numbers fanatics who can tell you that on the fourth week of May only x number of bodies were built because there was a shortage of resin. Buffalo would be B and Chevrolet gear and axle is G for their respective plants. 1965. The company estimate said 5.7 second 0 60 mph time was possible, but we couldnt validate that anybody had tested that. The elements are tough on the paper over the years. looking for info on hard top restoration for 1966 C-2. The lack of changes for the 1966 model year did not hurt Corvettes popularity with consumers. These cars began production in late August 2008. General Motors used exhaust heat flowing through a tube connected to the passenger-side exhaust manifold for choke operation. Powerglide automatic transmissions were stamped D for day and N for night. T Pt 1963-1967 618M Search: SWATCHES ST. LOUIS COUPE (837/S) COLOR VINYL LEATHERCODE Black 4 STD Black4 898A Red 4 490AA Red4 898EA Blue 4 490BA Blue4 898JA Saddle 4 490CA Saddle4 898CA Silver/Black 4 491AA Silver/Black4 899AA Silver/Dk . 10. QQ were 2.54:1 first-, 1.89:1 second-, 1.51:1 third-gear ratios. I desired the exterior look of the Midyear with some late-model amenities. With the exception of the dramatic new lineup of engine choices, there was little else that was deemed new for the 1966 model year. engines. The Corvette Black Book by Mike Antonick is a must for quick data on all years of Corvettes. Sure, there are owners who held onto and preserved their window sticker, but that should not be the only document you put stock in. We have a wide selection of paints that match OEM colors and the various tools you need to get the job done successfully. Meet the Team: Accounting, Purchasing, and More! 1953 to early 1960 driver-side door post area. We specify precisely when VIN Tags switch generations, sequence, and move locations. Location: Riveted to the top left cowl under the hood. Many times the frame damage is not caught until the alignment tech finds it. You probably have arrived here to answer the question: How do you read a Corvette VIN number? SHARE THIS ARTICLE: Please feel free to share this post on Facebook / Twitter / Google+ or any automotive Forums or blogs you read. However, even despite the staggering horsepower and the impressive performance numbers, the fact remained that the Corvette was half a ton heavier than the Shelby Cobra so, even with the same horsepower rating, it was considered less than a threat. Example: 194375S100001 Sequence Number = Code Description 1 GM division 1 = Chevrolet 2 Car line or series 9 = Corvette 3 Engine type 4 = V8 4 & 5 Body style 3 & 7 = two door coupe This was probably not the car for me because it was too nice and should be put back together for NCRS showing or a nice, fun weekend show car. Impressive as those numbers were, the intent of the 427 cubic inch engine had been to meet the Shelby Cobra head-on and give it some staunch competition. To resolve the problem, the floor needed to be removed and glued back together correctly, which was a major reconstruction project. The fourth digit (3) tells you it is a coupe. From 1963 on, trim tags had many changes. A Regular Production Option (RPO) is a General Motors standard coding for vehicle configuration options and began in 1970 (for pre-1970s Corvettes they would just be consider option codes). Done properly with the correct matching date and casting codes, it is possible to pass NCRS judging. The most common corrosion area is at the rear frame rail kick-ups where the trailing arms pivot. Corvette trim tag from a silver/dark blue 1964 convertible built on November 9. Finally, if the car has not been restored some factory paint overspray may still be visible on the floorpan or on the inside of the car behind the interior door panels. If the project is so valuable, why would someone sell it? Below we have outlined the pricing and options, but we also have a more detailed page here. Birdcages can be subjected to all the elements: water, salt, dirt, and anything that could possibly cause corrosion. Each Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) is unique to an individual car. I have way too many Midyear Corvettes come into the shop after major bodywork and paint with assembly problems. General Motors offered one automatic transmission for the Midyear: an aluminum Powerglide 2-speed unit. This is bad, really bad. Aluminum cylinder heads typically have the same snowflake cast on them. 3. The build sheet, also known as the tank sticker, was affixed to the top of the fuel tank. 4 Speed Manual, Close Ratio, Heavy Duty Transmission, Full-length ladder type with five cross members and separate body, Independent upper and lower A-arms; unequal-length wishbones; coil springs; anti-roll bar;tubular shocks, Independent with fixed differential; nine leaf springs lateral struts and universally-jointed axle shafts radius arms and direct-acting shock absorbers, Saginaw recirculating ball, 17:1 ratio, 2.9 turns to lock, 41.6 turning circle. Attached to left rear wheel housing in engine compartment. My second candidate was a 1964 convertible in decent condition with a matching-number engine. It turned out to be a good, solid car with matching-numbers engine, transmission, and differential. The 1966 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray introduced the real "Big Block" 427 cubic-inch We have all these locations identified, use the table of contents to find your Corvette and all information is in that section! This part number is referred to as the casting number. Click here for instructions on how to enable JavaScript in your browser. This 1967 Muncie case (casting number 3885010) is in excellent condition. The big-block 396-ci engine had rectangular-port, closed-chamber heads (casting number 3856208). I called the owner to see what documentation he might have. Body 6909 is the actual body production run making it right for the number of coupes built that year. Hand-laid fiberglass is obvious from the inside because the panels are rougher and the fiberglass strands are noticeable. Of course, the body was painted very nicely. 7 = 1967 End of C2 Corvette VIN Decoder Coder, 8 = 1968 Corvette Trim Tag, Start of C3 VIN Decoder Coder. Mileage: 45454 on odometer Trim Tag: 426 Silver Vinyl, 986 Silver Pearl Body Date Code: E14 (01/14/1966) Car history: Posted 11/04/2019 427ci/425hp V8 - 4 Speed Manual - Awesome Silver on Silver - Original side exhaust and wheels - power 4 wheel disc brakes. It would take some time to hunt for the right pieces. 7. You would be surprised to learn that from time to time the VINs are not correct on the title. Use it as a resource to help you find your cars original C2 Corvette color, based on the year it was manufactured. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Additional options included leather seats, tinted glass and white wall tires. 11. Headrests were optional for the first time and the interior door pulls are bright Directly below the time build code is the word Style. Following the word Style is the last two digits of the model year (63 or 64), a blank space, and the three digit body style code (837 for a coupe or 867 for a convertible). Picture added by webmaster (after it was published via the NCRS tech. The rear floor had been repaired after a hard rear-end crash. My Dad Taught Me Everything About Classic Cars, Classic Mustang Wheel and Tire Combinations Part 1, Interior Upgrades for your Classic Mustang. Thanks Dad! This is why matching the date codes to the engine pad stamping is important. The 1963 and 1964 rear axle coding identified the gear ratio, build month, and day. Keep scrolling or use the links below to jump directly on this page to your model car and find your Corvette Information. Winters Foundry cast this snowflake-and-W- W logo into GM factory aluminum intake manifolds. For instance, if you find that the numbers do not show up in your NCRS pocket guide. Bring a wire brush and flashlight to help find this stamping. Corvette Top Speed and performance information on all years and Video! The actual trim code is to the right of the word Trim and consists of a 3 digit numerical code. Corvette frames have particular spots that corrode, and they can be easily seen unless they have been masked to cover damage. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. The 42- to 61-amp- output alternators are found on big-block, A/C, and transistorized ignition Midyears. Some C2 Corvette colors were only available in specific years, but many were available in multiple years. We are not paid to perform the reviews or are we given any products for free. These codes break down as follows: A41 = 4-way front power seat (bench) A46 = 4-way front power seat (bucket) A51 = Front Strato bucket seat A75 = H.D. Inner side of drivers side windshield post (A-pillar). Perforation is when there are holes in the metal surface. Engine Pad Suffix Identification 6. The body needs to be lifted to properly remove the rotted pieces and install new rails. This number should coincide with the VIN. Select a year and a model to view the vast history of Corvettes. Manual transmissions were widely used, with Muncie-built 4-speeds being the predominant choice for buyers. If there is major corrosion it falls onto the white paper towels when the doors are closed. Visible through window from outside. You know that unpleasant part of the new vehicle transaction when the numbers are laid out in front of you? This VIN plate is riveted onto the lower dash support brace where the glove box door is attached. The 3904391 and 3919840 casting had rectangular ports with closed chambers. Body panels are typically gray, but early 1963s may be white or pink. It is kind of hard to keep secrets because when a Midyear is sold the word usually gets out in the tight-knit Corvette community. Corvette Of The Day: 1966 Chevrolet Corvette Big Tank Coupe, The Fabulous 88 Resurrected and Reimagined, Rescuing A 1963 Split Window Corvette And Turning It Into A Drag Racer, Jules Gounon Manages To Tame The L88 Greenwood Corvette, VIDEO: Quick Drive In The 1966 Chevrolet Corvette, TheTopher Takes A 1966 Chevrolet Corvette For A Spin, 4-Speed Manual Trans., Close Ratio, Heavy Duty. Where do I tap the carb to try and unstick afloat on 427 400 1967 ? All Rights Reserved. Finding an intact tank sheet or sticker is rare. Check all date and casting codes carefully. Gus Paint 916A is the Daytona Blue exterior color of the coupe. This is not necessarily from accident damage or a hard life. The Base Corvette Coupe with 327 cu. Go one step further and get the license tag and title or registration completed before investing in the project. Times like this can get you fired up and in trouble and restraint needs to be exercised. My first candidate was a rough-looking 327-ci fuel-injected 1963 split-window coupe with limited power options. Trim 490J denotes dark blue vinyl. If you look carefully around the windshield frame you may spot some tell-tale signs of corrosion. When the surface is decked, the factory stamping is eliminated. The 1967 had early and late versions of both the rectangular- and oval-port heads. Models with these engines also came with a special bubble hood to accomodate 1964 and later trim tag build date codes contain a letter that represents the month, followed by two digits that represent the day of the month (1 or 01 through 31). Rear Axle Ratio Identification Codes 7. Like the front end, damage repair was evident on both sides at the rear. Not all dealer invoices show the original paint but most do show the interior code and color. existing tail lights. If the exhaust manifold has a date code, it may not be visible with the manifold bolted onto the cylinder head. C2 Corvette Registry Stamp/Tag Database. What makes sense: NCRS restoration, or personalize this relatively high-production Corvette? |12 Digit VIN Explanation andLocation, 1 Model Year 0 = 1960Corvette VIN Decoder Code, 2 = 1962 End of C1 Corvette VIN Decoder Coder, 3 = 1963 Start of C2 Corvette VIN Decoder Coder, 2 to 5 Series 0867 = Chevrolet Corvette "8"= Engine, Start VIN "1960" 00867S100001 End VIN "1964" 40837S122229, How Do You Read a13 digit vin decoder? The 427 Sting Ray was an astonishingly fast car, with 0-60 times of just 4.8 seconds, 0-100 mph times of 11.2 seconds, and a top speed of 140 miles per hour (when properly equipped with the short 4.11:1 gearing.) It is important that you understand how documentation works and the value it adds. As it turned out, the body was restored on a dolly off the frame. Heres a list of their color names, production years, and total quantity produced: ** 1963 information on these C2 paint colors is not available. The imprinted plate was sent with the vehicle documents. General Motors used this same HP code in 1965, and it is quite different from the 1966. O: This code for A48 (seat belt deletion) is confirmed on 1965 Corvairs but has yet to be seen on 1966 or 1967 Corvairs. Although it was effectively a 396 cubic inch engine with a larger 4.25-inch bore, the new 427 big-block engine came in two forms: the relatively mild L36, which featured a hydraulic-cam and produced 390 horsepower on 10.25:1 compression, and the truly awesome L72, a 425 horsepower engine with 11:1 compression, larger intake valves, a bigger Holley four-barrel carburetor on an aluminum manifold, mechanical lifters, and four-hole (instead of two-hole) main bearing caps. The rear has the roof and deck panel with rear fenders. 4. Read more:1966 Corvette Performance & Specifications. The smartest tool to use right now is restraint. Our newsletter delivers all the Vette news, rumors, deals and events directlyto you each week. The driver-side manifold received the machined hole for the fuelies choke heat. Following the word "Style" is the last two digits of the model year (63 or 64), a blank space, and the three digit body style code (837 for a coupe or 867 for a convertible). We have interior paint that is good for all plastic and vinyl surfaces, for 63 interior red you would need, #131525-13. https://www.corvettecentral.com/c1-53-62/paints-tools/paints-chemicals-tools/56-13-leather-vinyl-hard-plastic-interior-paint-131525?returnurl=%2fsearch%3fcurrentsearchcategoryid%3d%26q%3d63%2binterior%2bpaint%26count%3d18. As I dug deeper into what I had in front of me, I found a completely original, numbers- matching 1967, right down to the carburetor. Classic Mustang Wheel and Tire Combinations Part 2. If the dealership that sold the car is still open, you may be able to do further research. Records say shift code 1 for day shift or 2 for night shift were used on 4-speed transmissions. Options included an air conditioner that added $413 to the price and an AM/FM radio which added $173. When it comes to disassembly, you often need two parts rust penetrant and one part heat to remove just about any bolt or nut. in. Mainly, the deck surface looked rougher than it should be. E-mail me if you think different!!! Check carefully around the front spring pocket where multiple pieces of frame are welded together. Remember, window stickers are not reliable documents because they can be reproduced and then weathered to make you believe they are original. Starting in mid-1964 and continuing throughout the 1967 model year, all body sequence numbers were prefixed with the letter A for the A.O. You guessed it; someone might actually improperly repair a corroded frame with body filler to save money. An anomaly occurred during the 1965 model year run during a foundry shutdown: A limited number of 327-ci engines with casting number 3858180 were supplied by Tonawanda. Play it safe and do some research before becoming an unhappy owner of someone elses Midyear. The 12-28-62 side cover denoted it could have been in a 1963. The H2 is the build date; 2 is the second week of H, April. Aluminum cylinder heads and intake manifolds usually have a W stamp within a snowflake design indicating Winters Aluminum Foundry Company. The underside had some minor rust, but no obvious major problems. There was a sick feeling in my stomach, knowing that the only thing I could verify was that the trim tag showed incorrect interior and exterior color codes. Some of the most difficult Corvettes I have ever worked on were Canadian cars. The only [Click here to read more], Like building a good foundation of a house, the first place to start when you modify your C5 is the suspension. The next position to the right is the body sequence number. Please refer to the trim and paint sections of this chapter for the interior and exterior trim and paint combinations for a particular application. If the price is right, can you afford to have someone do the major work if you do not feel comfortable doing it? These cracks are not easy to spot until the grease is cleaned up in the area. I needed to go look at other Midyears just to be smart. Part numbers also should be researched very carefully to ascertain validity if an NCRS or Bloomington Gold restoration is in your future. You need to understand that many of the early Corvettes are not going to have documentation available. In 1967, the factory used a build sheet, containing all the pertinent data for the build as the Corvette moved down the assembly line. For the first-time restorer, it would make a great project. Ignition Coil Applications After a certain number of years, some states drop the title requirement opting for registrations only. "This website is a passion of mine, just as much as being a Corvette owner," says Chris. From the underside of this 1964, the incorrect repair is obvious. Read more in our 1966 Corvette VINs page. Casting and date codes are also on each major component and many ancillary pieces. Chevrolet previously offered the Mark I Big-Block [Click here to read more], If a chic term exists in the performance aftermarket, it is probably roller cams. Hot rodders tend to follow the lead of the OEMs, and when GM began building hydraulic roller cam engines for the TPI Corvette and the Camaro in the late [Click here to read more], You might wonder why we would be starting a book on smallblock Chevy cylinder heads with a chapter on flow benches. The base vehicle is listed, then options are spelled out, and you had better make sure everything you are paying for is there. F or T was used to denote Flint, Michigan, or Tonawanda, New York, as the foundry supplier. If you feel that the project has possibilities set up a date when you can have a professional come by to look at the candidate. An overall cleaning, painting, and freshening up of the drivetrain would make this one fine Midyear. My 1966 Corvette was delivered with Silver Pearl 986AA paint. seen for these colors are only specific to 1965 C2 Corvettes. Normally we have them, but the ones we were getting have recently been discontinued. When gingerly closing the door, any corrosion pieces land on the white towel. Just tap each one on the top with a plastic screwdriver handle. The Trim Tag has several numbers and alphabetical Letters embossed into it, body style , either 437 or 467 for coupe and convertible, Color Code of Paint, style/color of interior, as well as the month and day vehicle was produced, and finally the body identification number which also shows whether body was made at Saint louis or A.O. General Motors started using Protecto-Plates in 1965 for their warranty records, which denoted specific engine, transmission, and axle codes. After looking at the three Midyear possibilities, the 1963 was my first choice.