A little help here guys ( Need a mid year!)

[vigman]

Ok guys.. decode the following

And we will see if our info jives

Body style B1364867
Trim Number 490 AB
Body 4157
Paint 923AA 12/27/65
DD 40867S107101 ( vin )
Engine # TO330HH
18L149519

I just have to find MY black book

The car was Riverside red.
Interior was Red
Top is ( was black )
Door panels look like the DELUXE ones
Convertible
Vin states 1964 ( but look @ the paint date?)
The car DOES have drum brakes (Power)
Heater
Crank windows
Radio( now after market )
1963 gauge cluster
3:70 rear end
Stick( 4 speed )
20 gallon tank

The car was also metal flake ORANGE at one time YEECH! ( probably went nice with the headlights huh?).

Still on the hunt for the Diff & tranny numbers.. I saw the Diff numbers..I just didn't write em down!!! Need to get the casting number off the block ( but I'm sure it's WRONG)
Heads & water pump are WAY wrong.
It has a internal regulated alt on it.. but they left the regulator & some kludge wiring on it.

Now here's the "Oil Can" award of the day

The HORNS operate off the HEADLIGHT MOTOR SWITCH in the DOWN position!

Vig~

 

[Piet]

still waiting for pictures ;worship

 

[JohnZ]

Vig -

B13 sez the body build date at St. Louis was 10/13/64.

VIN #107101 (#7101) sez built off-line on 12/16/64 (doesn't square with the B13 [October 13th] body build date). Take a close look at the "B" - if it's a "D", a December 13th body build date would line up very nicely with the 12/16 off-line build date; if it's really a "B", either the trim tag or the VIN plate has been swapped.

64 867 sez '64 convertible.

4157 sez it was the 4157th '64 convertible body built at St. Louis (body numbers didn't have an "S" prefix until A.O. Smith started supplying their "A"-prefix bodies in January, 1964, with VIN #109678, well after yours was built).

490AB is red vinyl

923AA is red - where is the 12/27/65? What is it stamped on? Have never seen a date adjacent to a paint code on a trim tag.

T0330HH is a March 30th Tonawanda-built 350/300 from a Caprice (not from any Corvette - all 'Vette SB's came from Flint Engine).

18L149519 sez the engine was originally installed in a '68 Caprice built at the Van Nuys, California assembly plant.

Door trim panels in '64 were all "flat" with applied armrests - the molded panels started in '65.

Do the speedo and tach gauges have bright ('63) or black ('64) "cones" in them?

Can you make out the VIN derivative stamp on the top of the left rear frame rail just above the upper rear shock bracket? Clean the rail first, then wipe on white shoe polish, then wipe off the excess, and you should be able to see it with a small mirror unless there's a lot of rust.

It's a hoot sometimes trying to figure out what's happened to 40-year-old Corvettes during their long history and many owners.

 

[vigman]

Getting weirder by the second

So 68 caprice..Van nuys.. The Corvette Mike card.. Hmmmmm I'm wondering if this car has been here before.. it sure like's the sunny days here.... The frame is a bit rusty..but not what I would expect for a back east car ...all these years.....

The gauges have the Bright cones ( polished aluminum)

However the clock has a black center.

The stamp is located next to the paint code.. I assume the tag(s) should be metal color & not painted black. And the stamps are with seperate hand tools..not the GM tools.. and not the same punch.. they are even on a angle...but straight.

The arm rest is screwed into the door panel not moulded.

The vin plate is spot welded.. the trim tag has rivets.. and the age looks correct ( but what do I know...I'm a newbie to this mid year stuff)

I'll check on the other stuff as time permits.

Thanks John...your the DUDE's DUDE!


Vig~

 

[bobmanx]

Hey Vig, I was told that the dealer was supposed to hand stamp the customer delivery date on the Trim Tags under the glove box. Sort of a quick warranty date identifier. Not all dealers did it, but some did.

Are the date impressions opposite of the factory impressions (sunken vs. raised, like they were added after the tag was mounted), different style/size, or the same? I'll look at my 67 this friday and recheck for the date stamping. Not sure if this helps, or just adds to the muddy waters!

Did you get any other paperwork with the car, to be able to tell where it was delivered/sold, that might help track its travels?

Bob

 

[vigman]

the stamping is an inny.. not an outie

Stamped after installation....
Different style

NO papers

No responce from the first letter to Frank...


I will send one to the next person in the food chain...


Vig~

 

[JohnZ]

Spot-welds on the VIN plate are correct (some even have more than two welds) - the riveted VIN plates didn't start until '65.

 

[nick67vette]

Example of dealer delivery date stamp on trim tag

Above is an example of a Dealer applied delivery date stamp on a genuine mid year trim tag. It is random and somewhat carelessly done. I estimate that only a small percentage of valid tags have this stamping by the dealer at the time of first purchace. My understanding is that the dealer did this as part of a warranty validation when they completed the details on the POP for the original customer.
I think many dealers did not bother to stamp the tag.

I recall your mention of the tag being painted. Original trim tags were applied after painting so there should be no coating of any form on the tag itself. My advice to you is to NOT use any abrasive or corrosive method to remove the paint. You do not want to damage or destroy the original finish or texture on the soft metal surface beneath the paint.

Trim tags are very fragile; a significant, important and valuable component of your Corvette that deserves careful preservation.

Now comes the hard part. Is the trim tag on your car now the one that was applied at the factory? Is it a genuine GM tag?Compare body build date, body number, ECL codes and dealer applied delivery date. Look at how it is attached from the front AND back. You need to be very careful reading and deciphering the data on the tag riveted on your car. If everything is in order, great. If not, you may still have a trim tag that is needed by its "correct car" if it is a genuine tag...

Hopes this helps, Nick

 

[vigman]

Thanks for the tag data

It looks like ONE of the previous owners did a little cosmetic work by spraying the bar where the glove bolts on.. and got the tags at the same time.

I found that PB BLASTER is really good for removing the paint job ( interior ) that was done on this car. I might try to remove the spray off the tags with this...

So the weekend plan....
So out the rear end comes ( again )

I have secured a 75 rear end with 3:08's in great shape and a better bar that the pumpkin bolts into ( with really good rubber ) mines VERY rusty... . and a can FULL of all the hardware that you LOOSE at the wrong time $400.00 for all that.

I have new U joints, and all the correct hardware to put the different rear end in.

I hope to have enough time ( and good weather) to clean up the 1/2 shafts and paint em. and do some clean up on the under carrige.

I wanted a cruiser.. and by GUM I'll get it now!

I'll save the orig rear end...and the bar.

Next fuel tank sender gasket.. and if that doesn't kill me.

Carb rebuild.

.. the next project after that will be new water pump on the old engine...

It will still be a while before I can drop the new engine in her.. so I do want her to run as good as possible.

When all is said & done I should have a running 327 that could mate to my turbo 400..and a LOT of left over goodies ( old headers..floor shifter) to make some other toy.. for someone else.

Vig~

 

[vettedoc]

Vig-

During rest period, how about buying a cheap digicam and sending some pix to the troops out here following the saga.

Doc

 

[vigman]

ok ok...pix on the way

Will Co

 

[vigman]

As the 73 looks out at the new intruder

Notice the new(er) frame mount at the bottom.

 

[vigman]

Today's pumpkin chuckin

You can't ride my little red wagon.. It just got posi installed...

 

[vigman]

Drum roll please

This is the moment....

 

[vigman]

#2

Was having a bug in my camera...but no more.. ( Me thinks)

 

[vigman]

#3

Roomy interior

 

[vigman]

#4

Zoom Zoom

 

[vigman]

AND more

Smile for the camera baby... It LOVES you!

 

[vigman]

And the last ( for today )

Tada

 

[vigman]

So there you have it

26 days past touchdown.. Hopefully today it becomes a reliable driver... so I can get some miles of smiles
( and let the checkbook recharge) YEECH!

The honda in the background I bought from my neighbor for $100.00. This is the first beater mobile to teach my 2 sons how to drive.

So many irons in the fire...

42 days till the Ex moves out.
88 needs a tune up ( missing at idle )
House re-fi finished.
Lots of parts to clean.
Well better get to it all...

Vig~