The few Corvette purchasers who retrieved these highly sought-after documents were paid dividends later. The new owner recently purchased the restored Midyear as an investment. Check all date and casting codes carefully. was originally 400. Rear axles were also stamped with rear axle codes and dates, but these can be very hard to see clearly. Its a key detail you dont want to mess up. In fact, 1966 would prove to be another record-breaking year in Corvette sales, with volume rising to 27,720 units sold an increase of more than 4,200 units over 1965s sales of 23,562 units. C2 Corvette Registry Stamp/Tag Database. We have included an easy to use search feature too for quickly finding specific RPO codes. Engine Block & Cylinder Head Casting Numbers Buying or restoring a 1963-1967 Corvette? The point here is to make sure the paperwork is correct and all the VINs are in place before you pay for the vehicle. Still, it was a lower compression 300-hp 327-ci engine coupled to an automatic transmission. The driver-side manifold received the machined hole for the fuelies choke heat. Engine Pad Suffix Identification 6. We find fiber-glass cloth (sometimes used for boat hulls) instead of stranded fiberglass mat that should be used for repairs. I then MIG weld the ground out V going past the V slightly, letting the steel cool naturally. A thorough inspection begins on a bright sunny day which will allow you to see all the possible problems that you may encounter. From the first V8 to C8, only Corvette Central has it all. When it comes to disassembly, you often need two parts rust penetrant and one part heat to remove just about any bolt or nut. Smith body source or S for the St. Louis Assembly Plant. Required fields are marked *. The body needs to be lifted to properly remove the rotted pieces and install new rails. The smartest tool to use right now is restraint. When the official ratings were reduced, the decision to make this change was purely administrative and was not the result of any changes made to the engines. Stamping AO0518W would tell us: AO, 3.70 ratio; 05, built in the month of May; 18, built on the 18th day; W, at the Warren plant. In 1966 and 1967, Holley supplied all the small- and big-block carburetors, including the Tri-Power setup shown. I found two problems: A side fender had been replaced without proper fitting procedures, and the frame was tweaked back just a bit. the "Big Block". I could do all the modifications I wanted and really enjoy the car out cruising and on long runs. Classic Mustang Wheel and Tire Combinations Part 2. Beginning in 1965 the Protect-O-Plate was imprinted with engine, axle, and transmission code information. He has owned three Corvettes over the last twenty years and does not plan to stop owning one anytime soon. Do not get me wrong: Chassis replacement is a big deal, but I would much rather do the chassis replacement than do major birdcage repairs. Headrests were optional for the first time and the interior door pulls are bright At best, without GM records showing exactly what came on any particular Mid- year Corvette, you have to trust people. The 1965 also used a Carter carburetor. As hard as this may seem to believe, valid paperwork can mean an increase of 50 percent or more in a Midyears value. How in-depth can you go with the restoration? Cracks occur around the front spring pockets and steering box mount area. The matching numbers and decent condition made the car sound expensive. The serial number is where the date codes on the engine and other components come into play. Rod ratio is the combination of [Click here to read more], When it comes to the camshaft on a small-block Chevy, enthusiasts tend to overlook the importance of each component in the valvetrain and its contribution to how well the entire system works. Early Corvette's that had 6 Cylinder engines did not have the Letter "V" as the first Sequence Number. Other than the egg crate grille that replaced the previous horizontal bars, the 1966 models were nearly identical to the 1965 models. The cost is higher upfront than the first project car I looked at, but it requires less work and parts to complete the restoration. 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). They did Silver/Black mixed interior for some of of the Silver Pearl cars, its possible. There is no way to access these potentially corroded C-channels to preserve them. Corvair - Attached to left rear wheel housing in engine compartment. Second sequence is: 95800001. 2023 CC Tech and Corvette Central. A numbers matching 427ci 425hp V8 L72 casting number 386992 which decodes to a 1966 427ci . Meet the Team: Customer Service and Product Assistance, Ermine White (**1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967) 9668, Milano Maroon Metallic (1965, 1966) 6630, Tuxedo Black (**1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1967) 5093, Silver Blue Metallic (**1963, 1964) 3121. Directly below the build date code is the word "Style". Unfortunately though, no drivetrain data is included. Corvette VIN Decoder | By: Chris Trautman. The last six digits begin at 100001 and run through 127720, accounting for all 27,720 Corvette Coupes/Convertibles built-in 1966. We sometimes equate that our time is not a monetary concern; after all, we are working on this as a hobby. Visible through window from outside. QQ were 2.54:1 first-, 1.89:1 second-, 1.51:1 third-gear ratios. Corvette Central has been a leading manufacturer and distributor of Corvette parts and accessories since 1975. RR, SS, and TT were 2.20:1 first-, 1.64:1 second-, and 1.31:1 third-gear ratios. The 42- to 61-amp- output alternators are found on big-block, A/C, and transistorized ignition Midyears. One of the most common restoration tasks for Corvette owners worldwide is restoring or touching up their vehicles original paint. To the left of the VIN tag, General Motors placed a trim tag with some helpful information. My question is the removable hard top is the same color silver, BUT the headliner and plastic Mouldings of the top is a very dark navy blue, almost black. Perhaps fortunately for Corvette, it was Carroll Shelbys two-seat Cobra, which featured its own 427 cubic inch V8 engine that prompted the change of opinion. Heres a list of their color names, production years, and total quantity produced: ** 1963 information on these C2 paint colors is not available. In hindsight, that may have saved a whole bunch of trouble for many Corvette restorers. It turned out to be a good, solid car with matching-numbers engine, transmission, and differential. Paint 916A is the Daytona Blue exterior color of the coupe. In 1967, the factory used a build sheet, containing all the pertinent data for the build as the Corvette moved down the assembly line. Unfortunately, many of these tank stickers have been damaged with time and the elements. The rear floor had been repaired after a hard rear-end crash. Reportedly, day shift transmissions may not have the shift code suffix. To resolve the problem, the floor needed to be removed and glued back together correctly, which was a major reconstruction project. Ignition Coil Applications This is not surprising because seat belt deletion was available only on exported cars after 1965. This buyers order spells out what options and trim level this 1967 had from the factory. After looking at the three Midyear possibilities, the 1963 was my first choice. See full1966 Corvette Image Gallery. I found an unbelievable Midyear in a barn at a major Corvette show with all the right documentation down to the original buyers order. Holley Carburetor Identification Codes 8. Read more:1966 Corvette Performance & Specifications. Water/salt gets slung onto the bottom side of the C-channels causing them to corrode slowly. Be cautious with a really well-documented Midyear. 4. These last 5 are the actual build sequence number of that series, Chris Trautman @ Corvette Assembly Plant 2019, 1981-2013 C3, C4, C5, C6 Corvette VIN Decoder, (See LT4 Performance Upgrades Aftermarket), Corvette News | Latest and Breaking News in the Corvette World, 1960 to 1962 Steering column in the engine compartment, 1963 to 1967 Instrument panel support brace under the glove box, 1968 to Present Drivers side top of the instrument panel or windshield post (A-pillar). The interior electric ventilation system was dropped (in conjunction with the aforementioned exterior vents), extra pleats were added to the Sting Rays bucket seats, chrome door pull handles were introduced, headrests were made optional, and a vinyl-covered foam headliner replaced the previously used fiberboard. General Motors began attaching a tank build sheet/sticker in 1967. Written by Chris Petris and Posted with Permission of CarTechBooks. This is where a decision has to be made, Should I try to make it something it is not, or just drive it? Without the proper documentation, the actual collector value is seriously eroded, and a high-end restoration for an undocumented car usually is not a wise investment. Options included an air conditioner that added $413 to the price and an AM/FM radio which added $173. Do not get caught up in all the craziness surrounding the correct numbers. Look carefully at the tire and wheels position in the fender opening. Join The World's Fastest Growing Corvette Community >> Activate Membership Models Generation Hubs It would take some time to hunt for the right pieces. The original engine and transmission were gone. For example, P01221 is a typical stamping found on a correct transmission for 1965: P for 4-speed Muncie Plant; 01 January month built; 22 for day built; and 1 for day shift. Select a year and a model to view the vast history of Corvettes. All costs are higher, from the disassembly to the parts list. Parts available and how to videos. For the most part, many pieces were junk because they could not be removed without inflicting some major damage. Click here for instructions on how to enable JavaScript in your browser. Canadian or northern coastal cars can be horrible to work on. This is a great piece of documentation that is very difficult to find. Even amongst the earlier small-block options that had been available on earlier Corvettes, these two engines were arguably the best all-around engines. Similarly, the 390 horsepower engine was initially rated at 400 horsepower. Lower side fenders are attached to the upper surround to complete the front end. 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. In spite of the typical corrosion found in this area, the VIN is legible on this Midyear chassis. The stamping is close to the outside edge of the frame rail directly above the driver-side rear tire. Of course, it is a good idea to ask the Corvette owner before you go scraping and brushing on the car. The 425 horsepower engine was originally specified as a 450 and the 390 The body build date code consists of an alphanumeric code representing the month followed by two numbers representing the day of the month. After a certain number of years, some states drop the title requirement opting for registrations only. S identifies the St. Louis assembly plant. 1963 to 1964 Spot welded to body hinge brace under the glove box. We have included an easy to use search feature too for quickly finding specific RPO codes. As a result, the small-block engine options were reduced from five to two for the 1966 model year, with only the 300-horsepower (L75) and 350-horsepower (L79) versions remaining available to prospective consumers. CODE EXTERIOR COLOR INTERIOR COLOR & TRIM 10 Classic White White with Black, blue-Green or Dark Firethorn 13 Silver Metallic White with Smoke-Gray 33 Dark Green Metallic White with Blue-Green 37 Mahogany Metallic White with Dark Firethorn 64 Light Buckskin White with Dark Brown 69 Dark Brown Metallic White with Dark Brown 72 Corvette Red White Start typing to see results or hit ESC to close, Join The World's Fastest Growing Corvette Community >>, FOR SALE: Modified 1966 Chevrolet Corvette, Corvette Of The Day: Turbocharged 2003 Chevrolet Corvette Z06 Drag Car, Watch A C8 Corvette Get Unleashed On The Autobahn. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. Spliced or patch panels are used in an effort to save money and many of these spell trouble. in. Wadded-up pieces of fiberglass cloth sticking out from the underside of a repair that never got saturated with resin are common. Not good! 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. Meet the Team: Accounting, Purchasing, and More! The trapped water eventually causes corrosion to form, and corrosion means rust. The 1963 to 1965 fuel-injected exhaust manifolds do not have this machined hole for the hot air tube on the passenger side. The Protecto-Plate was affixed to the owners manual, but all too often, the manual was lost or was not given to the next owner. The bonding strip to the left is in excellent condition with original bonding adhesive oozing out. Manual transmissions were widely used, with Muncie-built 4-speeds being the predominant choice for buyers. The base model Corvettes, however, still came with the 327 CID V8 that had been used since 1962. 9. It also required that the Corvette was equipped with an upgraded suspension, similar to the setup on the 396 package. My 1966 Corvette was delivered with Silver Pearl 986AA paint. Those who had the foresight to save the buyers order, window sticker, and Protect-O-Plate warranty booklet have added substantial value to their Corvette. That engine was only used for one year, and was replaced by the 427 CID engine in the 1966 models. Your email address will not be published. 6 to 11 Production sequence number 01001- 109670, How Do You Read a Corvette VIN? The Corvette still took a number of victories in endurance racing including Penskes teams 12th place overall in the GT class. Body panels are typically gray, but early 1963s may be white or pink. Times like this can get you fired up and in trouble and restraint needs to be exercised. General Motors stamped the engine block with the last six digits of the VIN. 1963 build date codes contain a letter that represents the month, which is then followed by a single digit that represents the week of the month (1 through 6). Smaller ancillary items, such as the carburetor, starter, and alternator, were stamped with build and date codes. The style information on the left should match the VIN: 63 for 1963 and 837 for coupe. Save your vehicles, create project lists, and track your orders. *. There were numerous changes over that period and we hope to cover the majority of those changes in this article. This is when patience is key to avoid paying way too much for a rough Midyear project. When I worked with General Motors, we rebuilt all alternators, starters, and wiper motors at the dealerships. This is not necessarily from accident damage or a hard life. Lastly, it required stouter, shot-peened half shafts and U-joints, as well as a higher-capacity radiator and sump. To play it safe, always get a signed and notarized receipt, and check the VIN with what is on the title. metal. front bench seat A81 = Headrest (Strato seat type) The sequence number is the last production car made in that corresponding period and can be found as the last six digits of the VIN number on your car. On 1955-62 Corvettes there is also the possibility that the paint code was written in white chalk under the spare tire cover. 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. To help you out, weve provided the complete list of C2 Corvette paint colors and their corresponding OEM color codes. 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.
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