Does anyone know if there is any difference in a big block frame and a small block?
-
-
Re: Frames
Dave,
What year of frame are you refering to? The front cross member of 1965/66/67 C2 Corvettes are different than 1963/64 cross menbers since big block engines were not offered in 1963 and 1964. The front crossmenber on 65/66/67 frames have a depression to accomodate the harmonic balancer for big block engines. As for C3 cars I'm not sure, but I would think they would be identical. I hope this helps.
Regards,
James West
Omaha, NE. -
Re: Frames - 65-67 BB c2
The big block frames would have a set of holes in the bottom of the rear "rails" to indicate attaching points for the rear sway bar. However, these could have been drilled and tapped by someone doing a "fake" 427 car also...
There is a good book about doing a frame replacement - See www.ncrs.org publications. /td
MI Chapter Site - fyihttps://MichiganNCRS.org
Michigan Chapter
Tom DingmanComment
-
Re: Frames
66 model is the frame I was wondering about. ThanksComment
-
Re: Frames - 65-67 BB c2
Would all 65-67 frames have the holes in the rear rail or just the big block?Comment
-
Re: Frames
Rear stableizer mount holes are there on ALL big and small block frames.Comment
-
Holes (and inner nuts) only on BB frames ...
... but a FEW small blocks report the holes and nuts as well, probably due to error in frame pull from the stack.
This is a subject that could easily be confirmed with participation by Discussion Board members -- get down on your knees and post the results.Comment
-
Re: Frames
Bob-----
For mid-year cars this may be true. However, for later cars it's not. My 69 small block does not have the holes and I have inspected other 68-72 small blocks that didn't have the holes, either. Some do, though.In Appreciation of John HinckleyComment
-
Re: Frames
I have seen cars both ways, with and without holes. Have added rear bars on S/B cars and never drilled a hole.Dick WhittingtonComment
-
Re: Frames
My understanding is that all C3 big blocks came with rear sway bars, though my small block has the mounting holes for one.Comment
-
Re: Frames
Dave------
All C2 and C3 big blocks used a rear sway bar.In Appreciation of John HinckleyComment
-
Re: Frames
Joe, what about small blocks? Those only with F41 option? Or could a rear sway bar be ordered separately? My '68 L79 didn't have one when I got it, but looks like one had been used. I have the 9 leaf rear spring, so don't think it had the F41 option.Comment
-
Re: Frames
We should do a survey. I'll bet there's more small block cars with the holes than not!Comment
-
Re: Frames
Dave-----
Until 1975, small blocks did not get the rear sway bar regardless of suspension option. Through 1974, the sway bar was part of the big block engine options. It was NOT part of a suspension package or available seperately for small blocks.
In 1975 (and, possibly, VERY late 1974), the FE-7 option became available, either as part of the Z-07 performance package or seperately. The FE-7 included a rear stabilizer bar, but it wasn't the same bar as used earlier for big blocks. ThFE-7 rear bar was 7/16" OD. The FE-7 also used a 1-1/8" front bar, the largest diameter bar ever used on a 53-82 Corvette.In Appreciation of John HinckleyComment
-
Re: Frames - Interesting thoughts so far
I used to think there were two frames, or rather, never thought about it, just assumed. But now that this has come up, I have looked through a few books. Here are a few things I found:
- Pictures of frames being assembled show the same stencil number.
- '68 AIM shows only one p/n for the frame yet shows adding rear sway bar for L-36. It doesn't mention drilling holes.
- I didn't find any references to different frame numbers except when all frames were updated such as '64, '65 with BB, and so on.
It seems if there were really two frames, then there would have been two part numbers, one SB, the other BB. That would have been more accounting for Chevy to stock two frames, though, which I would think would cost more than drilling four holes and adding four nuts.
If not, then there should have been a procedure in the AIM for creating the holes on the line, adding the weld nuts, and all I could find was just the adding the rear sway bar.
Yet some have seen cars without the holes and without the nuts, so there must be something missing in this story somewhere.
Why couldn't you have brought this up LAST WEEK so we could have checked out several frames at Kissimmee?Comment
Comment