I have been trying to determine whether or not the 66 roadster I own was originally a big-block car. When I purchased the car it had a non-original 327 engine in it and came with a small block hood. At the time of the purchase I didn't know what differences there were between a big-block car and a small block car. Anyway, as I have gotten into the restoration I pulled the rear-end out of the vehicle and wrote down the codes for it. The codes are AU 4-12-66. This indicates it was from a 390 hp 427 with 3:36 gearing built on April 12, 1966. I then checked the trim dag under the glove box and the code there is H22 indicating a build date of April 22, 1966. The car also has a rear sway bar with all the original mounting brackets. The half shafts are also big-block. The front sway bar is the larger 7/8". The mystery here is that I was told the hood support for a big-block is always on the driver's side and small blocks were on the passenger's side. My car has the hood prop or support on the passenger's side and no evidence of one on the driver's side. The tach also has a red-line of 5500 which would be consistent with a 390 hp 427 or a 300 hp 327. The hood discrepancy is the only thing I have found on the vehicle that would indicate that it originally came with a small block. Is there something else to look for to confirm what this car originally came with? Is there a visual differnce in the front coil springs of a big-block vs. a small block? I don't see any evidence of replacment of the inner fenders or the entire front end on this vehicle. Any other suggestions on determining whether this is a big-block car would be greatly appreciated.
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Re: 66 Corvette identification
Shane, you say the car is an April car, wouldn't that be "I" instead of "H"? I always thought August is the start month. if you look in the Corvette Black book you won't see August only a Sept. ending date. My car is a G02 or FEB 2nd car and was shipped out to the dealership on 02/07/67.
Maybe I'm goofed up and someone can get the "H" andn"I" straight for you. i always stand to be corrected.
Do you have an 80# oil guage or steel oil sending gauge line on the firewall?
Good luck,grr#33570 -
Re: 1966 "A" is Sept. "B" Oct. etc. *NM*
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Re: 66 Corvette identification
According to the chart I have, it would depend on who built the body. If it was an A.O. Smith body made in 66 then A would designate August 1965 but if it was a St. Louis body then A would be September 1965. My body is a St. Louis body and therefore H is April 1966. Any info on whether or not this is a big-block car would be greatly appreciated.Comment
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Re: 66 Corvette identification,67's difference
Shane your on the ball. According to the Noland Adams book Volume #2 page 48 it states exactly what you and Bob posted. That explains my 67 having a G02 as a FEB 2nd car.Also a St. Louis Car. If you have the book you'll notice the 67 year has every month from Aug to July with the same letter representing the same month no matter where it came from, A.O.Smith or St. Louis.
As for the 66 year your correct that a St. Louis car is an "H" car and an A.O.Smith car would be an "I" car. Compared to the 67 which reads both A.O.Smith and St. Louis being an "I" car for April.
So if you had an 66 A.O.Smith car built with an "A" it was built in Aug-65 and a St.louis car would be an "A" car built in Sept.65.
Sorry for the confusion as I dropped the ball on this and forgot to read up and took the liberty of using my 67 BODY-BUILD DATE CODE for your car. Thanks to Bob also for the wake up call. I don't like to mislead as one may think they have a questionable car. Sounds like your dates are good.
As far the big block stuff have you counted the leafs, F-41 had 7 leafs.
Good Luck,grr#33570Comment
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Process of Elimination
Shane,
In searching for clues, page 58 of the NCRS Corvette Specification Guide indicates the 427/390 combined with the 3:36 rear axle came standard with an M22 transmission. Although there are other combinations with the 3:36, you might be able to pin down your car's original engine size. However, according to Colvin's "Chevrolet by the Numbers" this was a rare option in '66. Which transmission do you have, and is the car's serial number (VIN derivative) stamped on the right-front flange of the transmission?
MarkComment
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Re: Process of Elimination
That is a good idea but unfortunately the original trans is gone. I also failed to mention that I do have an 80# oil pressure gauge. I don't know if that is also significant. This is a big mystery to me. I realize that someone at some time could have replaced the rear-end in the car and it just happened to be a rear-end with approximately the same build date as the body. I also was told that a big block vehicle had a different length fuel line than the small block. I can't unfortunately check that either because someone at some point in time cut in just behind the right front wheel and attached a rubber hose and clamp to extend from the cut portion to the fuel pump. This may be one that can only be solved by a title search and contacting previous owners. I was hoping I could find a way to do it independant of previous owners. Thanks again for all the info!Comment
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Re: 66 Corvette identification
Shane, I am no expert on big block 66's but have you considered the front clip may have been replaced. Also what is the diameter of the exhaust system? does that indicate anything? Do you have an original alternator that was swapped onto your small block, does the part number or pulley diameter lead you to a conclusion? Was there any differences in the radiator and shroud assembly? Would the front springs have different labels? Was the oil line brass or steel? I think the judging guides are excellent at deducing tell-tale signs of what engine the car came with, you just have to read each option and study it very carefully....sorry about the novice advice, remember I am not a 66 expert.Dino LannoComment
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Re: Process of Elimination
Shane -
Both the small block and big block fuel lines were connected to the fuel pump with a rubber hose in 1966.
Mike SComment
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Re: 66 Corvette identification
Shane , I'm not a 66 expert either , but, I seem to remember that no big block car had power stearing because of the deep oil pan. Does your car have power stearing? I'm sure I'll be corrected if I'm wrong.Comment
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Re: 66 Corvette identification
What radiator support and shroud?Comment
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Re: 66 Corvette identification
Shane:
3/8" fuel line can be detected just forward of the right rear wheel area where the fuel line comes out and then turns into the frame (trailing arm shim area) of the fender well.
You can again see the line exit the frame by the rear right tail light frame area where the suction (rubber hose) connects from the tanks sending unit to the steel tubing that runs to the fuel pump. Just follow the hose that exits the tank and you can get an idea if you have 3/8" steel tubing or not.
Also don't forget the 7 leaf springs that came with the HD F-41 suspension.
Good luck,grr#33570Comment
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