Hello everyone, I recently purchased a 66 427 Coupe. I picked it up in Ohio. On the way back I stopped by Mershons where Bob comforted me by assuring me everything was as advertised ie.. original motor, no hit, no reason to suspect restamp (the car has not been restored, it is a little rough) etc. The guy I bought it from said it had an M22 in it. Hard to believe knowing that they only sold 15 right? Well I got my guide to restoring 63-67s and headed to the garage, book in hand and starting checking #s. The book says that only the M22 had a drain plug in that year. Well I have a squared headed drain plug just like the book says. The tranny has the partial vin on it matching the car. The #s on it are 3885010, 3857584, P0519 and the vin. Can anyone help me out? Is it possible? I have run the history of the car back to the 2nd owner. He said the car was originally owned by the head mechanic of a local Olds dealership and raced on the weekends. It is a radio delete. I appreciate your help. Thanks Bill
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Re: 1966 BB Coupe M22?
Bill,
Why shouldn't you be one of the 15 that have one of the M-22's?
Looks like your car didn't grow an M-22. Uncle GM made it that way.
Congrats,
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Re: 1966 BB Coupe M22?
Bill-----
You really need to remove the side cover and inspect the gears to determine if it's an M-22. The drain plug could easily have been added, especially if the previous owner was a "racer". For that matter, the original case could have had an M-22 gear-set added to it. That's very easy to do, too, especially for a "racer in the old days". Since 1966 Muncies were not suffix-coded, there's no way to tell if this transmission was originally an M-22. About the only proof-positive way is to have some sort of original documentation for the CAR. Of course, 1966 Corvettes did not have "tank stickers" so, even that's out.In Appreciation of John HinckleyComment
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Add-on
I agree with Joe. Cars with a 'race history' background are more difficult to determine original factory configuration on because racers tended to modify/change parts and had access to the high performance competition oriented components to start with. BUT, they rarely cared about matching numbers when they made changes. So, what's the point?
When the Chevy built the car, the engine, transmission and rear end were 'mated' to each other. Presuming your car has its factory original rear differential, it'll be stamped with an assy code + mfgr date. The code stamped on the rear end will designate what was 'upstream' from the rear end and there were separate ECL codes for M20, M21, and M22 in conjunction with the configuration of the specifics of the engine.
Look in Noland Adam's book, Complete Corvette Restoration, Vol 2, and the different ECL code tables used in 1966 for the G81, positraction rear end are listed on pages 342 and 343. Although there was no tank sticker in '66, it'd be a real piece of serendipity if your rear end was correctly dated to match your car AND was stamped with an ECL code matching your engine configuration + the M22, rock crusher, transmission!!!Comment
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Re: Add-on
Assuming it's an L-72, is the engine suffix code "IP" or "IK"?Comment
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Re: Add-on
Jack-----
The problem is that the ECL codes and the differential codes were not the same. If the ECL was stamped on the differential case, then it would be possible to do as you suggest. However, the differential broadcast code provided much less information and would give no indication of what transmission was originally installed in the car.
As far as I know, the ECL information would be found only on various "paperwork" for the car. And, if one had the "paperwork", one might no longer need the ECL information.In Appreciation of John HinckleyComment
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Re: Add-on
My car is an IP code. Now, I know everything you read says that the M22s were in IK cars but, my tranny has all the other indicators. I crawled up under it just now. The rear end is a little rusty so all I could make out was...A 19 66. I assume there is a Z after the A but I couldn't find a wire brush to clean it up. As far as a previous owner tapping the case; it has a raised circle that the drain plug goes into. The transmission is still the factory silvery gray color...no indication of someone welding, drilling, etc... I did notice that the drain plug had an M on it. If they know they made 15 of them and Penske got and raced so many of them and that Gray 66 that Nabers restored had M22, why don't they know where the others are. Or at least what the vins are? I do appreciate everyones help. Eventually the engine and tranny will come out. I don't think I am ready to drop the drive line just for curiousity yet.Comment
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Re: Add-on
If the rear end is 'untouched' and you physically drop it, the odds are good you'll find the factory original paper label with the ECL code on it sandwiched between the top of the case and the rear cross member protected, Joe... I went a little fast & loose with the distinction between broadcast code and ECL in terms of where to find what, but both should have been there when the car left the factory.Comment
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Re: Add-on
Jack-----
I've never seen such a label. I have once-in-awhile seen the paper labels with the broadcast code (this was how the assembly line workers quickly identified the proper axle unit rather than having to check for the tiny stamping on the bottom). However, I've never seen a rear axle label with the ECL code on it.In Appreciation of John HinckleyComment
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Re: 1966 BB Coupe M22?
Bill -
It's been years since I've driven in a car with a rock crusher, but the whine it made (due to the cut of the gears) could not be ignored. This was not anything like your normal four-speed! So, do you hear a distinct whine coming from the tranny?
PeteComment
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Want to see one? *NM*
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Re: Want to see one?
Jack------
Well, of course.In Appreciation of John HinckleyComment
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Re: 1966 BB Coupe M22?
Pete, unfortunately my car is out of commission for awhile...I think I blew a head gasket. And before that I had only had the car for a couple of weeks. So, I can't really remember. I was going off the fact that I have a drain plug and the vin matches. So, I really believe the car was born with that tranny. Whether or not it is the M22 shall remain a mystery until I tear into it I guess. Thanks BillComment
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Here's to a Good Whine in Your Future! *NM*
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Re: 1966 BB Coupe M22?
Last year at the Regional held in Wildwood, N.J Al Grenning gave an outstanding presentation on the M22 option for 66 which added a lot more info to his previous research published in the Restorer. Perhaps you could contact him.Comment
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