62 Differential

[Rick C.]

Hello to all,
Although I've been an NCRS member since 1985 or so, this is my first post. I have been monitoring the discussion board for so long I feel like I know all you guys.
I was checking out the differential on my 62 yesterday and found that the casting numbers are located on the front driver side of the differential, not the right side per the TM&JG. The casting # of 3725899 is there, but the date code is H181. If interpreted like an engine block casting #,this might be ok for my car with a build date of 8/23/61. Is this differential something other than for a Corvette? Could it be correct for this car? Thanks in advance.
Rick

[Joe L.]

Re: 62 Differential

Rick----

My opinion would be that it's original to the car notwithstanding the apparent discrepency in the location of the casting number.

The 3725899 differential case casting was used for a LOT of Chevrolet cars. It was the non-posi case, so it was, by far, the most common. All Corvette cases were cast in Saginaw, MI. Saginaw also cast many for passenger cars, too. Other 3725899 cases were cast at Tonawanda. None of these were used in Corvettes, though. Yours sounds like a Saginaw-cast case to me so it could well have been a Corvette case. Based on the date, I'd say that there's a very good chance that it's original to the car.

[Mike E.]

Re: 62 Differential

Rick--
Page 88 of the judging manual, third line: Axle CODE STAMPING (caps mine) appears on the front, right side of carrier (passenger side): CASTING numbers are....... It's not said clearly enough, but the stamping is on the right (passenger) side--casting is on the left (driver's side). Yours is not an anomaly--we just didn't say it very well!

[Rick C.]

Re: 62 Differential

Mike & Joe,
Thanks! At least something on the car is original!