1969 white"X" on rear crossmember

[Greg L.]

What is this "X" for? I always thought it was only on L88's but I also heard that it was for the heavy duty side yoke caps so that would include all big blocks. What is heavy duty on the L88's back there that the other big blocks didn't have to make this "X" only for L88 cars?

I'm just curious but the more I think about it the more it would make sense to an assembly line worker that if he saw this "X" then he would know to grab the heavy duty side yoke caps and bolts along with the half shafts with the green inspection marks and presto, the heavy duty rear end.

What do you all think?

[William Holder]

Re: 1969 white"X" on rear crossmember

Hello THis denotes F-41 HD Suspension
Bill

[Mark #28455]

not just the caps are different

The BB rear also uses a different yoke, so the assembly line worker can't just add the caps, they pick a complete BB differential. That's why the BB and SB have different codes on them.
Mark

[John H.]

Re: 1969 white"X" on rear crossmember

The rear suspension assembly was built-up in the basement as a complete unit (crossmember, differential, spring, half-shafts, strut rods and mounting bracket, trailing arm assemblies, etc.) and sent up to the main floor to be installed on the frame, so the guys building up the assembly downstairs never saw the frame; they built up the assembly based on the broadcast copy. I suspect the "X" on the frame was a reminder to the operators who installed the rear suspension assembly to the frame to check it for the 7-leaf spring and correct shock mounts, and for the operator who installed the rear shocks to select the unique F41 shocks.

[Greg L.]

Re: 1969 white"X" on rear crossmember

Well that all makes sense and quite interesting too.

Thanks guys.

[Greg L.]

Re: 1969 white"X" on rear crossmember

I was just thinking....

So what would the white "HD" on the rear crossmember be for?

[Bill W.]

Re: 1969 white"X" on rear crossmember

Years ago I had long conversations with long time plant worker Phil Hawkins . My 396 has an X on the body also as do most real L88s. Phill told me the X was a message to the other assembly line workers to check the build sheet .there was something different on this car. In the early years it could have been a BB or heavy duty susp. I my case it could have been BB,or side exhaust .He said the X on the body told the workers DONT drill an antenna hole , this one does not get a radio.

[Mark #28455]

my L89 w/ F41 has both X and HD marks

sorry, but I can't get to my L88 right now (in storage) to see what marks it has.
Mark

[Steve B.]

Re: 1969 white"X" on rear crossmember

My 69 L88 has an X and HD on one side of the rear crossmember and an L88 and an X on the other side. This is a 20000 mile unrestored car and all the markings are original.