differences between 56 & 57 body??

[Larry B. Seaney]

I got a call from a friend that has a body and repair shop who had a person bring in a corvette to be painted. The fellow did not know if it was a 56 or a 57. There is no vin #, bumpers, emblems, etc, the body is bare. How can we tell if it is a 56 or a 57?

I will look at the motor,2x4 w/auto trans., for a vin # when I go over to his shop. I assume (if orig.motor) that the vin # will tell us. Are there other features to look for?

Thanks,
Larry

[Mike M.]

Re: differences between 56 & 57 body??

if it's got metal reinforcements behind the kick panels, its a 57 above vin about 4100. mike

[Verle R.]

Re: differences between 56 & 57 body??

There is no VIN number on a 56 or 57 engine. If there is no VIN tag on the driver's door post, look for a number stamped on top of the frame about the front of the driver's seat.

Verle

[Bernard M.]

Re: differences between 56 & 57 body??

While there's no VIN derivitave, the cylinder cases (if original) will be different. A '56 will have a 265 cid engine, a '57 will have a 283 cid engine. A 1956 265 will have a casting number of 3720991. A '57 283 will have a casting number of 3731548. The bodies are essentially the same.

[Chuck W.]

Re: differences between 56 & 57 body??

Holes in the side cove for emblem is '57 only.

[Dennis C.]

Chuck - Maybe '57 FI only...

...but then all '57's were FI - Right ???

[Chuck W.]

Re: Chuck - Maybe '57 FI only...

Non-FI '57's are as rare as small block '67's!

[Pierre J.]

Re: differences between 56 & 57 body??

Check the ignition switch backplate. '56 and some e57 had a chrome ring on the outside but most '57 didn't.
Pierre

[Brett H.]

Re: differences between 56 & 57 body??

What about the phillips head screws attaching the inner fenders on each side of the front surround panel? Which year has only one screw on each side and which has two? A liitle known characteristic between the years.

The 56 has one on each side more often than two, so I have experienced. The 57 almost always has two screws on each side. Now that there's a mad rush to the garage to check....please list what yours has.

Thanks
Brett

[Rob Dame]

Re: differences between 56 & 57 body??

56 # 316 has three on each side. I think the deck lid release button has a screw in shaft on 56s only but not sure. Might also check locations of the lug wrench and jack handle clips.

[Jimmy B.]

Re: differences between 56 & 57 body??

there are "several" changes what were not address by anyone yet

1) early 56's did not have a fresh air heater, thus the cowl/firewall cutout is different/similar to a 53-55

2) 56's that had winshield washers had a bag on the lh inner fender, this bag was held by a 2 piece bracket with 3 screws total; 2 at the top and 1 at the bottom, the 57 washer bottle was attached by 4 scews using a single one piece mounting bracket

3) 56 power top cars had a set of toggle switches on the gas cover rh side, 57's had a bracket and arm affair mounted in the inner rh door jamb area with a reinforcing nut plate on the bottom side of the car just inboard of the rocker panel, also a set of micro switches with a stamped tin cover mouned on the trunk gas tank separator panel; the body will have nut plates riveted here, 56's did not have this

4) 56's and 57's up to approximately vin 2000 or so did not have any additional gray goop adhesive that was later applied around ther cutouts for the upper grill surround area. 57 cars 2920, 3781, 5073 all had this

5) sometime in 57 a rocker panel bracket was added (stamped steel bracket went inside the rocker panel)

6) both decklid and trunklid 56 & 57 had a purple ink stamp with a date indictator example MAR 1956 APR 1957