55 Rear End

[Tyler T.]

This a shot of the info on my 55 rear end, can someone decyper it for me.

Tyler

[Brett H.]

Re: 55 Rear End

Tyler, it looks like the casting part number and time from the foundry. I am no expert on 55 rear ends. I can tell you that on the 53-54 rear ends, there are stamped numbers indicating the month and date. They are located on the flange of the third member. You may want to look for them there.

Roy may know exactly where they are. How about it Roy????

[Roy B.]

Re: 55 Rear End

I see the casting number ( what a mess) , casted at 9PM ,second shift and a 55 rear end

[Richard M.]

Re: 55 Rear End

Tyler, I just sent you a email with cropped photos rightside up. I'm looking in my 29-59 parts book for that casting number. Looks like a 3691728 or a 3698956 depending on which last 4 digits get used???

Is this item called the "differential" or "case" or "carrier"?

Rich

[Philip C.]

Thought casting clock started late 1964 *NM*

[Verle R.]

Re: 55 Rear End

Rich,

Differential, carrier, third member, pumpkin, all different names for the same thing.

Verle

[Richard M.]

Re: 55 Rear End

Hi Verle, always got them confused, thanks.

Tyler, I took the liberty to play with your photo and show parts of it here. So in my ever ending desire to know this stuff, & my love for the hunt for information, I looked in my 29-59 parts book and here are the pages. Now, I know nothing about this stuff and love to learn so hopefully this will help someone more in tune to this to help solve the id. Quick glance I didn't see it. Maybe someone else can find it in these pages. I cropped and right side-upp'd the pt# & cast date. I think the first digit(3?)is missing in the part number. Why it's "overcast" seems odd. It may be 3691728 or 3698956 or ??? depending on the view. The date may be I17? Aug 17th?

from pgs 634-636 in the 29-59 parts & accessories book dated april 1, 1959:

I'll be out building my new shop/garage while you guys figure it out.:-)

Rich

[Roy B.]

Re: Thought lock started late 1964 me too

engine only ???

[John H.]

Re: 55 Rear End

None of those sheets show it. The '55 Corvette center section was casting #3698950, and it was STAMPED, not cast-in "raised"; there was no casting date on that center section. The raised casting number and casting date didn't start until 1956, with casting #3707306.

[Roy B.]

Re: 55 Rear End

Cast #3698950/// D=May // 1955 // at 5:30PM //second shift // mould #3
This is my spare Pumpkin for my June 1955 Corvette

[Tyler T.]

Re: 55 Rear End

Looks like I need to take some paint remover and camera back under the car. Thanks for the knowledge. What Does the raised 5 mean, a 55? What would be the reason for the overstrike? And I thought this was going to be easy.

Tyler

[Roy B.]

Re: 55 Rear End Tyler

GM 5 just the mould it came from

[Richard M.]

Re: 55 Rear End

Tyler, so it looks like it may actualy be 3698950. That last digit appears as a 6 but may really be a 0. Is it actually a raised cast#, or is it stamped. Hard to tell from the photo now that the guys-in-the-know have entered. Maybe take a shot at a angle to enhance the depth perception. The overstrike is mysterious.

I like this class....rear-end 101.:-)

Rich

[Roy B.]

Re: 55 Rear End Rich

The overstrike is mysterious, like some engines?