There was a thread recently on the board where an issue on 1965 relay rods was discussed. The thread went beyond just the 65 relay rod question, so I thought that I'd post a new thread. I've done a little more research on the subject and I think that I've got most of this figured out now. Herewith what I've found:
As it turns out, the relay rods used for both small block and big block Corvettes during the 1963-68 period were the same. This is contrary to the information which I provided earlier and I was mistaken on this point. The 1963-68 manual steering relay rod for both small block and big block applications was GM #3831668. This relay rod is 3/4" OD and has provisions for the steering dampner, regardless of whether the steering dampner was actually installed.
The 63-68 power steering relay rod for both small block and big block applications was GM #3822683. This is a 3/4" OD rod.
For 1969, things changed. The PRODUCTION 1969 manual steering rod for both small block and big block applications was GM #3955512. This relay rod became the SERVICE relay rod for 63-68 BIG BLOCK Corvettes in February, 1969 when the GM #3831668 was discontinued. The GM #3955512 is a 7/8" OD rod and has no provisions for a steering shock absorber.
Also for 1969, the power steering relay rod changed for PRODUCTION. The 69 rod was GM #3952707. This is a 7/8" OD relay rod. It became the SERVICE relay rod for ALL N-40 equipped 63-68 Corvettes when the GM #3822683 was discontinued in May, 1969.
The "wrinkle" in all of this, and the thing that confused my recollection in my earlier post, is that there was another, SERVICE-only relay rod that was issued in 1969. This rod was a manual steering rod of GM #3955521. This rod replaced the GM #3831668 for SMALL BLOCK APPLICATIONS ONLY, although it could also be used on a big block. Although the GM information that I have on this rod is minimal and, I believe, partially incorrect, I think that this rod was a 7/8" OD manual steering relay rod which had provisions for the steering shock absorber used by 1963-68 Corvettes with small block and without the "6 quart" oil pan. This was a SERVICE-only rod since no 7/8" OD rod with provisions for the steering shock absorber was ever used in PRODUCTION. Since it was a SERVICE-only piece, apparently manufactured in very limited numbers, it carried a VERY high price when it was still available (which it no longer is).
Why did GM change from the 3/4" OD rods to the 7/8" OD rods in 69+ AND replace the 63-68 rods at the same time for SERVICE with the 7/8" rods, INCLUDING MANUFACTURING A SPECIAL SERVICE-ONLY 7/8" OD manual steering rod for certain 63-68 Corvettes? You can bet it was not because the 3/4" rods worked just as good. Yes, indeed, you can be certain of that!
As it turns out, the relay rods used for both small block and big block Corvettes during the 1963-68 period were the same. This is contrary to the information which I provided earlier and I was mistaken on this point. The 1963-68 manual steering relay rod for both small block and big block applications was GM #3831668. This relay rod is 3/4" OD and has provisions for the steering dampner, regardless of whether the steering dampner was actually installed.
The 63-68 power steering relay rod for both small block and big block applications was GM #3822683. This is a 3/4" OD rod.
For 1969, things changed. The PRODUCTION 1969 manual steering rod for both small block and big block applications was GM #3955512. This relay rod became the SERVICE relay rod for 63-68 BIG BLOCK Corvettes in February, 1969 when the GM #3831668 was discontinued. The GM #3955512 is a 7/8" OD rod and has no provisions for a steering shock absorber.
Also for 1969, the power steering relay rod changed for PRODUCTION. The 69 rod was GM #3952707. This is a 7/8" OD relay rod. It became the SERVICE relay rod for ALL N-40 equipped 63-68 Corvettes when the GM #3822683 was discontinued in May, 1969.
The "wrinkle" in all of this, and the thing that confused my recollection in my earlier post, is that there was another, SERVICE-only relay rod that was issued in 1969. This rod was a manual steering rod of GM #3955521. This rod replaced the GM #3831668 for SMALL BLOCK APPLICATIONS ONLY, although it could also be used on a big block. Although the GM information that I have on this rod is minimal and, I believe, partially incorrect, I think that this rod was a 7/8" OD manual steering relay rod which had provisions for the steering shock absorber used by 1963-68 Corvettes with small block and without the "6 quart" oil pan. This was a SERVICE-only rod since no 7/8" OD rod with provisions for the steering shock absorber was ever used in PRODUCTION. Since it was a SERVICE-only piece, apparently manufactured in very limited numbers, it carried a VERY high price when it was still available (which it no longer is).
Why did GM change from the 3/4" OD rods to the 7/8" OD rods in 69+ AND replace the 63-68 rods at the same time for SERVICE with the 7/8" rods, INCLUDING MANUFACTURING A SPECIAL SERVICE-ONLY 7/8" OD manual steering rod for certain 63-68 Corvettes? You can bet it was not because the 3/4" rods worked just as good. Yes, indeed, you can be certain of that!
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