1966 BBs with 65 inner fenders

[Robert T.]

I've just seen my third 66 BB with 65 inner fenders. They are complete with the overflow bracket on the right side, and left side battery mount with the removable panel. Serial numbers are 2XX, 3XX, and 7XX. Of course all three owners swear that the cars are original and that this was done on all the "early" 66's. By the same token I can't imagine any owner doing that on purpose.

I don't have the TM with me, but I don't recall seeing any discussion about 65 fender on 66s.

So, my questions are........

1) Has this ever been documented sufficiently to the point where up to a certain serial number this may be "NCRS" correct.

2) Also, is there a break-in serial number for the 66 BB that is commonly accepted as the official start. Where they available from the start of production.

Thanks,

bob

[Wayne M.]

Re: 1966 BBs with 65 inner fenders

I've just seen my third 66 BB with 65 inner fenders. They are complete with the overflow bracket on the right side, and left side battery mount with the removable panel. Serial numbers are 2XX, 3XX, and 7XX. Of course all three owners swear that the cars are original and that this was done on all the "early" 66's. By the same token I can't imagine any owner doing that on purpose.

2) Also, is there a break-in serial number for the 66 BB that is commonly accepted as the official start. Where they available from the start of production....

Bob --- IMO, this did happen. Pic below of '66 VIN 00224 at Spring Knoxville, about 1982. -------- Fast forward to this year, same car shows up on eBay with all (at least those '65 BB features visible in listing photos) replaced, or should I say 'NCRS'-ified .

[Robert T.]

Re: 1966 BBs with 65 inner fenders

Thanks for the info Wayne. Seems logical. Like I said, why would anyone go through all the trouble to put on wrong inner fenders.
It's a shame that #224 has now lost that history. Sounds like another update for the manual.

Bt

[Tim G.]

Re: 1966 BBs with 65 inner fenders

I know of one '67 that had front end damage and it was repaired in the old days with a front clip from a '65. The vents were pulled from the old damaged front end and grafted on the '65 front end. Here is a '67 with a correct looking front end and '65 inner fenders. Further examination proved it was a '65 front end.

[Michael J.]

Re: 1966 BBs with 65 inner fenders

Yes, and these early '66s also had the "S" stamped on the engine pad along with the rest of the VIN, overall they were strange birds.

[Mike M.]

Re: 1966 BBs with 65 inner fenders

Robert,
What is the configuration of your "A" frame cross shafts?
Square? Round? Both?
HaND

[Robert T.]

Re: 1966 BBs with 65 inner fenders

Mine are square as shown below. Why do you ask?

bob

[Mike M.]

Re: 1966 BBs with 65 inner fenders

Robert
Yet, another anomoly of a very early '66.
Your "A" arms are also '65 carry-over assemblies. '66's are typically round.
We have seen several '66's with the square cross shafts on the passenger side running deeper into production.
Yes, the matter has been addressed in the Manual Revision.
HaND

[Michael H.]

Re: 1966 BBs with 65 inner fenders

Robert
Yet, another anomoly of a very early '66.

My November 65 built 66 has the square shafts. I think this style shaft would be common for at least the first several months of 66 production.

[Robert T.]

Re: 1966 BBs with 65 inner fenders

Thanks Mike. I never knew about the round vs square issue.

bob

[Robert T.]

Re: 1966 BBs with 65 inner fenders

Mike, Has there ever been any early 66s documented with a 65 gas filler door. My Sept car had one and the previous owners swear that they never changed it. I missing the original owner, so I can't be 100% sure about it's presence. I gave up trying to explain it to folks/judges and put a 66 version on the car.

[Michael H.]

Re: 1966 BBs with 65 inner fenders

Mike, Has there ever been any early 66s documented with a 65 gas filler door.

I suppose it's possible that some early 66's were built with a 65 gas door but I don't know how it could ever be documented.

If I remember correctly, there wasn't an early part number change shown in the 66 AIM that would show that the 65 door was used until a certain date. I'll look.

[Mike M.]

Re: 1966 BBs with 65 inner fenders

Hi Robert
No, the '65 Gas Lid has not been documented.
Probably too small of a population to do so.
Could it have happened, sure.
The last two and first two weeks in model transition were open for a multitude of such occurances. Simply put, the General wanted to use up the "Old" parts and if shortages occured, the "New" parts were pressed into service early.
Production did not contain a finite Time/Parts continuum.
Look at the new '63-4 JG, one-third, 80 of the 240 pages are Technical Service Bulletins (TSB's) Those things were Zora's rolling R & D projects.
Many similar anomolies occrured between other model change-overs as well.
For example, I recommend anyone considering buying a '68, to be sure the car is complete, totally unique, parts are nearly impossible to obtain.
FWIW
HaND

[Marco H.]

Re: 1966 BBs with 65 inner fenders

There was a 2 part article in the restorer regarding the early 66 Big Blocks. As fa as I can remember the cars in questions came from A.O.Smith with the overflow tanks on the Inner Fenders, and as the St. Louis workers were catching on, they removed the tanks and brackets leaving partial rivets and bare spots in the black out. There was also a period of 65 hoods used on early 66 427's. It is worth to search and read the article.
Has anybody noted a running change on the center seatbelt cable bracket for 66 cars? I've seen cars up to Jan '66 production with the '65 style bracket.
And towards the end of production (the car I worked on was #246XX) the front cross over brake line was attached with 2 clips as on the 67's.
FWIW
Marco

[Robert T.]

Re: 1966 BBs with 65 inner fenders

Thanks for the additional info Mike.

bob