1968 Frame Stencil

[Jeff P.]

image.jpgI'm looking at my 68 Survivor stencil and something doesn't look right . I'm starting to figure out the 68 stencil for the 68 Vert resto. The Coupe March build reads 303196 - 41 - ?? (2 letters or numbers. See Pic.). 3910770 - 12 - 28 - 67 the number 3910770 .I can't find anywhere. What this number means or is.
FYI, from the frame being built and issued a vin was about 78 days.

[John C.]

Re: 1968 Frame Stencil

Jeff

3910770 is the part number for the frame. This is the early model year welded cross member frame used with manual transmissions. 3949093 is the late model year welded cross member frame and 3913838 is the bolted in cross member frame used with auto transmissions.

The ?? characters are GC. This is for Granite City, IL where the frame was made.

John

[Jeff P.]

Re: 1968 Frame Stencil

Thank you John. The publication I refered to is the Corvette Chassis Restoration Guide. They have the 68 Manual part number as 3949016. That's what confused me. A couple questions. I am safe to say that an April frame build was used for my 68 June 21 Vert. Would this still be considered an early year welded cross member? After the 303196 they give four numbers ,40,41,42 43. The coupe had 41. What were these numbers ? Anything to do with the quarter built? Last question , is this April frame built still a Granite City build? AO Smith also built frames the latter portion of the year.

[Gary B.]

Re: 1968 Frame Stencil

Jeff,

I believe the two-digit suffix number, 40, 41, 42, etc., indicated minor changes to the frame, like changing to the welded cross member, or maybe new holes for a different way to attach brake lines, or the shifter bracket, the latter two which happened, for example, during the '66 model year.

Gary

[John C.]

Re: 1968 Frame Stencil

Jeff

The 3 part numbers I gave are the only one I'm familiar with for the 1968 model year, but it is 1968 so I think there could easily be others.

From my understanding the 40, 41, etc. were some type of lot numbers used by AO Smith during production. I do think there could be minor differences between them, but I'm not really sure.

The description of early and late for 1968 year frames is usually tied to the addition of the angle iron stiffening braces added to the rear kick up on the frame. Early frames don't have them and late frames do. They came into production some time around June from my observations. Does your June 21st car have them?

To my knowledge AO Smith built all 1968 Corvette frames at their Granite City, IL plant. It was either 1969 or 1970 that production was switched to their Milwaukee, WI plant.

John

[Jeff P.]

Re: 1968 Frame Stencil

Thank you John and Gary. I took a side view of the frame before it went to the Acid Pool.