Cross member marking

[Dave C.]

Just started tearing into the rear end of my 67, and noticed this marking on the differential cross member or carrier whatever you would call it, just wondered what it meant if it was in fact from the factory

[Dave C.]

Re: Cross member marking

I thought someone might have an idea on this, the rear end of this car seems to have been vertically untouched, it even had the original u-joints in the half shafts , so I am pretty sure this marking must have been from the factory, it appears to read " SHD" or SHO"
anybody...?

[Patrick N.]

Re: Cross member marking

I do not know what the markings mean, but looking at it Id say the pic is upside down. if you make an "S" typically the heaviest part of the stroke is the upper right and the pressure fades off at the end of the letter, in this case the bottom left. just a thought.
letters.jpg

[Dave C.]

Re: Cross member marking

Hmmm.. Interesting theory , but if you. Flip it upside down, the strokes of the H seem to curve in the wrong direction , the car does have F-41 suspension, I think it must stand for super heavy duty, and the car was probably an L88, not an L71, like I thought.

[John H.]

Re: Cross member marking

Hmmm.. Interesting theory , but if you. Flip it upside down, the strokes of the H seem to curve in the wrong direction , the car does have F-41 suspension, I think it must stand for super heavy duty, and the car was probably an L88, not an L71, like I thought.

Dave -

That looks similar to the marking in the photo below on the #3 crossmember of an F-41 car - I've observed several like that - most likely done to clue the Frame Line guys in for the F-41 springs, shocks, lower rear shock mounts, bars, etc.


F41FrameMarking.jpg

[Hugh G.]

Re: Cross member marking

Just encountered he same thing on my 68 BB, see photo. One looks like a date 2 C 8, the other side is a '4'. I was going to ask about mine but I do not want to take over this thread. Hugh IMG_0922.jpgIMG_0921.jpg The 4 is upside down.

[Dave C.]

Re: Cross member marking

Cool, thanks. John , XHD wonder what the difference between X and S was, that looks like a beautiful rust free car you showed there , mine is not too bad , some surface rust no holes anywhere, nothing written on the #3 cross member that I could see though.

[William H.]

Re: Cross member marking

My 68 L89 /F-41 has 3X's "XXX" on the rear edge of the fram crossmember in frt of the carrier bracket. I dont have a good picture because the rust was too heavy but I made a traceing of it so I could duplicate it. I gues it just depends on the workers frame of mind that day

[Tom R.]

Re: Cross member marking

In late model C3s, it represents the last digit or two of the VIN. For example, the image below is from a 78 Pace Car VIN 6502.

E02.jpg