Frame double stamped on early 1954

[John S.]

Hello all!

I'm restoring my 1954 corvette and when cleaning the left frame rail I found two serial number stampings, both are the same font and size one is centered on the aligning hole mid frame rail and the other is on the forward side?? Has anyone else found this? Also both riveted upper motor mount brackets on top of the frame rails have a second set of holes in the frame just 5/8 of an inch back on the drivers side and forward on the passenger side. And lastly I guess the assembly line had two frame Welders, one on the left and one on the right, the left frame rail for anyone who welds with a stick welder should get a kick out of this, they did a lot of dragging the stick from place to place down the entire rail. See pictures

Thanks John

[Bruce B.]

Re: Frame double stamped on early 1954

On most early Corvettes , I had 1954 #003X, the welders typically dragged the rod so they did not have to strike another arc.
Very common.

[John S.]

Re: Frame double stamped on early 1954

On most early Corvettes , I had 1954 #003X, the welders typically dragged the rod so they did not have to strike another arc.
Very common.

if they did not want to strike another arc, were they required to use 7018 rod? I would see no reason to drag using 6010 which has no problem when restriking?

[Bruce B.]

Re: Frame double stamped on early 1954

John,
I know nothing about welding rods.
So, hopefully someone will provide a answer.
Bruce B

[John S.]

Re: Frame double stamped on early 1954

I do weld and 7018 rods for lack of a better term crust over and you have to tap them and break the crust each time you start a new bead, that would make sense to me. The entire left frame rail from front to rear has about seven locations where it has drag marks. Here are a few more picks.

[Eric F.]

Re: Frame double stamped on early 1954

John,

I found the same things on the frame I restored. I don't know why they dragged the rod but based on my experience it could be: in a hurry, it's just a job, need light to see there I'm going, don't want to strike a fresh arc. Having worked on an assembly line making railroad box cars I'd say its "E" all of the above. We have to remember that these workers were making a living, not making perfect examples of future collector cars. :-)

I've attached a photo of my frame rail VIN stamps.

Eric

[Chris S.]

Re: Frame double stamped on early 1954

Typical production !!!! LOL - if you look at some of the welds - it is amazing they even got penetration. !!!!

[Pat H.]

Re: Frame double stamped on early 1954

My 59 was double stamped as well. As mentioned, this was common practice, but not all cars received it.

[Tom P.]

Re: Frame double stamped on early 1954

My 56 is double stamped. MANY early frames which I have seen were double stamped, and I've always understood that it was usually routine.

[Chris S.]

Re: Frame double stamped on early 1954

The 59 I am doing is double stamped - HARD !

[Jerry K.]

Re: Frame double stamped on early 1954

Welding of frames require very little skill and was a low seniority job. In the production of these frames the use of E-7018 (low Hydrogen 70,000 PSI tensile strength) electrode was not used. The welder had a hand held arc shield as opposed to a head mounted face shield. In the 1950's and early sixties the electrode used was E-6011 for ease in re striking the arc. High amperage was used to minimize sticking of the electrode. This high amperage causing the undercut and burn through. Later in the sixties flux core welding spools were used to eliminate constant rod changing. Remember, this is not a nuclear power plant.

[John S.]

Re: Frame double stamped on early 1954

Thanks Eric, nice picture. I wish mine were that clean and crisp!

[Richard M.]

Re: Frame double stamped on early 1954

I recall years ago John Hinckley saying that the frame stamping machine required 2 hits on the frame to automatically index it to the next vin sequence number. It was a big air operated machine IIRC.

edit....I found John's photo, albeit a C2 frame. Also quotes from his reference posts here.... and here.



The frame VIN stamper was made for us by the George T. Schmidt Co. in Chicago, and didn't change during the midyear era - it had a series of circular "slices" that indexed when the tool was cycled to create the VIN derivative impression. When the machine broke down, a line repairman jumped in with his box of individual dies and a hammer and stamped it by hand, using the VIN on the top of the chassis inspection ticket as his guide.

[John S.]

Re: Frame double stamped on early 1954

Thanks Richard, It's amazing how primitive the assembly procedures were even into the 80's like the frame in this picture, it looks to be a C3 80-82 notice the one piece rear diff and the catalytic converter heat shield.

[Richard M.]

Re: Frame double stamped on early 1954

AH, good observation. I was wondering what that shield was.

Rich