1964 Corvette Lower A-Arm Cross Shaft

[Gary J.]

I am working on a 1964 Corvette, December 4, 1963 build date. It has two different lower cross shaft. Which is correct? The Judging Manual does not mention the lower cross shaft. Wondering if it could be an anomaly?

[Joe L.]

Re: 1964 Corvette Lower A-Arm Cross Shaft

I am working on a 1964 Corvette, December 4, 1963 build date. It has two different lower cross shaft. Which is correct? The Judging Manual does not mention the lower cross shaft. Wondering if it could be an anomaly?

Gary------


This situation is seen quite regularly on C2 Corvettes. Both shafts are obviously GM and both have the same forging number. They do have different forging die numbers, though. The "I-beam" rod is the older style and its use dates back to 1958 on passenger cars. However, those forging dies were apparently in use for many years. Other known-original C2 Corvettes have been found with the two different configuration shafts. Of course, it's also possible that one of the shafts was replaced at some point but I kind of doubt it unless there's some other evidence of serious front end damage on one side of the car.

By the way, 1958-64 Chevrolet (and some other GM) passenger car front a-arms, shafts, and ball joints are the same as 1963-82 Corvette. There are two versions of lower and upper shaft style, the lower shaft style versions seen here. However, the shafts are 100% interchangeable.