Early C1 Outer Partition Panel Reinforcements??

[Scott R.]

Hoping you early Corvette enthusiasts can identify these parts for me which came with my 56. They appear to be outer partition panel reinforcements, but they have a curved bottom to presumably bolt to the floor as well. Are these parts for some Corvette model year prior to 1956? If so, what years?

Thanks very much!

[Gary C.]

Re: Early C1 Outer Partition Panel Reinforcements??

Scott,

Check AIM Section J Sheet 3.

Your photos appear to be the "Outer Partition Panel Reinforcements" part no.s 3735061, 3735062.

They go behind the seat on the interior side of the top well boot wall.

Gary
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[Scott R.]

Re: Early C1 Outer Partition Panel Reinforcements??

Thanks Gary. The other reinforcements (56 - up) I've seen do not have the curved end that fasten to the floor. Are you saying the design changed and the part number did not?

[Mike E.]

Re: Early C1 Outer Partition Panel Reinforcements??

This is nothing definitive, but the cars without the curl on the bottom had seat belt mounting brackets in the curled area; my guess is that previous to, or when the brackets were added, the curl disappeared.

[Gary C.]

Re: Early C1 Outer Partition Panel Reinforcements??

Scott,

Sorry for not addressing the curved ends. Mike's suggestion maybe spot on.

Checked all the 53-5 Parts Book and the poor quality AIM and no joy.

You should check with the 53-5 guys, such as Steve Newsom or maybe one of them will chime in on this thread. Cause I don't recall if they had those "bulkhead" brackets or not.

Question - does your '56 have those reinforcements?

Gary
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[Scott R.]

Re: Early C1 Outer Partition Panel Reinforcements??

Question - does your '56 have those reinforcements?

My 56 was a basket case when I got it. I have no idea what was original to the car. The floor area around the supports had been repaired, and the bolt holes in these pieces did not match well with the floor. They also do not line up with the seat belt brackets so I will be using a set without the curve.

Mike is probably correct, but it must apply to pre 56 cars since there is no mention of this part in the 56-57 AIM.

Scott

[Gary C.]

Re: Early C1 Outer Partition Panel Reinforcements??

Scott, you should have these on your '56. If you don't, then you should add them. Gary....

57 AIM Sheet J3 Softtop Pie Pans.jpg

[David B.]

Re: Early C1 Outer Partition Panel Reinforcements??

PN 3735061-62 Reinforcements L & R (steel) were introduced in 56-57 model year primarily for power top reinforcement (check to see if your car was so equipped. The curved reinforcement assy. seat belt floor panel outer PN 3735042 was first designed 1-26-56 (Sebring?). Check to see if curved portions were welded on your brackets (basket case?) possibly due to weak floor area. Your cars vin# could also help explain.

[Patrick S.]

Re: Early C1 Outer Partition Panel Reinforcements??

I have 2 "hardtop only" cars,a 57 and a 62. both do not have the brace which I believe is for the soft top installation.

[Gary C.]

Re: Early C1 Outer Partition Panel Reinforcements??

Patrick,

You're correct, the pie pan is for softtop cars.

Don't know about the '62, but the '57 should not have the "T" nuts on the sides of the boot well walls for the softtop. The "T" nuts are shown in the AIM.

Gary
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[Scott R.]

Re: Early C1 Outer Partition Panel Reinforcements??

PN 3735061-62 Reinforcements L & R (steel) were introduced in 56-57 model year primarily for power top reinforcement (check to see if your car was so equipped.

I see no cutouts indicative of a previous power top installation.

The curved reinforcement assy. seat belt floor panel outer PN 3735042 was first designed 1-26-56 (Sebring?). Check to see if curved portions were welded on your brackets (basket case?) possibly due to weak floor area.

I see no indications that these parts were ever welded. Here is a closer view of where the weld would be.

20210723_134021.jpg

Your cars vin# could also help explain.

It is a very late 56, vin 4467. Actually the latest possible 56.

Thanks for all the ideas. I'm curious if the 53-55 cars had a similar part to mount the soft top and what it might look like.

[Richard M.]

Re: Early C1 Outer Partition Panel Reinforcements??

IMO those were hand fabricated. They do not have center reinforcement bends which are seen on originals. I'd say the car may have been HT(Hardtop Only), and a prior owner added a soft top and made those plates.

Additionally, if the horizontal reinforcement 3725410 is missing, the owner may have used bolts/nuts in the fuel tank well partition to hold them. The 3725410 has 10 weldnuts to hold the 4 soft top frame brackets.

As Gary asked, see if threaded T-nuts are present (behind the upper outer brackets) for the the soft top frame attachments each side. Research has shown that only soft top cars had the T-nuts riveted/bonded in.

See 1st & 2nd photos in this thread for reference.
https://www.forums.ncrs.org/showthre...584#post806584

Does this car have the horizontal reinforcement, 3725410, as shown in Gary's AIM PAGE?

Rich

[Gary C.]

Re: Early C1 Outer Partition Panel Reinforcements??

Scott,

1956's from at least 4026 (known) onward had '57 frames. You VIn should have the rear spring hanger bracket like the right hand photo.

Gary
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56-7 Rear Spring Hanger Bracket.jpg

[Scott R.]

Re: Early C1 Outer Partition Panel Reinforcements??

IMO those were hand fabricated. They do not have center reinforcement bends which are seen on originals.

Good point. I hadn't actually thought of that since they had the turned up flange around the perimeter. Not an easy fabrication task, but certainly doable.

I'd say the car may have been HT(Hardtop Only), and a prior owner added a soft top and made those plates.

I would agree with you, but there is evidence of the outer bracket being in place when the interior was painted. In the picture below, red was apparently the original interior color and was later over sprayed with black.

20210723_211347.jpg

As Gary asked, see if threaded T-nuts are present (behind the upper outer brackets) for the the soft top frame attachments each side. Research has shown that only soft top cars had the T-nuts riveted/bonded in.

One Tee nut is still in place, the other seems to be gone with just a hole remaining.

Does this car have the horizontal reinforcement, 3725410, as shown in Gary's AIM PAGE?

Yes, that reinforcement is there.

[Scott R.]

Re: Early C1 Outer Partition Panel Reinforcements??

1956's from at least 4026 (known) onward had '57 frames. You VIn should have the rear spring hanger bracket like the right hand photo.

Wow, finally something is right on this car! It has the 57 rear spring bracket as it should! Thanks very much for posting this information. Is there anything else that should be 57?