1956 Body Reinforcement Mounts

[Sheldon S.]

I have a very early 1956 set #282 and am wondering if the aluminum front and rear body mount reinforcement mounts were installed on all 56 cars. I had no sign of any but someone had tried to fix the rear body mounts so those may have been tossed. Also there is an extra mount right behind the back of the door on the inside for that body mount.

Thanks
Sheldon

[Rod K.]

Re: 1956 Body Reinforcement Mounts

Are you referring to the aluminum sheet metal angles and bracket framework riveted into the body work under the dash and in door pillars, etc? According to the '56-'57 TIM&JG those reinforcements were introduced about '57 VIN 4360. I have '57 VIN 008XX which had none of these parts (until I replaced a damaged right door hinge pillar from a later donor car and removed said parts). If you have or can obtain the -56-57 AIM, Sect B sht 10 details the reinforcement, but again it wasn't installed until about -57 VIN 4360.

[Chris S.]

Re: 1956 Body Reinforcement Mounts

I repaired a 56 in the shop and it was 3 from the end of production and it did not have them - I have 1957 331 in the shop now and it does not have them

[Sheldon S.]

Re: 1956 Body Reinforcement Mounts

The brackets I am referring to are on the underneath of the body. I have circled the 3 different brackets or reinforcing plates and one set just behind the the door on each side of car,
I grabbed the drawing that I hadn't circled part numbers. they are 3745269 and 70, 3749267 and 68, and 3749505 and 06


corvette body mounts20231213_14462148.jpg

[Rod K.]

Re: 1956 Body Reinforcement Mounts

OK, I see where you are now. That pic seems to be from the '56-'57 AIM. Sect A, Sht 2 which was, unfortunately redrawn in 7/57 and didn't carry any history forward. So we have no way to tell whether the parts in question had been added along the way or not. But here's a guess: Due to the part numbers being all kind of grouped together and advanced from others in this assy by a bit (374xxxx vs 373xxxx), maybe you could assume (don't lecture) they weren't created in the same time frame as the bulk of other p/n's used in this time frame. Just a weak theory but maybe supports the possibility you didn't have the parts on your car. Now it's up to you to lie awake at night.....

[Chris S.]

Re: 1956 Body Reinforcement Mounts

I knew what you were asking and the very late 56 I had in the shop and the very early 57 in the shop does not have them

[Sheldon S.]

Re: 1956 Body Reinforcement Mounts

Thanks for replies, I also contacted a owner with car close to my ser number and his had no mounts neither. and looks like maybe they started using them in mid 57 run.