NEW MEMBER, Butch Stroupe (49713)

[Butch S.]

Hi, this is my first post, just wanted to say Hi, I have a quick question, I have a 66 coupe, per the id tags under the glove box, on the rear door posts on the drivers side ( Left) there is a vent that is hooked up to a blower/deforster for the rear window, and on the (right) side of the car it is fiber glassed over, I have had the car for about 28 years and we are starting to restore it as a driver,
My question is did the 1966 cars have the rear vents? or have I a can of worms to deal with any help would be muchly appreciated

Thanks AGAIN

BUTCH

[Mike M.]

Re: NEW MEMBER, Butch Stroupe (49713)

you have a can of worms to deal with as the 66 couped didn't have the rear fresh air system common to the 64 and 65 coupes. mike

[Mike M.]

Re: NEW MEMBER, Butch Stroupe (49713)

btw, i'd check the vin and trim tags and title #'s and compare with stamp pad on engine(if the engine case is original to the car) as well as the stamping on the frame just over top the left halfshaft. the frame # is stamped on the top of the frame and is difficult to see without elevating the body off the frame. the best case scenario would be somebody rear clipped the damaged 66 body. other senarios are most painful. good luck and welcome to the NCRS TDB.mike

[Tom H.]

Re: NEW MEMBER, Butch Stroupe (49713)

First.............. Welcome.

Mike gave you good advise. Check everything he told you to check. Without seeing the car and just hearing the story, I'd want to make sure the VIN tag looks correct and hasn't been tampered with. My first thoughts are a 66 tag installed on a 65 car. What do you know about the history of your car ??

Tom

[Butch S.]

Re: NEW MEMBER, Butch Stroupe (49713)

Mike, I was afraid of that, how close is the body to the frame above the rear 1/2 shaft? I take it that it is close? I have a scope that I us to check cyclinders with, I will see if I can see the #'s tonight when I get home.
I have the DMV title and it show that it is a 66.
so does the tags under the glove box, Eric had looked it up yesterday for me.
On the block, Are you talking about the casting #'s just behind the oil filter location? or in front of #2 ?

This has bugged me for years about my car!!! thank you so much for the help

Best Regards

Butch

[Tom H.]

Re: NEW MEMBER, Butch Stroupe (49713)

The numbers on the front pad of the engine on the right side of the block where the water pump bolts on, might be good to know. Post those numbers. If you don't mind sharing them, a photo of the trim tag and VIN tag might shed some light on the mystery as well.

[Butch S.]

Re: NEW MEMBER, Butch Stroupe (49713)

Tom, I got the car in 1979 in Napa Ca. from a small Corvette shop ? I have his card in the Glove box at home, I will post it tomorrow, anyways I drove the car for about 3 years and parked it in my shop in about 1982 and that was the last time it was on the road. I really do not have any other info on it? Thanks again for all of the help !!!

Butch

[Mike M.]

Re: NEW MEMBER, Butch Stroupe (49713)

Mike, I was afraid of that, how close is the body to the frame above the rear 1/2 shaft? I take it that it is close? I have a scope that I us to check cyclinders with, I will see if I can see the #'s tonight when I get home.
I have the DMV title and it show that it is a 66.
so does the tags under the glove box, Eric had looked it up yesterday for me.
On the block, Are you talking about the casting #'s just behind the oil filter location? or in front of #2 ?

This has bugged me for years about my car!!! thank you so much for the help

Best Regards

Butch

these is about a 3/4 to 1" gap between the top of the frame and the body's floorpan. the frame stamp# can be viewed with mirror or boroscope. good luck,mike

[Butch S.]

Re: NEW MEMBER, Butch Stroupe (49713)

Mike / Tom , Thanks so much for the great advise, I will see if I can get the frame numbers tonight if so I will post them and the pics of the vin and trim tags tomorrow morning. Thanks so much again Butch

[Butch S.]

Re: NEW MEMBER, Butch Stroupe (49713)

Mike, I did some digging around under the car last night, I think I was in the correct place but I am not to sure, I was checking the top of the frame, of the rear cross member that is welded in place it is behind the bolt in cross member for the rear end mount, and ahead of the rear sway bar, on the drivers side?
Does this sound about right? if so, from the left frame rail how fare in would the stamped numbers be? Thanks again for all of the great info and help cleaning up this mess I have.

Butch

[Tom H.]

Re: NEW MEMBER, Butch Stroupe (49713)

Butch:

I don't believe you were in the right spot. I believe the VIN is on the flat surface on the actual frame rail itself. If you put your hand into the wheelwell and touch the frame, you can see the frame where it meets the body. Where it kicks up over the rear end. That's where your stamp should be. They are not easy to see after years of dust, rust and dirt build up, but they are there.

[Butch S.]

Re: NEW MEMBER, Butch Stroupe (49713)

Tom, I will give this this a try, are the numbers stamped deeply? is it ok to us a little sand paper to clean it up so we can see the number's?
thanks again

Butch

[Tom H.]

Re: NEW MEMBER, Butch Stroupe (49713)

Here's where to look. A good cleaning of the area is where I'd start before sanding.

I plucked this picture from the internet and added the arrow for you.

[William C.]

Re: NEW MEMBER, Butch Stroupe (49713)

Another picture, look between the tapes on top of the rear rail drivers side

[Mike M.]

Re: NEW MEMBER, Butch Stroupe (49713)

Butch,
Clup's pic is great. If it is a late '66, the stamp location may wander as far rearward as just ahead of that rear body mount.
The stamps are fairly obvious, not real deep, but, do vary in depth.
What color are the floor pans under the car? Creamy white, medium gray or dark gray (Black Glas)?
Assistance would be more expedient, if you could post photos of the data requested above, ie: pad and tags.
HanD