I've been building these early rearends for 40+yrs (56-62 Vette as well as 55-64 pass cars), but seldom pay much attention to the various colors of numbers/markings that were factory applied to these rears.
In recent years, more people have been asking me to duplicate, as closely as possible, the colors and numbers and markings on these rears. I usually rebuild them for function, not for restored appearance, but I've been duplicating these markings/numbers more often lately.
I'm sure that some of the paint markings/colors are directly related to inspection/final assembly purposes. I'd like to have a better idea of their meanings.
The rearend case below is (I'm sufficiently convinced) a virgin, 57, non-posi 3.36 from a 57 PG Vette (which John Neas is restoring for his wife). All the dates/codes corrospond and it is from an early procuction 57 Vette. As I understand, the red oxide paint (inside and outside) for both Vettes and pass cars only lasted up through sometime in mid-57 production. I'm satisfied of this, because I don't recall ever seen a rear beyond 57 production that was painted red.
It is also obvious that all painted on colors/numbers/markings were semi-sloppily brushed on by hand (the worker probably had a can of paint near by with a brush stuck in it and pulled it out as needed to bursh on a marking or number).
I'm fully aware that numbers INSIDE the rears are directly related to pinion shim thickness (0, +1, +2, -1, -2, etc, etc) such as this 0.
But I'm not very knowledgeable as to the meaning/purpose of other colors and markings/numbers.
When I first started cleaning this case, I thought this number was a YELLOW 72. But after more cleaning, I'm now wondering if it is a 12 and I'm sure now that it is WHITE paint and not yellow. It almost appears that the white paint was applied somewhat heavily and a glob of white paint ran over to the side and made the 1 look like a 7. Comments/opinions on the color and/or if it is a 12 or 72???
These two pictures show what appears was white paint applied around each hole. Was it paint, hole sealer, inspection mark, what??
Also, any idea what the 0 is above the casting number?
In recent years, more people have been asking me to duplicate, as closely as possible, the colors and numbers and markings on these rears. I usually rebuild them for function, not for restored appearance, but I've been duplicating these markings/numbers more often lately.
I'm sure that some of the paint markings/colors are directly related to inspection/final assembly purposes. I'd like to have a better idea of their meanings.
The rearend case below is (I'm sufficiently convinced) a virgin, 57, non-posi 3.36 from a 57 PG Vette (which John Neas is restoring for his wife). All the dates/codes corrospond and it is from an early procuction 57 Vette. As I understand, the red oxide paint (inside and outside) for both Vettes and pass cars only lasted up through sometime in mid-57 production. I'm satisfied of this, because I don't recall ever seen a rear beyond 57 production that was painted red.
It is also obvious that all painted on colors/numbers/markings were semi-sloppily brushed on by hand (the worker probably had a can of paint near by with a brush stuck in it and pulled it out as needed to bursh on a marking or number).
I'm fully aware that numbers INSIDE the rears are directly related to pinion shim thickness (0, +1, +2, -1, -2, etc, etc) such as this 0.
But I'm not very knowledgeable as to the meaning/purpose of other colors and markings/numbers.
When I first started cleaning this case, I thought this number was a YELLOW 72. But after more cleaning, I'm now wondering if it is a 12 and I'm sure now that it is WHITE paint and not yellow. It almost appears that the white paint was applied somewhat heavily and a glob of white paint ran over to the side and made the 1 look like a 7. Comments/opinions on the color and/or if it is a 12 or 72???
These two pictures show what appears was white paint applied around each hole. Was it paint, hole sealer, inspection mark, what??
Also, any idea what the 0 is above the casting number?