66 underside pics

[Matt L.]

i thought i would share some pics of my 66 i have been cleaning on for the past few weeks when i have time. it's not real perfect but it's clean and original. just the way i love them.
take care,
matt

[Wayne W.]

Re: 66 underside pics

For you guys that want to know what an AOS body looked like, here it is.

[Michael G.]

Re: 66 underside pics

For you guys that want to know what an AOS body looked like, here it is.

Wayne,

Are you basing your statement on the seat supports being primed with green chromate primer? Are there other features (in pic) that differentiate the AO Smith from St. Louis?

[Mark H.]

Re: 66 underside pics

Matt, could you please reply with the procedures and materials you are using for the cleaning? Thanks.

[Dino L.]

Re: 66 underside pics

Matt,

That looks fantastic....love the stripes on the driveshaft.....I agree, I like to see them like that. Would appreciate knowing the cleaners that you used

[Wayne W.]

Re: 66 underside pics

Just the finishes of thing under there. The zinc and the non black parts.

[Matt L.]

Re: 66 underside pics

hi guys,
thanks for the positive replys. i used a degreaser i use everyday in my detail shop for the heavy grime and oil buildup. it's only sold in this area of dayton,ohio. the guys in this area call it blue jug. but it's actually labled heavy duty vinyl cleaner. real strong stuff. i mix it 25% product with 75% water. i think simple green would be alot safer to use. maybe 50/50 if its concentrate. i saturated everything underneith first and let it sit about 10 min. definetly not long enough to dry. i then lightly pressurewashed everything being real careful around the shim tape. my degreaser didnt harm any frame stencil,shim marks or job #s. i dont know what simple green would do though. so a light test would be best. i then used an airgun and blew everything dry. after it dried for a few days i went back with WD40,toothbrush, wet microfiber towel,rinse bucket for towel and brush,and airgun to blow the junk away. after all that i sprayed everything in WD40 again and let it sit a few days. i went back with a dry microfiber towel and wiped down everything and used a blow gun again to blow out all the cracks,threads,crevices, etc,etc. i like WD40 because it helps protect from corrosion and brightens up the markings without looking too fake. i think it gives everything a nice clean look as long as you wipe it good so it's not a slimy oily feeling film. these pics were taken a week after i was done with the underside with the WD40 already applied. i hope this helps you guys. i know it's lengthy but that's what worked for me. i definetly didnt use hard brushes or scrapers.
take care,
matt

[Ronald L.]

Re: 66 underside pics

Matt, very nice under side, what build date is this car?

Second is the shifter bracket the middle picture - can you get a close up of that area or increase the rez on the pictures you posted?

[Matt L.]

Re: 66 underside pics

Matt, very nice under side, what build date is this car?

Second is the shifter bracket the middle picture - can you get a close up of that area or increase the rez on the pictures you posted?

hi ronald, my car build date is april 4,66. here's a couple pics for you. let me know if you need more. i have alot.
take care, matt
66 vette jan 11,2012 051.jpg66 vette jan 11,2012 052.jpg66 vette 010.jpg

[Ronald L.]

Re: 66 underside pics

Scott April 1 +/- was the start of this shifter bracket at St Louis so build date in April is even more interesting to know. The bold heads are different, not what the AIM/print would show for this fastener. Was the Muncie pulled early in the life of this car?

[Matt L.]

Re: 66 underside pics

hi ronald,
i believe the bolts have never been removed. virtually every nut and bolt looks untouched on this car. it still has the original #s matching drivetrain with 26,000 miles. other than some old paint work, the car is 100 % original right down to the belts,hoses,and aircleaner.
i have heard through talking with a friend about the shifter bracket being installed about this time in 66. we were both thinking the bolts were used as what they had at the time at the factory. we even went as far as to use a mechanics scope camera to verify the top bracket bolts are what they are supposed to be. so maybe this was one of the 1st cars? it would be interesting to look at another car built about this time.

[John H.]

Re: 66 underside pics

Per the TSB on the shifter bracket, they were introduced at St. Louis on March 21st.

[Michael M.]

Re: 66 underside pics

Hi guys,

I have a 66 conv with an AO Smith body as well. The trim tag date is H14, March 14 1966, but the calculator that everyone uses gives me a date of March 23. Anyway, here is picture of the bracket on my car (hopefully it posts). It's unrestored as well with 75,000 miles. I dont know if the transmission has been out of the car or if the bracket was added later, but it's very close to the date it was added to production.bracket (2).JPG

[John H.]

Re: 66 underside pics

Hi guys,

I have a 66 conv with an AO Smith body as well. The trim tag date is H14, March 14 1966, but the calculator that everyone uses gives me a date of March 23. Anyway, here is picture of the bracket on my car (hopefully it posts). It's unrestored as well with 75,000 miles. I dont know if the transmission has been out of the car or if the bracket was added later, but it's very close to the date it was added to production.[ATTACH=CONFIG]36731[/ATTACH]

Michael -

The "calculator" from the VIN gives you the car's final assembly date AT ST. LOUIS; the H14 date on your A.O. Smith trim tag is the date the body was built AT THE IONIA, MICHIGAN A.O. Smith plant. Your body was built on March 14th, and the car was final-assembled on March 23rd.

[Michael M.]

Re: 66 underside pics

Michael -

The "calculator" from the VIN gives you the car's final assembly date AT ST. LOUIS; the H14 date on your A.O. Smith trim tag is the date the body was built AT THE IONIA, MICHIGAN A.O. Smith plant. Your body was built on March 14th, and the car was final-assembled on March 23rd.

Hi John,

Thanks for the info. I'm surprised the dates are so close. They didn't have them hanging around for very long. 9 days from body build to final assembly including loading, shipping and unloading is pretty fast. So, I suppose that the bracket was original to the car. Although, on close inspection of my picture, I see the indent of a prior fastener or washer on the passenger side bolt hole.

BTW, I didn't mean to hijack the original post. Your car looks great Matt. I think I'll be doing some of that myself. Right now the front is on jackstands anyway, as I'm rebuilding the front suspension and brakes.