Real Axle code? 1960?

[Al E.]

20120505_171033.jpgI have no Idea what the heck this means? what is the big P on the side. I can not read the numbers too well so I thought you pros would know them when you saw them. Does this even go to my car? There was no metal tag on the any of the bolts so I am not sure if someone has been inside this thing or not.

[Terry D.]

Re: Real Axle code? 1960?

Al
You really need to buy some books. The thin P means it is a Corvette posi unit, the thick P came on passenger cars. The number right above it the casting number. The number above that is the date code, which if I am reading it right ends in a 3 which means this is not the correct date code for your Corvette. Unless you plan on having the car judged it doesn't matter.
Hope this helps
Terry

[Al E.]

Re: Real Axle code? 1960?

Which book do you recommend? I have the ST-12, Nolan Adams, and the 1958-1960 Corvette Resto book..oh and the Chevy by the numbers book. I could not find it anywhere.

So now it looks like I will be buying a rear axle and about 2 more books.


Thanks for the info.

[John F.]

Re: Real Axle code? 1960?

Take a wire brush and an ice pick to clean up the numbers. The date code looks like K198 which is November 19, 1958. I think this would be correct for a 1959 Corvette. They were interchangeable with the C1s.

[Tom P.]

Re: Real Axle code? 1960?

Al
You really need to buy some books. The thin P means it is a Corvette posi unit, the thick P came on passenger cars. The number right above it the casting number. The number above that is the date code, which if I am reading it right ends in a 3 which means this is not the correct date code for your Corvette. Unless you plan on having the car judged it doesn't matter.
Hope this helps
Terry

The thin P DOES NOT specifically mean it is from a Corvette (the big P designates positraction). Posi rears with a thin P were installed in BOTH Vettes and pass cars. But, the THICK P is in fact specific to pass cars. Original posi rears (both pass cars and Vettes) had a round tag installed under the filler plug.


Also, FROM THE FACTORY at the 2 o'clock bolt position, there was a disc installed which disignated the gear ratio. Often, when a rearend center section was removed, the disc didn't get put back on (because years ago no one knew what the disc was). The discs have different sections cut out which corrosponds to the gear ratio.


It's difficult to tell if the last number is a 3 or 8 (needs a little more wire brushing). If it is an 8, then it COULD be from a Vette. If it is a 3 then it either came from a pass car, OR, it could have been a service replacement.
Over on the other side of the case, there SHOULD be some STAMPED letters/numbers (they are sometimes difficult to see if not heavily stamped). The first 2 stamped letters in the code are what specifically identifies if it was a Vette or pass car rear.

WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOPS, dumb ole me, what was I thinkin'!!!
Absolutely, positively, that last number is a 3, NOT an 8! Why? Because the casting number is 3789812----------------WHICH IS 62-64 ONLY POSI.
The casting number for 57-61 posi cases was 3743833.
Therefore, that rear did in fact come from a pass car (a 64 car if the first letter in the cast date is a K, for Nov), OR, it is a service replacement!

[Jim D.]

Re: Real Axle code? 1960?

A quick indicator if your car originally came with a posi is the rear housing vent. Cars with a posi unit came with a steel line approx. 2' long attached to an elbow screwed into a hole on the top of the housing, left side. The steel line ran across the top/backside of the housing and the end is secured under a clamp along with the brake line. Non posi cars had a little button type vent assembly in the hole where the elbow would go on a posi car.

[Al E.]

Re: Real Axle code? 1960?


Therefore, that rear did in fact come from a pass car (a 64 car if the first letter in the cast date is a K, for Nov), OR, it is a service replacement![/QUOTE]

Tom,

thank you so much for your help. I was not sure what to do about placing it back under the car. I will just save up a few bucks and buy the correct one later this year.

Al.