Power Windows In '65 A O Smith Body

[Mike M.]

I had my '65 Flight Judged this past weekend. One thing came up that I had never heard before: There is some thought that you could not get power windows in an A O Smith body car. Is there some thought that that is correct? My car is most original - I am the third owner- and although I do not have an original invoice or other proof I would bet heavy that this car came with power windows. I am taking the car to a Regional next Sept and if this point is going to be an issue, I need to know it now. The judges, heavily experienced, did not take a deduction for this issue, but there was significant discussion on it.
Thanks,
Mike

[Larry M.]

Re: Power Windows In '65 A O Smith Body

I had my '65 Flight Judged this past weekend. One thing came up that I had never heard before: There is some thought that you could not get power windows in an A O Smith body car. Is there some thought that that is correct? My car is most original - I am the third owner- and although I do not have an original invoice or other proof I would bet heavy that this car came with power windows. I am taking the car to a Regional next Sept and if this point is going to be an issue, I need to know it now. The judges, heavily experienced, did not take a deduction for this issue, but there was significant discussion on it.
Thanks,
Mike

Mike:

After the meet, I checked out some copies of Corvette tank stickers from my files. Although the tank stickers are for 1967 AOS-built bodies, they clearly show power windows could be done/installed by AOS.

The Chevrolet Corvette Option Code for Power Windows was #02A31AA. The corresponding AOS Option Code (also shown on the same tank stickers) was #02Y62AA. These cars had manual transmissions, so the Exception Codes were AA. I believe these codes were AB for cars with automatic transmissions.

I would assume that AOS capabilities were the same for very late 1965 (your car....a July 1965 build) as they were for 1967.

If you get a copy of a 1967 tank sticker for an AOS car, you will clearly see what I stated above. It has a listing of Chevrolet Corvette Option Codes, and then near the bottom has a corresponding list for the AOS codes. According to a number of knowledgeable Corvette folks, these AOS codes served to document the work done by AOS for accounting and $$$ reinbursement.

Lets' see what others say.

Larry

[Peter L.]

Re: Power Windows In '65 A O Smith Body

Mike - First it's not clear from the information provided that we know the answer or a definite answer. It's not that you can't add A31 PWs to a car (obviously they did it at the Factory), there are numerous items that one would have to come up with to make the installation "correct" for the car and not that that can't be done but some parts might be a challenge. But if someone found a wrecked 65 with A31 in the appropriate build date range, you would have all the components and all bets might be off. From my experience there is one thing (actually 2 things) and that would be the date information on the original PW motors which would be somewhat of a pain to check but it might provide some information relative to the build date of the car. Obviously, if the date on the PW motors are after the car was built, I would question the originality to the car. Another thing would be to track down the various items that were required to install the PWs to get an idea if all the things are as shown in the AIM for A31. Good luck. Pete

[Matt L.]

Re: Power Windows In '65 A O Smith Body

would the trim tag indicate power window option?

[Mike E.]

Re: Power Windows In '65 A O Smith Body

would the trim tag indicate power window option?

On Page 26 in John Hinckley's great C2 assembly process document it states:


Trim Shop:
A.O. Smith produced their own trim tags, which were quite different
from those created at St. Louis; the A.O. Smith tags had an “A” prefix
on the body number, the plant-applied characters were doublespaced
and differently aligned vertically, and the trim number didn’t
include the complete trim ECL code suffix.

http://www.michiganncrs.org/index_assets/CorvetteAssyProcess.pdf

So that could be maybe?


Mike

[Donald T.]

Re: Power Windows In '65 A O Smith Body

My 65 AOS has power windows and I am pretty confident the car came that way from the factory. It even had the remnants of the tape securing the wiring under the console just as outlined in the AIM. I've never heard that AOS bodies were not available with PW.

[John H.]

Re: Power Windows In '65 A O Smith Body

My 65 AOS has power windows and I am pretty confident the car came that way from the factory. It even had the remnants of the tape securing the wiring under the console just as outlined in the AIM. I've never heard that AOS bodies were not available with PW.

I haven't either - never heard of any such restriction, and I've had two AOS cars (one which I bought new) that had power windows. The AOS-Ionia process sheets clearly define the complete A31 installation.

[Larry M.]

Re: Power Windows In '65 A O Smith Body

I haven't either - never heard of any such restriction, and I've had two AOS cars (one which I bought new) that had power windows. The AOS-Ionia process sheets clearly define the complete A31 installation.

John and Donald:

Thanks for the confirmation. We had one or two folks at our local meet that questioned whether AOS could perform this work (similar to the side exhaust issue). Dr George and I judged Mike's INTERIOR and EXTERIOR and did not see any issue, and we gave him full credit and took no deduction. The 1965 Judging Manual had no discussion on this, further supporting the either St Louis or AOS could do this job and that there were no exceptions.

I know that this will make Mike (Martin) feel better going into the 2013 Regional with his car.

Larry

[Mike M.]

Re: Power Windows In '65 A O Smith Body

Thanks for all the advice. I do feel better re this P/W issue. The '65 scored 95.3 (up from 86. this time last year) at the La. Chapter Judging Meet. My intent it to move up some from that #. Thanks again.
Mike

[Roy S.]

Re: Power Windows In '65 A O Smith Body

Mike,
I do not believe there were any type of restriction such as no pw on a Smith body, we have seen numerous A/C Smith bodies that certainly is a more complicated build than a pw build would be.