Can I prove my 65 to be a 396 car w/o paperwork?

[Carl N.]

Re: Can I prove my 65 to be a 396 car w/o paperwork?

"If I remember correctly, the stud spacing on big block emblems is different than that of a small block emblem, but I don't remember for sure." Mike you are correct AIM will provide details

[Carl N.]

Re: Can I prove my 65 to be a 396 car w/o paperwork?

Bill, MSO should be same for all states for C1's / C2's - can't say for export. Might be different for 1980/1981 C3 for California.

[Joe L.]

Re: Can I prove my 65 to be a 396 car w/o paperwork?

Bill, MSO should be same for all states for C1's / C2's - can't say for export. Might be different for 1980/1981 C3 for California.

Carl------


Without a doubt. The MSO is issued by the vehicle manufacturer. As far as I am aware, it has absolutely nothing to do with the state in which the car is originally registered. Of course, whatever information from that MSO is transferred to the original registration/ownership certificate is up to the specific state.

[Wayne M.]

Re: Can I prove my 65 to be a 396 car w/o paperwork?

Here's another possible feature on 396 cars; one that does not appear in the judging manuals, or the GM parts books, or the AIM. This is the RH inner dust shield from my late L78 and has been reported by a handful of others. Better chance of it still being there if a late car, if the car is a relatively unmolested barn-find, and if the car has never been "restored".

The first shot is where the battery would be installed on a non-air or non-396 car, and is shot from underneath, looking up at the frame. Notice the tab tack-welded into the inner dust shield indentation (I guess to block the gap that would allow dirt and water to enter the engine comp't).

The picture also shows the two threaded "plugs" installed by the frame manufacturer for the battery tray bolts. These should show no sign of having been used, although I'm not sure how you'd conclusively do that.

Second shot shows the entire panel; note the staples and the minute parts of rubber weatherstrip still remaining . Car did not have sidepipes.

Third shot shows the top side; view from engine comp't.