[SCG] Fwd: '63 shock absorbers

[Wrsssatty at aol.com]

With his permission, I am sharing Kent's response to my inquiry from last  
week.  My original question(s) appear(s) at the end.  Anyone with info  or 
answers is welcome to chime in.   I am particularly interested in  learning more 
about what RPO F40 vs. RPO 696.
 
~Bill Stanley
 
 
  
____________________________________
 From: kentsu at corvairkid.com
To: wrsssatty at aol.com
Sent: 1/24/2009  9:24:27 P.M. Eastern Standard Time
Subj: RE: [SCG] '63 shock  absorbers



OK,  here’s what I found. 
First,  there do not appear to be HD shock absorbers for 1964 (front or 
rear), so if  there was a HD suspension, it looks like it used the standard shocks. 
The ’64  rear shock number was 3166595. 
For  1962-3, there were definitely HD shock absorbers (rear only) and the 
original  part number was 3166566. Interestingly, for many of the EM shocks, 
there was a  different number stamped on the shock itself and that is noticed in 
the parts  book. This one had 3178104, the number you noted below. 
Both  1964 parts books I have, the first being at the end of the ’64 model 
year  (July 1) and the second at the beginning of the ’65 model year (October 1) 
 have the same info. So, too, the Canadian ’65 parts book. However, the  
Canadian ’66 book shows the ’62-3 HD and ’64 shocks merging, becoming the  ’62-3 
HD number (3166566). 
Other  part numbers: 
‘60-3  front: 5552308 (stamped 5544182 or 5549166) 
’64  front: 3166594 
Hope  this helps, 
--Kent   
 
From: wrsssatty at aol.com  [mailto:wrsssatty at aol.com] 
Sent: Friday, January 23, 2009 5:36  PM
To: kentsu at corvairkid.com
Subject: Re: [SCG] '63 shock  absorbers
I don't.  Thanks, I'd appreciate  it.

~Bill
If you don't have a '64 book, I can take a look...



-----Original  Message-----
From: Kent Sullivan <kentsu at corvairkid.com>
To:  Wrsssatty at aol.com
Sent: Fri, 23 Jan 2009 6:56 pm
Subject: RE: [SCG] '63  shock absorbers 

I don't have it right in front of me, but a '64 Corvair or all-Chevy with
Corvair parts book should be able to answer the "was '64 a unique part and
for how long"? What I have seen with some other parts is originally were
unique but eventually merged and substituted one part. This is denoted in
the parts books--at least at the point of merger. Later additions may only
show the merged number, not the "trail".
 
If you don't have a '64 book, I can take a look...
 
Regarding 696 vs. F40, the '63 dealer ordering info I have has two columns,
interestingly, and shows F40 in the 1963 column and 696 in the 1962 column.
Maybe either code was allowed during a transition period?
 
--Kent
-----Original Message-----
From: _scg-list-bounces at tiger.skiblack.com_ 
(mailto:scg-list-bounces at tiger.skiblack.com) 
[_mailto:scg-list-bounces at tiger.skiblack.com_ 
(mailto:scg-list-bounces at tiger.skiblack.com?) ] On Behalf Of _Wrsssatty at aol.com_ (mailto:Wrsssatty at aol.com) 
Sent: Friday, January 23, 2009 7:51 AM
To: _scg-list at tiger.skiblack.com_ (mailto:scg-list at tiger.skiblack.com) 
Subject: [SCG] '63 shock absorbers
 
Some shocks, purportedly for a '63 '64 Corvair are currently on eBay (Item  
number: 120367699623).  In the photo, one appears to be a gray, spiral
shock 
so I got out my handy-dandy '63 assembly manual to check parts numbers
against 
those listed in the eBay listing.  One of the parts numbers in the  eBay 
listing is 3178104.  My assembly manual mentions this as for the rear
suspension 
for RPO F40.  I would assume that a shock mentioned in the  assembly manual 
for an RPO would be for the heavy-duty suspension option but I  thought the 
heavy-duty suspension option was designated RPO 696.  Does  anyone know what
RPO 
F40 was?  
 
And, while I'm on the subject, shocks for '60-'63 models and '64s  are 
usually mentioned outside of GM literature as being interchangeable (as this
eBay 
seller seems to suggest).  While, perhaps the same shock could be  bolted
onto 
both cars, we know that the shocks, themselves, as they came from  the 
factory, were not the same for '64 as for earlier models.  Did any
after-market 
parts manufacturer bother to provide different shocks for '64s than  for
'60-'63 
models?  For that matter, did GM?  In other words, if  someone were to take
his 
or her '64 back to Chevy in, say, 1970 asking for new  shocks would shocks 
specifically for a '64 model have been installed or would  the customer
probably 
have been sold the same shocks that were for a  '60-'63?  And, how might 
handling be affected on a '64 once shocks for an  earlier model are
installed?
 
~Bill Stanley




**************From Wall Street to Main Street and everywhere in between, stay 
up-to-date with the latest news. (http://aol.com?ncid=emlcntaolcom00000023)