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General Discussion => Q & A => Topic started by: 35chevcoupe on October 20, 2021, 09:52:06 PM

Title: Id letters on rear end upper trailing arms
Post by: 35chevcoupe on October 20, 2021, 09:52:06 PM

I was getting ready to do some more sand blasting today seen and these letters on top of the rear upper trailing arms . Looks like they were painted on with a stencil or a stamp .
Anyone ever seen this before ? and why they would mark them ?

Title: Re: Id letters on rear end upper trailing arms
Post by: Weldar on October 21, 2021, 08:08:13 AM

John,

That is very interesting. As i disassembled my car i found several markings and even a big thumb print in some caulking on the interior. However, I don't recall anything on my trailing arms (KAN built). I am just fascinated by the these things and always wonder who the person was and what their life was like......kinda makes you happy that we are keeping some of these old cars going.

Dwaine

Title: Re: Id letters on rear end upper trailing arms
Post by: Loren At 65GS on October 21, 2021, 09:14:49 AM

The rear upper control arm for the Special and a Gran Sport are different part numbers.
Part number for the Special and Skylark is GR.5.382 P/N 1371373. If I understand the parts book description correctly, that is for sedan and hardtop and wagon with standard suspension.
The part number for models 4427-37-67 with heavy duty front and rear suspension is Gr. 5.382 P/N 1373774.

Good catch there John, I suspect that the stenciled markings denoted the upper control arm specific to a Gran Sport and was for production assembly reference.
 More recently I discovered that the Sport Wagon used the same upper control arm as the GS.

 Loren

Title: Re: Id letters on rear end upper trailing arms
Post by: 35chevcoupe on October 21, 2021, 09:24:34 AM

Yeah Dwaine its interesting all the little id markings that were originally on these cars . The only thing I can come up with is that it was possibly some kind of cheat sheet that the assembly line workers used to know which parts went on which car . Example maybe a Lesabre took a different trailing arm than a skylark and that was there way to distinguish the difference at a quick glance . Who knows , but it sure makes me wonder what they're  method was .
The odd thing is is why I've only seen that on that one arm , that's the first one I've seen with that on it .

LOL , Loren we must have been typing at the same time .
What do thing the difference would be in them ?

Title: Re: Id letters on rear end upper trailing arms
Post by: Loren At 65GS on October 21, 2021, 09:40:09 AM

John and other 65 enthusiasts,

 I discovered the Part Number difference while researching upper and lower control arms for my Sportwagon.
I don't know if the difference is actually a difference in the arm itself or the bushings. I guess a micrometer to gage metal thickness may suggest something if there is a difference discovered between a known standard suspension part and one from a known heavy duty suspension.
 My part number research also revealed that Skylark and LeSabre shared the same control arms. That was a surprise.

  Loren

 

Title: Re: Id letters on rear end upper trailing arms
Post by: WkillGS on October 21, 2021, 09:44:29 AM

Does one of you have an assembly manual?
I have a 1966 manual.... AI used on std models, AE used on GS Auto trans Less HD, and AD used on Reg HD and wagons.
They use different bushings, therefor have different ID marks. I have no idea if the metal stamping is different.

Title: Re: Id letters on rear end upper trailing arms
Post by: WkillGS on October 21, 2021, 09:47:02 AM

Quote from: Loren At 65GS on October 21, 2021, 09:14:49 AM

....
The part number for models 4427-37-67 with heavy duty front and rear suspension is Gr. 5.382 P/N 1373774.
....
 Loren

Also used in 1966 wagons/GS, stamped AD
1373775 is the '66 AE
1373776 is the 66 AI

Title: Re: Id letters on rear end upper trailing arms
Post by: WkillGS on October 21, 2021, 09:55:25 AM

Anyone remember the April 1966 Hot Rod article 'Blueprinting Buicks for Action'?
They drove 4x 6 penny nails into the rear bushings to stiffen them up.
http://wildaboutcarsonline.com/members/AardvarkPublisherAttachments/9990352584806/1966-04_HR_Blueprinting_NH_Buicks_1-6.pdf (http://wildaboutcarsonline.com/members/AardvarkPublisherAttachments/9990352584806/1966-04_HR_Blueprinting_NH_Buicks_1-6.pdf)

Title: Re: Id letters on rear end upper trailing arms
Post by: Loren At 65GS on October 21, 2021, 09:59:48 AM

Some good information there Walt.
I recall the nail thing, but don't recall where ai had seen it.

  Loren

Title: Re: Id letters on rear end upper trailing arms
Post by: GS66 on October 21, 2021, 11:10:53 AM

Interesting stuff! There are still neat things going on today on assembly lines.

Title: Re: Id letters on rear end upper trailing arms
Post by: 35chevcoupe on October 21, 2021, 11:37:46 AM

What I find interesting is this is the only control arm I've found that was marked . Maybe the rest just didn't last the test of time  :dontknow:
Its not really that important i guess but kinda fun discovering what they did back in the day .
The ? is now do I make a stencil and put it back on there ?  :laughing7:

Title: Re: Id letters on rear end upper trailing arms
Post by: 35chevcoupe on October 21, 2021, 11:55:14 AM

Quote from: WkillGS on October 21, 2021, 09:55:25 AM

Anyone remember the April 1966 Hot Rod article 'Blueprinting Buicks for Action'?
They drove 4x 6 penny nails into the rear bushings to stiffen them up.
[url]http://wildaboutcarsonline.com/members/AardvarkPublisherAttachments/9990352584806/1966-04_HR_Blueprinting_NH_Buicks_1-6.pdf[/url] ([url]http://wildaboutcarsonline.com/members/AardvarkPublisherAttachments/9990352584806/1966-04_HR_Blueprinting_NH_Buicks_1-6.pdf[/url])

Walt , it figures it came from a racer ! They can come up with some pretty ingenious things .
I used to do some of that crazy stuff . Some called it cheating but as the GREAT Smoky Yunick called it ( working with in the gray areas )
One quick little trick i did back about 10 years ago was on my dirt modified , if we had done any lightening to the engine block we had to hang 50 lbs in front of the bell housing , so I shaped a couple 2X4s the same shape as the lead that we use to use and hung them there .
It took about 7 years for anyone to find out , my driver didn't even know !   :laughing7:

Title: Re: Id letters on rear end upper trailing arms
Post by: cwmcobra on October 21, 2021, 03:57:12 PM

John,

Confirming from the 65 Skylark Assembly Manual also, that's the correct code for HD suspension.  Pictures attached.

Chuck