1965 Impala SS Convertible

rafbody · #1 06-26-2004, 12:37 AM

Can anyone tell me what to look for in order to tell if a 1965 Impala was a 409 or a 396 car. The cowl tag date is 08B with a body sequence number of 16667STL002350 and the vin is something close to 166675S196000, I don't remember exactly. By the cowl tag I would guess it to be a 409 but the vin has me wondering. Any help would be appreciated.

Belair62 · #2 06-26-2004, 05:35 AM

Looks pretty early for a 396...

rafbody · #3 07-01-2004, 12:30 AM

I agree that the build date is too early. The car has been sitting in a garage for 20+ years. When it was first purchased by a friend, it had 396 emblems on the fenders and a 396 in it. He sold it and that guy wrecked it and put a different front end on it. Now it has no motor or trans and I am trying to figure out what it really is. Is there things to look for that should be different for 409, 396 or even if it was originally a small block car? It is a 4 speed car.

Verne_Frantz · #4 07-01-2004, 08:17 PM

Russ,
I'm not sharp on '65s at all, but I do have some good reference material, so I went to the books and came up with this:
Actually, I believe the car was a very late car, not an early car. Of all the cars I've documented from '60-'64, I've found none built any earlier than 08D. I believe that body was built right at the end of production in '65. Here are some numbers I found: First, total US production of the '65 model 16667 (Impala SS Convertible) was 27,360. Second, there were 12 assembly plants operating in '65 that were building full size passenger cars. Now, I know each plant had it's own different rate of production, but just using averages, that means each plant only built 2280 of those models (on average). The body number on your car of 2350 means it's the 2,350th model 16667 body built at that plant. If that's the case, I think you can believe the 396 emblems.
Sorry, but I don't know of other details (differences) to look for evidence of a 409 or 396 installation.

Verne.

Belair62 · #5 07-01-2004, 08:33 PM

I was wondering when you were going to come up with some solid info here !!!

**mssl72** · #6 07-02-2004, 11:23 AM

There really isn't any information in the VIN number that will tell you engine displacement. The reference to the engine in the VIN is either 6 cyl. or V8. That is actually built into the model number of the car which is the first part of the VIN. The 16667 is a V8, 2 door, Impala SS convertible which Verne also came up with. My paperwork which came from the '65-'66 Club shows production totals on that car as being 27,443 out of 1,650,477 vehicles. The difference in total (83) may be due to some that were exported. I take it that this car you're talking about doesn't have an engine in it?

Verne_Frantz · #7 07-02-2004, 05:12 PM

Yes Mark,
In my post I mentioned "US production". I don't recall if my production totals listed Canadian or Export. Some years they do; some years they don't. In any case, I'm quite certain it's a very late car, although I'm surprised the plant only built 96,000 full size cars that year. (first car was 100001). But since this car is basically in "as found" condition, and sounds like it had a hard life, I doubt there's been any horesplay with the tags.
I would suggest a follow-up through the '65-'66 club for clues as to which 396 was originally installed. If it turns out to be an L-78 car..........oh boy! (check the redline on the tach, for starters)
Verne.

**mssl72** · #8 07-06-2004, 10:27 AM

So, rafbody,
Did you look at the car again and check out the tachometer? Where does it redline? It looks like there were 2 409's and 2 396's.

L31- 409 "Hi Perf"
L33- 409
L35- 396/325
L78- 396/425

rafbody · #9 07-07-2004, 07:43 PM

I have only looked at the car one time for about half an hour. It is basically a shell, no interior or gauges etc. The rear end is a 12 bolt with 3.31 posi and early July build date (7 02 I think).