1964 C2 Corvette old Motion Performance Custom

[olredalert]

-------It is a documented fact that production sidepipe Corvettes were not made until after January 1 of 1965. As a matter of fact the needed change to the frame to accomodate sidepipes was a running change during the fall of 64 after 65s were released. You can look up the actual dates in the 1965 assembly manual. I as well as many others have and have had early 65s without the sidepipe slots in the siderails. There is a 65 in Texas (if it hasnt been sold) that has one framerail with the slot and one framerail without. It probably was not the only one so configured. The jury is out as to weather all the drum-brake equipped 65s had non slot framerails as they basicly used 64 frames, but to date I have never seen a drumbrake 1965 Corvette that came from the factory with sidepipes.
-------Since I had seen 65 sales catalogs and knew that sidepipes were coming I was really on the lookout for them. The first set I actually saw was at Sebring in 1965, and it wasnt complete as one cover was missing, so it must have been converted. Shortly after that sighting they appeared on just about any Vette with more than 300hp. Hope this helps..........Bill S

[MosportGreen66]

[ QUOTE ]
-------It is a documented fact that production sidepipe Corvettes were not made until after January 1 of 1965. As a matter of fact the needed change to the frame to accomodate sidepipes was a running change during the fall of 64 after 65s were released. You can look up the actual dates in the 1965 assembly manual. I as well as many others have and have had early 65s without the sidepipe slots in the siderails. There is a 65 in Texas (if it hasnt been sold) that has one framerail with the slot and one framerail without. It probably was not the only one so configured. The jury is out as to weather all the drum-brake equipped 65s had non slot framerails as they basicly used 64 frames, but to date I have never seen a drumbrake 1965 Corvette that came from the factory with sidepipes.
-------Since I had seen 65 sales catalogs and knew that sidepipes were coming I was really on the lookout for them. The first set I actually saw was at Sebring in 1965, and it wasnt complete as one cover was missing, so it must have been converted. Shortly after that sighting they appeared on just about any Vette with more than 300hp. Hope this helps..........Bill S

[/ QUOTE ]

I stand corrected. Thanks for the clarification Bill.

[Pantera]

Not sure what you are saying about the early midyrear frames.

The basic frames on these cars are prety much the same as far as I know. The factory sidepipe cars have the same frames as all the rest. The factory sidepipes are a bolt one that come out under the frame and are hidden behind a different rocker panel.

I have swapped them many times years ago with outhaving to modify the frame.

To my knowledge the frames are almost exactly the same up till 68. They only changed the body mount locations then. In 69 they had to put a couple of braces at the rear to trianglate the rear crossmember to make the frames stronger to handle the higher HP motors that were becoming more common.


Pantera

[Pantera]

I have a set of factory sidepipes I put on my S/N 11, '65 vette and have no clearance problems? They just bolted on.

I thought they only put a mounting hole in the later frames?


BTW:Mine is posably the first '65 actually delivered from the factory with disk brakes. Most of the first few were drum brake equipped.

Pantera

[olredalert]

Pantera,

-------While all the frames are "basicly" the same every year of the midyears 63/67 are somewhat different. The only difference in the correct sidepipe side-rail is the slotted hole that allowed a carriage bolt to sit inside the hole and hang down to accept all the rubber cushions, washers and nuts. Pre- sidepipe frames have no hole in that position for the sidepipe to attach to. Its easy enough to drill a hole and run a lag style bolt up as many do, but not correct. A little more difficult to duplicate the correct hole and slot in the correct location but not impossible.
-------Your early 65 will have another change you may not be aware of. The front crossmember does not have the clearanced area that came along later in the fall for big-block harmonic balancer and pulley clearance. I learned that one the hard way!..........Bill S

-------And you are correct on your 65 NO.11 in regard to the brakes. Years ago I had a long, close look at NO.5, originally a black/saddle leather fuelie roadster. It was also delivered with disc-brakes, and was pulled by engineering and sent to the tech center to become the very first 427 Corvette. How was that car of yours delivered?

[Pantera]

I have had it on blocks for years. (since 76) It is a complete original 365hp 4 speed. yellow with std black interior. Even still has most of the sparkplug shields on it. 60,000 mi. It did have a Hurst shifter, and had black hooker side headers on it when I got it.

I had a rough black painted '66 coupe come through my carlot one week and I parked both cars side by side and did a swap of the exaust systems between them. I am only missing the shields over the plugs on the 65 where the headers were. It had 67 rally wheels and I swaped them for the black rims and skinny tires off the '66.

I know my car should not have the side exaust but I just like the way it sounds and looks. It was repainted blue but the original pale yellow is still under it. Front bumper is even still intact. Not much was changed when I got it. Needs to be restored someday.

I guess I should have said that Bill Mock in Bartlesville says that mine was possabley the first one let out to the general public with the disk brakes.

Pantera

[longbros]

Here is an update.

I recently purchased a 1980 Motion parts catalog, just to see if I could find any reference to, or pictures of the Motion Performance items on my 64. On page 6 of the catalog, it lists Phase III 63-67 Vette Fiberglass, and this list includes the items found on my vehicle. There is a clear photo of a C2 Corvette with the Shark Front on page 6 and page 7. Looks just like my 64.
At least now I have a picture of another vehicle with this Shark Front, and some reference to the parts. I know it isn't much, but it is a start. I have tried contacting previous owners and other sources, but no luck yet on any history. I have been striping paint, looking to see how bad the body and body work really is.
Thanks again for all the input.

Fred