I just discovered my new '72 SS 402 project car has holes in the body where the side trim used to be. Did SS cars ever come with the side mouldings? The car has the round guage dash, SS on the bumper and fenders, remote mirror on the DS but the door has been changed because the interior door paint is blue and the car is red. What else can I look at to differentiate this car to be a true SS.
Thanks Chris

No, there are no build sheets in the car.

Assuming you mean body side molding about half way up on the car. Ran the length of the door with a short piece on the front fender and a short piece in front of the RWW openings. So yes. it is possible your 72 SS had trim here.

Assuming you mean body side molding about half way up on the car. Ran the length of the door with a short piece on the front fender and a short piece in front of the RWW openings. So yes. it is possible your 72 SS had trim here.
Yes , that's the molding I meant. I am starting to feel a little less pissed off.
Thanks Chris

This might give you some help if you haven't read it already.

http://www.chevelles.com/shop/ss_ident.html

Chris, 1972 Chevelle SS's did not come from the factory with any body side or rocker moldings.

Probably could have been dealer installed, but like you already know, unless it has a W in the VIN for a 454, can be verified by a build sheet or Canadian docs, there is no way to be 100% sure.

Mike

Well which is it? One of says it's possible and the other not. The car also has 12 bolt rear and rear sway bar if that helps. I understand all these could have been added to the car but it all looks time corrosion correct. In other words, someone must converted this car to an SS along time ago in order for the SS parts on it to look like it came with the car.
Thanks Chris

I agree with Mike, no side molding.

12 bolt rear and rear sway bar is not necessarily an indication of SS

Wonderful:mad:! Did the SS's have remote mirrors on both doors or just the DS. I can't remember if the PS has a remote mirror.

No side moldings on SS. 12 bolt rear does not mean the car is an SS. Jb

Ds remote only

I just discovered my new '72 SS 402 project car has holes in the body where the side trim used to be. Did SS cars ever come with the side mouldings? The car has the round guage dash, SS on the bumper and fenders, remote mirror on the DS but the door has been changed because the interior door paint is blue and the car is red. What else can I look at to differentiate this car to be a true SS.
Thanks Chris

No, there are no build sheets in the car.

Does the VIN # start with "1D37U2"? If it does, you either have an SS or Malibu 400. If it starts with 1D37W2 you have a SS. If its anything else you'll need the build sheet to figure it out.

1C37U2 would be a Heavy Chevy.

It's 1D37U2. Also the car has the origianl looking cowl hood that with the factory hole in the firewall for it, which yes I know could have been added as well ( a very long time ago).

Like Pat said the "U" means it came with a 402 so it's has to have been an SS OR a "Malibu 400" but IF it has the body side moldings it has to have been the "Malibu 400"

I just talked with the guy I bought it from who we do business with a a daily basis. I am going to leave the company name out of this but he owns a large GM musclecar parts company in northern IL. He siad the car is 110% an SS car. He basically made these points- The car has the original F41 suspension (which looks like it's never been apart), orig cowl induction hood (only avail. with SS option), original SS oval pod dash, original rusted out SS fenders, 12 bolt, buckets and other things that came standard with the SS package. Those options combined with the fact it was very rare for someone to order a big block without the SS option pretty much convince me it was an SS car that someone had put moldings on. THe thing that leans me that way is the F41 susp. which I believe was only avail. with the SS option.

Wonderful:mad:! Did the SS's have remote mirrors on both doors or just the DS. I can't remember if the PS has a remote mirror. Should have a drivers side sport mirror only.

Like Pat said the "U" means it came with a 402 so it's has to have been an SS OR a "Malibu 400" but IF it has the body side moldings it has to have been the "Malibu 400"
..a non malibu/SS also..i.e. plain jane chevelle could have been ordered with a 402..

Should have a drivers side sport mirror only.
Has that.

..a non malibu/SS also..i.e. plain jane chevelle could have been ordered with a 402..

Yeah but how common would it be to order that then tear it apart right away and install a F41 suspesnion, dash, add cowl ind, and other SS parts? Like I said the patina on the whole car is identical. I am going to take out the gas tank tomorrow morning hopefully. I just haven't been too optimistic a build sheet remains.

all that stuff could be ordered or dealer installed........even the dash. U14 gauge option.

all that stuff could be ordered or dealer installed........even the dash. U14 gaufe option.
I understand that as a few other people have stated, and I know people have done stranger things, but would that make much sense to do back then. Let's pray there's a build sheet on the tank.

I understand that as a few other people have stated, and I know people have done stranger things, but would that make much sense to do back then. Let's pray there's a build sheet on the tank.
got my fingers crossed for ya! Although a Malibu 400 is nothing to sneeze at either ya know.

..a non malibu/SS also..i.e. plain jane chevelle could have been ordered with a 402..

Interesting, I thought only Heavy Chevy, SS or Malibu 400 got the 402. I've never heard of a plain jane 1C Chevelle that had a 402 without the Heavy Chevy YF3 option.
:confused:

what color is it and does it have stripes.i got the same kind of car but no
door mldgs. round gages w/tach, ds remote mirror,working cowl hood,
402,12bolt pos,buckets,console,f41 susp,stripes and all the badges.
but no paper work so like they said it is either a ss or a malibu 400
to me its a factory big block chevelle

Interesting, I thought only Heavy Chevy, SS or Malibu 400 got the 402. I've never heard of a plain jane 1C Chevelle that had a 402 without the Heavy Chevy YF3 option.
:confused:
Same here Pat :confused:

..............
to me its a factory big block chevelle

There ya' go, yet another car that a lot of folks would love to own.

Melrose....
If the engine is original the engine suffix code could shed some light on it's origin. All that's necessary is the letters like CTB..... and I'll look it up for you.

This may sound a little corny. But along with all these other things that these guys have mentioned, there is one little simple thing you could look at.

The holes for the rear bumper SS emblem should be punched, not drilled. One of the holes will be elongated. If someone put the SS emblem on a non SS bumper, I doubt they would go to the trouble of replicating the elongated hole. If it has the elongated hole, you might look at the brackets where it's connected to the frame to see if it looks original to the car.

I look for things like this.

Also, original paint on the front fenders and original emblem holes are a good indicator. Once again, they are punched, not drilled.

Melrose....
If the engine is original the engine suffix code could shed some light on it's origin. All that's necessary is the letters like CTB..... and I'll look it up for you.
No engine or trans in the car:mad:

This may sound a little corny. But along with all these other things that these guys have mentioned, there is one little simple thing you could look at.

The holes for the rear bumper SS emblem should be punched, not drilled. One of the holes will be elongated. If someone put the SS emblem on a non SS bumper, I doubt they would go to the trouble of replicating the elongated hole. If it has the elongated hole, you might look at the brackets where it's connected to the frame to see if it looks original to the car.

I look for things like this.

Also, original paint on the front fenders and original emblem holes are a good indicator. Once again, they are punched, not drilled.
The holes in the front fender appear to not have been drilled. I'll look at the bumper as well.
Thanks

OK....I was wrong about it sheding light anyway. I thought 72's were like 70's and more than one HP 402 was offered and the Malibu 400 got the lowest HP (LS3). From what I just read they only offered one HP 402 (LS3) for 72.
:clonk:

..a non malibu/SS also..i.e. plain jane chevelle could have been ordered with a 402..
btw..i should have included that i,ve only known chevelles since last year but this is what i was told when i had the same sort of Q,s you are asking.Also i,ve read your front swaybar should measure 1 1/8th and not 15/16th.Again i,m just repeating what i,ve been told and you should take it as that b/c i dont profess to be a pro.I would have mentioned the front bar earlier in hopes someone else would have,but they didnt. I do hope you find that elusive BS..:thumbsup:

Has this car even been completely apart before? If it hasnt, you still have a shootin chance to find the buildsheet someplace.

Is the paint original? I was thinking the same thing about the paint. If its never been repainted, you still may be able to see the faded paint behind the SS embelems.

I bought the car as a roller minus engine trans, and interior so no build sheets inside car. The 2nd prior owner had it in his barn for 8-10 years and the mice got way into it which is why the interior is gone. Needless to say there was a lot of mouse turds in place of the build sheet on the tank. Oh well. GM should offer a database where you could pay to get the build sheet off your car. I'd pay $100 for it , and some people would probably pay more.
Chris

Pics
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g60/cwiehle/72chevelle001.jpg
http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g60/cwiehle/Marchdisassembly053-1.jpg

He siad the car is 110% an SS car.

Didn't OJ state he was 110% innocent?

For what its worth, I have a 72 El Camino SS454 "W" code car that has side moldings on it. They have the GM part #s on the back of them and the car has the pin retainers on the doors, fenders and quarters to hold the clips. Why couldn't the side moldings be ordered on an SS? Just curious. The car looks legit to me.

Didn't OJ state he was 110% innocent?

What are you talkin' about OJ is innocent!

JK:D

I don't really car anymore. Like someone else said- It's still a proven big block, if someone wants to argue with me that the possibility exists that it is not an SS - well it's a free country.

I'm sticking to my guns on this one boys. No disrespect implied. I say body side molding (B84) was available for SS. Just like it would be for any other model. The question would be, dealer or factory installed?

Doing some digging to see if I can come up with some paperwork.

thanks

My 72 SS was ordered with body side moldings. Has it listed right there (B84) on both of the build sheets I found.

Hey guy's, my 72 with 28,000 un-restored miles, all original and documented with 3 buildsheets, window sticker, etc. have both rocker and body side moldings. Look my signature for a picture of it. What's up with that!!!

That's what I'm say'n

i am not trying to stir up trouble here but it is either a documented SS or it's not. It is like almost being pregnant. It doesn't really matter that somebody else is 110% sure. Now having said that, there is no reason you can't be pround of an orignal BBC car. Since it's not a numbers matching car, the SS factor is less. Just turn it into a beautiful car and enjoy it for what it is. If you thoughts were to restore it and sell it for a profit as an SS. Stop now, unless you find a buildsheet. or buy one on ebay :)

i am not trying to stir up trouble here but it is either a documented SS or it's not. It is like almost being pregnant. It doesn't really matter that somebody else is 110% sure. Now having said that, there is no reason you can't be pround of an orignal BBC car. Since it's not a numbers matching car, the SS factor is less. Just turn it into a beautiful car and enjoy it for what it is. If you thoughts were to restore it and sell it for a profit as an SS. Stop now, unless you find a buildsheet. or buy one on ebay :)

I agree 100 er no...110%:thumbsup:

Ultimately I think "melrose" concern was if the car is a SS.

However, the original question was regarding "body side molding".

To me it looks like a nice car regardless of SS status or not. It doesn't matter to me either way. It's a chevelle and that's what counts!

Here are my side moldings, they look the same as the ones on Shannon Vanover's 72 shown above. They were on the car when I bought it from the original owner in 85.

http://i98.photobucket.com/albums/l249/va2001ss/1970%20SS396%20El%20Camino/PICT0041.jpg

Unfortunately, there will come a day when it is Canandian Docs or it's a clone. A buildsheet won't mean a thing.

Oh well. GM should offer a database where you could pay to get the build sheet off your car. I'd pay $100 for it , and some people would probably pay more.
Chris

Interestingly enough, Pontiac has such a service. And its only $35. It would be nice if Chevy could/would too.

GM Canada offers this for I believe 50 bucks. I got a build sheet for my 71 before I restored it from GM. I just sent them a request with the VIN and in two weeks it was in the mail. I don't see why you couldn't get the same thing from GM USA. Have you tried calling them?

GM Canada offers this for I believe 50 bucks. I got a build sheet for my 71 before I restored it from GM. I just sent them a request with the VIN and in two weeks it was in the mail. I don't see why you couldn't get the same thing from GM USA. Have you tried calling them?

Can't hurt.

Chevy would need a warehouse sized room just to store all the documents for the vehicles they build in say, a mid 60's model year. Pontiac has a much easier lineup that were able to keep track of over Chevy.

Fullsize line, Camaro, Chevelle, Nova, Corvette, Corvair, etc. Even the truck linup. How cool would it be to get docs or even a packet for any of those vehicles though.:cool:

wasn't there something about a fire destroying the documents or was that just urban ledgon?

It has to be stored on computors. The sheet I got didn't resemble a build sheet, it was a print out of all the options and equipment the car came with from factory. It said the plant the car was built at and the dealer it was shipped to.

wasn't there something about a fire destroying the documents or was that just urban ledgon?

No thats not a story, its the reason we can't get any docs.

Assuming you mean body side molding about half way up on the car. Ran the length of the door with a short piece on the front fender and a short piece in front of the RWW openings. So yes. it is possible your 72 SS had trim here.

This is correct, I have seen a few w/ this type mldg, SS as well. I do not know if the 1970 SS had it, but '71-2's did.

GM Canada offers this for I believe 50 bucks. I got a build sheet for my 71 before I restored it from GM. I just sent them a request with the VIN and in two weeks it was in the mail. I don't see why you couldn't get the same thing from GM USA. Have you tried calling them?

My Dad told me not to bother. They have all the stuff on microfiche but it open up so many problems with arguments and lawsuits that GM won't do it.

Unfortunately, there will come a day when it is Canandian Docs or it's a clone. A buildsheet won't mean a thing.

So close to being true now...and it won't be long before you'll have to verify the Canadian documents because those will somehow be faked too. I'm guessing that if a real SS hasn't been fully documented and have some sort of reputation throughout the Chevelle/GM world by now there may always be some doubt.

Melrose, i'm not certain on 72, but i know that 70 SS cars had a removable rag joint, not permanently attached to the column. Is yours capable of being removed from the column side? Yet another thing that could have been changed out over the years, but worth checking...

Melrose, i'm not certain on 72, but i know that 70 SS cars had a removable rag joint, not permanently attached to the column. Is yours capable of being removed from the column side? Yet another thing that could have been changed out over the years, but worth checking...

Rag joint flange

All Chevelles have removeable rag joints.

I have a 71 Malibu 400 and it has the F41 which consists of the 1 1/8 front, 7/8 rear sway bars, boxed lowers, Disc brakes, 12 bolt rear, 400 turbo, factory buckets, removable rag joint, 3/8 and return fuel line. I do have the build sheet that lists these items and the car is mostly original with original drive train. There seems to be some documented SS cars with the lower rocker molding. The body side molding that is on va2001ss el camino and Shannon’s 72 SS is a dealer add on. I can remember the guys that use to come to the lot and put these on and they were also available from the trim shops that use to do our vinyl tops and pin striping.
It looks like a nice car to start with, congrats.
As far as the documents like the build sheets it will be the next thing to compare paper fiber for age of the document.



Nelson

Another thing to check is the chassis braces that go from the frame to the rear upper c/a mounting bolt. I'm not sure if these brackets came on all big block cars or just SS models and convertables. I have only seen one Chevelle with them and it was a 72 SS.

I've seen those on any Chevelle with an optional engine or a stick

A friend of mine bought a 72ss from the original owner in 1982 and it had the body side mouldings on it, I have a couple pics of it. He sold it to a guy I went to High School with in about 1984 and he still has it. It is a original ss and had a 350 4 speed and a 12 bolt . We took the motor out of his wrecked 70ss and put it in after he bought it in 82.