Frame Identification

apachemobile · June 1st, 2008, 08:02 PM

Gents, I have a 1958 Apache sitting on what I have been told was a 1980 Delta 88, but I have come to find the motor was a 73-74 SBO 350. It has now come time to order parts and such and I need to know what I am working with.

I found on the frame 2 304 on the drivers side frame rail and 2 312 on the passengers. Anybody with any ideas?

Also on the rear diff/axle I found ACO 311

Thanks for any help.

joe_padavano · June 2nd, 2008, 07:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by apachemobile

Gents, I have a 1958 Apache sitting on what I have been told was a 1980 Delta 88, but I have come to find the motor was a 73-74 SBO 350. It has now come time to order parts and such and I need to know what I am working with.

I found on the frame 2 304 on the drivers side frame rail and 2 312 on the passengers. Anybody with any ideas?

Also on the rear diff/axle I found ACO 311

Thanks for any help.

Are you looking for parts for the engine or the chassis? Any Olds 350 will bolt into an 80s B-body frame, so it's entirely possible that the engine is a different year than the frame. You can tell the year of the engine by looking at the VIN derivative stamping that's located on a small machined pad on the block below the No. 1 exhaust port. See attached file.

The second character of the VIN derivative will be the year. 8=1968, 0=1970, 3=1973, etc.

J-(Chicago) · June 2nd, 2008, 02:10 PM

If It is indeed an 80's delta 88 frame the numbers should be between the rear upper control arms on the rear vertical frame tray.

apachemobile · June 3rd, 2008, 12:39 PM

Thanks for the replys. My frame looks nothing like that posted by J-Chi, and I already decoded the engine. Now it is time to order parts for the chassis.
Does anybody know of a link or book that describes the years that big changes were made and in which models they were made. Maybe that way I can pick away until I have some idea.
The numbers I found on the frame were on the outside of the frame to the rear of the centerline of the frame. It has coil springs all around and a sway bar in the rear running right behind the rear diff. Discs front and drums rear, a rear fill for the gas tank, and the 350 has a th350 mated up.
Once again thanks for any help, glad to see I had some responses already.

J-(Chicago) · June 3rd, 2008, 02:26 PM

keep in mind that the frame is upside down in the picture

joe_padavano · June 3rd, 2008, 03:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by apachemobile

Thanks for the replys. My frame looks nothing like that posted by J-Chi, and I already decoded the engine. Now it is time to order parts for the chassis.
Does anybody know of a link or book that describes the years that big changes were made and in which models they were made. Maybe that way I can pick away until I have some idea.
The numbers I found on the frame were on the outside of the frame to the rear of the centerline of the frame. It has coil springs all around and a sway bar in the rear running right behind the rear diff. Discs front and drums rear, a rear fill for the gas tank, and the 350 has a th350 mated up.
Once again thanks for any help, glad to see I had some responses already.

There should be a VIN derivative on the top of the LH frame rail behind the rear axle. That would at least tell you the year.

apachemobile · June 4th, 2008, 08:10 AM

Alright, I went and took another look now. Its a little harder to spot. I found 2 313 from J-Chi's spot.
So I have 2 304 on the drivers side frame rail, 2 313 on the rear vertical frame tray, and a 2 312 on the passengers frame rail.
Now what does this mean?

apachemobile · July 7th, 2008, 01:24 PM

Run to Rund · July 9th, 2008, 12:42 AM

If you post pictures someone might recognize it. Those numbers aren't enough.

apachemobile · July 27th, 2008, 09:37 PM

Alright... first, thanks for the help.
I finally read up enough to measure the wheel base, I crossed that with the capacity of the fuel tank with the info off of the olds encyclopedia. With it having a 73' 350 SBO and the numbers gathered I concluded it was a 73' Cutlass Coup. I've ordered all the suspension, steering, and brake components to completely rebuild the front and rear. We'll see if they all fit.

June 1st, 2008, 08:02 PM	#1 (permalink)
apachemobile Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: OKC Posts: 18	Frame Identification Gents, I have a 1958 Apache sitting on what I have been told was a 1980 Delta 88, but I have come to find the motor was a 73-74 SBO 350. It has now come time to order parts and such and I need to know what I am working with. I found on the frame 2 304 on the drivers side frame rail and 2 312 on the passengers. Anybody with any ideas? Also on the rear diff/axle I found ACO 311 Thanks for any help.

June 3rd, 2008, 02:26 PM	#5 (permalink)
J-(Chicago) Seasoned beater pilot. Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Chicago Posts: 3,142	keep in mind that the frame is upside down in the picture __________________

July 7th, 2008, 01:24 PM	#8 (permalink)
apachemobile Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: OKC Posts: 18	bump

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June 3rd, 2008, 12:39 PM	#4 (permalink)
apachemobile Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: OKC Posts: 18	Thanks for the replys. My frame looks nothing like that posted by J-Chi, and I already decoded the engine. Now it is time to order parts for the chassis. Does anybody know of a link or book that describes the years that big changes were made and in which models they were made. Maybe that way I can pick away until I have some idea. The numbers I found on the frame were on the outside of the frame to the rear of the centerline of the frame. It has coil springs all around and a sway bar in the rear running right behind the rear diff. Discs front and drums rear, a rear fill for the gas tank, and the 350 has a th350 mated up. Once again thanks for any help, glad to see I had some responses already.

June 4th, 2008, 08:10 AM	#7 (permalink)
apachemobile Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: OKC Posts: 18	Alright, I went and took another look now. Its a little harder to spot. I found 2 313 from J-Chi's spot. So I have 2 304 on the drivers side frame rail, 2 313 on the rear vertical frame tray, and a 2 312 on the passengers frame rail. Now what does this mean?

July 9th, 2008, 12:42 AM	#9 (permalink)
Run to Rund Registered User Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 622	If you post pictures someone might recognize it. Those numbers aren't enough.

July 27th, 2008, 09:37 PM	#10 (permalink)
apachemobile Registered User Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: OKC Posts: 18	Alright... first, thanks for the help. I finally read up enough to measure the wheel base, I crossed that with the capacity of the fuel tank with the info off of the olds encyclopedia. With it having a 73' 350 SBO and the numbers gathered I concluded it was a 73' Cutlass Coup. I've ordered all the suspension, steering, and brake components to completely rebuild the front and rear. We'll see if they all fit.