VCCA Home Forums TECHNICAL - 1945 AND EARLIER 1912-1928 28 chassis unique features.

Hi folks, I'm trying to register a 28 chevy in UK, as there is no chassis number it would be helpful to know all the features that are unique to '28 in order to convince the authorities.

So far I think the chassis, springs, wheel rims, engine, gearbox/engine support, clutch disc, rear axle, braking system and body style may be all unique to the 1928 production run.

Any more info would be much appreciated.

Bernard

Most obvious was 1928 was first year for 4 wheel brakes for Chevrolet and last year for 4 cylinder engine. The 1928 engine also had significant differences from 1927 such as fully enclosed valve train and two port exhaust.

There are casting dates on the block and head that should end with an 8, indicating they were cast in 1928. For example, D 15 8 translates to a casting date of April 15, 1928,

Cheers, Dean

Hi Dean

My engine casting date ends in a 7. I believe many engines would have been cast in the later months of 1927 for the 1928 sales year that generally starts a few months before the calendar year.


I had the lady at the transport office ask me the same question when I registered my car, I showed her the reprint of the owners manual and she seemed happy with that.

John

The problem we now have in UK is that all local offices have been closed so it's almost impossible to communicate with the actual human that's processing your registration for that shift, and if you do manage it every one of them will have a different take on how it works! Them or their computers aren't known for recognizing the obvious!

In the case of an old car without documentation like this, an approved car club can be called in to inspect and verify the age of the vehicle.

Although useful as a pointer to age, the engine number and other things are really irrelevant for registration as the chassis with it's number is the ID of the vehicle, but there is no chassis number, so knowing the unique features of a 28 chassis would allow a club to confirm it's age.

The good thing is that 28s were different, here's what I think is correct so far:

for the year 1928 Chevrolet made their passenger car chassis aprox, 4” longer and with deeper altered profile side rails than all previous years
the rear crossmember had a lip at the bottom
provisions (mainly holes) for installing a four wheel braking system were incorporated
mountings for fitting an extra gearbox crossmember were incorporated inside the rails
the integral front and rear road spring hanger castings were rounded off and the bumper irons were bolted to the outsides of the frame horns
………………………………………………………………
for the year 1929 and subsequent years a much deeper rear crossmember was used without a lip
no extra gearbox crossmember was used and no mounting for one were incorporated
the integral front and rear spring hanger castings were redesigned to gave a flat area at the ends with a hole to which the bumper irons fitted.
holes in the side rails for shock absorbers were incorporated that are not present on previous years.
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Is that right or is there more?

I've seen most of this on the web by image searches, and I may be mistaken, it would be nice to have one of each sitting side by side to compare :-)

Bernard

Maybe something here will help?

https://www.gmheritagecenter.com/do...mation-kits/Chevrolet/1928-Chevrolet.pdf

Thanks Dave, there's a lot of info all in that one place, very interesting.

I think I've now established that the 28, being longer, has nothing in common with the 27, and as all the crossmember are different, the 28 seems to share only chassis rails with the 29.

I think I now have enough to prove beyond doubt and convince anyone that mine is a 28.

As you have already found in your endeavors the 28, and the 29 frames are close to one another in their shape and size except for cross member shape and placement. Since these cross members are riveted into the frame any modifications would be obvious. There were some similarities with the 27 frame but since the 28 frame is 4" longer it can be easily shown to be different.

One problem in trying to be specific about the differences between 28, and 29 is that it seems that different countries slightly modified what they sold. For instance the 29 model in the US did not come from the factory with shock absorbers but someone from Australia said the Holden bodied 29s had them. In the USA both used "rebound/recoil plates". I have seen trucks that used these up to at least 31. The front brakes for 29 were a hold over from 28, but the 29 rear brakes were totally unique. On either model I have the seen the brake cross shafts with the arms up, or down. I would have to go up to where my 29 is stored but I think the front bumper also attaches to the front spring forging.

Please keep the forum posted as to what the outcome of your registration progress is.

Thanks for the confirmation of my findings Beachbum, yes the most obvious identifiers for 29 onwards are the spring hanger castings which include the bumper mountings, which can be spotted at a glance without even looking under the car.

Official paper pushers like to see numbers. A 1928 Chevy should have LO or LP if it's a one ton truck and AB (National) on the ID plate, if it's a passenger car. The trucks were (Capitol), like the 1927. The ID plates were located on the right side of the seat riser if is left hand drive. If you have a Holden body, it might be located on the left side.