1969 F40 F41
 

I read a thread from this site from 1999,and was wondering if there was any updated info regarding f40 and f41 useage in 69 chevelles. Ie were both available and if so did the f41 have boxed arms ,and a sway bar etc while the f40 was just a spring shock upgrade any help appreciated

Re: 1969 F40 F41
 

My 69 Malibu came with the F40 suspension, as shown on the build sheet. It has normal rear control arms, non-boxed, and did not have a rear sway bar. It also has the rear frame braces. The springs that are in the car are GW's in the front and BQ's in the rear, both springs commonly found on many SS cars. I realize the springs were determined by the options, but mention this as I have found GW's and BQ's on 69 SS Chevelles. The car also came with a 350/300hp engine and 12 bolt rear end.

Hope this info helps.

Phil Woj.

Re: 1969 F40 F41
 

We bought our COPO Chevelle new and there was no mention of F40 or F41. Our SS396 car has the F40 suspension which supposedly came with stiffer shocks and springs. There weren't many F41 cars built, as handling really wasn't on peoples minds in those days. The F41 got the boxed arms and rear sway bar, along with a heavier front stabilizer bar as well. 1969 was the first year for F41 on a Chevelle. Some of the other "A" body cars got it several years earlier. That's the way I understand it anyway.

Re: 1969 F40 F41
 

The shocks on the front of the COPO car are 3192135.

Re: 1969 F40 F41
 

Thanks for the replies. Is there a way to tell on a build sheet if a car had f40 or f41 if the option list portion of the sheet is missing? i have a f41 69 chevelle and another with a factory sway bar but the buildsheet is incomplete where the rpo code would be. im sure a spring box ? or something might show f41??

Re: 1969 F40 F41
 

Boxes 15 and 16 specify the front and rear shocks. TC front and LU rear for at least one COPO and one L78 Chevelle that I have information on. This seems to be the standard shock. Build sheets would probably show the code for F40 and F41 shocks but I don't have any.

Re: 1969 F40 F41
 

My 69 Malibu with F40 has the TC fronts shocks and LU rear shocks on the build sheet. I don't know of another way to determine the suspension option with that portion of the build sheet missing. My 69 SS (all original) 396/325hp does not have a build sheet, but the shock numbers correspond to the TC and LU shocks. I'm wondering if F40 was the default suspension on the SS?

Phil Woj.

Re: 1969 F40 F41
 

TC and LU may be the standard SS396 shock but might just be an upgrade on the standard small block Malibu shock. Just a thought. If F40 was the standard SS suspension, I don't believe that it would have shown up as an option on our car. With enough information, we can surely clear this up.

Re: 1969 F40 F41
 

I do know that ive had framingham cars[all 396 cars] that had F40 F41 and one without anything on the buildsheet. That to me means even f40 was an option on an SS. ??

Re: 1969 F40 F41
 

That's what I always figured. The microfiche on our COPO car doesn't show F40 and wasn't on the bill of sale either. I think that you are probably right.

Re: 1969 F40 F41
 

I've got the buildsheet from my old F41 '69 Chevelle around here somewhere, lemme dig it up and see...I always believe the F40 was standard prior to '70, then in '70 the F41 came in the SS package. F41 is a rare, rare deal on the '69 Chevelle/El Camino/Wagon line, seems like I remember only 600+ across all 3 models?

Re: 1969 F40 F41
 

Rob,
Can you post a pic of that build sheet and did your F41 have the rear sway bar? Also, wasn't F41 availability based on production dates?

Re: 1969 F40 F41
 

I'll try and grab it tomorrow, Stef...

Re: 1969 F40 F41
 

Ok, I *finally* dug up the buildsheet on my old F41 L78 Chevelle...I had 2 partials, but this is the only copy I can find, for now...anyway, it shows the F41 in box 107 (rpo's). Car was beautiful...Cortez silver with blue vinyl top, blue guts, L78/auto/4.10, 35k miles...sold out of Hasay Chevrolet out of Shickshinny, PA. Anyway, enough of my crying, looks like the F40/F41 difference is gonna be determined by Boxes 13 & 14 (FRT SPRING and REAR SPRING)...my F41 front spring appears to be "GB or G8".

https://www.yenko.net/attachments/374027-f41sheet.JPG

Re: 1969 F40 F41
 

Ok, found the better copy...too bad it *just misses* the rear spring box...

https://www.yenko.net/attachments/374029-f41sheet2.JPG

Re: 1969 F40 F41
 

betcha it was a "G" factory made Chevelle. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ns/naughty.gif

Re: 1969 F40 F41
 

I tend to agree with Rob. I have an SS L35 April 4th week with F40 original suspension. Talking with Dan V., I thought the F41 would have only been available on later production cars but not sure when. I betcha there are a lot more on the road claiming the F41 then were built. https://www.yenko.net/ubbthreads/imag...ins/3gears.gif

Re: 1969 F40 F41
 

The F41 rear control arms and bar are such an easy switch that you are probably right about a lot of extras out there. I added them to our '72 Lemans Sport and also to our '69 el Camino. Someone had add the rear setup to our '69 SS396 before we got it and I added the bar to our COPO car as well away back in the day. That's four cars done by one person.