1969 F40 F41

[427king]

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

[Woj]

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.

[Keith Tedford]

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.

[Keith Tedford]

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

[427king]

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??

[Keith Tedford]

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.

[Woj]

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.

[Keith Tedford]

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.

[427king]

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. ??

[Keith Tedford]

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.