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1962 Corvette Performance & Specifications

Powertrain, Steering, Brakes, Dimensions, & Suspension

Vintage Corvette Wallpapers

Chevrolet Introduced the Corvette in 1953

By the late 1950s, the infrastructure of the automotive industry had begun a transformation from the monopolistic business of a few, large, corporate giants to a much more competitive and highly segmented marketplace.

For more: 1962 Corvette Research Guide

1962 Corvette – Specifications

1962 Corvette Main Specs

MODEL: 1961 Chevrolet Corvette
BODY STYLE: Two-door convertible, front engine, rear wheel drive
MANUFACTURING LOCATION: St. Louis, Missouri
CONSTRUCTION: Fiberglass Reinforced Plastic (FRP or “fiberglass”) body, steel frame with steel and chrome structural & chassis components.
VEHICLE NUMBERS (VIN): 20867S100001 – 20867S114531
VIN PREFIX: RC: 327 CUBIC INCH, 250 HORSEPOWER, MANUAL TRANSMISSION
RD: 327 CUBIC INCH, 300 HORSEPOWER, MANUAL TRANSMISSION
RE: 327 CUBIC INCH, 340 HORSEPOWER, MANUAL TRANSMISSION
RF: 327 CUBIC INCH, 360 HORSEPOWER, MANUAL TRANSMISSION
SC: 327 CUBIC INCH, 250 HORSEPOWER, POWERGLIDE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
SD: 327 CUBIC INCH, 300 HORSEPOWER, POWERGLIDE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
ENGINE BLOCK NUMBER: 3782870
HEAD NUMBER: 3782461: 327 CUBIC INCH, 300HP, 340HP, 360HP
3795896: 327 CUBIC INCH, 250HP
3884520: 327 CUBIC INCH, 250HP
CARBURETOR NUMBERS: CARTER 3190S #3788245: 327 CUBIC INCH, 250HP, AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
CARTER 3191S #3788246: 327 CUBIC INCH, 250HP
CARTER 3310S #3819207: 327 CUBIC INCH, 300HP, AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
CARTER 3269S #3797699: 327 CUBIC INCH, 300HP MANUAL TRANSMISSION, 340HP
FUEL INJECTION NUMBER: ROCHESTER 7017355
ROCHESTER 7017360
DISTRIBUTOR NUMBER: 1110984: 327 CUBIC INCH, 250HP, 300HP
1110985: 327 CUBIC INCH, 340HP
1110990: 327 CUBIC INCH, 360HP
1111011: 327 CUBIC INCH, 360HP
GENERATOR NUMBER: 1102174: 327 CUBIC INCH, 250HP, 300HP
1102268: 327 CUBIC INCH, 340HP, 360HP
AXLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER CA: 3-SPD, 4-SPD, AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION, (3.36:1 RATIO)
CG: 4-SPD, (3.70:1)
PRODUCTION ENDING VEHICLE: AUG. 1961: 100443, SEP. 1961: 100827, OCT. 1961: 102065, NOV. 1961:103465, DEC. 1961:104766, JAN. 1962: 106234, FEB. 1962: 107585, MAR. 1962: 109116, APR. 1962: 110519, MAY 1962: 112035, JUN. 1962: 113459, JUL. 1962: 114520, AUG. 1962: 114531

1962 Corvette

1962 Corvette Powertrain Specifications

Description 4-barrel Carb Large 4-barrel Carb Large 4-barrel Carb with Special Cam Fuel Injection with Special Cam
Name: Standard RPO 583 RPO 396 RPO 582
Type: 90 V 90 V 90 V 90 V
Number of Cylinders 8 8 8 8
Displacement (cid): 327 327 327 327
Horsepower (gross @ rpm): 250hp @ 4,400 300hp @ 5,000 340hp @ 6,000 360hp @ 6,000
Torque (lbs.-ft. @ rpm): 350 @ 2,800 360 @ 3,200 344 @ 4,000 352 @ 4,000
Bore Spacing (C/L to C/L) 4.4 inches 4.4 inches 4.4 inches 4.4 inches
Bore x stroke (in.): 4.00 x 3.25 3.875 x 3.00 3.875 x 3.00 3.875 x 3.00
Redline (rpm):
Compression ratio: 10.5:1 10.5:1 11.25:1 11.25:1
Idle Speed (RPM) 500 in neutral (man. trans) 500 in neutral (man. trans) 500 in neutral (man. trans) 500 in neutral (man. trans)
Engine Weight (Dry);  –
Automatic
3 Speed Manual
4 Speed Manual
Firing Order: 18436572 18436572 18436572 18436572
Cylinder Number System;
Left Bank: 1-3-5-7 1-3-5-7 1-3-5-7 1-3-5-7
Right Bank: 2-4-6-8 2-4-6-8 2-4-6-8 2-4-6-8
Recommended Fuel: 94-96 Premium Octane 94-96 Premium Octane 94-96 Premium Octane 94-96 Premium Octane
EPA Powerglide
EPA 4 Speed

1962 Corvette

Manual Transmission / Gear Ratios

Gear 3-Speed Close Ratio 4-Speed (RPO 685)
1st Gear: 2.47:1 2.20:1
2nd Gear: 1.53:1 1.66:1
3rd Gear: 1.00:1 1.31:1
4th Gear: N/A 1.00:1
Reverse: 2.80:1 2.26:1

 

Clutch Stats
Type Borg and Beck, dry plate, semi-centrifugal, coil spring
Spring Pressure (lbs) 1620 initial
Lining area (sq. in.) 90.68

Powerglide Automatic Transmission RPO 313/ Gear Ratios

Drive 1.76 and 1.00:1
Low 1.76:1
Reverse 1.76:1

1961 C1 Corvette

1962 Corvette Exterior Dimensions

1962 C1 Corvette Exterior Dimensions - hardtop

Exterior Dimensions Hardtop
Wheelbase: 102 Inches
Overall Length: 176.7 Inches
Total Body Width: 70.4 Inches
Overall Height: 52.1 Inches
Front Track Width: 57 Inches
Rear Track Width: 59 Inches
Min. Ground Clearance 6.7 Inches

 

Interior Dimensions Hardtop
Headroom: 36.0 Inches
Shoulder Room: 49.4 Inches
Hip Room: 59.6 Inches
Leg Room: 46.4 Inches

1961 C1 Corvette Exterior Dimensions - softtop

Exterior Dimensions Softtop
Wheelbase: 102 Inches
Overall Length: 176.7 Inches
Total Body Width: 70.4 Inches
Overall Height: 52.2 Inches
Front Track Width: 57 Inches
Rear Track Width: 59 Inches
Min. Ground Clearance 6.7 Inches

 

Interior Dimensions Softtop
Headroom: 37.1 Inches
Shoulder Room: 49.4 Inches
Hip Room: 59.6 Inches
Leg Room: 46.4 Inches

 

Capacities Specs
Passenger Capacity: 2 Passengers
Curb Weight (LBS/KG):
w/3-Speed manual trans. 3,060
w/4-Speed manual trans. 3,075
w/Powerglide automatic 3,075
Hard Top: 55
Interior Passenger Volume (cu.ft):
Interior Trunk Volume (cu. ft): 12.09
Fuel Capacity (gallons): 16.4 (24 with RPO 488)
Engine Oil Capacity (qts.): 5 (capacity of crankcase less filter – refill)
Coolant Capacity (qts.): 16.5 (with heater)
Battery: 12 volt, 11 plates per cell, 61AH, Delco 1980558

1962 Corvette Brakes, Wheels & Suspension

Suspension – Front

Unitized, Independant, Short and Long Arm

Front Springs: Chevrolet, coil
  Make & Type Chrome alloy steel .547 — .550
  Material & Gauges Total 9.75; active 7.94
  Number of Coils Outside 4.30; pitch 3.752
  Diameter Free 13.75; working 9.62@ 1245 lb.
  Height 9.72
  Height Under Curb Weight 800 lb.
Capacity At Ground
Deflection Rate
-At Spring 300 lb.
-At Wheel 110 lb.
Front Shock Absorbers:
Make & Type Delco, direct double acting
Mounting Vertically from lower control arm through coil spring to front suspension crossmember
Front Stabilizer Bar:
Type Link
Material Hot rolled steel
Diameter .8125

Suspension – Rear

Outrigger mounted semi-elliptical leaf springs

Rear Springs: Specs
Make & Type Chevrolet, semi-elliptic
Material Chrome carbon steel
Length & Width 51×2.0
No. of Leaves 4
Leaf Thickness Number 1 & 3 = .282, Number 2 = .313, Number 4 = .262, Total = 1.159
Capacity At pad = 575 lb., At ground = 725 lb.
Rear Shock Absorbers: Specs
Make & Type Delco, direct double acting
Mounting Stem attached to slotted holes in flanged “U” shaped rear crossmember, eye attached at bottom to an anchor bolt on rear spring “U” bolt and shock absorber anchor bolt plate
Piston Diameter and Travel 1.0 x 7.44
Rear Stabilizer Bar:
Type Link
Material Hot rolled steel
Diameter 0.625
Brakes: Specs
Type: Duo Servo – 4 Wheel Hydraulic (Heavy Duty, RPO 687)
Power brake type: None
Drum diameter, front (in.): 11
Drum diameter, rear (in.): 11
Effective area (sq. in.): 157 (Heavy Duty 134.6)

 

Wheels/Tires Specs
Wheel Type (Standard): Short Spoke Disk, Pressed Steel
Tire Size 6.70 — 15 — 4 Ply Tubeless (standard), 6.70 — 15 — 4 Ply Whitewall
Front & Rear Wheels: 15″
Tires, type: Rayon Cord (Nylon with RPO 1833)
Revolutions at 30mph: 760
Inflation (cold) 24 lbs. Front & Rear

 

Steering Specs
Type: Semi-reversible, worm and ball bearing sector
Make: Saginaw
Ratio: 16.0:1
Wheel Diameter (in): 17
Turns, Stop to Start 3.7 (3.25 with RPO 687)
Turn Diameter (curb to curb) 36.5 ft. right — 37 ft. left (outside front), 38.5 ft. right — 39 ft. left (outside front)

1962 Corvette

 

1962 Corvette Performance

Performance Results Standard RPO 583 RPO 396 RPO 582
3-Speed Transmission
Performance weight (lbs.) 3360 3360 3340 3370
Pounds/gross horsepower 13.44 11.20 9.82 9.36
Pounds/cu.in. piston displacement 10.28 10.28 10.21 10.31
 Gross horsepower/cu.in. displacement .765 .917 1.040 1.101
 Power displacement (cu.ft./mile) 241.6 241.6 241.6 241.6
Displacement factor (cu.ft./mile) 143.8 143.8 144.7 143.4
 0 – 60 mph (seconds)
 Top Speed (mph)
Powerglide Transmission
 Performance weight (lbs.) 3375 3375 3355 3385
 Pounds/gross horsepower 13.50 11.25 9.87 9.40
 Pounds/cu.in. piston displacement 10.32 10.28 10.26 10.35
 Gross horsepower/cu.in. displacement .764 .917 1.040 1.101
 Power displacement (cu.ft./mile) 241.6 241.6 241.6 241.6
 Displacement factor (cu.ft./mile) 143.0 143.0 144.0 142.7
 0 – 60 mph (seconds) 5.9
 Top Speed (mph) 132
 4-Speed Transmission
Performance weight (lbs.) 3375 3375
Pounds/gross horsepower 13.50 11.25
Pounds/cu.in. piston displacement 10.32 10.32
Gross horsepower/cu.in. displacement .764 .917
Power displacement (cu.ft./mile) 241.6 241.6
 Displacement factor (cu.ft./mile) 137.5 138.1
 0 – 60 mph (seconds) 143.0 143.0
Top Speed (mph)

See Also 

C1 ’53 54 ’55 ’56 ’57 ’58 ’59 ’60 ’61 ’62
Gen C1 C2 C3 C4 C5 C6 C7