CRG Discussion Forum

Camaro Research Group Discussion => Decoding/Numbers => Topic started by: BuiltIn1966 on December 09, 2018, 03:24:23 PM

Title: Trim tag “build date” calendar?
Post by: BuiltIn1966 on December 09, 2018, 03:24:23 PM
I thought I understood how the date code on the trim tag is supposed to work, but my question is more about what dates are they? For example: if the car says 9A, that’s obviously the first week of September… But September 1st, 2nd, and 3rd are in the same calendar week (Sunday through Saturday) as the last four days of August.

So, looking at the provided image, would the last week of August be 8E? Or would it be 9A? I guess my real question is, if my trim tag says 9A, was it built some time between the fourth and the 10th, or the last week of August and the first three days of September?

This also applies to October of that year. Is a 10A car built the last week of September and October 1? Or does a 10A car start the week of the second through the ninth?

I’m just wondering if somebody’s ever taken the time to build a calendar around trim tab information to show what week your car would’ve been built? Thank you in advance...

(http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h64/nuts4coke/05A3DC3A-EF8F-4963-B0BF-B0F30D18A428.jpg) (http://s61.photobucket.com/user/nuts4coke/media/05A3DC3A-EF8F-4963-B0BF-B0F30D18A428.jpg.html)
Title: Re: Trim tag “build date” calendar?
Post by: BuiltIn1966 on December 09, 2018, 03:35:28 PM
Or... does the week start on the 1st and go for 7 days? In this example, does the last week of September (for 9D cars) go from 22 - 30? (Which is 9 complete days)

(http://i61.photobucket.com/albums/h64/nuts4coke/122D3BDD-6D16-4DBE-B2A3-86214C94F798.jpg) (http://s61.photobucket.com/user/nuts4coke/media/122D3BDD-6D16-4DBE-B2A3-86214C94F798.jpg.html)
Title: Re: Trim tag “build date” calendar?
Post by: bcmiller on December 09, 2018, 05:00:20 PM
Go to this link and drop down to number 4.

http://www.camaros.org/geninfo.shtml#HowMany

The build date on the cowl tag is when the body was started. It was attached 3-4 days before final assembly of the car was completed and build week dates did not always align exactly with calendar weeks.
Title: Re: Trim tag “build date” calendar?
Post by: RichSS2006 on December 09, 2018, 09:00:05 PM
My Norwood built 69 has a 05A on the trim tag. NCRS says the official production date was May 1, 1969 (Thursday). The shipper/dealer invoice says it was shipped on May 2nd (Friday). My dealer new car record shows that it was received on May 5th (Monday). Dealer was located in Western Virginia (not West Virginia). Pretty tight timing.  Car was sold on July 8th. I have the original bill of sale also.
Title: Re: Trim tag “build date” calendar?
Post by: KurtS on December 10, 2018, 12:19:36 AM
Weeks were defined and applied at Fisher's discretion.
Title: Re: Trim tag “build date” calendar?
Post by: BuiltIn1966 on December 10, 2018, 01:28:48 AM
Go to this link and drop down to number 4.

http://www.camaros.org/geninfo.shtml#HowMany

The build date on the cowl tag is when the body was started. It was attached 3-4 days before final assembly of the car was completed and build week dates did not always align exactly with calendar weeks.

Copy. Thank you for that. Somehow when I was on that page I missed that... but with that being said, the 10C trim tag code my 67 has would then fall into #4 as having been 'started' the third week of October, 1966. Well, since #4 specifically states 'does not correspond with calendar weeks', when would I be able to assume it was 'started'? The question is still valid... how does one determine what 'week' it was built?

My VIN is N118980, which falls in that VIN table below item #4 you mentioned, since the last October VIN was N124052 (a difference of roughly 5072 bodies)
Engine is stamped V1012ME
Trans is T7R03N
Rear-end PW1012G
Heads cast date: J116 and J86

With that, it's safe to say my car was built sometime after the 12th (engine stamp). Well, that week I would assume would be 10B. Engines get stamped at the plant of manufacture, and then it has to be shipped. So, I'm assuming that we are talking the 16th through the 22nd, the third (C) week of October.

I guess I need to find out more about the vehicle from the NCRS. RichSS's post about it is the first time I've heard of the NCRS. Being that his is a 69, records may be more accurate than 67.

I appreciate everyone's input and consideration.

Title: Re: Trim tag “build date” calendar?
Post by: RichSS2006 on December 10, 2018, 02:24:52 AM
The NCRS Historic Document Service gives you the Official GM production date, Dealer Code, Zone Number, Dealer Name and City.
www.ncrs.org
Title: Re: Trim tag “build date” calendar?
Post by: Mike S on December 10, 2018, 02:53:49 AM
Engines can sit on a rack for days, weeks or even months. 
Title: Re: Trim tag “build date” calendar?
Post by: BuiltIn1966 on December 10, 2018, 03:52:23 AM
Engines can sit on a rack for days, weeks or even months. 

Sure, but given everything else, I'd say that wasn't the case here.
Title: Re: Trim tag “build date” calendar?
Post by: 69Z28-RS on December 10, 2018, 04:05:41 AM
Assuming 'even/regular' production over the 20 work days of that month, your car (N118980) was most likely built/finished late on the 18th or early on the 19th of October.  (12th or 13th work day) and happens to be in the 3rd work week of that month.

Your engine parts and assembly were a week to 10 days prior to installation in the car, which is pretty normal.

The 'week' on the cowl tag was the Projected Assembly week (assigned at time of vehicle order).  The information which ended up on the cowl tag was established at that time in their records, and the cowl plate was stamped out and installed on the car early in the body assembly.

You can check/verify the completion date that I've estimated above by paying NCRS for the GM record for your car.
Title: Re: Trim tag “build date” calendar?
Post by: BuiltIn1966 on December 10, 2018, 04:10:19 AM
Assuming 'even/regular' production over the 20 work days of that month, your car (N118980) was most likely built/finished late on the 18th or early on the 19th of October.  (12th or 13th work day) and happens to be in the 3rd work week of that month.

Your engine parts and assembly were a week to 10 days prior to installation in the car, which is pretty normal.

The 'week' on the cowl tag was the Projected Assembly week (assigned at time of vehicle order).  The information which ended up on the cowl tag was established at that time in their records, and the cowl plate was stamped out and installed on the car early in the body assembly.

You can check/verify the completion date that I've estimated above by paying NCRS for the GM record for your car.


Gotcha. I came up with something similar. Took overall numbers for october, figured average production per day for a five day work week, and using my VIN number came up with the 18th also.

I'd say between you and I, we are probably very close.... I just got done doing the NCRS inquiry, so we will see what happens. When and IF I get a report, I'll come back and let you know. Thanks for the help. Thank you to you too Rich.
Title: Re: Trim tag “build date” calendar?
Post by: 69Z28-RS on December 10, 2018, 04:19:30 AM
I took Columbus day as a 'Holiday' and calculated using 20 work days; that is the difference.  (Not sure if it really was a holiday, but my '66 Calendar showed it as one)..

Title: Re: Trim tag “build date” calendar?
Post by: BuiltIn1966 on December 10, 2018, 04:21:23 AM
I took Columbus day as a 'Holiday' and calculated using 20 work days; that is the difference.  (Not sure if it really was a holiday, but my '66 Calendar showed it as one)..



Ohhhh, nice. Yeah, I didn't account for the holiday. You're probably right. Just doing quick math, it's still work day 12, which would be the 18th. It'll be nice to see a NCRS report and how it stacks up against our math. Right on brother. Thanks for your help.
Title: Re: Trim tag “build date” calendar?
Post by: BuiltIn1966 on December 28, 2018, 08:00:36 PM
Just received my paperwork from the Corvette Restorers and the date says 20 October 1966. (Thursday)
Title: Re: Trim tag “build date” calendar?
Post by: 69Z28-RS on December 28, 2018, 11:19:35 PM
Just received my paperwork from the Corvette Restorers and the date says 20 October 1966. (Thursday)

Our estimate had the 19th October!   (I'd say that was close enough for estimation from 40 yr old records).. :)