NOS sheetmetal

[DT]

Can you tell the actual date of stamping from genuine GM parts labels on NOS sheet metal ??   Does the actual GM sticker have a date on it???  I'm referring to the date the part was produced.

[z28z11]

A lot of my NOS sheet metal has a number stamped on the tag, as do a lot of the boxes (quarters, fenders and misc. sheet metal). The earliest dates I noticed were quarter panels - I have a set from '78, plainly marked on the outside of the boxes. Not all are marked - I can't say that categorically, but quite a few of mine are. Three examples attached -

Regards,
Steve

[Sauron327]

What panels are you looking to purchase? Late stamped tin numbers are preceeded by a zero. Fenders can lack edge crispness, line definition, have overly large edge and high crown radii, provide poor alignment and can have excessive ripples. A minimum of a day's labor is not uncommon for fenders at the end of a die's life. But most sellers have no bodywork experience and still command top doillar for them. Early stamped tin can be better but is no guarantee. Assembly line take offs are the best choice even if they need work.

[DT]

I was just curious if you could be able to tell the date of stamping from the actual GM sticker.  On the GM sticker above (477) is that 1981 in the top right corner the year

[Sauron327]

1981 is on this non zero sticker also. I have no data on the correlation.

[z28z11]

I was just curious if you could be able to tell the date of stamping from the actual GM sticker.  On the GM sticker above (477) is that 1981 in the top right corner the year

Yep -

Note the correlation between the 6F1 and the 0163 right over the part number (which shows the "0" prefix difference between that and the '78 production date code sticker). I had sold the other '78 panel separately (damaged), and paired these several years ago, subsequently sold over eBay. Wish I still had them - they were flawless.

Regards,
Steve

[z28z11]

Another '81 sticker, note the dates and number sequence -

[DT]

I was just curious if you could be able to tell the date of stamping from the actual GM sticker.  On the GM sticker above (477) is that 1981 in the top right corner the year

Yep -

Note the correlation between the 6F1 and the 0163 right over the part number (which shows the "0" prefix difference between that and the '78 production date code sticker). I had sold the other '78 panel separately (damaged), and paired these several years ago, subsequently sold over eBay. Wish I still had them - they were flawless.

Regards,
Steve

Forgive me Steve, I'm not getting your explanation, LOL.  How can you tell its a 1978 panel??

[z28z11]

I purchased the first set from a local GM dealer in the mid '80's, original boxes were marked as you see them in the following shots. I assume they are a month apart due to the dates (78D and E7). I have had these for a long time, paid $329.00 apiece for them if I remember correctly; the later dated quarters have had a mix of "0" prefix and non-"0" prefix tags. Most of the sheetmetal I bought as spares before they discontinued from GM, just because of that reason - plus, you could still buy fenders for $200 and change, quarters for $300 and change, cowl hoods for $400, dash pads for $80, etc., etc.

Started NOS parts purchasing from GM around '80 - veteran pack rat. Worst mistake I ever made was buying for one car, up until the point they multiplied on me. By then, it was too late for a lot of NOS stuff from GM.

Regards,
Steve