1967 pace car

[firstgenaddict]

Kurt,
 could you please expand on this point?
 What method was used to keep the Tonawanda stamped blocks properly applied to the correct  LA built car?
Would this indicate that big blocks motors were not pulled from bulk racks ?
Thus all BB cars body's and motor numbers should be in numeric order, Correct?

  Victor

No there were bulk racks for the engine by assembly codes...
They were pulled according to the engine assembly...
JG - 396 325hp auto
JJ -  396 375 Alum heads MT
JH -  396 375 hp MT
JL  - 396 375  Auto
The engines were complete assemblies which were minus the Carbs and plug wires  - they were already equipped with flex plate or clutch/flywheel and bell housing.

There was nothing to keep straight  -
The engines were not First In First Out.

When the engine was pulled from the rack and mated with the trans and the pair were stamped the Assembly stamps must have been noted for eventual inclusion on the Protecto PLATE. 

[z28z11]

Victor,

ngine assembly stamps were done at the engine assembly plant. Big blocks got their stamped assembly date and application code BEFORE the heads were installed.

Partial VIN was stamped later, at the vehicle sssembly plant. 

The partial VIN position is what I was referring to - in the pics, if the head was installed, you likely wouldn't be able to get the stamp holder in the position that stamp in particular appears. Engine code is usually far enough away, or depending on the year, stamped on the opposite side of the pad from the core plug.

Regards,
Steve

[bcmiller]

Which photo are you referring to?

[firstgenaddict]

Victor,

ngine assembly stamps were done at the engine assembly plant. Big blocks got their stamped assembly date and application code BEFORE the heads were installed.

Partial VIN was stamped later, at the vehicle sssembly plant. 

The partial VIN position is what I was referring to - in the pics, if the head was installed, you likely wouldn't be able to get the stamp holder in the position that stamp in particular appears. Engine code is usually far enough away, or depending on the year, stamped on the opposite side of the pad from the core plug.

Regards,
Steve

NO the VIN would not be able to be stamped on the lower section after the heads were installed, which is why they were on the upper section or on the bell housing boss.
The VIN on Big Blocks was stamped on the upper section of the stamp pad, the Assem date and application codes were on the lower section of the pad and done prior to head installation.

[vtfb68]

Hi Guys,
 James,  Your story (reply 15) is the story I always heard also, Kurt clearly stated that the big blocks were stamped without the heads installed so, NOT complete and NOT in racks. are you stating that the motors were stamped twice or, the heads were installed on the assembly line? The dash pad VIN was created when the order was placed, the motor had to match the car VIN and all the ordered options
for that car. As I understand the orders were received at headquarters (Detroit?), The motor was built in Tonawanda, the car was assembled in either LA or Norwood, Three different, pre-numbered pieces from three different places had to meet at the same place at about the same time. I was wondering about the methods used. That's why I asked Kurt to expand on that point. If indeed the blocks were stamped at the factory (Tonawanda) they could not have been randomly pulled from a rack. Was Kurt referring only to pace cars? Maybe we will find out.

   VT

[Petes L48]

It's also ways good to go back and review this, every so often.  There's even a picture or two.

http://www.camaros.org/assemblyprocess.shtml

[vtfb68]

Good advice Pete,
  Upon further review I see I am interchanging the Two stamps.
   Victor

[firstgenaddict]

Good advice Pete,
  Upon further review I see I am interchanging the Two stamps.
   Victor

I thought I had explained it pretty clearly and was perplexed in trying to figure out where I was being misunderstood.

As an aside...
It also appears that you have the VIN number and the COWL TAG BODY NUMBER assignments crossed.
BEGINNING in 1969 The BODY NUMBERS (NOT VINS) were assigned when the order was accepted at the Central Office, the VIN numbers were not associated with a car body build at Fisher, they were assigned by Chevrolet AFTER the body was built by Fisher, which is why the VINs were stamped, after the bodies were painted. (Firewall and wiper cowl VIN stamps chip the FISHER applied paint)