Original Hurst Shifter or Not

[maroman]

Steve,

Is it the code there at the bottom of this extracted image that decodes to Dec '68?   Can you explain that, as I didn't know there was a date code for these shifters..

X2

Are all Hurst shifters dated?

[Steve Shauger]

Steve,

Is it the code there at the bottom of this extracted image that decodes to Dec '68?   Can you explain that, as I didn't know there was a date code for these shifters..

Yes the 128 represent the build date of the shifter

[69Z28-RS]

I just checked my shifter from my 09C Z28, and found the numbers "890731C", so the '8' the month (August), and '9' the year  matches up with my Sept produced car.   I've never known that Hurst shifters were dated.  I knew mine was the original one, but didn't know this particular date code schema..

Gary

[DT]

I'm still NOT convinced they are date coded??  Maybe the experts can add to this???   I'm pretty sure I read the shifters where not date coded as well, Hmmm interesting.

[69Z28-RS]

If enough people with original cars/shifters can check/post the code from their shifter as well as their car's build date, maybe we can make some sense of this...  empirically  even if it isn't documented somewhere...?

[69Z28-RS]

In searching for 'date coded GM Hurst shifters', I found the following reference from 3/24/05 on the Supercar Registry:  (from hotrodpaul...
"I need help with the datecode on my 69 Camaro SS 396 Hurst Shifter. It looks to be original with the 3138 number stamped on the side, rubber molded inserts where the rods attach, Chrome round shift handle, etc. The date code reads "39D12K" and the car was assembled in late April. I assume the 9 means 1969, D is April, and 12 is the 12th day, but what does the "3" and "K" mean? I can post pics if needed."

Using the decode schema provided by PaceMe (Steve S) ie. "MmYxxxxx", hotrodPaul's codes translate to:  March, 69..   which is again consistent with the build date of the car (April car, March shifter).

So far, the examples that have been posted are consistent with his schema....

[69Z28-RS]

'continuing the search'...   69Znut, on Team Camaro on April 11, 2008, had a very involved posting on Hurst shifters..

http://www.camaros.net/forums/showthread.php?t=54774

which will enlighten most of us to some extent if you haven't read it before, and in that posting, he states
"A serial number on the far right of the words HURST Competition Plus was used to perform factory warranty repairs for GM, Pontiac, America Motors (Javelin & AMX) and early 1970 Mustang & Torino’s all used this 3138 housing box. The serial number has no meaning today and is NOT a date code. "

BUT.. his statement that the SN is not a date code, does NOT mean that the initial digits do not imply month and year of production, as that information IS sometimes embedded into manufacturer's serial numbers, and thus far with the examples we've checked this has proven to be true..

[ZLP955]

I have a shifter pulled from an 03D Los Angeles car on my desk right now, and it is stamped '29D29C' which would make it a February 1969 shifter body on a March-assembled car, if the above is correct.
I will have to go and check the numbers on my 04A car's shifter, I believe it starts with '39' but can't recall for sure.

[DT]

'continuing the search'...   69Znut, on Team Camaro on April 11, 2008, had a very involved posting on Hurst shifters..

http://www.camaros.net/forums/showthread.php?t=54774

which will enlighten most of us to some extent if you haven't read it before, and in that posting, he states
"A serial number on the far right of the words HURST Competition Plus was used to perform factory warranty repairs for GM, Pontiac, America Motors (Javelin & AMX) and early 1970 Mustang & Torino’s all used this 3138 housing box. The serial number has no meaning today and is NOT a date code. "

BUT.. his statement that the SN is not a date code, does NOT mean that the initial digits do not imply month and year of production, as that information IS sometimes embedded into manufacturer's serial numbers, and thus far with the examples we've checked this has proven to be true..

I think this is the thread I read sometime ago.  Great info thx.

[69Z28-RS]

Continuing the search....  
...  a long thread on 'Nasty Z28' from 2009, which also supports that Hurst's ID codes contained date information:

http://www.nastyz28.com/forum/archive/index.php/t-157641.html

After all this, I'm convinced that the Hurst ID/SN codes Did contain date information.. All we need to totally document this is written documentation (or ?) from Hurst during that period...

[Steve Shauger]

I just checked my shifter from my 09C Z28, and found the numbers "890731C", so the '8' the month (August), and '9' the year  matches up with my Sept produced car.   I've never known that Hurst shifters were dated.  I knew mine was the original one, but didn't know this particular date code schema..

Gary

Gary , I verified the dating format on 6 unrestored cars I've owned and they have correlated to the build date of the cars perfectly.  In fact our twin sept built orange /black z's mine buit 9A has 89 dated
Shifter as well. I confirmed this when I freshened the drivetrain this spring. I have picture somewhere.

I'm confident that the shifters were date coded as shown in the examples

[69Z28-RS]

I'm confident as well Steve, after doing some research this morning..    It would be *nice* to know the entire format, but I am confident that the first 2 (or 3) digits specify mo/yr...

[ZLP955]

I will have to go and check the numbers on my 04A car's shifter, I believe it starts with '39' but can't recall for sure.

Just checked shifter from my 04A car and it is 29D33D, so looks like both it and the 03D car (29D29C stamp) had February shifter bodies.

[Steve Shauger]

Pete Serio has a book on "Vintage Hurst Shifters", that has a lot of good info. He also does real nice shifter rebuilding. Although his book states there is no date coding on the housing, I'm still convince there is based on what I've observed. I'll qualify that to 69 & 70 OEM shifters.

[DT]

Pete restored my original shifter.  Great job.   So here we go,  Date code or no???  Going against what Pete believes    We are back to square one. LOL