RPO and ECL revision levels

[SC69SS]

I am trying to find information that would tell me the correct ECL (revision/update level) for each option installed on my car.  I do not have the PoP, build sheet, etc.

For example, assuming that a SS396 was built in the last week of May of 1969, the RPO would presumably begin with "5Z27" followed by the two character ECL.  But since the ECLs increment during the course of the production year, what would be the correct ECL for a car built at the end of May?

Thanks in advance for any help.

[bertfam]

Thankfully, that information isn't available to the general public. If it was, the fake window stickers we see all the time would be almost impossible to spot.

Ed

[Mike S]

Give Paul from Winvoices.com a call.
He can assist with getting a correct looking window sticker.

Mike

[firstgenaddict]

There is no reason to be looking for the information other than to create factory documentation for a car without such - unless the document were watermarked as a reproduction or clearly marked - it would eventually be touted as THE original window sticker or THE original Car Shipper etc.

Have you tried to find the original owner and track down the paper? IF it is a highly desireable SS then maybe it was special ordered or special to the owner and they kept the paper. It may cost you $1000 - or maybe $10,000 however it would be REAL FACTORY DOCUMENTATION.

[william]

I have been the CRG keeper of the flame for '69 Camaro ECLs; someone else is doing '67 & '68.

While we do know what some of them mean, most remain a mystery. Some are easy, like floor mats. Their ECLs correlate to the color. Non-trim ECLs relate to combinations of equipment and with all the options available, some have a long list. D55 Console has 20; G80 Positraction 24, N40 Power Steering 18. One would think all Z11 Indy Pace Cars would have the same ECL for Z22 Rally-Sport Equipment but no; there are at least 6.

And so it goes. Reverse-engineering them requires a volume of original paperwork; my supply is exhausted. I believe some internal Chevrolet Engineering docs were found for '67s. Unless that happens for '69, wont be much progress to report.

[bcmiller]

In my opinion, either a car has original docs or it doesn’t. Most don’t.

Print everything out on a regular piece of paper. It lets people know what it has, but it’s not trying to pull the wool over someone’s eyes.

[firstgenaddict]

I have been the CRG keeper of the flame for '69 Camaro ECLs; someone else is doing '67 & '68.

While we do know what some of them mean, most remain a mystery. Some are easy, like floor mats. Their ECLs correlate to the color. Non-trim ECLs relate to combinations of equipment and with all the options available, some have a long list. D55 Console has 20; G80 Positraction 24, N40 Power Steering 18. One would think all Z11 Indy Pace Cars would have the same ECL for Z22 Rally-Sport Equipment but no; there are at least 6.

And so it goes. Reverse-engineering them requires a volume of original paperwork; my supply is exhausted. I believe some internal Chevrolet Engineering docs were found for '67s. Unless that happens for '69, wont be much progress to report.

D55 has 20... given the number of different configurations I can see that... 3 spd, 4 spd, auto, gauges, without gauges, 8 track player without 8 track and then the number of colors.

William...
Is it thought that the ECL's are inventory control or for billing purposes?

[TangoBravo]

Agree with the sentiment to not try to reproduce the document. It will only cause headaches and problems with trying to justify what is on the vehicle. LOTS of these cars were separated from the original documentation. Let it be that yours too doesn't have it any longer. Save your money for something else and help keep things sane. Doesn't detract from the vehicle.

[william]

Definitely inventory control; primarily on-hand inventory. No point in releasing an order that can't be built. For the most part, option pricing was the same regardless of application but there are a few that were not. M40 TH400 msrp was $221.80 for L34 & L35; $290.40 for L72 & L78.

Don't know for certain but I suspect ECLs were also used to determine labor content. The line had to final-assemble 57 cars per hour; someone had to know what to release and what to hold. The Body Bank had separate lines for RS, A/C, Z/28 & SS. Cars were not built in VIN order.

Read all about it from someone who was there:

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

[firstgenaddict]

I know the assembly process backwards and forwards as I have read the assembly process COUNTLESS times. I printed and have referred to it numerous times along with the FISHER BOOK, AIM, and Chevrolet Chassis Service manual. 
I had assumed it was for inventory, however given that the endura bumpers had the same ECL regardless of color I was somewhat miffed.

[william]

The VE3 bumper was likely received at assembly plants in primer and painted to order.

[bcmiller]

Definitely inventory control; primarily on-hand inventory. No point in releasing an order that can't be built. For the most part, option pricing was the same regardless of application but there are a few that were not. M40 TH400 msrp was $221.80 for L34 & L35; $290.40 for L72 & L78.

Don't know for certain but I suspect ECLs were also used to determine labor content. The line had to final-assemble 57 cars per hour; someone had to know what to release and what to hold. The Body Bank had separate lines for RS, A/C, Z/28 & SS. Cars were not built in VIN order.

Read all about it from someone who was there:

http://www.camaros.org/

I *believe* that the TH400 for L78 and L72 was built to different specs (higher shift point) and used a different/better torque converter. Thus a higher cost.

[BULLITT65]

William, if CRG members have their original window sticker, do you wan them to send you pics of them?

Wasn't sure if you were wanting more original examples, and if they may shed more light ?