Steering box dates

[fireZ]

Were would I look on a manuel steering box to find dates?

[1968RSZ28]

Were would I look on a manuel steering box to find dates?

firez -

For your build date, it should be cast right on top (looking straight down from the master cylinder) of the steering gear housing just below the casting number (5679142).  It will be a Julian date like 363 (December 29, 1967).  Please let me know what you find...   

Paul 

[fireZ]

Mine actually has a cast of 262 as far as I can see.

[1968RSZ28]

Mine actually has a cast of 262 as far as I can see.

262 = September 19, 1967 on your '68 02E  car.

Paul

[68Zproject]

There is a machined pad on the box that has the assembly date.  It's the Julian format too.  I couldn't see mine until I cleaned it up.  It's on the box where the cover goes on and is about 4 o'clock from the lash adjuster nut looking toward the firewall.

[fireZ]

Yes I have that pad cleaned off and it is  82926.

[68Zproject]

What year car?  Mine is a 68 and it has A 1318.  A is the first shift, 131st day of 1968 and matches the rest of my car.  Maybe the first 8 is a B.  The 292 is the Julian date and the 6 is for 1966? http://www.camaros.org/numbers.shtml#Calendar

[fireZ]

I took the steering box off the car and cleaned the pad up real good.Numbers are as follow B292 7. Hard to read in the car with weak eyes.

[68Zproject]

I hear that.  To check mine I've got to get the coke bottles out and a 10 million candle power light.  Sucks getting old (er).  So is that the original box?

[1968RSZ28]

There is a machined pad on the box that has the assembly date.  It's the Julian format too.  I couldn't see mine until I cleaned it up.  It's on the box where the cover goes on and is about 4 o'clock from the lash adjuster nut looking toward the firewall.

Thanks 68Z!  I've never noticed (or have heard about) the machined pad with the assembly code stamped on the manual steering gear housing.  Very cool!  So the cast julian date just below the steering gear housing casting number (5679142) is the date the housing was cast (like the casting date on an engine block) and the stamped assembly code on the machined pad is the date the steering gear was assembled (like the stamped engine assembly code on the engine pad).  Anybody know how to decipher the stamped assembly code on a first generation Camaro manual steering gear?

Paul

[1968RSZ28]

Anybody know how to decipher the stamped assembly code on a first generation Camaro manual steering gear?

Anybody...?

Paul

[KurtS]

Paul,
Patience grasshopper! 

A or B (shift or plant, I've never seen it confirmed)
Then Julian date, then year (single digit).

'A 032 9' is Feb 1, 69.

[1968RSZ28]

Paul,
Patience grasshopper! 

A or B (shift or plant, I've never seen it confirmed)
Then Julian date, then year (single digit).

'A 032 9' is Feb 1, 69.

Kurt,
Thanks Master!   

Steering gear housing cast date:  363  (Friday 12-29-67)

Steering gear assemble date:  B 036 8  (Shift or plant B on Monday 2-5-68)

Van Nuys build date:  02C


I just wanted to be sure we were deciphering the code correctly because firez's '68 Van Nuys built Z/28 was built after mine (02E), yet his steering gear was cast and assembled months before mine.   

Thanks again.

Paul   

[fireZ]

I dug through a couple boxes of parts that were in the trunk of my Z when I bought it and found another steering box. It looks like every
seal is gone in the steering box.Just for fun I degreased it and was able to read the build date on it. Makes me wonder if it was on the car and removed when it developed leaks everywere. Date as far as I can see is A0198 Pitman arm is 5.75 inches with GM part #3908391.

[1968RSZ28]

Date as far as I can see is A0198.

fireZ -

That assembly date is alot closer to mine (B0368).   

Paul