1967 engine block casting date L206 - Dec or Nov?

[danh3508]

I have a chance to purchase this engine for my 1967 Camaro. The seller says this is a Dec 20, 1966 date while my Corvette friend says it's Nov 20,1966? My build week on the car is 1st week Jan 1967. If this is 12/20/67, would this be to close to the build week. I've been told a casting date of 30-60 days before build week is correct?

[JohnZ]

"L" in a casting date is December; no reason that casting date wouldn't work for your car. Many Flint engines were machined/assembled within a day or two of the casting date, although a week or two is "typical". If you're taking the cowl tag date as the "build date", that's when the body shell was welded together at Fisher Body, not when the body finally got to Chevrolet and went through final assembly. If your cowl tag says 01A, the body could have been welded together as late as January 13th, and could have gotten its engine as late as January 18th or 19th.

[danh3508]

JohnZ - You are correct on the cowl tag (trim tag) and "L" month. The date is 01A and the body build number is (1) 66261. The starting production number for1967 per my reference book was (1) 65658. The CRG Research Report was what I was basing my concerns on. It is based on the 1969 1st Generation Assembly Process (Norwood). They said the 1969 assembly process could also be applied to the 1967-8 years?

The Fischer Body plant and the Chevrolet assembly division were next to each other with a common wall opening. They mention that it took 2 days (4 shifts) to go through the Fischer Body process and another 1 1/2 day (3 shifts) for the assembly process. The report says they were producing 57 cars per hour or 912 per day.

That was 1969, 1967 might be a different story so I tend to think your right. I can't believe the production would be as efficient for a first year production car. I appreciate you input. I found the engine build time frame to be very interesting. I still am not sure on this engine purchase?

[JohnZ]

'67-'68 production schedule was the same as '69; I wrote the CRG Research Report you mentioned. As I said earlier, that engine is OK for your car, assuming the pad stamp date also makes sense for it.

[danh3508]

That was an outstanding report! I was very impressed. I'll contact the seller on Monday to see what the pad stamping is. Hopefully it was never restamped.  I'll let you know. Thanks