Hi all,
I emailed Kurt Sonen and he suggested I post here.
I'm looking for the correct part number and date code for my 68 RS convertible.
Here are the particulars on the car:
1. Cowl tag 09C built in Van Nuys
2. Shipping data report 9/14/67
3. Original dealership Cormier Chevrolet of Long Beach, CA
4. Engine pad stamp 18L 302530 T0907EE
5. Engine is 327/275hp with power steering and powerglide
The Chevrolet by the Numbers book by Colvin is a bit unclear about the part number I should be looking for and I'm also not sure how many days or weeks before the cowl tag date or engine pad stamp date I should be looking for as well. I'm assuming the 37 amp alternator would be most correct?
I enjoy your site and feel fortunate to be the second owner of this numbers matching 68 Camaro since 1991.
Thanks, Brian
You don't say if it has a/c or not unless I missed something...Joe
Oh, no air conditioning. Thanks !
I come up with 1100794 according to the 1968 Chassis overhaul book. Let's see what others say...Joe
I concur. 1100794, which was the standard 37 amp alternator.
Ed
Chevrolet Chassis Service Manual
SPECIFICATIONS 11
Engine Electrical Section 6Y
Generator
Camaro V-8 Exc. w/C-60
1100794
Joe & Ed got it!
Date Just see what is avail out on the market and see If you can predate your build by a reasonable and acceptable range
Here's a guy on ebay that has a 7G7 for 25.00....Joe
https://www.ebay.com/itm/373437616310?hash=item56f29dd0b6:g:zAQAAOSwGsheMveV
Hi all,
Thanks for the replies. I have a few more questions:
While the Colvin book leans towards 1100794 what about 1100813 for a power steering car? I think the 794 is w/o PS? Am I reading it wrong?
Also, what is an acceptable "date" and is it before cowl tag or engine pad stamp? How much before especially for a Van Nuys car which I'd assume is some distance away from where alternators were made?
Thanks, Brian
I read the 1100813 as applicable to :
ALL L-6
Brian, the 1100813 was used on 6 cylinder cars WITH smog and/or power steering. The 1100794 was for all V8 (except the 302, A/C or the optional 62 amp alternator) and 6 cylinder cars WITHOUT smog and/or power steering.
Alternators were installed on the engine dress line so it should be dated a day or so to several days before the car was assembled.
Ed
Thanks for replies especially clarification on part numbers.
So, date code range is from a few days to a few weeks from engine stamp date for LOS cars?
Hi again,
So to clarify with a cowl tag of 09C and engine stamp of T0907EE what is the date code range I'm looking for? I have not seen this "range" listed anywhere.
Thanks very much,
Brian
There can be a little science when trying to find missing components. Even finding a car built around your time frame can't guarantee the parts were the same on your car.
My 1968 Z/28 is a 02E with an assm date of March 13th, 1968. My alternator is an 8A9, so Jan 9th, 1968. Now this car uses a different alternator than your car but it' a little over a month earlier than the assm date of the car. This is an example. I need to find a starter for my car. My friends 1968 Z28 was built at the same plant on the same day. I will try to find a starter with the same date as his, 8A23.
When I crunched the numbers for my 69, a lot of the Delco was withing a month of each other. Still not a perfect science....Joe
Common parts like starters, alternators and all other components that were attached at the engine dress line for base engines were usually (not always, but usually) much closer to the build date of the car than parts for optional engines. For example, my 68 L78/L89 was assembled the 4th week of May, 1968 and the distributor is dated late March, 1968. The Holley carb is also dated late March, 1968, so you can see there's a big difference. Heck, the aluminum heads are dated late January, 1968!
Ed
Hi Ed,
So you are saying on the "base" engines that alternators, carbs, voltage regulators, starters and similar "dated" engine components would likely be dated within a few weeks or a month before engine stamping but "rarer" engines would more likely to be dated a couple of months before?
That makes sense and I think the part number and date information would be great research topics for the website. If I didn't have Alan Colvin's book I'd really be in the dark. With additional info from those that replied I get it now. Just think a central "report" on the website would be helpful to many and would reduce the need to answer so many questions here.
Thanks to you and others at CRG for what you do for the hobby,
Brian
QuoteSo you are saying on the "base" engines that alternators, carbs, voltage regulators, starters and similar "dated" engine components would likely be dated within a few weeks or a month before engine stamping but "rarer" engines would more likely to be dated a couple of months before?
No. Parts that were attached to the engine at the engine dress line for base engines are
usually dated close to the build date of the car because they're much more common. Parts that were attached to the engine at the engine dress line for optional engines are
usually dated farther out from the build date of the car because they were less common. It just depends on the engine and options. For example, they made thousands of LF7 cars so those would have parts dated closer together than an L78 or a Z28. None of this is cut and dried though. It's just a general rule.
Ed
Hi Bert,
Thanks but still doesn't really answer my "date code" window question very specifically. While I understand the concept it still is tough for a "home" restorer to know what "time period" to look for. While I realize there are differences for popular/common versus rare/unusual engine or accessory combinations I think most of us are looking to get it right with the "time frame" as it relates to engine stamp/cowl code dating.
Is there any way you could come up with an approximate window/time frame?
Thanks very much,
Brian
PS: I think plenty of members would like to know before they go out on the search for the needle in the haystack part to rebuild. Thanks again!
Brian,
There are no hard and fast rules. I know you want an answer. The answer is that part dates can vary between a week or two to a few months.
Parts came into the plant, parts were used. High volume application were used in higher volumes and generally weren't stored.
That's it! A week or two to a few months. Just what I wanted to hear!
I hope you eventually post that on the website.
Thanks for all you do for the Camaro hobby