Tank Sheet

[Michael M.]

This has probably been asked and answered many times in different ways but I want to ask again anyway.

I've recently purchased a '72 LS5 with 28,000 miles. The car is in very original condition ( except for the usual tires, battery, mufflers, 1 heater hose, ...). I believe the car has definite Bow Tie potential. I have a lot of documentation and am confused about one thing.

I have a 2 page build sheet for the car in a binder, and can see a 1 page tank sticker still attached to the tank. It looks to be in pretty good shape and am requesting opinions as to whether or not it is better to leave the tnk sheet attached, or to carefully remove it a protect it for the future.

I plan to "campaign" the car next year....

[Tony H.]

Re: Tank Sheet

Mike,

My vote would be to leave the tank sticker in place until you complete the campaign for Bow-tie. I don't think you will gain much by trying to remove the tank sticker before hand. I think you can only risk a negative judgement in the Bow-tie judging by "molesting" your otherwise original car. Besides, what's another year in the 31-32 year life of your car's tank sticker. I think it will be fine if it is removed next year.

[Gary C.]

Re: Tank Sheet

Sound like you have a very nice original car with some documentation.

I would ask myself "How would this car or my life be improved by removing the tank sheet"? A nice original, unmolested car will speak for itself. It will be perfectly obvious it is not made up. Made up cars are the ones that need the tank sticker put in a binder.

If you are serious about Bowtie, I would suggest removing as little as possible from the car, except dirt. You even have to be careful with dirt removal, as sometimes this also removes things like chalk markings, paper tags, etc. My best advice is when you remove the dirt and find that neat lumber crayon marking (on the halfshafts, for example) stop at that point. Once chassis markings are visible do not try to make them more visible with more cleaning. You might end up washing off what you are trying to preserve. I have been there and done that. Just try to get a 35 year old never been washed shock absorber clean without washing off the whithered up paper broadcast sticker that is probably held on by the surrounding dirt anyway. I learned the hard way!

Good Luck with your great car!

[Michael M.]

Re: Tank Sheet

Tony - Thanks. My thoughts are to leave it there too. Just kinda looking for confirmation.

Gary - Yep I've been doing minor cleaning and avoiding removing anything but dirt and grease ... but I had a bad day also ... in retrospect I'm not sure if I couldv'e done anything about it though ... Car had the "CM" yellow marking on the steering gear housing, but it was literally saturated by a leaking master cylinder cap ... It was so fragile that nothing could have preserved it ... did get a picture of it though !!!

[mikemccagh]

Re: Tank Sheet

mike: if you elect to allow the tank sticker to remain in place , suggest you insert a rooled up cotton towel or dry sponge ( carefully) between the tank sticker and the underside of the fiberglass. tank stickers, being attached with a cheap water-soluble glue , have been know to disappear at speed. mike

[Tom R.]

Re: Tank Sheet

Mike:

You've gotten some good advise here...if you've already dropped the tank...you've already tinkered with originality and good judges will detect a tank removal and wonder "why?" And you may not have a chance to explain the "why?"

As I've learned, the tank sticker is a copy of the Corvette Order and shows you the broadcast codes for the options on the car. It will not have your vehicle's VIN...so once removed it no longer can be associated with the vehicle other than your word that it was on that car and you removed it. It fails to link the options on that Corvette to the VIN on your door post and block.

More interesting is the "build sheet" you describe. My question to you is when you say "build sheet" what does it say at the top? And where was it found? Build sheet is a generic term used to describe both order copies and broadcast sheets and so I ask. Others will be able to add even more to your finds and we'll all learn from the experience.

[Chuck S.]

Re: Tank Sheet

Tom, you have perfectly expressed why I would never remove the tank sticker.

"As I've learned, the tank sticker is a copy of the Corvette Order and shows you the broadcast codes for the options on the car. It will not have your vehicle's VIN...so once removed it no longer can be associated with the vehicle other than your word that it was on that car and you removed it. It fails to link the options on that Corvette to the VIN on your door post and block."

After Bowtie judging was finished, I might add a protective plastic film covering over the tank sticker, but I would never remove it...to me, it makes no sense and serves no purpose except vain trophy display. There are too many liars in the world for me to waste time trying to convince people "It really used to be on the car".

[Terry M.]

Tank Sheet VIN *TL*

Actually beginning in mid-1971 production the VIN and key codes are on the tank sticker - at least through 1972. One of Lyle's posts indicates the VIN is on 1974 as well, so.....
I still agree with leaving it in place on a car that has Bowtie potential - and maybe other cars as well. Many are unreadable when recovered, anyway.

[Michael M.]

Re: Tank Sheet VIN

Thanks All ... I will be leaving it on the car ... will probably follow Chucks adviss about protecting it AFTER Bowtie judging. I've been able to some digital pictures of it with a SMALL camera ... and it appears very readable from the parts that have wrinkled up ( so they can be seen).

[Paul B.]

Re: Tank Sheet VIN

1973 & 1974 have "broadcast sheets" on the tanks. These are long lengthwise and like a full sheet of paper, not like the vertical narrow '67-'72 type. These broadcast sheets have unbelievable info!!! Has the "broadcast" codes for virtually everything on the car thar could be different from another. Broadcast codes for belts, alternator, starter, steering gear, shocks, rear spring, front springs, engine code, tranny code, rear end code, paint code, interior code, carb, master cylinder, paint codes, and much more including as others have said the key cut code and VIN + original ordering dealer, whether car was "customer ordered", how it was shipped, etc. The "broadcast sheets" of '73 & '74 give more info of both the earlier tank stickers and window stickers COMBINED!!! Quite a find to have one for your car actually!!! Incidentally, this documentation TELLS THE EXACT DATE(at least in my case)or the closest date to actual "build date" of the car than the trim tag does itself. My '74's build date is 9/11 '73, but the trim tag say B08(Sept 8, '73).

[Tony H.]

Re: Tank Sheet VIN

Paul,

That is very interesting. That means that your body came out of paint and the trim tag affixed to the body on Saturday, Sept 8, 1973. No work on Sunday 9/9/73, then a shift and a half later (Monday, 9/10/73) your car was completed and out the door by Tuesday, 9/11/03.

[Warren F.]

Re: Tank Sheet

Mike: I recomend you CAREFULLY remove the "tank sticker" and PRESERVE it. I have a lot of documentation on my '71 LS6 coupe. The vin # is on the Corvette Order Copy sheet attached to the tank. It is a carbon copy and with age, climate, humidity, etc will continue to deteriorate until you have a useless piece of documentation. Save IT while you still can, as it has information on it, that is not on a 'window sticker'. It sounds like you found a great car, but as you stated it has the "usual changed items" so leaving the 'tank sticker' in place doesn't make it any more desireable, but certainly would go a long ways in helping to document such a desireable car!

[Michael M.]

Re: Tank Sheet

Thanks for the input. I've decided to leave it put for now ... at least until after I go for ( through ) Bow Tie judging. I have all kinds of documentation for the car already and really don't want to jeopardize my chances at Bow Tie.

[Dave S.]

Re: Tank Sheet

I think you are smart to leave alone. Even though documentation is not required for NCRS judging, the judges will most likely see that the tank was dropped thus raising originality concerns and a failure for the tank and its components. Good Luck with the Bowtie process.