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I am wondering what most people / judges would expect to see for a carb date on a 72 base motor car with an engine assemply date of May 7th. The block casting date is April 26th. Would you expect to see an April dated carb (D2) or a May dated carb (E2). I know either one would work for judging purposes, but which would you exepct to see?
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Re: Carb date compared to engine build date?
Engine build date has nothing to do with the carb date, Ed. Engines were built and test-fired using a propane fixture (no gasoline). The first time an engine saw its carb was on the power train feeder line at the final assy plant. Hence, carb date should key off the vehicles final assy date (VIN driven vs. engine build date driven). Plus, some of the rare engine configurations (e.g. L88) often have carbs built WELL outside the typical 6-month rule because they were ordered in production batch runs from Holley and sat in inventory for a LONG time at St. Louis. But, those are exception cases.... -
Re: Carb date compared to engine build date?
Ed, as Jack said, it is more a function of your CAR'S build date because the carburetor was installed in St. Louis.
The transportation time of the engine must be taken into account. Therefore...if it took three weeks for your engine to be installed in a car at St. Louis (say build Date in late May), the carb date could be EITHER D2 or E2. If the engine transport time was only one week, it is still POSSIBLE that E2 could have been installed in a mid-May car, but in my opinion, the odds are declining.
The date on the carb depended on inventory on hand, carb delivery frequency, carb plant work scheduling, how the carb was pulled out of assembly plant stock...there are too many variables, in my opinion, to set a specific date within two or three months. If someone has a simiarly equipped 72 close to your VIN, the date on the carb MIGHT be a clue, but for some reasons already stated, it is just as likely to be considerably different. If several 72s around your VIN show up with close carb dates, that could indicate that something was influencing the carb supply to short lead time; i.e. they were using them as soon as they got them, and therefore it would be a good indication of your probable carb date.
Personally, I would probably opt for the April carb, particularly if it is the one in best cosmetic condition. For either an early or late May car build date, an April carb date would be completely reasonable, in my opinion, without having access to a LOT of additional 72 carb date observations. I don't think anyone can give you better info unless they have seen a LOT of original carb 72s around your VIN.Comment
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