Date code error? What the heck?

[Doug C.]

The Colvin books tell me a "J" month code for alternators s/b September. September don't have 31 days. Am I reading this wrong? The item is too cheap to be forged.

http://www.snapfish.com/slideshow/Al...05/t_=41414405

[Doug C.]

Re: Date code error? What the heck?

Does not look like I've got this picture thing figured out yet. Until I do the date code on the alternator is 5J31 on a 1100693 37 amp unit.

[Doug C.]

Re: Date code error? What the heck?

Hopefully this will do it

[Kevin M.]

Re: Date code error? What the heck?

If I remember right they skip a letter, I, I think. This move J back to Aug.

Kevin

[Doug C.]

Re: Date code error? What the heck?

Kevin, The letter they skip is "I" which is the 9th letter in the alphabet and would be the 9th month (September). So the 9th month gets the 10th letter "J".
I know this varies with other types of castings. The month code chart I'm looking at is from Colvin's "Corvette by the numbers" book chapter 13 pg.348. It also shows up in his "Chevrolet by the numbers" 1965-69 in chapter 14 pg. 253. Thanks - Doug

[John H.]

Re: Date code error? What the heck?

Looks like a date code error to me. That plant in Anderson, Indiana was the first component plant GM really automated big-time (besides AC Spark Plug); raw material went in one end and finished alternators came out the other end at 20,000+ per day with little human intervention, and NOBODY paid any attention to date codes (in any GM plant), as they were meaningless except to the service/warranty people in the field.

[Dale S.]

Re: Date code error? Y2K ? *NM*