Corvette Paperwork BEWARE TOUGH QUESTIONS

[M & K Perkins]

Hi All,

I was hoping I could get some clarification on some numbers taken from a couple original documents that came with an 80-82 Vette. I am looking for what they mean, were used for, where else could they be found etc. Please feel frre to cut & paste these questions with your insight. Any help would be appreciated more than you can imagine.

1. A&A routing number (from Dealer Invoice)EX 04120399

2. Ident no. (from Dealer Invoice)EX 1 B07730

3. 5 digit + 1 letter code proceeding Key Nos (on dealer invoice)EX 05952 S

4. 7 digit number at bottom left (of Dealer invoice) (above HP SW GVW DCW 11/13) EX 347640-0

5. How does one decode the Schedule no & date on the (Build Sheet)EX 36-6058 with 2-15 underneath. I imagine the 2-15 is Feb 15 but how do you find the year. I also imagine that the 6508 are the last 4 of the VIN but what is the 36-

6. Is the number on the LWR LFT (near the Cert #) of an original GM Certificate of Origin and the Warranty Avery label sticker sheet related EX LWR LFT of Cert = 04076 & 3rd line of Warr sticker sheet = 9 04076

7. Is the Dealer Order No. (on the Dealer Invoice) the same as the Order No. (on the Quick-Spec order form)

8. On the window sticker there is a code below the VIN. the line starts off with the zone & dealer code followed by a 6 digit number with a two letter code underneath the last two numbers EX XSA175 with UA under the "75"

9. LAST THING! If there is anyone who would be willing to share with me a very good full sized scan of a NON GMAC financed Dealer Invoice 1978-1982 I would be in their debt forever

Thanks everyone,
M & K

[Tom R.]

Re: Tough questions...tough love!

Understand that by 81...Corvette was readying for change over from St Louis to Bowling Green and documents changed as well. It's helpful to see the documents rather than guess at what is being described...can you post the documents?

Yeah...you've asked alot. You're comparing what I believe are same documents but if you are comparing dissimilar documents its harder to offer insights.

#5: Yes you've decoded the date code correctly...the number above it is a number assigned by the GM Zone to each order. But it's not the VIN prior to BG...this is where codes change from ST Louis to BG. Once produced by BG...they do sequence with the last four digits of the VIN. BG began to pre assign VINs to build sheets before they go to the floor. At St Louis...VINs got typed on the factory floor.

#7: I don't know what the Quick Spec form is but the order number is different from the Dealer Order number. The dealer order number comes from the preprinted order form the dealer submitted to Zone. Zone than assigns the Production Order number.

[M & K Perkins]

Re: Tough questions...tough love!

Hi Tom,

The question is a learning excersize for me. Unfortunately, I am comparing dissimilar documents in order to get a feel for GM's coding system etc. It appears that the 80-82 Corvette follow a similar pattern that possibly goes back to 1978 (maybe earlier).

The Quick-Spec form was used at least from 78 to the 90's. It is a pre-printed form that has a unique order # printed on it. The form was used to pick the closest "package" that matches the desired options and there is also a section to add + or delete - RPO's.

I am specifically interested in understandig the St. Louis 1981 Corvette but am interested generally.

As for pics, I need to learn how to post them but in the meantime hopefully my descriptions will help a little

Thanks & STW!

M&K

[Loren L.]

Easiest Questions in the World

Get your checkbook out, pick out an 1980, 1981 and 1982 VIN and pay the $$$ to the NCM to get copies of the window stickers for those cars. Easy?

[M & K Perkins]

Re: Easiest Questions in the World

I've definitely looked into that. Unfortunately, it appears that the window sticker are available for Bowling Green vehicles. St. Louis vehicles are a best guess as far as the actual form. Moreover, the window sticker info would only help me with one set of codes, the mystery code under the VIN. I sure wish GM would find the "missing" documents! I do appreciate the recommendation and help though

M&K

[Tom R.]

Re: Easiest Questions in the World

Actually what you get from the museum is the manifest or build sheet...not the window sticker. Been there...copied em.

The Restorer has had some great articles I believe in the last five years in regards to Corvette documents by John Hinckley and Al Grenning. Their publications cover the early C3 models...through 72.

Ironically, yesterday a proof came of my article for the Restorer that picks up with the 73 model year and carries through the 82 model year. It essentially discusses the late model C3 manifest from the St Louis production period...say 73 through 81. As I stated above there are some differences in what is automated once BG begins to produce cars.

There is little that exists of the "body of knowledge" for this period in regards to Corvette documentation. My suggestion is to begin with what has been published which serve as baseline knowledge to understand Corvette documents and the various fields used for production data. NCRS now packages these in CDs. Before my computer crashed...I could have offered to give you the precise references but I would have to do some digging to retrieve em.

PS...but here's a little known tidbit I learned from the BG GM...

Before the late 70's productin orders were not sorted by body color but rather fed through the paint booth by some other method. So when the body got into the paint booth...the worker clearned the paint gun by pointing it at the grate in the floor and plugging in the next paint color hose.

It was the current GM as a young process engineer that introduced the notion of sorting orders by color type. So the plant began to paint all one color before changing to the next series of production orders. But the point is you can see this change as you sort through manifests at the museum and you see this today as you roam the plant.

[John H.]

Re: Easiest Questions in the World

The Dealer Wholesale Invoice for all Chevrolets (including St. Louis-built Corvettes) from 1977-up are available (for $50 each) from Allied-Vaughn (contractor to Chevrolet Media Archives):

Chris Barkoozis, General Manager
Allied Vaughn
11923 Brookfield, Livonia, Michigan 48150
(800) 462-5543, ext. 105
Chris.barkoozis@alliedvaughn.com

[M & K Perkins]

Re: Easiest Questions in the World

Hi John! I already have the document. In fact, LT1 George and I were the ones who posted the original messages on this board, the CAC and CF that the paperwork was available from Peggy at GM. Unfortunately, GM got the briliant idea to sub the service out to a third party who is now charging $50 bucks (It was free when alot of us got them).

That document and some others I have come across are the basis of the questions listed in my first post in this thread. I'm not sure if this thread is now buried to the point where no one will see it but it would be interseting to thoroughly define the following terms & discuss the coding on each document. Those who serach for these words in the future might run across this thread. Maybe we can even get them to be put on the site dictionary

Warranty Avery label sheet
Certificate of Origin
Retail Buyers Order
Quick-Spec
Dealer Copy
Job Number
Ident Number
Dealer Order Number
Invoice Number
Order Copy
Dealer Invoice
Car Shipper
Window Sticker
Vin Number
Key Package
Key Number
ECL Codes
Bill of Material
Broadcast Copy
Broadcast Code
Sequence Number
A&A Routing Number
Dealer & Zone number
Interest Commencement Date
Date of Execution
Expiration of Transit Time
Schedule Number Date