'62 2174 Generator with weird date tag

[Paul B.]

Hi,
My May 1st '62 300 powerglide has a 2174 generator as it should. It has the correct front rubber bushing and the large flange with reinforcement ribs (wrong color). The date plate shows a January 4th 1961 date? I understand from the judging manual that the plates were done in batches, but could mine have a date from a year and several months prior? It can't be from a '61, since the 2174 only came in to use on '62's, right? I don't want to get dinged during judging...
Thanks,
Paul

[Paul B.]

Close-up pic of tag *NM*

[Mike E.]

Re: '62 2174 Generator with weird date tag

2174's were also used on truck applications, going back, as I recall, to 1959. My guess is that's what you have. Often the truck pulleys were different sizes than the Corvette.
It's also possible that someone put the wrong year date in the machine at Delco in Anderson, or it could be that this was the first run of 2174 tags in 62 (January 4th) and the operator forgot to change the year designation. (We've seen no other examples of this, however). I do have in my possession a May 1962 2174, out of a very original 62, that has the stamping on a black tag (generally used for a starter rather than a generator)--can't assuame anything when it comes to assembly-line production!!!
The problem that you have, nonetheless, is a non-typical installation, with no documentation that this is the pulley that came on your car. You'll have to expect to lose points in judging--BUT--if you believe that it is the original to your car, I'd leave it on (or get another one for judging, and this one for your own satisfaction).
By the way, what is the serial number of your car? (Approx. build date, too?)
Regard,
Mike #211

[Mike M.]

Re: Close-up pic of tag

the comma between anderson and ind leads me to conclude the tag is a genuine tag. most repo tags use a period between anderson and indiana. mike

[Paul B.]

Re: '62 2174 Generator with weird date tag

Thanks both Mikes for the great feedback.
The VIN number is 110156, and in this letter from GM Canada that I posted on another forum, you can see that they give May 1st as the date. The C1 registry though places the build date at April 23rd. The casting date on the block is March 20th, and the assembly date April 2nd, so I figure April 23rd is probably closer...
Paul

[Mike E.]

Re: '62 2174 Generator with weird date tag

Paul--
That would lead me to believe that someone was entrepeneurial enough to find an original truck piece and retrofit it to your car. That elapsed time from generator build to installation is very non-typical of 62 generator production and installation timing, as per the 100+ records I have of generator dates on very original 62's.

[Paul B.]

Re: '62 2174 Generator with weird date tag

Thanks Mike,

BTW, it does have the correct 3 5/8 pulley with the 1/4 offset, could it have been a warranty or service replacement way back when?.
Since I can't document it, and the date can't be correct for any Corvette, I'll probably just change out the tag...
I think I also may understand why the discrepancy in the car build dates between the registry and GM Canada, in 1962 April 22nd was Easter!

Paul

[Jimmy B.]

Re: '62 2174 Generator with weird date tag

One possibility I see is that since this is early January of the New Year someone just plain ole made a mistake and forgot to change the year! Happens to me until about March or so every year.