Rear differential date proceeds body build date by one day

[Jack O.]

Hi everyone,

I have a 69 with build date of Jan 22 1969. I believe my rear differential is original to the car. The stamped date on it proceeds the car's body build date by one day - it's Jan 21 1969. Certainly possible but I know not typical. I'm wondering if anyone has seen anything similar. I guess the rears were built at another plant, Warren I think, and then shipped to St. Louis.

Thanks.

[Chuck B.]

Re: Rear differential date proceeds body build date by one day

Not to worry

[Jack O.]

Re: Rear differential date proceeds body build date by one day

Hi Chuck, good to hear from you! Does that mean you've seen something similar on other cars?

[Larry E.]

Re: Rear differential date proceeds body build date by one day

If I read this correct and the dates given are correct; I just can't believe this is legit. Warren Mi to St. Louis is 560 miles; it
would have to have been Air Freighted in which I believe did not happen. Someone will have to explain this to me. Of course this
is JMHO>Larry P.S. Just don't see this as being "Possible"; what am I missing??

[Mark F.]

Re: Rear differential date proceeds body build date by one day

If I read this correct and the dates given are correct; I just can't believe this is legit. Warren Mi to St. Louis is 560 miles; it would have to have been Air Freighted in which I believe did not happen. Someone will have to explain this to me. Of course this is JMHO>Larry P.S. Just don't see this as being "Possible"; what am I missing??

1. ^stst offloaded at the St. Louis complex on the 2^ndstststnd

body-dropped and shipped the same dayJust-In-Time

[Jack O.]

Re: Rear differential date proceeds body build date by one day

Wow, great explanation Mark. Thanks so much for that - I'm always learning something from this valuable forum! I figured it would be unusual but not impossible or totally unlikely.

I did inspect another car, a 69 in fact, some years ago in which the rear stamp preceded the body build date by two days and it seemed likely that the rear was original to the car.

--Jack

[Larry E.]

Re: Rear differential date proceeds body build date by one day

Mark: Nice explanation but I think the only flaw in it is that the truck can not make this trip in 9 Hrs going through
the Chicago "Bottleneck"(By Gary Ind). This would require a layover at some point in the trip adding 8-10 Hrs. of
the trip. JMHO>Larry

[Mark F.]

Re: Rear differential date proceeds body build date by one day

Wow, great explanation Mark. Thanks so much for that - I'm always learning something from this valuable forum! I figured it would be unusual but not impossible or totally unlikely. I did inspect another car, a 69 in fact, some years ago in which the rear stamp preceded the body build date by two days and it seemed likely that the rear was original to the car. --Jack

Good deal, Jack...

I like these puzzlers - keeps your gray matter firing on all cylinders (or at least most of them )
This is just one scenario concocted by me based on what I experienced in the auto industry in the mid-70s, plus what I have read by John Hinckley, Larry Galloway and in GM Heritage Center documents.

One other question, do you happen to know the Shipping Date for your car? thx, Mark

Mark: Nice explanation but I think the only flaw in it is that the truck can not make this trip in 9 Hrs going through the Chicago "Bottleneck"(By Gary Ind). This would require a layover at some point in the trip adding 8-10 Hrs. of the trip. JMHO>Larry

Larry,

Thanks - FYI I just punched it into Google and rounded (I assume they take habitual traffic congestion areas into account, but don't know for sure). this morning it says 8hr 34 mins, so maybe I was looking mid-afternoon?

Anyhow, even if it got there 8 to 10 hrs. later at 4 - 5 - or 6AM on the 22nd, GUARANTEED that line was not going to shut down if Jack's diff was in the critical path potentially leading toward that. Also, I don't know if FIFO, LIFO, or some other inventory method was used at St. Louis.

Tight timing? definitely.
TFP? Nope.
Possible? Looks like it to me...

[Bob D.]

Re: Rear differential date proceeds body build date by one day

Ok I am going to throw in a hypothetical: What if the original differential had a problem? The car is sent back and has a new differential installed. The body build date on the trim tag does not change, but the date the car left St Louis does.

Bob

[Larry E.]

Re: Rear differential date proceeds body build date by one day

Larry,

Thanks - FYI I just punched it into Google and rounded (I assume they take habitual traffic congestion areas into account, but don't know for sure). this morning it says 8hr 34 mins, so maybe I was looking mid-afternoon?

Mark>When you google mileage the time is given for a car not a truck. Still think this is impossible unless>>Picture of
truck needed for this scenario below>> of course JMHO-Larry

[Jack O.]

NM: Unfortunately I do not have docs showing the shipping date

Unfortunately I do not have docs showing the shipping date

[Mark F.]

Re: Rear differential date proceeds body build date by one day

Mark>When you google mileage the time is given for a car not a truck. Still think this is impossible unless>>Picture of truck needed for this scenario below>> of course JMHO-Larry

LOL! Hilarious thanks, I needed that!
My recent experiences with trucks on the Interstates is they drive faster than I do...

Perhaps Bob Demmel's scenario is the correct one(?)...the original diff crapped out on roll test and went to the repair area for diff replacement before being shipped from the Plant...

PS -I know what an LT1 is and I hate being a dunce, but what is an LTI in a 1LE?

[Larry E.]

Re: Rear differential date proceeds body build date by one day

LOL! Hilarious thanks, I needed that!
My recent experiences with trucks on the Interstates is they drive faster than I do...

Perhaps Bob Demmel's scenario is the correct one(?)...the original diff crapped out on roll test and went to the repair area for diff replacement before being shipped from the Plant...

PS -I know what an LT1 is and I hate being a dunce, but what is an LTI in a 1LE?

Mark: Thanks for the nice comments. AFA the 1LE goes it is a very special Camaro Z28. I bought one brand new(1994) from a
local Chevy Dealer which needed special permission from Chevrolet to get as it was made for SCCA Racing. No T-Tops/A-C/Automatic Trans. where allowed with H/D Radiator and Baffles in the gas tank. I bought for investment only; sold it a couple years ago with a total of 179 Total miles on it. Got more $$ then what I paid for it new. It went on and sold at Barret-Jackson
Auction for close to 30K. That was one of the highest prices I have ever seen for an early Gen 4 Camaro. Thanks for asking>
Larry