GMAD Production Build Sheet � Is it worth the effort to find it and then remove it?

[George H.]

^rd Edition TM member.

[Patrick H.]

[Rob V.]

[Joseph S.]

^rd Edition TM member.

George, If you find it is still in place and in good shape, I recommend removing the tank. Covering the sheet in plastic and tucking your original tank away for good keeping. Install a replacement tank.

I tell this story so many times. I had a customer with a 71 LT1 car. It no longer had it's original motor but what it did have is a clean legible tank sheet still attached to the original tank. He never pulled the tank, never took a photo. Years later he decided to pull the body to restore the frame, chassis and drivetrain. When he pulled the body off the frame he found that mice had gotten into his car, using insulation and his tank sheet, and built a nice nest right where the tank sheet once was! His only documentation and proof that he had an LT1 car was now lost forever.

Happy New Year!

[Patrick B.]

[Mark F.]

...Sounds like a lot of work and costly maneuver...Geore Hunt...

YES. No question about it...

Once removed, get it verified by the NCRS Document Validation Service.

[George H.]

GSD 99 Rev 4-72.jpg

[Terry M.]

[Mark F.]

I can certainly have the tank removed and replaced...I have the GM Chevrolet Dealers new car Inspection Document, GSD 99 Rev 4-72. That details the Dealer it was ordered from, Vin number, engine number, transmission number, axle number, interior trim code and paint code for the vehicle... I also have the Florida Highway Patrol Safety Inspection ticket showing same Dealer name, Vin number, 12-miles on the odometer and dated 8/2/1973. The Corvette was ordered by the Dealer for his showroom floor. It was sold to my friend on September 18, 1973. I purchased it from him in Feb 1980. Now the GSD 99 does not have all the other options on the car checked off, however, the important items, i.e., engine type, Vin number, transmission and axle number, type of interior and pain color are documented. Is that not as good as the build sheet to validate what the car is today?...

George,

You have great documentation and provenance for your car !
More than a lot would have in earlier generation cars.

The Tank Sheet would be the icing on the cake IMO - and would add another bit to your documentation of the "computer-generated" typewritten St.L. Plant data, proving what came with your car when it was shipped.

Don't know if this practice continued into C3s, but my Tank Sheet occasionally had hand-written Revision Number (RN) override authorizations on options that were ordered, but for some unknown reason were not available (or were mistakenly not put on as ordered) at the time the car was built. Mine was ordered w/ redstripe tires, but apparently they were not in the Plant (or someone screwed up) wherever the tires were mated with ordered wheels (and I've seen others, too). So, "DPB" whomever that was if I have read his handwriting correctly revised it with "RN 1583" to WSW tires before it was glued on my gas tank. I have also seen this same guy's "signature initials" on other '67 Tanks Stickers.

The previous owner of my car had successfully removed the sticker intact from the metal. I have no idea how he did it, but it's in amazingly good condition. Perhaps mine did not have lots of glue compared to others...dunno ?

Good luck with whatever you choose to do !

Tank Sticker with Revision Number authorization.jpg

[Tom R.]

Corvette Buildsheet Book: A Study Guide for 1973-82 Build Records. Its available in the NCRS bookstore. Much of this history was shared by John Hinckley.

Understand the assembly documentation process change after 1972...and we find that late-model C3 documents differ from C2 and early C3 production documents. However, the window sticker remained the same, and its data base generated the dealer invoice provided by the GM Heritage Center.

VIN31033_73.jpg

Run Sheet
low-run sheet_1976.jpg

I should add that in response to George's initial query, your buildsheet is (was) printed with the broadcast codes for the mechanicals installed on your LS4. Thus, the buildsheet codes would reconcile rather nicely with those mechanicals on the car...carb, alternator, engine suffix, transmission, axle code, emission system, etc. All of which have corresponding date codes as well. This becomes truly a "matching numbers" document.

[Rob V.]

[George H.]

[Ralph S.]

[Leif A.]

I'll play the sceptic for a moment and ask rhetorically:
Once removed from the car, how is one to know that the document actually came from that car? Even if verified as authentic by NCRS that piece of paper is not tied to that car in many cases.

I recognize that beginning sometime in 1971 and newer there is a partial VIN on the "tank sticker," so an authenticated document (if complete) will be able to be tied to a specific car. Those of us with earlier Corvettes are left in the dark regardless of what is legible on that paper.

While I was 1970-72 Team Leader, I was treated to more than one example of owners who found the data on the tank sticker didn't at all match the car it was found on. We began to conclude that the paper was from the car in front or behind the subject on the assembly line. I remember one example where two sheets from different cars were found on the fuel tank. These examples were the exception, but don't be surprised at what you might find. Rodents are the least of what may be there.

Something about life being a box of chocolates comes to mind.

Terry,
I was always of the opinion that when NCRS authenticated a tank sticker, they used the "Ident No." in the upper left hand corner of the sticker to verify it against the cars VIN. therefore, documenting that said sticker came from said car. Am I wrong here?

[Tim G.]