67 Holley date and VIN assembly date

[Thomas W.]

I have owned my 67 Convertible since 1986. The Holley List 3810 that came on the car when I bought it is a GM replacement 3810 Carb (date code 2232). The VIN is 09420, the car came off of the assembly line on 01/31/67. Engine build date 01/16/67. I am considering buying a 3810/3906631 with a 684 date code (4th week, August, 1966). Does a late August carburetor seem a little too early for my car assembly date?

As a point of reference, I also own a 1971 LT-1 with low miles, I bought it in 1989. I have the factory installed List 4801 on this engine and the date code of the carburetor is just about 30 days before the build date of the car.

Thanks. Tom

[Leif A.]

There could be arguments both ways for the date range, but according to the "rules" anything within six months prior to your car's build date is acceptable. My '67 Holley 4160 List 3810 was date stamped 743 (April 3rd week, 1967) and my car came off the assembly line on June 14, 1967.

[Mark L.]

Tom,
I believe I saw an add for a 3810 with a Jan date. Check the latest Driveline. Good luck.

[Thomas W.]

Mark, Yes I saw that carburetor as well. Date code is 713 (3rd week of January, 1967). The actual dates would be Jan. 16-20 for that carburetor. My engine has block has date code 01/18. Bell housing flange is 01/16. That time sequence seems a little tight?
Tom

[Terry M.]

Since the carburetor was installed at St Louis, the carburetor date is related to the vehicle build date and not the engine assembly date. In some extreme examples the carburetor date could be after the engine assembly date.

[Mark F.]

Since the carburetor was installed at St Louis, the carburetor date is related to the vehicle build date and not the engine assembly date. In some extreme examples the carburetor date could be after the engine assembly date.

Tom,

As Terry says, carbs were installed at about the 10th step on the engine dress line at St Louis...

And here’s what John Hinckley's said in his C2 Assembly Process Presentation (available in the Database of Restoration Documents [DoRD] Sticky Post):

Install gaskets and carburetor, pump-to-carb fuel line, elbows, fittings and fuel filter, and choke hot air tube or remote thermostat and choke rod. The large single air cleaners weren't installed until after body drop on the Final Line so they didn't block access for assembly of other parts.

and here's what the web says about Holley:
By 1960, Holley facilities included administrative and engineering offices in Warren, Michigan, carburetor manufacturing in Bowling Green, Kentucky, and Paris, Tennessee, and aircraft fuel system production in Clare, Michigan.

Paris Tn to St Louis is about a 3-hr and 50 min drive
Bowling Green Ky to St Louis is about a 4-hr and 25 min drive
Flint Mi to St Louis is almost an 8-hr drive
Tonawanda NY St Louis is almost an 11-hr drive

[Thomas W.]

Mark and Terry,
I appreciate providing the details of the assembly sequence. I was curious about all of this but I was hesitant to ask. My conclusion is that a 3810 dated 713 (01/16-01/20) could certainly be installed at the factory if my final assembly date was 01/31/67.

I am wondering what you might do if you could buy a 3810 684 or 3810 713. Or perhaps just wait to see if a good 3810 core becomes available in the future that is dated about 4-6 weeks before my final assembly date of 01/31/67? As you know, the hunt is sometimes better than the "find"!

I am asking all of this because my Corvette friends have encouraged me to have my car judged at an NCRS event and I am thinking about doing so. I have ordered the 8th Tech Info/Judging Guide and it arrives today.
Thanks. Tom

[Mark F.]

Tom,

I have dealt with 2 excellent carb rebuiders/restorers:
Craig Woodruff (Ohio) https://www.carburetorrestorationyoungstownoh.com/
and Phi Cancilla (New Jersey) https://customrebuiltcarburetors.com/

maybe they can help you on your quest...
I know they can restore whatever you have to NCRS quality

[Mike E.]

Tom, your point of reference in your first post is a bit of apples and oranges. Because of a 2+ month strike in mid-late 1970, dates on the first 30-40% of 1971’s can be extremely inconsistent and non-linear.