1966 small block radiator inspection sticker

[Gary B.]

What is the current thinking regarding the presence or absence of a green number, such as 3, 7 or 8, on a clear sticker attached to the top surface of small block radiators in 1966?

The 2nd thru the 5th editions of the ‘66 JG have a near identical description saying: “A small Harrison inspection sticker, using up to 2 green numbers on a clear background, is attached to the top surface of the radiator…”

The current, 6th edition of the ‘66 JG says: “A small Harrison inspection sticker, using up to 2 green numbers on a clear background, is randomly attached to the top surface of the radiator…”

The previous and current descriptions differ by the one word “randomly”. I assume this means that some small block radiators in ‘66 do not have the green number, and some do. So, the presence or absence of the sticker is random. Am I interpreting that correctly?

Thanks,

Gary

[Keith B.]

I can't think that every single radiator and surge tank was inspected

[Gary B.]

Keith,

That is my thinking as well. Maybe every 10th or every 25th was checked for some defect. But surely not every one. Unless the manufacturing process was extremely unreliable. Which is doubtful.

Gary

[Harry S.]

The word random does not mean is was not on the tank, but it was on the tank in no specific spot.

I think randomly applied would mean you may or may not have one.

So, no sticker, I would expect a point deduction.

[Gary B.]

Harry,

Are you stating a known fact? Or an alternative supposition about the meaning of the JG wording? Keith’s supposition seems more logical to me.

If your statement is correct, why revise the JG wording, since the wording in the earlier editions says nothing about location or orientation?

Gary

[Harry S.]

I've seen some judges deduct points because the sticker was fender side and almost impossible to read. I think the new wording favors the owner. In a past life I wrote large $$$ contracts, the use of words is very important.

[Gary B.]

Harry,

I agree with you 100% that the use of words is very important. In my reading of the current JG, if the word random were intended to refer to location or orientation of the sticker, the writers would have made that clear. Which is why I think random more likely refers to the presence or absence of the sticker. I don’t know that for certain, which is why I posted the question. But I think we can both agree that the JG wording is not sufficiently clear. Or I wouldn’t have needed to post the question in the first place.

Gary

[Gary B.]

I contacted a key member of the Revision Team for the ‘66 JG who specializes in chassis judging, which is where the radiator label is judged. He confirmed Harry’s supposition. He told me the word “random” in the JG was specifically intended to refer to the location of the number sticker on the radiator. The number sticker should always be present. The text in the next edition of the ‘66 JG will be revised to make this much more clear.

Gary