Late '66 Voltage Regulators for early '67 build, different fonts for stamped numbers?

[Scott S.]

The original voltage regulator is missing on my January '67 coupe, replaced with a more recent Delco-Remy. The receipt for the replacement voltage regulator is dated 9-19-90, the part is listed as 1119507 - D632. The original voltage regulator should be here somewhere, in the box that the replacement part came in, but so far it hasn't turned up.

While looking at various restored, used and NOS voltage regulators dated for a January 1967 car (either "6L" for November 1966 or "6M" for December 1966), I noticed that some voltage regulators have one "style" or "font" for the number "6", and others have a different kind of "6" stamped in the date section.

In the examples below, the best approximation I can do with the computer keyboard is "6" (top picture) vs. "6" (bottom picture). The top picture is of a restored Delco-Remy '515' voltage regulator dated "6M", and the bottom picture is a never installed NOS Delco-Remy '515' dated "6L" that was pictured with the old cardboard box with the tin lid and a zip-cord opening top.

Is it normal to have different "styles" or "fonts" in the lettering and numbering stamped into the metal, even though they were made by the same company only one month apart?

Might this be a distinction between a production-line part and a service replacement part?

What about the out of alignment "515" stamping on the restored example (top picture), is that a cause for concern?

[John M.]

Re: Late '66 Voltage Regulators for early '67 build, different fonts for stamped numb

One might be a 1976 and the other 1966 ..Thanks JOHN

[Michael G.]

Re: Late '66 Voltage Regulators for early '67 build, different fonts for stamped numb

One might be a 1976 and the other 1966 ..Thanks JOHN

Don't believe that is the case John. I've restored numerous regulators with oldest observed to be 1972. May have been manufactured past '72 however have not seen.

Regarding your post Scott, have seen regulators with slight variations in number and letter stamping. It would be my opinion that some of the restorers (who do this for a living) may possibly massage the letters and number to let's say......"clean them up". In doing so my appear additionally more "crisp" than they would have been originally.

[Scott S.]

Re: Late '66 Voltage Regulators for early '67 build, different fonts for stamped numb

One might be a 1976 and the other 1966 ..Thanks JOHN

Thanks John, that certainly makes sense as a possibility. There was a Thread I was reading recently about trying to determine the approximate dates of various packages used by GM, and I think one of the packages discussed was the square-ish tin-lid box with the zip-cord opening that the 1119515 voltage regulators came in. That would at least give us an idea about whether the 1119515 was still available in service in 1976, but I can't seem to find the Thread.

[Scott S.]

Re: Late '66 Voltage Regulators for early '67 build, different fonts for stamped numb

Don't believe that is the case John. I've restored numerous regulators with oldest observed to be 1972. May have been manufactured past '72 however have not seen.

Hi Mike,

I have read in the archives that Corvette used the "515" voltage regulator through 1968, but that some other GM cars used the "515" up until 1972. It would make sense that the "515" would have been available in service for a while after that, but I don't know. It may have been superseded by another part number for service replacement immediately after production-line usage ceased in 1972.

Regarding your post Scott, have seen regulators with slight variations in number and letter stamping. It would be my opinion that some of the restorers (who do this for a living) may possibly massage the letters and number to let's say......"clean them up". In doing so my appear additionally more "crisp" than they would have been originally.

That makes sense too, but in the picture I posted, the "6" definitely appears to be an entirely different font on each voltage regulator, like the difference between "Times New Roman" and "Courier New". The "12 V N" appears identical on both VRs, so the "font" wasn't changed for all the numbers and letters, only the numeral for the date appears to have changed.

The first "5" in "515" in the restored example (top picture) is badly out of alignment, so is the first "1" in "1119". What I would like to figure out about that section is whether this misalignment on a voltage regulator part number was typical (as I have learned is often the case with some parts, particularly hand-stamped parts for example) or whether such a misalignment would be uncharacteristic for a voltage regulator.

[Michael G.]

Re: Late '66 Voltage Regulators for early '67 build, different fonts for stamped numb

Scott,

The 515 was used late 1963 till at least 1972. Still don't believe what you have is a later manufactured 515 as I have not seen this to be the case. Stamping on the mounting flange did periodically have a slight variation as you've noted. Much like the stamping on an engine block.

[John M.]

Re: Late '66 Voltage Regulators for early '67 build, different fonts for stamped numb

I have had NOS regulators dated between 4 and 7 with NON sloted head cover screws (only used mid 1969 and later) all 1963-1968 had slot head cover screws, that tells me they are made between 1974 - 1977...Thanks JOHN

[Jim C.]

Re: Late '66 Voltage Regulators for early '67 build, different fonts for stamped numb

Scott,

I checked the stampings on my 66's voltage regulator, and see that the number 6 is much more similar to the 6 in the top picture that you posted. Mine is a 6F, or June, 1966. The 1119 and 515 stampings all appear to line up pretty evenly. I know for sure that this part has been on my car since the early 1980s. To be honest, it doesn't look like it's ever been off the car. The screws holding the regulator to the inner fender appear to be original hardware. I think this part and it's stampings are unaltered and original.

Jim C.

[William C.]

Re: Late '66 Voltage Regulators for early '67 build, different fonts for stamped numb

Keep in mind that the 515 was used on chev pass cars, as well as other GM lines and this was an era when GM sales were increasing significantly. New tooling brought on line would not exactly duplicate fonts and such of the existing tooling. Also, the existing tooling would continue in production so slight variations from car to car, even in one plant or model would not be unusual.

[Jack H.]

Re: Late '66 Voltage Regulators for early '67 build, different fonts for stamped numb

Plus, my hunch is there was more than ONE assy point & emboss stamping machine to handle the volume demand for common parts like this. That's an issue we often miss when we compare similar parts side by side and notice differences...

[Wayne M.]

Re: Late '66 Voltage Regulators for early '67 build, different fonts for stamped numb

Scott -- here's an unrestored VR with a 6K date; close to examples you give. sorry for the poor pic, but it's on the car .

Agree with others; there had to be several million of these produced per year, in the mid-60s. Multiple production lines.

[John H.]

Re: Late '66 Voltage Regulators for early '67 build, different fonts for stamped numb

Agree with others; there had to be several million of these produced per year, in the mid-60s. Multiple production lines.

Wayne -

Delco-Remy made 25,000 regulators every day.