Serial number question

[Blair K.]

In regards to serial numbers on the engine stamp pad and on transmissions - were these done at the same time on the assembly line??? Thanks in advance.

[William C.]

Re: Serial number question

Yes, I believe so...

[Paul J.]

Re: Serial number question

Blair,

The short answer is yes. The answer to your question is in a thread in the archives. I recall the discussion and statement by someone of knowledge on this. I tried to find the thread but it's buried by another name. You might want to perfrom a search and try to find it.

Paul

[Blair K.]

Re: Serial number question

Thanks gentlemen, for your reply - that was the answer I was looking for. Just noticed that the s/n on the engine stamp pad and on my TH400 looked identical (same font). One of the digits in the s/n on both the engine & tranny have the top part of the "4" (slightly faint) being the same. Hence the question - were they stamped on the same day?. With the consistency of both s/n stampings - looks like they were done @ the same time. Appreciate your insight. Regards BK

[Paul J.]

Re: Serial number question

Thanks gentlemen, for your reply - that was the answer I was looking for. Just noticed that the s/n on the engine stamp pad and on my TH400 looked identical (same font). One of the digits in the s/n on both the engine & tranny have the top part of the "4" (slightly faint) being the same. Hence the question - were they stamped on the same day?. With the consistency of both s/n stampings - looks like they were done @ the same time. Appreciate your insight. Regards BK

Yes, they were done at the same time. I beleive as the engine was being placed in the frame, or just after, but I'm not sure about this. Search for the thread in the archives.

[Michael H.]

Re: Serial number question

Both engine and transmission stamps occurred at the same time and at the same station on the St Louis engine dress line. The engine/transmission assembly was hanging on a hook on the engine conveyor, headed for the chassis.

[Roy S.]

[Blair K.]

Re: Serial number question

Both engine and transmission stamps occurred at the same time and at the same station on the St Louis engine dress line. The engine/transmission assembly was hanging on a hook on the engine conveyor, headed for the chassis.

Thanks, Michael for the attached pics - much appreciated.

[Joe L.]

Re: Serial number question

Correct me if I’m wrong here I do not believe it was always the same set of characters. Seems like I’ve seen a lot of transmission stamps with and S in the derivative, which is not typical of the engine derivative stamp. Were there two different gang holders and as a result two different sets of stamps?

Roy------


I believe that 2 stamp gang holders were used, but the stamping was done by the same person at the same station. Why 2 different gang holders were used I've never been able to figure out.

[Wayne M.]

Re: Serial number question

..... Seems like I’ve seen a lot of transmission stamps with and S in the derivative, which is not typical of the engine derivative stamp. Were there two different gang holders and as a result two different sets of stamps?

Roy ... assuming to speak for MY 1965 trannys, the first digit of the previous years' derivative was to be replaced with an 'S' (pic below of mine with both styles). Noland had a write-up on this subject in the (April 1994 ?) issue of VETTE magazine.

Trans formats were: '62 thru '64; 21xxxxx thru 41xxxxx
'65 was supposed to be S1xxxxx, but early cars still used the previous model year formats. I've seen VIN 5101372 with a large 'S' overstamped on the 5.
Then, in '66, they added back the model year in front of the S.

So must have been two gang holders, or they added/removed the S from the holder, depending on whether they were stamping the engine or trans.

Reports of a few '66 engine blocks being stamped that way (with the S) until they got used to the change.

[Jim D.]

Re: Serial number question

. I've seen VIN 5101372 with a large 'S' overstamped on the 5.

That's how mine is -

[Patrick B.]

Re: Serial number question

Roy------


I believe that 2 stamp gang holders were used, but the stamping was done by the same person at the same station. Why 2 different gang holders were used I've never been able to figure out.

Joe- From 61 to 67 the engine gang stamp holder held 7 characters, and the same vin derivative was used on the transmission and engine (except 65 when the "S" was substituted for the 5 on the transmission). But the 66 and 67 transmission codes with the added "S" required 8 characters. Therefore, a different holder would be required for those 2 years. The 1968 and later vin derivatives used the same 9 character codes so the same holder would be used on both trans and engine. Also the characters were smaller so that 9 new characters would now fit in the same holders previously used for the 7 character vin derivatives.

[Jim D.]

Re: Serial number question

except 65 when the "S" was substituted for the 5 on the transmission

Sure seems that it would be easier and faster to simply stamp the trans. the same as the engine and then pull a "S" out of your pocket and stamp over the 5. That's obviously what they did on mine.

[Patrick B.]

Re: Serial number question

Sure seems that it would be easier and faster to simply stamp the trans. the same as the engine and then pull a "S" out of your pocket and stamp over the 5. That's obviously what they did on mine.

Your transmission and Wayne's are interesting examples of how they tried to fix the mistake of not taking the 5 out of the holder and substituting the S. Why they thought it was so importent to put to put the S in the vin derivative that they went to even more trouble in 66 and 67 is not obvious. There were no Federal requirements about parts marking before 1968.