72 jack date code question

[Pat B.]

Great article about Corvette jacks in the 2013 Spring Restorer. Thanks!

So, of course I dug out my jack from the 76 which I thought was original and checked vrs the article.

Jack dimension and style matches the 1972 jack design and the date on the arm was stamped 2 J which made sense.

However, the 2 J was stamped in a mirror image or a reverse stamping which I thought was kinda of odd.

I have heard that reverse stamping was common but the article did not mention this type of stamping on jacks.

Any reactions/thoughts?

[Reba W.]

Re: 72 jack date code question

I don't know how prevalent reverse stamping, but I have seen a few on the judging field.

[Pat B.]

Re: 72 jack date code question

Interesting and thanks for the reply!

[Tom R.]

Re: 72 jack date code question

So, of course I dug out my jack from the 76 which I thought was original and checked vrs the article.

Jack dimension and style matches the 1972 jack design and the date on the arm was stamped 2 J which made sense.

However, the 2 J was stamped in a mirror image or a reverse stamping which I thought was kinda of odd.

I have heard that reverse stamping was common but the article did not mention this type of stamping on jacks. Any reactions/thoughts?

There exists in the CD article archives an even earlier article about jack date codes and describes specifically the 1976-79 codes. In 1976, there seemed to have been a change of suppliers and we now know that that supplier was Stant Manufacturing Plant. Those jacks carried the logo smp stamped on the bottom of the jack. Now, not all 76 jacks were stamped but what we have seen is both those with and without stamps used the three-digit date code on the rivet (crank-side) up until 1979. A late built 1976 with VIN 45825 carried the date code and we see this through 1978. So for example, 743 was coded to indicate the 43rd week of 1977. The article was published in the Fall 1997 issue of The Corvette Restorer.

Depending on the VIN of your 1976, sounds like you have a jack consistent with date coding typical of early C3 jack date codes.

[Pat B.]

Re: 72 jack date code question

Much thanks for the additional info!