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I’m trying to confirm authenticity of my 1966 427/450 C2.
According to the trim tag the body was built AUG 65 (A-1187) & the car was built OCT 8, 65 (C08). Seems right. But the engine casting date (J135) is OCT 13, 65 which doesn’t seem right. The engine casting number matches the frame stamping. I would think the engine casting date should predate the build date but these numbers show the engine casted a week after the build date! Am I misinterpreting something? I would appreciate this forums expert comments - I have read that dates can be ‘approximate.’
Without seeing some photos of your trim tag and the block casting date I'm just taking a guess that you may be misinterpreting the codes. I don't know how you determined that the body was built in August, but if the C08 is what is on your trim tag, that is the body build date (Oct 8th).
If this is the case, it appears that the dates line up just fine.
From: Born and Raised in South Detroit (Windsor) Ontario
casting dates
The letter I was definitely used on 427 casting dates. I know of 2 cars with I dates and their vins are in the 7000 range. Those would be cast in Sept/65 J would be Oct/65.
Bob - Sharp looking Sunfire Yellow L72, congrats. I saw you already posted a video of your roadster but here's another thread going on where folks have been posting pics and history about their L72's, maybe add yours in there too. C2 1966 L72 count - CorvetteForum - Chevrolet Corvette Forum Discussion
Mike T - Prescott AZ
Bob - Sharp looking Sunfire Yellow L72, congrats. I saw you already posted a video of your roadster but here's another thread going on where folks have been posting pics and history about their L72's, maybe add yours in there too. C2 1966 L72 count - CorvetteForum - Chevrolet Corvette Forum Discussion
Mike T - Prescott AZ
Without seeing some photos of your trim tag and the block casting date I'm just taking a guess that you may be misinterpreting the codes. I don't know how you determined that the body was built in August, but if the C08 is what is on your trim tag, that is the body build date (Oct 8th).
If this is the case, it appears that the dates line up just fine.
Ted
I make a mistake trying to interpret all the numbers! I'm slowly getting there. I don't know when the body was built or that it matters. From the trim tag, C08, I find the car assembly date, Oct 8, 65. The Engine casting date (J135) equates to Sept 13, 65. I think I have this right which means, as you say, the dates make sense.
The letter I was definitely used on 427 casting dates. I know of 2 cars with I dates and their vins are in the 7000 range. Those would be cast in Sept/65 J would be Oct/65.
Uh, oh. That would be bad for me. It would mean engine was cast after car assembly.
From trim tag (C08) assembly was Oct 8, 65
From engine cast date (J135) assembly was Sept 13, 65 (if "J" = Sept)
The J casting date is October, but do not worry. Your body date of October 8 is not the car build date because your body was made at AO Smith not St Louis. It took a couple of weeks for OA Smith bodies to be shipped to St. Louis and installed on Chassis. Use your VIN number to estimate the build date of your car.
The J casting date is October, but do not worry. Your body date of October 8 is not the car build date because your body was made at AO Smith not St Louis. It took a couple of weeks for OA Smith bodies to be shipped to St. Louis and installed on Chassis. Use your VIN number to estimate the build date of your car.
Casting and build dates
