Decoding Numbers
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Joined: Apr 2022
Posts: 65
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From: Great Falls, VA
Decoding Numbers
I’m still trying to understand the various dates/codes on my 1966 427/450 C2 convertible.
The trim tag indicates an ‘assembly date’ of October 8, 1965 (C08).
It’s an A.O. Smith body so C=October.
The engine casting date is J135 = Oct 13, 1965
The 'build' date (using the VIN & C2 Registry as suggested by a list member) is approximately Oct 23, 1965.
So engine engine casting date and VIN build date make sense but the trim tag assembly date seems too early.
I'm assuming 'build' and 'assembly' are synonymous.
As an aside all other numbers (engine, frame, manifolds, starter, etc are all correct)
But something seems wrong …
Trim Tag
Engine casting date
The trim tag indicates an ‘assembly date’ of October 8, 1965 (C08).
It’s an A.O. Smith body so C=October.
The engine casting date is J135 = Oct 13, 1965
The 'build' date (using the VIN & C2 Registry as suggested by a list member) is approximately Oct 23, 1965.
So engine engine casting date and VIN build date make sense but the trim tag assembly date seems too early.
I'm assuming 'build' and 'assembly' are synonymous.
As an aside all other numbers (engine, frame, manifolds, starter, etc are all correct)
But something seems wrong …
Trim Tag
Engine casting date
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2003
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From: Sitting in his Nowhere land Hanover Pa
2024 C2 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2015 C2 of Year Finalist
A O smith had about a two week lag time from body building to transport by rail car to the st louis plant for finial build
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Joined: Apr 2022
Posts: 65
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From: Great Falls, VA
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From: Dayton NV
Thread Starter
Advanced
Joined: Apr 2022
Posts: 65
Likes: 23
From: Great Falls, VA
Team Owner
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 54,156
Likes: 9,464
From: Sitting in his Nowhere land Hanover Pa
2024 C2 of the Year Finalist - Unmodified
2015 C2 of Year Finalist
in this link is a article written by the late great JohnZ it will explain all you need to know about A O Smith
1963 - 1967 Corvette: Technical Article: The Other Corvette Body Builder - A.O. Smith Helps St. Louis Keep Up With Production (corvetteactioncenter.com)
1963 - 1967 Corvette: Technical Article: The Other Corvette Body Builder - A.O. Smith Helps St. Louis Keep Up With Production (corvetteactioncenter.com)
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