If I remember right build sheets started in 1967 on the gas tanks.

My question is, did anyone find their build sheet on their 77 gas tank?

There's a metal crash protective cover over my sons 77 gas tank. We looked and felt up there as best we could, but didn't feel any paper. Being his tank is full, didn't want to drain it and take it down. Nor did we want to then remove the metal cover. So, I'm asking did any 77 owners find it up there?

I've read in so many books the build sheets were stuffed behind the dash or here and there. His car is an original 47,000 mile car. When we took the whole interior out, dash and all we didn't find any build sheet. The interior had a mouse problem, nests and stink everywhere. Along with chewed vacuum hoses. So, that's why everything had to come out.

In the M.F. Dobbins 73 to 77 Fact Book he says the build sheets for these year cars were behind the dash. He doesn't say anything about it being on the gas tank.

29, 30 years ago I found mine on the gas tank and it's a 1974. Well, that goes against what Bobbin's Fact Book says.

Sorry I was so loooong here, but again, anyone find their sheet on their 77's gas tank or metal protective cover?

 

AFAIK there would've been build sheets in both spots. Personally I found remnants behind my dash, but there was nothing on my tank. Though I suspect my tank and sender had been replaced because there was absolutely no corrosion on anything. There wasn't even any dirt on the pickup sock.

Now just a guess, but judging by pics of others' build sheets, I'm thinking you could see it through the hole in the deck. If you pulled that rubber boot off the filler neck, and then unscrewed the lid I bet you could shine a flashlight down there and see the sheet with your head just right. Or just slide a little mirror down there.

 

I knew it wouldn't be in both spots. We did, take the gas door off and peeled the rubber back for a look see. I been around Corvettes a long time. But, my confussion is I've read in here people have found them behind the speedo. There was no sheet anywhere in the interior. His dash was never taken out either, there were no signs of that.

Like I was saying, I found my sheet on my 74's tank years ago when it wasn't supposed to be there.

I don't want to drain his tank, take it down and then the metal cover for nuttin. We been all over this car with a body on restoration. His tank isn't rusty so, we just left it be.

 

I missread you. You said there would have been sheets in both places. Okay on that.

See, that's what I thought, there has to be a build sheet (maybe not on the tank), but on that metal box protective cover crash thing. The assembly line workers need to read this sheet and then know what this frame gets along the line.

As you can imagine though seeing the sheet throught the rubber cup is 1 thing. Seeing it on top of this crash box is another, it's pretty close to the underside of the fiberglass deck.

 

http://www.corvetteactioncenter.com/...x.php?cmd=area

Go here and see if you obtain a copy of the dealer invoice for your 77. The invoice will contain more information than a build sheet, including original dealer, date shipped, date expected to be delivered, all options and prices, etc.

Not finding a tank sticker is par for the course. They were never meant to be permanently affixed and most of have been long gone for years.

 

I think I have this figured out, (the old 54 year old brain wasn't working too right the last few days).

What was throwing me was the protective metal box over top of the tank. I was thinking this box went over the tank and then the build sheet stuck on it. Then the bare frame continued down the assembly line.

Now I'm thinking this protective crash box (over the tank) was one of the last things installed on the frame before the body met with the frame.

I guess we'll be draining the tank, lowering it down and we'll find the build sheet stuck to the tank. It has to be there.

 

Good luck, but don't get your hopes too high up.

No oxidation on a 32 year old gas tank more than likely means a replacement. That's what it meant for me at least. I sure was happy to see that clean tank, bladder, and sender though.

 

It's the original gas tank and we know the history of the car. But, you are right on the oxidation over the years, very light rust on the tank, the talcum type powdery rust dust.

When I found my 74's build sheet, (30 years ago) the paper was very brittle when only 5 years old. Once I got it off, then it was using a very soft brush, carefully dusting the dust off of it. Some Ink was coming off too, but the impression of the typewriter was still there. There is however that chance the sheet is still on his 77 with only 47,000 original miles, but like you said it's been 32 years. When working on his car it sorta takes me back in time when I was younger, (not realizing it's 32 years later). Anyway, if it's there it'll probably crumble away and fall apart. I feel it's worth a try, as I have to know (if it's still there).

Thanks Easy Mike for the tip. I did come across a thread, GM Heritage Center/Invoice/Vintage Vehicle Information and the Corvette Action Center link you mentioned here. My son and I looked at both. Maybe today I'll get him to fill out the Action Center form.

I also want him to get this PhotoBucket thing going. I'd like to show where his car was and where it's at now.

Thanks guys for showing some interest. And reminding me it's 2009 and not the 70's anymore,

 

The build sheet for my 77 was on the top of the tank cover, between the tank cover and the underside of the rear deck. I discovered mine when I pulled the tank cover out. Given the position and the distance of the reach, I doubt I would have been able to feel the build sheet on the tank cover if I had tried to reach up while it was all still intalled in the car.

Good Luck
Troy

 

That makes sense. The cover was installed over the tank. The "tank sticker" was glued to the cover where it would have been visible before body drop.

 

Thank you Troy, that's what I was looking for. Tank or cover and you answered it.

 

My pleasure... I ask a lot of questions on the Forum too! It's nice to be the one with the answers from time to time.

 

Anybody got a good pic of a build sheet? I have never seen one..

 

This is from my '69





Mine had two.

 

How old were those when you recovered them?

 

What's a real killer if when you find it and all the ink has disappeared. That is what happened to me--found it on top of the fuel tank but nothing there to read!! Did get the invoice copy from that service that can get that for us. Cost $50. 1977 model---know what was original and where it was sold---dealer no longer there--

 

For 68-72, they are portrait format as posted by JW3101. Beginning with the '73 models, they went to a landscape format. '79 shown.


Here's what most of us find:

 

Well, yesterday we took the gas tank down and out from under the car. Next was getting the cover unbolted and out. We're excited, I kept telling my son, it'll be there on the cover. It wasn't.

We seen the area where it was glued to the cover. We seen the papers fibers on top of the glue. It didn't look like it deteriorated and fell off. It looked like someone took it off.

We knew when we bought the car the rear bumper cover was changed at one time. This bumper cover doesn't match the contours of the body perfectly like the factory 1 would. The private owner (second owner) had no knowleddge of this bumper cover being replaced. So, the first owner had it replaced between 1977 to 1995. Oh, there was a GM replacement part number sticker on the inside of the bumper cover.

When taking the cover out we seen all the bolts holding the new bumper cover on. Ah ha, this gas tank and cover "was" out before when the body shop replaced this bumper cover to gain access to the bumper cover bolts. (These covers started in 1975, my 74 doesn't have one).

Another clue things were out before. The original hose clamps on the fuel lines on the right hand frame rail weren't in the factory positions. There were impressions on both hoses where the factory had the clamps.

I believe when the body shop did this job they blew the dust off of the tank and metal cover (explaining why we didn't find 32 years of dust). Bye bye build sheet.

We were depressed for all of 5 seconds the sheet wasn't there. The good that came from this is, we'll replace the 32 year old original hoses. Another good was, we got to clean and paint (black) where the cover was bolted to the frame rails and cross member. So now we can say, this car was a complete body on restoration bumper to bumper, top to bottom, inside and out.

My son and I agreed on, we're not putting the gas tank cover back in. Finding a place to store it in one of the sheds is our next problem.

 

Hi,
I just read a thread at the NCRS Board in which someone posted he found the remains of a build sheet in one of the frame rails. I asked just where and will post the reply.
Here's the tank and sheet from my 71. Pretty short list of options!
Regards,
Alan

 

Hi Alan

Yep, I heard and read that one before about the build sheet being stuffed in the frame. I guess I read that in the NCRS Driveline years ago. I honestly forgot that though.

When we bought his 77 back in 2005 I blew some air in the frame rails and nothing but dust and dirt came out. So, I knew it wasn't in there. Once I knew it wasn't in there, then came the garden hose flush.

I took pictures of the tank and the metal cover and where the sheet "was" on the cover. Not knowing how to use the Photobucket thing, well it wouldn't be worth showing where the sheet was stuck if I did know how to use Photobucket anyway.

We do have 609 pictures of everything we did to his 77. The before and afters, so he has a nice documentation there.

It's no big deal the sheet wasn't there. We know everything about the car, except where it was delivered to when new.