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Old May 29, 2019 | 07:16 AM
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Default Frame stencil

Why did GM stencil frames and number them in white paint. I was wondering,
Ted
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Old May 29, 2019 | 07:40 AM
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The stencil was applied at the A.O. Smith factory before the frames were shipped to St. Louis. Most contain the GM part number for the frame, an A.O. Smith lot number, and a date. Color could be yellow or white and the format varied a bit.
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Old May 29, 2019 | 08:24 AM
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Default Frame stencil

On my frame besides the stencil, there are numbers painted that I have found, numbers 1 and 2. What do they stand for.
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Old May 29, 2019 | 08:51 AM
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Originally Posted by thelal1
...there are numbers painted that I have found, numbers 1 and 2. What do they stand for...
Where are the 1 and 2? If they are close to body mounts, they probably indicate the number of body shims needed.
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Old May 29, 2019 | 09:10 AM
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Default Frame stencil

On the driver's side in front of wheel on straight of frame #2 above wheel to the rear on the frame over ,# 1 is painted..
I will take molding off today and post pics.

Last edited by thelal1; May 29, 2019 at 09:12 AM. Reason: Pics
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Old May 29, 2019 | 10:17 AM
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Default Frame stencil

I was able to view frame stencil , its upside down. Number 3987882-110. Was this the frame number from A.O. factory?
Then above it is 2-5-71.
My car was built in Feb.71
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Old May 29, 2019 | 11:30 AM
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You can Google the GM part number. 110 is likely to be the A. O. Smith lot number. 2/5/71 is the date A.O. Smith finished the frame. Your car should have a time built date after 2/5/71.
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Old May 29, 2019 | 12:06 PM
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Believe that the stencil markings "1" or "2" were to indicate what shift they were built. Marking for shims were in crayon as in ///
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Old May 29, 2019 | 12:16 PM
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Default Frame stencil

Build date on trim tag was February 19th,1971.
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Old May 29, 2019 | 01:04 PM
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Originally Posted by thelal1
...Build date on trim tag was February 19th,1971....
That works. What would become your frame was assembled two weeks earlier and shipped to St. Louis.
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Old May 30, 2019 | 04:32 AM
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Originally Posted by thelal1
Why did GM stencil frames and number them in white paint. I was wondering,
Ted
Also note that a different part number was used for each four-speed or automatic frame assembly to differentiate one from another as they shipped and stored at St Louis assembly plant. At the Corvette factory, workers would confirm the correct frame assembly for either a four-speed or automatic order as the chassis was built up.
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