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Looks like a pattern with all of the '70 -'72 cars in that they all have two stamps, and every one that has two letters has two letters in both stamps and every one that has one letter has one letter in both stamps. I only see one exception out of the dozen or so cars pictured so far.
Location: Edmonton, AB. And "I am Can 'eh' jun - eh"
Posts: 24,525
Originally Posted by Rocketguy
Looks like a pattern with all of the '70 -'72 cars in that they all have two stamps, and every one that has two letters has two letters in both stamps and every one that has one letter has one letter in both stamps. I only see one exception out of the dozen or so cars pictured so far.
?? I'm not sure what you're saying. I'm not sure what you're saying. ??
You're right that some stamps have a single letter and some are double. No one's ever been able to categorically tell me why, and if the same stamp letters would be used universally at the different divisions. From reviewing the thread it appears that Lansing used all 3 variations of single, double and alpha numeric stamps. Most of the evidence suggests that 72 may have been the transition to alpha numeric yellow stamp. Also I noted that there doesn't seem to be any pattern as to where the stamps are placed (left, right, heck - even upside down).
The ones that ILT sells for big $$$ are either single letter or combination Alpha numeric.
Location: St. Albert, Alberta...just outside of Edmonton
Posts: 51
This is the marking on my firewall...still clearly visible, is the grease pencil numbers "979" which is my interior color, Sienna Brown. 1971 Cutlass SX built at Fremont, California on Apr. 29, 1971. It is the only visible marking. If it was stamped, it must be under the heater box.
Your picture didn't come through. My 71 SX also has a 979 interior, but it wasn't stamped anywhere. My SX was built in Arlington and has no visible firewall stamps, although they could be under the A/C housing.
Location: Edmonton, AB. And "I am Can 'eh' jun - eh"
Posts: 24,525
Here's the pic Bil tried to upload. I had to resize it so the markings are easier to see so the image is not that crisp. Hey Bil, nice looking rebuilt OEM brake booster there! wink wink.
Location: St. Albert, Alberta...just outside of Edmonton
Posts: 51
Thanks Allan, not quite sure why I was having trouble uploading the picture? Yes, the new booster and MC are a real improvement from the original corroded set-up! Plus, the rest of the system is now functioning the way it should.
This is not an inspection stamp and not on the firewall but thought I would post it. I have also seen some similar to this stamp on the top side of gas tanks before where they were out of the weather. It is the steel manufactures stamp. This is my driver side door glass regulator from my 70 442
My 69 442 convertible....original stampings, photocopy and stencil, then the repainted stampings after reapplying on the car....pictures are not that great, sorry....
Here is the firewall pic from my 69 Cutlass S convertible after I began cleaning. This car was built in Fremont, CA. The numbers on the firewall indicate the interior color (942) and the exterior color (59). My car did not have any other stampings on the firewall.
Location: Edmonton, AB. And "I am Can 'eh' jun - eh"
Posts: 24,525
Originally Posted by 69442murph
My 69 442 convertible....original stampings, photocopy and stencil, then the repainted stampings after reapplying on the car....pictures are not that great, sorry....
Tim, that's a fantastic way to duplicate the stampings! Never thought to do it that way. Very creative and accurate!
Originally Posted by hackmansr
Here is the firewall pic from my 69 Cutlass S convertible after I began cleaning. This car was built in Fremont, CA. The numbers on the firewall indicate the interior color (942) and the exterior color (59). My car did not have any other stampings on the firewall.
First time I've ever seen the paint color written on the firewall. Did it originally have the vinyl roof (white =A)?
No vinyl, it's a white convertible top. I got the car from the original buyer, and those are the original firewall markings. I assume it was to tell the factory how to paint it as it went down the line.
Location: Edmonton, AB. And "I am Can 'eh' jun - eh"
Posts: 24,525
Duh - WTH was I thinking? I went back and read that it was a vert. My apologies. Not sure why that would be there on Freemont cars and not other lines. Maybe that's when the Freemont Fisher plant painted the car prior to the interior installation and mounting the cowl tag. The body was already built at Fisher Body Works at Freemont before it arrived at the Freemont Assembly line. I've seen other Freemont cars with that same kind of marking, but my guess on the reason for application is totally a guess because this isn't on Arlington, Lansing or Framingham cars. Wierd.
That's the thing, there were no set practices from factory to factory back then. Each plant had their own way of doing things. That's what confuses things when trying to decode. I found the same thing applied when I restored my 69 Camaro.
Could someone please measure the stamp boxes, as I forgot to do so before my firewall was painted. Also, how tall are the letters and numbers?
Has anyone come up with an way to duplicate these stamps without having them professionally made? Thanks.
Has anyone come up with an way to duplicate these stamps without having them professionally made?
Not to sound like a total wiseguy, but you could do what we used to do in kindergarten, and make a stencil by printing the stamp image out actual size and cutting it out with a razor knife, then cut a potato in half and transfer the image to the potato, undercut it, and it's probably good for more than one use before it's mashed.
Im doing a 69 Post 442 its in restoration section. There are pics there that show my firewall and it has a Large 52 (color Code) and 334 these were in white grease pencil.My other 69 post car Lansing car has stamps dont remember off the top of my head what they are but no grease pencil markings.I had stamps made back in the 80s to duplicate the firewall markings on 69-72 cars.
I can't believe I didn't get a picture of it but 70Post and I seen one with a stamp by the right front fender mounting bolt On top of the cowl. It was a 1970. First time I ever seen one there.
Different factories used different markings. Some used stamps and some used marking pencils. What factory was your car built at, and are there any other markings on the firewall?
Different factories used different markings. Some used stamps and some used marking pencils. What factory was your car built at, and are there any other markings on the firewall?
April 1970 Lansing Michigan, 442 w30 auto with air... Found SF on rear passenger axle... What else can I look for to prove its real? No paperwork and OW tag is gone... Vin matches car, not original motor
On my 67, yellow grease pencil under the heater a/c fan blower box. And the M or W is on bottom above the gas tank, white wide grease type. It will wipe off easily.
April 1970 Lansing Michigan, 442 w30 auto with air... Found SF on rear passenger axle... What else can I look for to prove its real? No paperwork and OW tag is gone... Vin matches car, not original motor
Broadcast card! If the carpet has not been replaced, pull the drivers side sill plate and pull up the carpet. Other places hog ringed under seat bottoms or backs. I found mine about 6" forward of the seat belt housing. Lansing built supreme HT.
very interesting thread u have started allen and information that I needed. threads like this is what makes this forum a good resorce of information, my marks below.
Does anyone have dimensions of these stamps? Square size, line size and letter size Please. I know I can buy the Inline stamps but want to make specific ones for my car.
Does anyone have dimensions of these stamps? Square size, line size and letter size Please. I know I can buy the Inline stamps but want to make specific ones for my car.
Are the stamps the same size for any 70 model? If so, I can get you measurements. Here are mine, for those aren't subscribed to my other thread:
Width of the box, outer edge to outer edge - 1 7/32"
Height of the box, outer edge to outer edge - 1 1/16"
Width of "Z" lettering about 3/32"
Width of "M" lettering, just a hair less than 3/32", but not close at all to 1/16"
Box lines, about 1/2 the width of the lettering, but this probably varied on how worn the stamp was and the amount of pressure used
I only had my tape measure with the metal tab on the end to use, so I didn't place that on the firewall. I used a pencil and paper and transferred the lines then measured.
Allan, I never knew what this letter referenced until I ran across your thread. I have no idea if it is an original stamp or an aftermarket (fake). You already know my 1971 Cutlass Supreme Convertible is an original numbers matching vehicle. I'll pay more attention to determining if I can find any additional stamps. Thanks for sharing this information.
As a 20 year employee of a major automotive manufacturing factory (the Chrysler Kokomo Transmission plant) I find these kinds of threads interesting. There are lots of little paint dabs, ink, magic markers, etc on every transmission made, some colors are for shifts, others may indicate what machine made a part, or production step, quality check, etc. Sometimes there may be a mark in a certain place for only a day, or shift, or only on certain models. The reason being sometimes a machine will break a tool, or a part may be of if tolerance or specification, a machine may be under inspection, etc. Those marks tell the inspectors that a check has been done, or a check may need to be done, or may have a suspect part. In the case of suspect parts, each part may have a mark indicating WHERE a problem started, and then another marking indicating a “clean point” meaning every part after the clean point is good and no longer suspect. That’s why some of the marks appear on only certain items, for only a certain amount of time. To be 100% accurate, a restoration needs to be concerned with what the plant may have been doing that week, day, or even shift. My point is every mark has a reason for being there. As many check made to a transmission, I bet there are many times as many checks made to a car. Especially considering a car contains many components from many different manufacturing facilities, each with its own way of documenting things.
Just to add add some fun to the discussion, it’s not uncommon to find Kokomo transmissions with some very elaborate drawings on them. If a line or machined wrecked, and was down for awhile, halting production,sometimes a operator will doodle on the case to pass the time. A few of the operators were quite the artist!!
October 5th, 2014, 11:14 AM
