While cleaning my engine bay tonight I came across a code on the pass side. Would not be able to see if the engine was in place. Any ideas what it means? Just above the code is the wheel well. Looks like" 6 blank 150"

DSC_6783.jpg

 

Could be the part number of the piece as it is being assembled to look like your frame (frame kit @ Budds)

 

The "piece" is the frame. Just found it while cleaning. The stuff you while cleaning up.

 

Ken I found numbers and letters like that several places on the frame and the body. Most were 3 to 7 digits. None were the same and I wondered what they meant also..... Interesting!

 

That's what I meant...the frame is made up of many pieces and when you are standing there welding it together (Budds makes the frames) to be a frame you check the list and put the proper piece number in its proper place and voila...your frame... ta da

 

I think that GM had phantom number trolls wandering about the factory in the old days with number stamping tools. They knew that sooner or later people would start finding these numbers and have no idea what they meant. Each of the numbers stamped into the parts was deliberate and intended to promote discussion about what it could possibly mean. A wise man once told me the answer to your perplexing riddle, but I forgot it because no one seemed interested at the time. So make something up and see if anyone has something better

Annnd, this number will be hidden again when your new 455 goes back in...

 

Remember these frames were not built in house, Budd mfg. built them to GM specs and used all of their own expertise to number these parts of the frames and pieces they used in Sub Assembly.

 

Budd's? This other frame I picked up says 'Parish' on it IIRC.

 

Ah HAH!
So it was Budds that had the rogue numbering trolls!!

It makes sense that the assemblies were numbered for mass manufacture. I have watched a number of shows on Speedmakers that show the process you're talking about, although now it looks like most everything to do with chassis assembly is done in house by jigs and robot welders. The numbers on the components seem to be ??paint stenciled?? onto the part and can easily be overpainted with primer or rust dip.

 

Thanks for all the feedback guys. The stuff you find when you pull an engine.