I know alot of people aren't into date codes, but I thought I would throw this out as I have been concentrating on dates as I dismantle my 442. I had stripped the undercoating off my gas tank and noticed a number stamped into the bottom of the tank. I compared it to my SX tank, and noticed a different number. From this, I thought the tank must of been replaced as I thought the number must be a part number and the SX's would have been original. It was a Florida car and I have owned it since 87. It wasn't until I glanced at the 442 tank and noticed the numbers 2 01 09 0 and a light went on. If anyone has been following my discussion about just in time inventory of parts to production dates, my car had Aug 31 and Sept 01 dates on some items. I know my car was built over those days and shipped on the 2nd of September. If you ignore the 2 for the moment, you get Sept. 1, 1970. Needless to say if this is correct I do have the original tank.
To check my hunch, I looked at my SX and found this number, 3 27 11 0. Once again, if you ignore the first digit you get Nov 27/70. My SX has a build date of 12A. It all fits. I don't know the relevance of the first digit. Maybe someone does. On the SX there is also the USS stamp, which I retraced with a marker, with a date of Aug 1/70. I didn't think the stamped in metal numbers were related to a date code because of the USS stamp. This stamp must be related to the actual steel date and not the manufacturing of the tank itself. So it would appear, for what it's worth I appear to have original tanks on both cars. Some more trivia for some of those who are into the details. I don't remember seeing a discussion about this before. I googled this topic and the 67 - 69 Camaro people were all over this topic. I have attached applicable pictures. Cheers.

 

I don't see how the stamp could have made an impression in the steel of an asembled tank. The steel would just bounce away, unless it's directly opposite the sender hole and an anvil could have been in there.

 

maybe it was stamped just prior to assembly?


bill

 

Rocketbrain... I just ran a search and found this thread regarding these gas tank stamped-in codes. Thank you for posting this, I was curious about how these read as I'm a "numbers guy" myself. My early built '71 Supreme has a build date of 08C so your formula confirms the date being approximately one week before my car's build date. If you zoom in on my photo, it appears the ink stamp may be just above the stamped numbers, but it's very very faint. Regarding the first number, I would bet that's the plant's shift number.

 

I wonder if that extra number could be a shift during the day/night.

Randy C.

 

I'm surprised to get a response on my old post from 10 years ago. Your response confirms my ideas on the date coding of the tanks. It only took 10 years to find someone as over the top with data trivia as me, ha. Thanks for replying and showing the info on your gas tank.

 

Lol... yes, that took a while! The stamp numbers on mine were not as clear cut to me as to how it could have read. I was thinking Julian dates originally which would have also fit two ways, 208th or 212th day of 1970. But your method certainly makes more sense. Thanks again!

 

I have my gas tank numbers to add to this old thread. After 10 years of restoring everyone else's car, I'm finally doing mine, and I came across these numbers on the tank. The Fisher body plate shows 11C for the build date. The tank also has 46N stamped on the outside ring where the sending unit is mounted. Both dates jibe with the November '71 build date.

 

Further verification of my theory from a decade ago. Thanks for posting. Good luck on the restoration.

 

I have a question…

‘’how in the hell did you get your tank so clean???

 

I just checked my tank on my 72 H/0 and I assume its the original tank.

 

I just checked my tank on my 72 H/0 and I assume its the original tank.

 

Yes, it seems to be. It is dated June 24th 1971. Does that coincide with the build date? It looks good.

 

the build date is 04B on the fisher tag