Steering box, manual date code decipher.

**mockingbird812** · #1 02-19-2007, 08:45 AM

I read thru the old posts on this, but my density would not permit me to figure my date code out

. This is out of an 06A '69 Malibu Chevelle. A liitle help please with casting and assembly dates.

m22mike · #2 02-19-2007, 04:34 PM

Sam
I can not read the stamping, it is stamped on that little square pad, try cleaning the junk off.
It will be a Julian date, preceeded by a letter A or B
ie. A0649, would be A first shift or B 2nd. shift. 64Th day of 1969.
Mike

Denis · #3 02-19-2007, 06:32 PM

There are actually 2 different dates. The first is the date the housing was cast. This is a julian date (day only) just underneath the '56791142' casting number. Yours looks to be a '139' which is the 139th day of the year.

The second date is stamped on a machined pad where the cover bolts on.This is the date of assembly, and is always later than the cast date on the box. The format for this second date is as Mike described in his posting (i.e. A or B, julian day, year digit). I can't make yours out from the picture.

**Mr70** · #4 02-19-2007, 06:42 PM

Here it is Sam... Deja Vu

**mockingbird812** · #5 02-19-2007, 07:15 PM

Thanks guys. The stamped pad reads "B14" to me, but that would be too early realative to the casting date of "139". I will work on cleaning he stamping more - it is possible I just can't read the next number.

**Mr70** · #6 02-19-2007, 07:18 PM

I see a B 141 assembly date possibly,which would coincide with the box cast date as authentic.

**mockingbird812** · #7 03-01-2007, 05:12 AM

[ QUOTE ]
Sam
I can not read the stamping, it is stamped on that little square pad, try cleaning the junk off.
It will be a Julian date, preceeded by a letter A or B
ie. A0649, would be A first shift or B 2nd. shift. 64Th day of 1969.
Mike

[/ QUOTE ]

Was indeed "junk" on the pad. Cleaned up pretty good. A classic double-stamp. So is this then:

"B1469" deciphered as Shift B, 146th day (Saturday, 26 May) of 1969? Is it reasonable that this steering box was assembled at the Saginaw plant on a Saturday? BTW, the casting date (139) would have been exactly one week prior on Saturday as well. We've all been told to avoid "Monday" and "Friday" cars. Wonder what the read is on a Saturday steering box.

Thanks,

Dedicated to the Promotion and Preservation of American Muscle Cars, Dealer built Supercars and COPO cars.