Correct Carb Date

[Mark S.]

I'm looking for a correct holley for my 70 LT-1, but have received conflicting information on what a correct date would be. Is the date based on engine assembly or vehicle assembly? And what span would be normal.

Thanks

[Tom R.]

Re: correct carb date

Mark, a carb should be dated within 6 months of vehicle assembly date

[Mark S.]

Re: correct carb date

So, could a carb between engine assembly and vehicle assembly be "correct".

[William C.]

Re: correct carb date

Mark, carbs were installed at the St Louis car plant, os there is no relationship to the engine build date per se. Perfect for most cars is about two weeks ahead of car build, but longer gaps are not uncommon, particularly if the build is toward the end of the model run, (last couple of weeks)

[Mark S.]

Re: correct carb date

Thanks. That's exactly what I needed to know. I've found a carb with a date of 023. My car was a late Feb build, Feb 24 on trim tag. It sounds like the 023 carb should work.

[Jack W.]

Re: correct carb date

Mark, I tried to make this point with you in another place on the net, but I don't think you should confuse the body assembly date code found on your trim tag with what people tend to refer to as "when the car was built" (when the car was actually coming down the final assembly line with the engine installed, and the carb and other bits were being added, before it exited the plant as "done" - also known tas the car's "birthday"). It could also be that each person has a different idea as to "when the car was built" (if I was the guy at the plant putting the bumpers on, I would condier it built once my very important job was completed!) But certain dates are well-defined: body built date, engine assembly date per the pad, and final assembly date - birthday.

Point being that it is entirely possible to have an engine part on your car (even the block itself) bearing a date that falls after the body assembly date code found on the trim tag. This may not be typical of carbs, but it is theoretically possible.

Real world example - my 65 has a body assembly date of March 29 per the trim tag, and the engine assembly date per the engine stamp pad is also 0329 (purely cooincidental) - these two pieces were subsequently married at the plant, and THEN a carb was installed, at some point before the car's "birthday" per the VIN production number, of April 6th.

I am SURE the very knowledgeable folks here will step in if I have gotten any of this wrong, and their wisdom and guidance is always appreciated and welcomed.

[William C.]

Re: correct carb date

Carburetors were not shipped as part on the engine. The only date that is of importance to a carb dating question is the VIN of the car. That defines what parts could have been assembled to it during the time it was on the line at St Louis. Use the VIN to find the day it came off the line and figure the carb was installed within 24 hours previous to that time.

[Mark S.]

Re: correct carb date

Thanks Jack. This and your other post answers my question. I was getting conflicting information and just wanted to make sure that I had the right date before I spent a fair amount of money on an original carb.

[John H.]

Re: correct carb date

Jack -

Is your '65 an A.O. Smith body?

[Patrick H.]

Re: correct carb date

Not only that, but the carb was added on the engine dress line, BEFORE it was mated to the body.

Just a slight rearranging of Jack's timeline.

Patrick

[Jack W.]

thanks for the assist! *NM*

[Jack W.]

Re: correct carb date

John - yes, an A.O. Smith body, I should have mentioned that I guess since it might be relevant to the little timeline I provided