Interpreting numbers on my '67 body?

[Barbara S.]

I had my body on the lift today so that I could clean the bottom of the body and I found where someone prior to or during production had taken a yellow grease pencil and written in script: L383. It is on the lower fire wall in front and in the back where the front of the gas tank would be. This is an A. O. Smith body.

Any ideas what L383 stands for? I can email anyone a photo that wants to see it.

Thanks for any help.
Tony

[Craig S.]

Re: Interpreting numbers on my '67 body?

Tony - I found a similar marking (if I recall, K63) on my firewall on my A.O. Smith 67. Several years ago, when Goerge Bartos (sp?) was alive and I was in a class in Bloomington he taught, I asked and he thought my code was for telling the body team to apply cuts for the power window wire channels. in the door jamb area. So I supsect your L383 is some similar code for a body cut operation at Dow they used. I have my job number elsewhere, and this aphanumeric designation was different. This may or may not be unique to AO Smith cars......Craig

[Donald T.]

Re: Interpreting numbers on my '67 body?

Tony,

I have Q189 on the rear bulk head of my 65. I've heard different theories on what the letter designation represents but nothing definitive. However, this appears to be unique to A.O. Smith bodies. I've heard that it is a job number where a new letter is assigned with each new sequence (1-500). I've also heard it represents an option that requires a change from the standard body configuration. For example, "A" would represent antenna for a radio delete car, where the hole for the antenna is not be be drilled in the body. But if that is the case, what does "Q" represent? I had speculated that perhaps it was for Quick Take Off wheels, but that option should not require any non-standard body configuration that would require such a designition. In order to validate any theory we would need a survey of Smith bodies and compare the letter designation with VIN and original options to see if there are commonalities.

[Kurt K.]

Re: Interpreting numbers on my '67 body?

My Smith car built June 67, has 7740 by the tank. It also has 40 written on the metal bar that runs thru the dash. You can see the 40 with the speaker out looking down thru the speaker hole. Wonder what they mean??? Kurt

[Kent K.]

Re: Interpreting numbers on my '67 body?

My '67 A.O. Smith body Corvette has F78 on the panel in front of the gas tank and 78 on the metal brace below the speaker. It is a base engine, 4-speed, A/C convertible. The assembly sequencing number is different and has no relationship to these numbers. No explination yet.
Kent #6201