Correct carburetor date for a 1966 l79 built 5/28/66

[Bob W.]

The problem I have is I have 2 3367 carbs one has a date of the 4th week of march 66 the other is the 2nd week of april 66. The car was built on april 28 1966 and I would like to know which one should I use?


Thanks Bob

[Michael J.]

Re: Correct carburetor date for a 1966 l79 built 5/28/66

What's your engine assembly date?

[Bob W.]

Re: Correct carburetor date for a 1966 l79 built 5/28/66

Michael I'am not sure at this time the car is stored at another location but will check this week.

Thanks Bob

[Leif A.]

Re: Correct carburetor date for a 1966 l79 built 5/28/66

Bob,
Both fall into the six month window. If it were mine, I would use the one closest to the cars' build date...the one dated the second week of April. BTW, your title states your car was build 5/28/66 and the body of your post states 4/28/66. Either way, the April carburetor is the one I would use.

[Bob W.]

Re: Correct carburetor date for a 1966 l79 built 5/28/66

Leif, The car was built in May of 66 not April that was my mistake.

Thanks Bob

[Mark E.]

Re: Correct carburetor date for a 1966 l79 built 5/28/66

Isn't the carb installed at the engine plant? So the relevant date would be engine assembly (as Joe asked about), not the date on the trim tag.

Assuming either carb date is prior to the engine assembly date, wouldn't either be within TFP?

Maybe the deciding factor becomes condition of the carburetor.

[Bob W.]

Re: Correct carburetor date for a 1966 l79 built 5/28/66

Mark, I agree, one was from the car the other was bought from someone. I just would like to put the correct one on the car.

Thanks Bob

[Mark E.]

Re: Correct carburetor date for a 1966 l79 built 5/28/66

Bob,

As you know, "correct" isn't an NCRS term. Either carb, if dated within six months of engine assembly, is typical factory practice. The only thing I would look out for is if the carb date is too near the engine date. For example, if your engine assembly is also the second week of April, your April carb may be not be realistic. It took time for a completed carb to ship from Holley to the engine plant, and we know the auto supply chain back then wasn't always that efficient with inventory turns.

[Michael J.]

Re: Correct carburetor date for a 1966 l79 built 5/28/66

Mark, I was always under the impression the carburetor was installed in St. Louis, on the engine dress line, this from John Hinckley's presentation:

"Install Powerglide kickdown linkage, adjust after carburetor
installation.

installed and adjusted on the Chassis Line due to crossmembermounted
shifter).

Install oil filter bypass valve, filter element and canister, intake
manifold oil fill tube, fill engine oil and install filler cap.
Install fuel pump pushrod, mounting plate, and fuel pump
Install carburetor, pump-to-carb fuel line, fuel filter, and choke hot air
tube or remote thermostat and choke rod.".........

Here is a picture of the big block engines sitting on the rack in St. Louis, no carbs.

[Mark E.]

Re: Correct carburetor date for a 1966 l79 built 5/28/66

Mike,

I believe that's correct. The AIM has instructions for installing the carb, so this too indicates this was done at St. Louis.

So my mistake.

Which means the car's assembly date is what matters to the OP.

[Mark E.]

Re: Correct carburetor date for a 1966 l79 built 5/28/66

I haven't thought about this before, but AIM has instructions for installing the carb, starter, oil filter and fuel pump.

Yet AIM suggests the distributor is already installed by the engine plant.

Why weren't all of these components installed at the engine plant? That seems more efficient.

[Michael J.]

Re: Correct carburetor date for a 1966 l79 built 5/28/66

Yes, the distributor is on the engines you see on the rack in the picture. Who knows why they did what they did, I suspect one of the old GM engineers could answer it though.

[Larry M.]

Re: Correct carburetor date for a 1966 l79 built 5/28/66

Yes, the distributor is on the engines you see on the rack in the picture. Who knows why they did what they did, I suspect one of the old GM engineers could answer it though.

Distributor is needed to get spark to the cylinders. Engines were first fired with natural gas/bottled gas and did not require a carburetor.

Larry

[Michael J.]

Re: Correct carburetor date for a 1966 l79 built 5/28/66

I think it interesting they felt they needed hot start/run for the engine's test, but of course a gas would be easier, faster, and safer to do in an engine plant than gasoline and having to set up a carb to do it all.

[Bob W.]

Re: Correct carburetor date for a 1966 l79 built 5/28/66

Michael,Leif
I went today to look at the motor stamping. WE may have a miss stamp it is FO42IHT. Both my son and I looked at it and it looks like a I.I know that this is not a restamp as we have bought this car in 1973 or 1974. Hope this helps

Bob also the vin number is 100% correct