Carburetor Date Coding

[James W.]

Is the three month preceding the build date of the car the norm for carburetor flight judging? I have a mid July 1965 built car equipped with L79 engine, would a May manufactured Holley 2818-1 carb be correct or can it be more than three months preceding the build date?


Thanks,

James West

[William C.]

Re: Carburetor Date Coding

In practical terms, anytime before the date of the car's assembly is fine, as stock was not rotated in a first in-first out mode at St Louis. I had a '72 3-Star original car with 454 and A/C, built the last week of production and the carb was December of '71, low volume application, last week to get it out the door, I wonder just how hard they had to scramble to find that one!

[Jack H.]

Re: Carburetor Date Coding

I agree with Clup! It looks like St. Louis ordered carbs in 'batches' (economic order quantity restriction by Holley?) making the date code spread LARGER for low volume, slow moving, carbs vs. that of 'bread and butter' relatively higher production use carbs.

Now, throw in the lack of FIFO/LIFO inventory control and you get down to the basic NCRS date thumbnail of 0-6 months prior to vehicle final assy...