63 frame date STENCIL ???

[Philip C.]

Re: 63 frame date STENCIL ???

If a date appears that looks like it was applied with the same stencil as the frame part number, I would think that it would be a date applied at the frame source, A O Smith, at least several days and likely a week before the frame was shipped the St Louis plant.

Typically, a date is hand written on the frame just after it's moved into the St Louis assembly plant.

Is the stencil date on the frame close to the build date of your car?

I also have a Nov 65 built 66 but I've never looked for the frame dates and stencil.

Hi Mike Hanson for FYI I had a 64 frame with all the mounts set up as a 63, had them side by side, I was shocked, thought someone must have messed with it, but all the mounts looked factory, guess they were. Phil 8063

[Michael H.]

Re: 63 frame date STENCIL ???

Hi Mike Hanson for FYI I had a 64 frame with all the mounts set up as a 63, had them side by side, I was shocked, thought someone must have messed with it, but all the mounts looked factory, guess they were. Phil 8063

Hi Phil,

Do you mean the frame mount pads on the 64 were at the same height as the 63? Was this an early 64 frame?

[Philip C.]

Re: 63 frame date STENCIL ???

Hi Phil,

Do you mean the frame mount pads on the 64 were at the same height as the 63? Was this an early 64 frame?

Hi Mike yes the frame mounts were exactly the same in height and I put a 63 conv body on it with no prolbems. Dont know when the frame was built. Phil 8063

[Michael H.]

Re: 63 frame date STENCIL ???

Hi Mike yes the frame mounts were exactly the same in height and I put a 63 conv body on it with no prolbems. Dont know when the frame was built. Phil 8063

According to the original frame dimension chart, the mount brackets on 64-67 frames were lowered roughly 3/8".
If you used the rubber cushions on a 64 frame with a 63 body, it should come out even.
If you didn't use the cushions, the body would be lower than normal and very close to the frame rails in some areas?

I guess it works either way though.

[Todd B.]

Re: 63 frame date STENCIL ???

Thanks Todd. Excellent pictures. Difficult to tell for sure but the coils of the front springs appear to be evenly spaced just like a 63 spring. The later 64 springs are progressively wound and the gap between coild changes per coil. According to GM paperwork, this is correct. The front and rear springs in early 64's were actually 63 parts.
I wonder if your rear spring has ever been changed? It's quite common for this to occur early in the life of 63's as that spring design certainly had problems and many were replaced. That may explain the later style progressive spring that the car has now.
I have a 64 on file that's later than your car and it still has a 63 style rear spring.

More later on the 63 frame issue. Very interesting. I wonder if it has a 63 or 64 style parking brake cable system?

Thanks for the follow-up Michael. I suppose it it possible that the rear spring has been changed, but none of the prior owners has mentioned it to me. I have tracked down each owner back to 1969, and asked each what mechanical work was done on the car when they had it. None mentioned the rear spring, but that certainly does not mean that it has not been changed.

The parking brake system looks to be all 1964. The only deviation I found on it was the actual chrome handle under the dash has white lettering rather than black as the Judging Guide indicates a '64 should have.

Please let me know if any more information would be helpful. I'm very anxious to learn more about the car. I have an Excel spreadsheet with many of the relevant part numbers and dates if you would like me to email it to you.

Regards,
Todd

[Cecil L.]

Re: 63 frame date STENCIL ???

If a date appears that looks like it was applied with the same stencil as the frame part number, I would think that it would be a date applied at the frame source, A O Smith, at least several days and likely a week before the frame was shipped the St Louis plant.

Typically, a date is hand written on the frame just after it's moved into the St Louis assembly plant.

Is the stencil date on the frame close to the build date of your car?

I also have a Nov 65 built 66 but I've never looked for the frame dates and stencil.

Michael,
The frame stencil reads:
387.1317 / 11-10-GC
303.196.21

425 hp 427 with original M-21, F-41, side exhaust, knock offs, tele column, teak wheel and hardtop only. #5664 , Style 66467 Body S1798 assembled C-12, Trim STD, Paint 976AA.

How close is yours?

[Michael H.]

Re: 63 frame date STENCIL ???

Michael,
The frame stencil reads:
387.1317 / 11-10-GC
303.196.21

425 hp 427 with original M-21, F-41, side exhaust, knock offs, tele column, teak wheel and hardtop only. #5664 , Style 66467 Body S1798 assembled C-12, Trim STD, Paint 976AA.

How close is yours?

Cecil,

The frame part number stencil 3871317 is also the same part number shown in the 66 AIM.

I believe the stencil date, 11-10 (Wednesday, 10 November) would be the date the frame left the Granite City facility and headed for the St Louis plant.
Your 66 hadn't begun assembly at that time at St Louis. Most likely, the body build was first started on the 11th or 12th and was about 1/2 complete when the trim tag with the 12 November date was installed.
At that point, the frame was likely still in a pile and was still not job specific.
Not long after the trim tag/date was rivited on the body, a frame was pulled from the pile and made it's way down the chassis line. Just prior to being pulled from the pile, a hand written date was applied. That date would probably be either the same day (12th) or possibly the next day of production.

My 66 was built seven days after yours. It's a 425 HP maroon/saddle and was also built as hardtop only. (no F41, no side exh, no radio)