The Birthday Book

[Lynn H.]

I just received my first copy of the birthday book today (never have too much resource material), and like most things I now have a couple of questions. I see that this is the 6th edition of this book, so I am ASSUMING that it gets updated. While I know that much of this information is calculated using many different variables (and is not always exact), I was wondering if it was something that someone is keeping track of and updating. Also, are the dates given to be for final assembly (when they rolled of the line), or are these the dates that would be on the trim tags? I have a 72 coupe #5619 with the date on the trim tag being C25 (October 25th, 71). Hey, that means we just had another birthday over the weekend at my house and did NOT celebrate. My wife hit a milestone over the weekend (I better not tell the number), and she probably wouldn't have been too happy with me having to share the occasion with one of my cars. I'm getting off subject here, sorry! Anyway the birthday book has my 72 on the 26th, with the last car on the 25th being #5602. My question is: Is anyone out ther keeping track of this for future updates? And if so, who would I contact??

I better go out and have a beer with my car so she don't feel left out (better late than never), you know how cranky some of these girls get when you forget special occasions!!!
Thanks!!!
Lynn

[Dennis M.]

Re: The Birthday Book

Lynn,

To the best of my knowledge, updates are submitted to Eric and the membership office and held until they are confiirmed and/or other updates are submitted. At that point the updates would become part of the next edition.

All of the research and calculation that I did for the original edition was based on the information available at that time. So there very well maybe new more up-to-date information becoming available, either through documentation or new information.

I have email'ed you offline from the discussion board, so feel free to either email or call me, if you wish to discuss further.

Save The Wave,
Dennis

[Jack H.]

Re: The Birthday Book

"Also, are the dates given to be for final assembly (when they rolled of the line), or are these the dates that would be on the trim tags?"

The trim tag documents when the car's body assy started final production and NOT when it met up with its chassis on the final assy line. Therefore basing a birthday book on trim tags would be futile and misleading (Corvette didn't have/use trim tags prior to 1963...).

The data published is based on interpolating Chevys end of month production records (assuming a uniform assy rate + 'normal' work week duration). So, it's probably as accurate as you can do yourself via hand calculations...

[Grant P.]

Re: The Birthday Book

If the trim tag date represents the final assembly stage how many days prior to that date would assembly actually start? Would it have been one or two days or is it possible to be longer? Grant

[Dennis M.]

Re: The Birthday Book

Probably, with the exception to weekends or holidays depending on the year and what work schedule the plant was running.

Dennis

[Grant P.]

Re: The Birthday Book

Thanks for responding Dennis. My trim tag is 3/10, however, the BB states a date of 3/2? Grant

[Jack H.]

Re: The Birthday Book

"If the trim tag date represents the final assembly stage how many days prior to that date would assembly actually start? Would it have been one or two days or is it possible to be longer?"

Many factors here, Grant... In general, there was very little space at the St. Louis factory to 'warehouse' completed body assy's. So, that body shop fed the final line almost hand to mouth.

BUT, for mid-year production, there were two body shops (St. Louis and AO Smith in Ionia, MI) and the AOS body's traveled to St. Louis via rail. There could have been MORE than the typcial 'freight-in' delay with these bodies making it to the final assy line as they were conveniently 'warehoused' on the rail cars that delivered them.

Plus, there was the occassional production 'hold' situation on certain cars, like the side exhaust equipped cars from '69 where there were 'discussions' between GM/Chevy and the Federal government regarding noise pollution.

Last, the body trim tag date represents the time the body started its way through the build process and not when it completed assy. John Hinkley has explained to us the paint booth represented a variable delay (how many QA/QC write-ups and re-work episodes did a particular body receive before it was released?).

That's why it's always best to go by the car's VIN vs. the trim tag when trying to determine the actual build date...

[Grant P.]

Re: The Birthday Book

Thank you Jack.

[John H.]

Re: The Birthday Book

If the trim tag date represents the final assembly stage how many days prior to that date would assembly actually start? Would it have been one or two days or is it possible to be longer? Grant

Grant -

It took a little over two shifts to go from the raw underbody in the Body Shop to the end of the Final Line.

[Wayne M.]

Re: The Birthday Book

....Plus, there was the occassional production 'hold' situation on certain cars, like the side exhaust equipped cars from '69 where there were 'discussions' between GM/Chevy and the Federal government regarding noise pollution....

Jack -- from the Denver Zone (your stomping ground) Distribution Newsletter, dated August 20th, 1968.

"Corvette RPO N14, Side Mounted Exhaust, will not be available for production at the assembly plant until approximately November 1st. Orders specifying this option should not be submitted until November placements are due."

With a timeline like that, sounds more like a design or supplier problem than governmental negotiations.