Ink-stamped letter on alternator housing

[Bob J.]

Re: Ink-stamped letter on alternator housing

Looks like Todd's unrestored 64 alternator and Wayne's unrestored 65 alternator both have BLACK painted stators.
Odd that the 63-64 JG wants to see carmel.

[Wayne M.]

Re: Ink-stamped letter on alternator housing

Looks like Todd's unrestored 64 alternator and Wayne's unrestored 65 alternator both have BLACK painted stators.
Odd that the 63-64 JG wants to see carmel.

I opened up the case on that 696. notice the black paint is flaking off some locations on the laminations. Also the spray extends beyond the exposed laminations, especially where the masking (eg. at case bolt slots) is poor.

BTW, where is Michael Hanson ?

[Bob J.]

Re: Ink-stamped letter on alternator housing

I opened up the case on that 696. notice the black paint is flaking off some locations on the laminations. Also the spray extends beyond the exposed laminations, especially where the masking (eg. at case bolt slots) is poor.

BTW, where is Michael Hanson ?

Hi Wayne,
thanks for the exploded view showing the black paint application.

I just talked to Michael Hanson and he told me to tell you hi.
He is taking a break.

He is the most qualified to straighten things out, but meets constant resistance for his efforts.
Thanks Again, Bob

[Jack H.]

Re: Ink-stamped letter on alternator housing

That issue (stator fully carmel colored vs. spritzed with black over the carmel along the center rib) has been debated for YEARS! There are two camps:

(1) I don't care what the GM drawing for the part says (it calls out the cosmetic spritz of black paint), the factory original construction method did NOT use black paint.

(2) But, the cosmetic paint IS called out on the GM drawing and I've seen MANY alternators that have it as well as service replacement stators, still new in box, from the era with it.

Bottom line, some of the more 'enlightened' Judging Guides give compromised descriptive text saying either of the two detail methods are acceptable. Plus, if that SMALL aspect of factory originality changes the bottom line score of your car (third vs. second vs. top flight), you've got a LOT of other fish to fry!!!

[Bob J.]

Re: Ink-stamped letter on alternator housing

That issue (stator fully carmel colored vs. spritzed with black over the carmel along the center rib) has been debated for YEARS! There are two camps:

(1) I don't care what the GM drawing for the part says (it calls out the cosmetic spritz of black paint), the factory original construction method did NOT use black paint.

(2) But, the cosmetic paint IS called out on the GM drawing and I've seen MANY alternators that have it as well as service replacement stators, still new in box, from the era with it.

Bottom line, some of the more 'enlightened' Judging Guides give compromised descriptive text saying either of the two detail methods are acceptable. Plus, if that SMALL aspect of factory originality changes the bottom line score of your car (third vs. second vs. top flight), you've got a LOT of other fish to fry!!!

Never have seen a unrestored 63-65 alternator with any color but BLACK.
Michael Hanson and myself probably have the best picture library of low mileage unrestored 63 Corvettes anywhere, and NONE are any color other than black.
Scoring points is not the issue ..... doing the restoration authentic IS.

[Michael H.]

Re: Ink-stamped letter on alternator housing

It's the broadcast code associated with that part number alternator; the guys on the line used it instead of the long part number to select the correct alternator for each car - the code for each car was on the build sheet.

I agree with John Hinckley. The stamp is a lot more than just an inspection code. Has anyone noticed that the ink stamps seem to come in different colors for different model alternators?

[Ronald L.]

Re: Ink-stamped letter on alternator housing

Yes, sounds like a good study to start!

[Michael H.]

Re: Ink-stamped letter on alternator housing

Yes, sounds like a good study to start!

Here's part of what I have so far. Every 1100696 alternator ink stamp on the rear case half that I've seen has been red. Wayne Midkiff and Jorjorian have posted pic's of original red stamps previously and I've seen/photographed a few also. Does this mean that all 696 alt's should have a red ink stamp?

The ink stamp on several original 1100628 alternators for 63 that I've seen have been dark green.

I have more info on this that I'll post later. I'm convinced that the color of the stamp was indeed the identification for the alt model.

Below is an unrestored alt from a low mileage 63. The ink stamp is dark green.

[Kenneth H.]

Re: Ink-stamped letter on alternator housing

Attached is a picture of my John Perkle restored 1100884 alternator, showing both stamps.

[Harry S.]

Re: Ink-stamped letter on alternator housing

The ink-stamp on a 37A 1963 should be what? A Y or an A or ?

I have an A on my restored alternator.

[Ronald L.]

Re: Ink-stamped letter on alternator housing

Michael,

My 693 had a very dark H like character, original to car & unrestored, except for a diode or two that blew and left us on the side of the road

The data needs to come from un restored originals and it is hard to say what real color the stamp was due to fading, but dark for sure and H-like.

[Michael H.]

Re: Ink-stamped letter on alternator housing

Here's what I've learned about the ink stamp color. In the 63 AIM, the sheet that shows the 1100628 base 37 amp alternator, item #14, (section 6, sheet A4) also states in brackets after the part number, "color coded GREEN".

In the air conditioning section, C60, sheet 5.00, the optional 55 amp alternator, #14, identifies the unit as color "coded black".

I believe this color I.D. system was used within Delco and carried over to the assy line for identification, even though the later AIM's don't mention the color. So far, we know that the 1100628 37A was green, the 1100633 was black and the 1100696 was red.

It makes sense. Why else would a specific color be called out for different amperage alternators.

It wasn't a random color and it wasn't just an inspection stamp.