General Rule for Date Codes? (1971 LT-1 Alt, Carb, Starter)

[Keith S.]

I've owned my conv 1971 LT-1 since 1985 and want to go through the date codes for the alternator, Holley carb and starter as I believe all have been replaced. From what I've heard, generally the dates should be six months prior to the car build. Received date per build sheet is June 8,1971. VIN 119722. If anyone has an surviver LT-1 with a similar build date I would love to know your car's date stamps. All advice is greatly appreciated.

[Alan S.]

Re: General Rule for Date Codes? (1971 LT-1 Alt, Carb, Starter)

Hi Keith
Back in 2008 member Mike Ernst had an interesting article in the RESTORER in which he listed MANY of the date codes he found on his 71 LT-!. It was in Vol.#34, Issue 3.
If you don't have access to the article I'd be happy to copy it and send it to you.
You might find it pretty interesting to compare what you find to what he found on his car.
Regards,
Alan

PS: I used the RESTORER Index UPDATE Jeff Salz put together not too long ago to find the article. A VERY nice piece of work.

[Michael W.]

Re: General Rule for Date Codes? (1971 LT-1 Alt, Carb, Starter)

Keith, judging rules recognise dates UP TO six months before the car production date. A few weeks or a month is much more typical. Remember that some accessories were installed at the the engine plant and must therefore also predate the engine build date as well as the car.

[Dave S.]

Re: General Rule for Date Codes? (1971 LT-1 Alt, Carb, Starter)

Keith, judging rules recognise dates UP TO six months before the car production date. A few weeks or a month is much more typical. Remember that some accessories were installed at the the engine plant and must therefore also predate the engine build date as well as the car.

Keith,
I had a 71 LT-1 VIN #16798. It was a 5 star 20K original mile Bowtie car. Here are a few key dates.
Car Build J11 - May 11, 1971.
Transmission P1B16B - Feb. 16, 1971.
Engine build - VO330CGZ - March 30, 1971.
Cast date - C251 - March 25, 1971.
Carb - Holley list 4801 - 082 - Aug. 1970 2nd week. Good example of and part beyond 6 months but logic says it is original due to 71 unique list number of 4801.
Alternator - 1D7 - April 7, 1971.
Heads - B271 - Feb. 27, 1971
C181 - March 18, 1971.
Starter - It had a #418 starter and dated 1D29 - April 29, 1971.

I have all the other details as it relates to markings, dates etc. if you need more.

[Mike E.]

Re: General Rule for Date Codes? (1971 LT-1 Alt, Carb, Starter)

Keith--
I did another article in the Restorer about a year ago on 3 late 71 LT-1's and all their numbers. It would be good to get a copy of that, or get the NCRS Restorer DVD. It will answer all your questions.
Mike

I've owned my conv 1971 LT-1 since 1985 and want to go through the date codes for the alternator, Holley carb and starter as I believe all have been replaced. From what I've heard, generally the dates should be six months prior to the car build. Received date per build sheet is June 8,1971. VIN 119722. If anyone has an surviver LT-1 with a similar build date I would love to know your car's date stamps. All advice is greatly appreciated.

[Keith S.]

Re: General Rule for Date Codes? (1971 LT-1 Alt, Carb, Starter)

Thanks - I'll have to buy the CD since I've been a member less than a year. I'm sure it will have lots of info in it to keep me busy.