1970 Windshield Washer Jar 3961557

[David L.]

It appears that there were possibly 3 different venders that supplied the various 1970 Chevrolet models with the 3961557 windshield washer Jar.
Over the years I have collected several of the first 2 versions listed below.

1. Embossed "1" (or "2", "3", 4", etc.), "BP", and 3961557" about 2 3/4" to 4 1/8" up from bottom.
2. Embossed "3961557" about 1 5/8" up from bottom.
3. Embossed "3961557 MADE IN CANADA DONLEE"

I believe that the Canadian jar was issued to 1970 Chev. models that were made in Canada at the Oshawa plant like the 1970 Chevelle.

For those with the original jar in their 1970 Corvette which one do you have?
1970 Corvette AIM UPC 1, sheet D7
GM # 3961557 was replaced with GM # 3990892 in June 1971 as per Chev. Parts History for over the counter parts.

Dave

[Kevin G.]

Re: 1970 Windshield Washer Jar 3961557

Very Interesting Dave! Are you only studying the 1970? I would love to learn more about the 71/72 styles as well! Is it correct to assume that these "jars" were used across the GM line, and not Corvette specific? I have a small collection, I'll take a look at them!

[David L.]

Re: 1970 Windshield Washer Jar 3961557

Kevin,

I'm actually studying the 3961557 jar for my 1970 Camaro SS350 project. GM # 3961557 was a "one year wonder" and used only on 1970 Chevrolet models. According to Chevrolet Parts History GM # 3961557 was replaced with the 3990892 in June 1971.

I do not have a 1971 or 1972 Corvette AIM. My 1972 Corvette Parts Catalog (Sept. 1971) lists GM # 3990892 for 70-72 Corvette models but I conclude that it was only correct for 71-72 Corvettes with the 70 Corvette using the 3961557 jar.

The 3990892 jar is shown in my 1972 Chevelle AIM.

The 3996244 jar is shown in my 1971, 1972, and 1973 Camaro AIM's although my 1972 Chev. Parts Catalog (Jan. 1972) lists the 3990892 jar for all 1971 models (exc. Pass.)(1st design) and the 3996244 jar for the 71 Camaro (2nd design).

The only 3990892 jar that I have is one that I bought from my local Chev. dealer back in the early 1990's. It is embossed "3990892" located about 3" above the bottom of the jar. The text size measures about 7/32".

My 1981 Chev. Parts Catalog (April 1981) lists the 3990892 jar for the 71-72 Chevelle, 71-72 Vega, 71-74 Nova.
My 1981 Corvette Parts Catalog (Nov. 1981) lists the 3990892 for the 72-74 Corvette, now called a reservoir instead of a jar.

Dave

[Alan S.]

Re: 1970 Windshield Washer Jar 3961557

Hi,
I presently have 3 bottles.
They seem to be one each of David's list.
The original from my 71 has just the 3961557 # embossed on it.
I have one with the 3961557 # and 'B/P' embossed on it along with a '1' which I'm thinking may be a mold number.
The third is embossed with the 3961557#, the producer's logo (a large 'D' with 'doniee' or 'donlee' extending from the 'D'), 'Made In Canada', and a mold number '3'. This bottle has a slightly more defined surface texture than the other 2 and is about 15% heavier, so may be a little thicker plastic.
All have VERY rusty grommets
Regards,
Alan

[Terry M.]

Re: 1970 Windshield Washer Jar 3961557

Which side of the bottle are these embosments located on? I am willing to go look at my original, but I am not going to remove it from the car.

[David L.]

Re: 1970 Windshield Washer Jar 3961557

Which side of the bottle are these embosments located on? I am willing to go look at my original, but I am not going to remove it from the car.

Terry,

The embossed text is on the front face of the jar. You don't have to removed the jar, just have to look very close.

Dave

[David L.]

Re: 1970 Windshield Washer Jar 3961557

The original from my 71 has just the 3961557 # embossed on it.

Alan,

When was your 1971 made? I suspect an "early" 1971.
Do you have a 1971 AIM? If so, what is the part number of the jar listed?
The 1970 AIM lists the jar part number in UPC 1 ASM, sheet D7.
Enclosed is a photo of a NOS 3990892 jar that I bought in the early 1990's which replaced the 3961557 jar. The lower left corner was modified to fit in certain 1971 Chevrolet models.

Dave

[Alan S.]

Re: 1970 Windshield Washer Jar 3961557

Hi David,
My 71 was a mid-January 1971 built car #6589.
In the 71 AIM the bottle is shown in UPC 1, Sheet D7, Item #6. Part # 3961577.
I find it interesting that the bottles I bought at Carlisle over the years happen to be the 2 other versions of my original.
I had a 4th bottle that went to a good home. It was the B/P version.
Regards,
Alan

[David L.]

Re: 1970 Windshield Washer Jar 3961557

Alan,

I wonder if "late" 1971's were issued the 3990892 jar. I assume they issued the 3961577 jars on the 1971's until the supply was used up.

I have this same thread on the NastyZ28 forum. So far I have one response, an original 1970 Z28 made in Norwood, Ohio, has the "BP 3961577" jar.

Dave

[Alan S.]

Re: 1970 Windshield Washer Jar 3961557

Hi David,
The early/late build figures are distorted a little for 71 model year production.
I believe only about 1000 cars were built in September, none in October, and only about 450 in November.
So the VIN sequence for a January car, which you'd think would be about the middle of total production, is about 4000 cars low.
So early/late bottles?
Regards,
Alan

[Terry M.]

Re: 1970 Windshield Washer Jar 3961557

Hi David,
The early/late build figures are distorted a little for 71 model year production.
I believe only about 1000 cars were built in September, none in October, and only about 450 in November.
So the VIN sequence for a January car, which you'd think would be about the middle of total production, is about 4000 cars low.
So early/late bottles?
Regards,
Alan

Good numbers Alan. You have been working hard.

About 1100 + a few in September
None in October
around 420 in November

Either of our sets of numbers are so close that either could be correct. I got mine from the trim tags of cars I have seen or that have been reported to me. Did you get yours from the Wall Street Journal?

[Alan S.]

Re: 1970 Windshield Washer Jar 3961557

Hi Terry,
Since I seen few 71 cars compared to you I used the monthly production numbers from the 70-72 TIM&JG.
Not being a math person I just looked at the totals, estimated, and wrote 'about'.
Wall Street Journal? Did they publish GM production figures?
Regards,
Alan

[Terry M.]

Re: 1970 Windshield Washer Jar 3961557

Hi Terry,
Since I seen few 71 cars compared to you I used the monthly production numbers from the 70-72 TIM&JG.
Not being a math person I just looked at the totals, estimated, and wrote 'about'.
Wall Street Journal? Did they publish GM production figures?
Regards,
Alan

During the 1960 & 1970s the WSJ published GM (and I think other makes as well) production numbers separated by plant. St Louis had the truck, passenger car, and Corvette lines listed separately. Since the WSJ is so widely available in libraries on micro film (old folks need to find what they paid for stock years ago. The IRS calls that "The Basis" and that number figures into tax returns.) so are those production numbers. The WSJ was a weekly back then, so one can get weekly GM plant production numbers. The size of some of those numbers for other GM assembly plants will amaze most people. If you have a lot of time on your hands -- knock yourself out.

The reason I prefer to use trim tag dates, even though they are harder to get, is that those production numbers, and the completed date NCRS supplies, are based on when Chevrolet considered the car complete for accounting purposes. That point in time changed from time to time -- not often, but it did change, and the most important thing is we don't have a good handle on when it changed. The trim tag date was fixed when that tag was applied. That station did change in the later C3s -- when the trim tag was painted -- but since my interest is 1968-1972 that change is not a factor for my work. I wanted, and have a fixed point in time.

[Terry M.]

Re: 1970 Windshield Washer Jar 3961557

Terry,

The embossed text is on the front face of the jar. You don't have to removed the jar, just have to look very close.

Dave

Until I went and looked I didn't realize the front face of the jar points to the rear of the car. Not exactly an accessible location. My efforts at photography failed.

However there is a number on the jar, about half way down, 3961557 and 'B/P' embossed above it along with a '1'. The "1" is nearest the top, and the stylized BP below that. The cast number is farther down. This for a 1970 Trim Tag A29 = January 29, 1970

[Alan S.]

Re: 1970 Windshield Washer Jar 3961557

Hi Terry,
Ah.... Now I understand!
Thanks very much.
Regards,
Alan