Easy Stamp Pad Question

[Rich G.]

At what point was the VIN derivative stamped on the pad for C2 and C3? Was the motor on the frame for the car or was it on a rack waiting for the rest of the car to show up?

Thanks

Rich

[Gene M.]

Re: Easy Stamp Pad Question

I think the engine and tranny were done at the same time. Maybe John or Mike can chime in as they were there.

[Michael D.]

Re: Easy Stamp Pad Question

It is my understanding the VIN derivitives were stamped by the same worker with the same tool at the time the combination was being installed in the frame or just prior to being lowered into the frame.

[Rich G.]

Re: Easy Stamp Pad Question

Thanks. I was curious after reading another thread talking about double strikes or over strikes and I wondered how awkward the process was or wasn't for the worker doing it.

Rich

[Ron G.]

Re: Easy Stamp Pad Question

As Michael said, it was stamped by the same person prior to being installed in the frame.

[John H.]

Re: Easy Stamp Pad Question

After the engine was pulled from the rack and hung on the Engine Dress Line conveyor hook, the next operation was to install the transmission; that's when the VIN derivative stamping was done on the engine pad and the transmission case. The same single gang-holder was used for both the engine and transmission VIN stamp until mid-1965, when the format for the transmission stamp changed; from that point on (at least through 1967), two different gang-holders were used - one for the engine, and another for the transmission.


Stamper3 (Small).jpg

[Ray G.]

Re: Easy Stamp Pad Question

John;
Great image of the stamper/holder.
At the time the stamper was used is the engine/transmission combination hanging in mid-air ?
Thank you as always for sharing your knowledge.
Ray

[John H.]

Re: Easy Stamp Pad Question

John;
Great image of the stamper/holder.
At the time the stamper was used is the engine/transmission combination hanging in mid-air ?
Thank you as always for sharing your knowledge.
Ray

Ray -

Yes, it was - photos below show the St. Louis Engine Dress Line in 1980, and a Michael Hanson photo of the VIN stamp operator at work.


EngDress1980.jpgStamper1.jpg

[Michael J.]

Re: Easy Stamp Pad Question

That is very interesting, so at this point, just after the engine and tranny were VIN derivative stamped, these assemblies were in VIN order, right? And I assume they went onto the frames in that same order as the frames were also in VIN order as they came down the line when the two were mated, right?

[John H.]

Re: Easy Stamp Pad Question

That is very interesting, so at this point, just after the engine and tranny were VIN derivative stamped, these assemblies were in VIN order, right? And I assume they went onto the frames in that same order as the frames were also in VIN order as they came down the line when the two were mated, right?

Michael -

Yes, that's correct, at least until the point in C3 production when they moved the VIN plate installation back into the Paint Shop from the beginning of the Hard Trim Line; I think that was around 1972 or so, but a C3 guy will have to confirm it.

Prior to 1972 (or so), the VIN was assigned sequentially and the plate was created and installed right after the end of the Paint Shop, in the first operation on the Hard Trim Line, at which point the body was "locked in sequence" from that point all the way to the end of the Final Line; that same station also installed the trim tag (on St. Louis bodies).

[Michael J.]

Re: Easy Stamp Pad Question

Thanks John, I have always been curious about how that used to work, all I am familiar with is the modern, computer driven line where they have no concern about VIN sequencing.

[Terry M.]

Re: Easy Stamp Pad Question

Michael -

Yes, that's correct, at least until the point in C3 production when they moved the VIN plate installation back into the Paint Shop from the beginning of the Hard Trim Line; I think that was around 1972 or so, but a C3 guy will have to confirm it.

Prior to 1972 (or so), the VIN was assigned sequentially and the plate was created and installed right after the end of the Paint Shop, in the first operation on the Hard Trim Line, at which point the body was "locked in sequence" from that point all the way to the end of the Final Line; that same station also installed the trim tag (on St. Louis bodies).

If you are talking about the time when the trim tags show up as painted body color is what I assume you mean by the change back to the paint shop. If so, that would be about 1975 or so, but someone more familiar with 1973 to 1980 would have to jump in there. We are all too much specialists.