L78-15 Original Spare

[geunther]

Yesterday I removed the spare tire for the first time since the truck was built in 1979. Just thought I would share the photos in case anyone needs for restoration detail. On the backside of the wheel as well as the tire was the number 816 written with grease pencil. On the front side of the tire was the number 97, also in grease pencil.

[KMK454]

Nice, I have an original spare just like that under my 78. What are you going to do with it?

[lilpoindexter]

This is awesome...like finding a time capsule or something.

[geunther]

I dont know what I will do with it long term. For now, I just cleaned it up without scrubbing off any of the markings and put it back underneath.

[motornut]

one of those numbers may be on your cowel too
if so it was a number used to keep them in order being built

[geunther]

Could you tell me where those stamped numbers are? There are other grease pencil numbers on the cowel, but it is a different number. K 159 as near as I can tell.

[motornut]

the one to ask is Keith
check out his thread
http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...342926&page=24
thats who told me what the other numbers were

[Keith Seymore]

I had been watching this thread (very cool, by the way) but hadn't responded yet, because I am a bit puzzled by the different number between the mark on the tire and the one on the back of the wheel.

I think you guys know that as the trucks were built they were assigned a sequential build number (or "manifest sequence number"). These last two or three characters of these numbers will often appear in crayon on the firewall, on the rear axle cover, on the tires, etc - anyplace where it was helpful for the assembly plant to keep the components or subassemblies in the right order as they were conveyed from remote areas of the plant to the main line.

Even though I followed my own truck down the assembly line I didn't remember this but - in a kind of a cool coincidence - apparently my truck was "number 87" (it's a 1987 model year truck).







...

At any rate - in this case, I tend to suspect the sequential build number of your truck was "97", because I know numbers were written on the tire itself, and that the number inside the wheel is immaterial.

Do you see a "97" anywhere else, in the usual places (hood, rad support, axle)? I was also a bit puzzled by the number on your firewall, which also doesn't make sense in the context of this thread. Can you re-check and see if it's "597"?


The stamped number on the cowl should be on the leading edge, and (for a Flint built truck) midway on the passenger side. Some other plants would stamp that number similarly on the driver's side. It was used to track the cab/box through the body shop, before the vehicle was painted.

K