The build date project

[geunther]

Originally Posted by 402Bowtie

Another curiosity... Has anyone seen a 2F2 VIN? Did they jump from F1 to F3 for some reason?

The lower number is after the higher number, so that alone does not explain. I'm sure the the folks on this forum, we will figure it out.

Canadian trucks?

[402Bowtie]

71 chevy; 1S622914; 1/71

71 GMC; S132048; 6/xx....based on our data, it should be 6/71

[geunther]

Originally Posted by geunther

I certainly do not doubt the veracity of the "F3", I just have not been able to find the pattern. Considering Flint producing 300,000 for 72 equals 25,000 per month. So going to the end of March should equal about 200,000 trucks. So going with those numbers, the highest VIN for March of 72 Flint should be F300000. Of course, these numbers are based upon averages, not faster and slower production at different times.

Looking at March numbers for the other plants, Flints numbers would have to be about 71% higher. But if Flint produced half of the entire 72 run, this percentage would make sense.

However, we do have a Flint jamb sticker 4/72 with a sequence of F163780. I have added the F355033 and will continue to try and reconcile this.

Ok, I think I found the information but am looking at it more deeply and will share when I find more. It appears for 1972 Flint also used sequencing beginning with 300001 and 700001. For 71 Flint also used 800001.

[geunther]

From web
Z154606 = 4/9/70

[402Bowtie]

72 chevy; 2F332776; 12/71
71 chevy suburban; 1F647787; 5/71
72 chevy suburban; 2F160080; 3/72
70 gmc St Louis; SZ55672; 10/69

[70c10-08]

My 69 C/20 parts truck 9S436384; 7/69 she was from St. Louis

[402Bowtie]

72 chevy; 2Z154193; 3/24/72

[402Bowtie]

Not sure this one is helpful. Can anyone read it?

72 Blazer; 2S105697; I think the date is 8/71, but maybe this is one for the discard pile since it is hard to read.

[geunther]

Originally Posted by 402Bowtie

Not sure this one is helpful. Can anyone read it?

72 Blazer; 2S105697; I think the date is 8/71, but maybe this is one for the discard pile since it is hard to read.

Ill add it and show ??/71

[57taskforce]

Originally Posted by geunther

Ill add it and show ??/71

That’s exactly what I was gonna say, hopefully other vins will fill in around it and solve the mystery.

[Pro299]

My 72 C10:
2A150583
3/72

[402Bowtie]

72 chevy; 2F368889; most likely 5/72
70 chevy; 0Z167860; 6/70

[402Bowtie]

The first Baltimore (and non-Fremont) build sheet I've seen...

72 chevy; 2B151900; 4/11/72

And a 70 chevy; 0J106770; 10/69

And a 67 chevy; 7Z155862; 5/18/67

And a 68 GMC; ZB18911; 3/25/68

[geunther]

Originally Posted by 402Bowtie

The first Baltimore (and non-Fremont) build sheet I've seen...

72 chevy; 2B151900; 4/11/72

And a 70 chevy; 0J106770; 10/69

And a 67 chevy; 7Z155862; 5/18/67

And a 68 GMC; ZB18911; 3/25/68

Nice work! Now, where was the Baltimore build sheet found in the truck. No reason (other than there is a B in my VIN.

[402Bowtie]

This one evidently had two build sheets.

72 chevy; 2Z128188; 12/10/71...or at least 12/1x/71

First build sheet shown attached in this post. See following post for 2nd build sheet.

[402Bowtie]

2nd build sheet for same truck in post 115.

[geunther]

1972 2z118425 11-71

[geunther]

1970 0a116484 12/69
1970 0s120860 10/69

[402Bowtie]

Originally Posted by 57taskforce

I’m not sure how the blazer/jimmy and suburban/panels will factor into this yet. I fear that because they weren’t coming off the pickup assembly lines it may skew the pickup accuracy? Maybe I’m in left field? It might be best to have a similar list of them going in their individual sections? Anyone have thoughts on this?
I added your GMC short K10 ptjsk.

Originally Posted by geunther

Very helpful. I added the Jimmy to post 2 but could not see the numbers well enough from the build sheet on the short step side. I am sure we will settle on one list (post 1 or post 2)but for now we are ironing out the bugs. Like 57taskforce said, adding Jimmys/Blazers might confuse things somewhat.

I'll add my 2 cents...

I think the blazers and suburbans should be mixed in with the other serial numbers (and maybe noted in parentheses as you have been doing). It appears to me that every model was mixed together as it came down the assembly line. Any proof otherwise?

You guys are doing a great job compiling and laying out the info, but I'm going to nitpick a little (it's the engineer in me):
-Fremont is spelled with only one "e."
-Under each year and make, I think we should keep the list sorted purely by serial number, not by date. ie. Don't intermix 2F1 with 2F3. Sorting by serial number I think will make it easier to look up our build dates in the future when our list is bigger.

Regardless, I'll be looking for more data points to add!

[57taskforce]

Originally Posted by 402Bowtie

I'll add my 2 cents...

I think the blazers and suburbans should be mixed in with the other serial numbers (and maybe noted in parentheses as you have been doing). It appears to me that every model was mixed together as it came down the assembly line. Any proof otherwise?

You guys are doing a great job compiling and laying out the info, but I'm going to nitpick a little (it's the engineer in me):
-Fremont is spelled with only one "e."
-Under each year and make, I think we should keep the list sorted purely by serial number, not by date. ie. Don't intermix 2F1 with 2F3. Sorting by serial number I think will make it easier to look up our build dates in the future when our list is bigger.

Regardless, I'll be looking for more data points to add!

I can look into those things, no problem. Geunther and myself elected to continue to add the blazer/suburban’s for now to see how it all plays out. If the need arises in the future we will address it then. I will look into the 2F1vs2f3, I agree it might make things easier especially as more trucks come in. With as much leg work as you’re doing you deserve the right to nitpick

[geunther]

Originally Posted by 402Bowtie

I'll add my 2 cents...

I think the blazers and suburbans should be mixed in with the other serial numbers (and maybe noted in parentheses as you have been doing). It appears to me that every model was mixed together as it came down the assembly line. Any proof otherwise?

You guys are doing a great job compiling and laying out the info, but I'm going to nitpick a little (it's the engineer in me):
-Fremont is spelled with only one "e."
-Under each year and make, I think we should keep the list sorted purely by serial number, not by date. ie. Don't intermix 2F1 with 2F3. Sorting by serial number I think will make it easier to look up our build dates in the future when our list is bigger.

Regardless, I'll be looking for more data points to add!

Without a secondary sort feature we have to sort by date or by VIN but not both obviously. With it being a build date project, I would be more inclined to have the date sort have priority. Other wise you would have two sets of dates for Flint for 71 and 72. I am not saying that is a bad idea. I think we will continue to learn more about the pattern and hope to identify why they jumped to 2F3 then back to 2F1.

Of course we could just utilize 2 sorts for Flint? I am sure we are yet to identify all the anomalies.

[402Bowtie]

70 chevy; 0S142568; 1/70
72 chevy; 2Z147088; 3/72

[402Bowtie]

71 chevy; 1J623881; 2/71

[71CHEVYSHORTBED402]

Here's some information. Blue font is useful, black is gibberish:

If you haven't already you might add 1972 Z161544 with a build date 04/19/1972. He posted it in 2013, fairly well preserved build sheet too - gave me something to work with. I went through this to attempt to confirm my well ventilated 72 Super Z146839 was built in Mar. though perhaps Feb. using the most conservative dates & numbers available. I'm only assuming the factory didn't skip sequences.

Between March 24, 1972 and April 19, 1972 there were 7351 Z Chevy's built. That's the low end, divided by 27 days instead of 26, but a solid guide. That's 272 trucks per day and 8236 per month.

Between April 19, 1972 and sometime later in April (Mystery April Date, "MAD") there were 2502 Z Chevy's built.

If it's assumed MAD is the last day in April, then 9853 Z Chevys were built between March 24,1972 & April 30, 1972. That's on the low-end because I must be MAD, I mean the MAD is April 30th.

Using the number 9853, that's 259 trucks per day or 7908 trucks a month for the period. Strictly a guess, personally I think this is somewhat misleading, not sure why I went here EDIT: Irony, I now see that Z164046 has a 04/28/72 build date. That was a Friday and 259 pencils out after all.

Using the 03/24/1972 date (Z154193) for my 72 Super (Z146839) there's a difference of 7354 trucks. If March 1st is assumed through 03/24/72, then at 259 (minimum) trucks per day that's 6216 trucks. Bummer, still 1K short. If 272 trucks per day is used then still short 800.

That said my sticker is faded, just at that corner too, go figure. But a magnifying glass says "/72" and I'm mostly sure the month is "3". It's so faded it could be gone next month. In my edgeucated opinion (90/10+) Z146839 is March 1972, though if you add it asterisk at your discretion.

[geunther]

Originally Posted by 71CHEVYSHORTBED402

In my edgeucated opinion (90/10+) Z146839 is March 1972, though if you add it asterisk at your discretion.

Fun with math no doubt.
I looked at two of the closest dates available with a decent spread: (3-24) Z154193 and (4-28) Z163961. That is either 34 or 36 days (34 if you consider Z154193 was built at the end of the day and Z163961 was built at the beginning of the day). Using those numbers, the average is 287 trucks a day. 287 x 24 (March 1 to Mach 24) = 6888 trucks. Backing up from 3-24, the earliest for March would be Z147305.

Certainly Z146839 was built in either February or March. I'll add an asterisk, ? for the month and a note. Ill bet we can make better estimates soon.