1969 C20, CST. 396, 21,000 mile documented Survivor

[Dmoore]

And the 7?

[Dmoore]

Now the question is typically how far in advance was glass produced in relation to the truck?

[pjmoreland]

Based on what I have found for my truck, the vent window glass was made about two months before my truck was assembled, and the other windows were made about one month before. The "7" is a plant code, and it seems to be for Ottawa, IL.

[FirstOwner69]

Originally Posted by Dmoore

Where would I find the build month/day???

Most major components have their assembly date stamped or otherwise indicated. Most on my truck precede what is currently believed to be a first week of December build date by 1 to 2 weeks.

Here's a link to some threads that may be helpful.

https://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/...d.php?t=764404

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=740875

A/C Compressor decals are also dated.
https://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/...d.php?t=791330

[72c20customcamper]

Originally Posted by Dmoore

And the 7?

I believe the 7 was the plant location where the glass was made .

[Dmoore]

Thanks guys!

[Dmoore]

So to get back on the side marker light subject I snapped a photo of them today. Date code is 69 what say you guys?

[jocko]

If you are asking whether they are original to the truck, it's anyone's guess since they could have been swapped around - but given they are the correct side marker for a 69 CST and have a 69 date stamp, well, it's as close as you're gonna get. I'd suspect they are original.

[Dmoore]

Without question!

[FirstOwner69]

Originally Posted by Dmoore

Without question!

These comments are being added just for the record. I am not suggesting that you make any changes to this truck! Hell, I added the deluxe markers to my CST as did many others over the years. Your truck has obviously received a lot of love.

I'm not buying that these markers are original to this truck without knowing when the truck was produced. As I stated in an earlier post, I personally had a phone conversation with Chevrolet corporate (not a dealer) regarding CST package content when I realized my new early December build CST appeared to be missing several items from the CST package (the most obvious being deluxe lighted markers, headliner, cargo light). They told me these items were added to the package no earlier than late December, 1968.

The dates on various light lenses does not indicate the year the item is made. In this example, I believe the "69" indicates the year the DOT or other agency approved first usage of the design and functional compliance. I bet every one of the the deluxe markers originally on one of these trucks from from late December,1968, through 1972 has the "69" on it. I don't think the repros have any dates or any other info on the lens. Also, I'd bet a beer that every van produced through the 70s that used the same design deluxe marker (if required by the trim level) has a "69" on it. It's very easy to swap these in. As stated above, I've done it with my CST/20. The required harnesses are easily removed from a donor. Lighted markers used for the first year or two did not blink with the turn signals. The last couple years blinked sequentially with the turn signals.

If the owner wanted lighted cargo light but didn't want to go to the pain of cutting the cab, lighted markers would have been a walk in the park.

[chewychevy67]

Originally Posted by Dmoore

Those box rails are a neat accessory. I have a nos sitting g here and I'm still debating if I want to use them on my restoration. I've only seen them on 1 other truck . I like them on your truck..

[Dmoore]

Originally Posted by FirstOwner69

These comments are being added just for the record. I am not suggesting that you make any changes to this truck! Hell, I added the deluxe markers to my CST as did many others over the years. Your truck has obviously received a lot of love.

I'm not buying that these markers are original to this truck without knowing when the truck was produced. As I stated in an earlier post, I personally had a phone conversation with Chevrolet corporate (not a dealer) regarding CST package content when I realized my new early December build CST appeared to be missing several items from the CST package (the most obvious being deluxe lighted markers, headliner, cargo light). They told me these items were added to the package no earlier than late December, 1968.

The dates on various light lenses does not indicate the year the item is made. In this example, I believe the "69" indicates the year the DOT or other agency approved first usage of the design and functional compliance. I bet every one of the the deluxe markers originally on one of these trucks from from late December,1968, through 1972 has the "69" on it. I don't think the repros have any dates or any other info on the lens. Also, I'd bet a beer that every van produced through the 80s that used the same design deluxe marker (if required by the trim level) has a "69" on it. It's very easy to swap these in. As stated above, I've done it with my CST/20. The required harnesses are easily removed from a donor. Lighted markers used for the first year or two did not blink with the turn signals. The last couple years blinked sequentially with the turn signals.

If the owner wanted lighted cargo light but didn't want to go to the pain of cutting the cab, lighted markers would have been a walk in the park.

Jim based on all the glass date codes the truck was built at the Flint plant Oct 68 making it an early build. I agree on earlier date codes found on later vehicles but on lenses this would be the year in which the model year began, 69.

[Dmoore]

Originally Posted by chewychevy67

Those box rails are a neat accessory. I have a nos sitting g here and I'm still debating if I want to use them on my restoration. I've only seen them on 1 other truck . I like them on your truck..

Normally I never cared for bed rails but the low profile and design of these fit the truck like a glove. And their flawless.

[pjmoreland]

Your glass was manufactured in October, 1968 in Ottawa, IL based on the glass codes. Your truck, however, was assembled an unknown amount of time (1 to 2 months?) after that in Flint, MI based on the F in the VIN.

[sloGMC]

Originally Posted by Dmoore

Ok so here's what I don't understand. This truck is a Z84, CST. It states right here CST trucks came with a cargo light. This one like I said is just the outside bezel, no lamp fixture and no hole in the cab.

The other mystery is being a CST truck there should be a headliner, there is not.

So "FirstOwner69" correctly mentioned that the GM Heritage info is dated from April '69, and unfortunately the information you're looking for -- Z84 and bed lamp options -- have an arrow next to them, indicating that something within that statement changed from a previous version. If someone has a dealer book, the "original" 1969 Z84 description is probably there and might be pen&inked by the dealer to reflect the update in April. That's how my 1971 Pontiac book is anyway.
As for other date codes, the printed circuit on my gauge cluster was about a month earlier than the date on my FMVSS, so you can check that too to corroborate a build date range.

[FirstOwner69]

Originally Posted by Dmoore

Jim based on all the glass date codes the truck was built at the Ottawa, IL. plant Oct 68 making it an early build. I agree on earlier date codes found on later vehicles but on lenses this would be the year in which the model year began, 69.

You are correct that the 69 indicates the model year first used, However, something first used in 1969 model year may have been first used starting well into the the model year. That was the case in this situation according to Chevrolet.

[IronCanine]

Cool truck for sure. Jim knows his stuff on these '69s...heck it's in his handle. Sure helped me a lot when we built our 69. A couple of things on build dates, plants, options and '69 CSTs (and apologies if I'm treading trodden ground in this thread).

I don't think Flint was as prolific as say St. Louis. But the production rates among plants were generally similar, and similar year to year within a single plant. I think we can safely say that your truck was built in that Dec/Jan range...so it's not surprising that you might have some elements and not another of what was expected for a CST. A lot of stuff was getting added on the fly in 69 and it would be unreasonable to expect plant processes to change quickly and consistently among plants.

A rear view mirror was not standard at the beginning of the model year and was a SPID callout as an option. The smooth mirror mount was '69 only (unless you count the few 70s that got em early in that model year).

The perforated headliner was also 69 only.

Here are some 69 CSTs with no cargo lights (but one has rear view mirror and headliner).

[IronCanine]

Here are some late model year 69s with the whole shooting match...

[IronCanine]

Finally...here's the SPID on the black step side in post #392. It's a very early truck and you can see the SPID call out for the rear view mirror...not yet standard at that point in the MY.

And for good measure, a '69 Blazer SPID with a side marker call out.

[Dmoore]

Good info! So basically if an option was not on the SPID the truck did not come through with it? No deviations?

[MJN]

Originally Posted by Dmoore

Good info! So basically if an option was not on the SPID the truck did not come through with it? No deviations?

If an item is not listed specifically on the SPID it either:
1. was included as standard equipment for that truck model
2. was not factory built with that option (RPO)
Dealer installed options/accessories would not be printed on the SPID as RPO's.

[IronCanine]

Originally Posted by Dmoore

Good info! So basically if an option was not on the SPID the truck did not come through with it? No deviations?

In general yes. But we've got to clarify what we are talking about. Before mid 69, if a truck had a rear view mirror it was on the SPID, because it was optional, not standard. Once it became standard, it was no longer on the SPID.

And the focus of your discussions has been what features comprised a CST trim PACKAGE in 1969. Early in 69 it was different on paper than later in the year. Even then it varies because the assembly directive was not quickly and fully implemented at individual assembly plants.

But yes line workers made mistakes and there are crazy SPID anomalies (spend some time in that thread, it's fun). And the same RPO codes meant different things year over year (and sometimes within the model year). Z84 meant different things throughout the run of these trucks and 508 dark blue was a completely different color in 1970 than 1969.

Yours is a cool truck with idiosyncrasies consistent with an idiosyncratic year and some nice period mods/updates.

[FirstOwner69]

Originally Posted by IronCanine

......Yours is a cool truck with idiosyncrasies consistent with an idiosyncratic year and some nice period mods/updates.......

I agree 100%.

[DeadheadNM]

Originally Posted by Dmoore

So to get back on the side marker light subject I snapped a photo of them today. Date code is 69 what say you guys?

Can anyone confirm this is actually a date code?

[Dmoore]

Originally Posted by DeadheadNM

Can anyone confirm this is actually a date code?

It sure is, just like all other makes throughout.