66 SPID sticker language - share and learn!

[aerotruk63]

Just got an email from a guy who's name seems to appear whenever ECL's are mentioned here's what he wrote.

Hi Norm,
Nice to hear from you. It's always good to hear from those interested in literature, codes etc.

The Exception Codes...generally two letters following an option number, are actually part of the RPO. In fact, an RPO number is incomplete without the exception letters. For example, L62AA is a complete RPO number because it completely defines the RPO.

L62 by itself is only part of the RPO because it just refers to a high performance Corvair 110hp engine but not what TYPE of 110hp engine...that is, whether it has the extra or deviation parts for its use on different models or combined with various other RPOs like with A/C, Powerglide, etc.

The exception letters have different meanings depending on the particular option they're used with, and were always changing as various models, options and option combination possibilities were introduced or canceled. Thus they can never be the same for different car lines, cars vs. trucks etc.

I'm assuming that the trucks you're interested in are the C-K variety and not Corvair trucks? I've never seen any Chevy publications that decode truck exception letters, but they certainly existed. And I don't know of anyone who's done exception letter research -- or ANY VIN or code work at all-- on the C-K type trucks. But it's way overdue!

The only way to get started would be to gather as many factory truck invoices as you can find and study the complete RPO codes on them. You might be able to define many of the exception code letters that way. I have lots of them that I'd sell for a reasonable price if you're interested.

Thanks again for your interest,
Dave

[cortcomp]

I haven't checked in here in awhile (been busy working on the truck!) But this is fascinating info...It's a niche area of knowledge for sure, but it seems that these codes for these years are info that is on the verge of being lost if some of us don't discover their specifics. It wouldn't be the end of the world, but these little details and reasons for things like extra letters and whatnot just seem so interesting.

I'm not sure i'd know how to decode those invoices, but i'd try if no one else wanted to. Knowing that this info would be of little use in the real world really wouldn't deter me from wanted to thoroughly understand them, if for no other reason than saving the information, and being able to contribute when someone was repopping a decal and wanted to know, for sure, what the right codes were and the extra letters.

[clemdaddy]

what i think is cool is if you own a 66 and you want the sticker to match your build even if you use non original components, like say a turbo 350 or LS engine... you can make the spid match exactly what you're building. heck, looking at it that way, it doesn't even have to be a 66... its cool just to have the option list on the glovebox lid.

thanks cortcomp for getting this thread started and also thanks to all you contributing members of big knowledge.

[aerotruk63]

There were Build Sheets previous to 66 that would have had these codes as well. There was a thread on build sheets on here.

[aerotruk63]

Information from the same book as the RPO's mentioned above. P&A 25T

[aerotruk63]

gmcdeadhead's plate codes.

Engine: L25AF

RPO= L25 is a 292

ECL= ( A ) - Flywheel ( F ) - Clutch Housing

Could this be right. The engine has the clutch and bell housing pre-installed.

[cortcomp]

Am i reading those sheets right that, for a given year, the two digit RPO code in the right column would be the two digits you add to the generic 3 character RPO option code to have the right code on your sticker?

[aerotruk63]

So far that`s the information that we`ve found. The two letters can change with every production year. The RPO `Regular Production Order indicated what was asked for and the two letters informed the guy on the assembly line to put the correct matching parts. For instance a 292 motor for a 4 speed had different ECL than a Powerglide . The assembly line must have had engines set up with clutch assemblies as well as flexplates for Automatics. I still guessing at this point.

[oem4me]

Major props Cortcomp, Aerotruk63, 60-66, and ALL you guys that are piecing together this complex puzzle. The Corvette guys are all about this type of research and have enjoyed a thorough understanding of nearly every aspect of their cars for many years, so I think it's great we are getting started on it too.
Keep it up boys, you really are breaking ground here!

[cortcomp]

I'm really excited to have this coming together for our 66's, not just because i have one, but because it's not as well documented for our trucks as later ones. Exciting stuff!

[Keith Seymore]

Originally Posted by aerotruk63

So far that`s the information that we`ve found. The two letters can change with every production year. The RPO `Regular Production Order indicated what was asked for and the two letters informed the guy on the assembly line to put the correct matching parts. For instance a 292 motor for a 4 speed had different ECL than a Powerglide . The assembly line must have had engines set up with clutch assemblies as well as flexplates for Automatics. I still guessing at this point.

Sorry to be joining late -

I've been building cars in GM assembly plants for 34 years, as a production supervisor, in Product Engineering and (for the last 14 years) in new product launch, and, based on my experience.....


....you are correct.



I don't have much time to write long sweeping narratives but I would be happy to answer any specfic questions you guys might have.

K

[Keith Seymore]

A couple additional comments -

a) I learned something new from this thread; I didn't realize those additional characters beyond the three space RPO code actually meant something. By they time I started in the '"73 and beyond" those had been reduced to mere dummy characters as placeholders. Now I see why they were there in the first place.

b) My professional expertise is in full size truck engineering and assembly, starting in 1979. My historical focus is the Pontiac Michigan assembly center of the mid 1960's.

If you have some time to do some general reading I would recommend these links:

This is specific to Camaros, but applies to all GM assembly plants in general
http://www.camaros.org/assemblyprocess.shtml#chev

This is more related to '73-'87, pictures with some insightful commentary:
http://www.73-87.com/7387info/Assembly%20Line.htm

The definitive overview of Pontiac passenger car assembly in the mid 60's ("Made in Pontiac" series; 5 parts):
http://wildaboutcarsonline.com/cgi-b...=9990401240631

This will give you a basic overview of how the cars/trucks were assembled, and therefore what the requirements were as far as receiving the RPO information, how that was disseminated through the plant to help facilitate the build, and how the parts needed to be configured to accomplish that.

I'll try to take some time and read through the previous 3 pages to see if I can learn something else or perhaps share some insights.

K

[60-66]

[60-66]

[60-66]

In the 5th picture you will see the 9512 COPO Special order code for Cortcomps SPID sheet. Still cant find 9211. Have been asking quite a few people. My DATA book is an early printing and I know there was a later 66 printing that may have more info. I looked in my 67 Truck Data book but nothing there either. Still a lot of good info. Will keep reading.I have all the data books 1960-1970.

[Keith Seymore]

I've had an opportunity to go back and skim through the previous pages and it appears to me you guys are on the right track. Keep up the good work!

This is good stuff here:

Originally Posted by aerotruk63

Just got an email from a guy who's name seems to appear whenever ECL's are mentioned here's what he wrote.

Hi Norm,
Nice to hear from you. It's always good to hear from those interested in literature, codes etc.

The Exception Codes...generally two letters following an option number, are actually part of the RPO. In fact, an RPO number is incomplete without the exception letters. For example, L62AA is a complete RPO number because it completely defines the RPO.

L62 by itself is only part of the RPO because it just refers to a high performance Corvair 110hp engine but not what TYPE of 110hp engine...that is, whether it has the extra or deviation parts for its use on different models or combined with various other RPOs like with A/C, Powerglide, etc.

The exception letters have different meanings depending on the particular option they're used with, and were always changing as various models, options and option combination possibilities were introduced or canceled. Thus they can never be the same for different car lines, cars vs. trucks etc....
Thanks again for your interest,
Dave

...as I mentioned, by the time I started those additional codes were no longer in use. I had noticed extra "blank" characters which looked like placeholders on our SPIDs but could not explain why they were there. Rather than re-doing the formatting it looks to me like they were just carried over and filled with dummy characters ("1"s, or "A"s, in our case).

Originally Posted by cortcomp

There has been a lot of speculation on the printers used for this, some even speculating typewriters. I've read discussion across a lot of sites, and, from my tech experience, and knowing GM (why pay 1000 typists when you can spend 800 times that on a mainframe and some printers) i'm betting that this was the series used:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/IBM_1403

This is good stuff, too. I do recognize that printer, although I hadn't thought about that in years. Just to expand a bit:

The build sheet/manifests were printed in the "Print office" (...naturally...) and then were distributed throughout the plant prior to the production shift by a courier from the Insepction/Reliability office. You might note the paper was "tractor driven" by the little holes on the side and sheets connected together - it was distributed in this form to the necessary spots like the beginning of the engine line, transmission pick, start of body shop, start of the chassis line, crossmember build, axle line, seat build (ie "cushion room"), tire and wheel, etc. Those individuals would tear off the individual sheets and hang them on the carrier as they chose the correct component (based on the broadcast code) and that started the "build sheet" down the line (the build sheet that is often found in the vehicle today). Technically they were supposed to be thrown away at the end of the line but often were left in place, or had already had the vehicle built up around them (and were trapped in place, like the seat shown above).

Additionally, there were some "special" operators that got a whole build manifest packet, left together, to assist them with their day. One example would be the guy that installed the M20 shift lever/boot (..."Banana" was his name). Prior to the shift he would sit at the picnic table, coffee and cigarette in hand, take his packet of build sheets and scan through every page, circling with his red crayon any "M20" equipped vehicles that were scheduled for the day. Based on this information he would build up the appropriate number of shift lever/boot/knob assemblies and hang them on his rack, and then seek out those vehicles by build sequence number to make his installation. Since he used hand tools he was not tied to a particular spot on the line via an air hose, so he could - and would -work as far up the line as he chose (all the way up to body drop). Another guy in a similar situation was the person that installed the U01 cab running lights: he needed to know which vehicles required his services and he did so via the build manifest. Those packets were also thrown away at the end of the day.

Sidebar: The other (negative) thing this accomplished was that it let the hourly assembler know how many M20 vehicles were being built per day, and he could discern if he was "overworked" per union standards and could write a formal grievance if he found this was the case. He also could count how many vehicles were being produced per hour or per day and would know if the line was running faster that the agreed upon rate (...which happened...).

K

[aerotruk63]

My God, what a can of worms have we opened here! Dave the guy in the email above, has a bunch of 1966 truck invoices for sale. He has 63 as well which interests me more. Also has more ``Check the Champ `` stuff but that`s a whole other game than this one.

60-66 I bow before you. Literature junkie extreme. Data books ooohhhh.

[60-66]

Originally Posted by aerotruk63

My God, what a can of worms have we opened here! Dave the guy in the email above, has a bunch of 1966 truck invoices for sale. He has 63 as well which interests me more. Also has more ``Check the Champ `` stuff but that`s a whole other game than this one.

60-66 I bow before you. Literature junkie extreme. Data books ooohhhh.

Don't bow yet !! I've been following your archives, WOW! I love 63s and the book you just shared in another thread, never seen that before. I've was buying truck stuff before anyone cared, which helps, but its discussions like this that really make me read the stuff I've collected, and with help can understand. Keep digging !!

[60-66]

[QUOTE=Keith Seymore;5888006]I've had an opportunity to go back and skim through the previous pages and it appears to me you guys are on the right track. Keep up the good work!

Great insite Keith ! Thanks for sharing. Question, any chance you might know someone with assembly line photos from 65 66 ? They are great for details. I know its a tough one but hey, gotta ask. Jon

[aerotruk63]

We need to find the GM sponsored retired employee site. To think of all the answers that Dad`s & Grandpa`s have. Twenty Five plus years ago I called GM Detroit and was directed to a place they called ``The Hobby Shop ``. While they were a bit peeved that I had been transferred, they sent me a inch thick of photo copy`s of the 1963 Chevrolet Truck Data Book.
I also around the same time, called Rockwell International about my 62 transfer case and was transferred to their Military Division. The guy was super nice on the phone and sent me a taped together series copy`s to make up the technical drawing of the transfer case, a copy of the parts list and exploded view.

[Keith Seymore]

Originally Posted by 60-66

Great insite Keith ! Thanks for sharing. Question, any chance you might know someone with assembly line photos from 65 66 ? They are great for details. I know its a tough one but hey, gotta ask. Jon

Thank you; I don't have photos for '65-'66 trucks specifically. I could ask at the GM Heritage Center the next time I'm over there.

I have seen a LIFE pictorial from Tarrytown plant in 1959, and we also have Pontiac Motor Division photos (Pontiac Michigan) from 65-67.

There also is a "Pontiac Pours it On" video series on youtube in six or seven installments.

I can find those and link 'em up if you think they'd be helpful.

K

[yelmer]

here are some assembly photos i post these before so you may have them

[yelmer]

another

[yelmer]

one more

[cortcomp]

Look at all those shiny new cabs rolling out...they'd fetch more now than the whole truck did then!