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

[pjmoreland]

Looks like Flint (F) doesn't have a good representation of 69 Chevys on the Build Date Project. Bummer. You might be able to get a rough idea from the window date codes.

https://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/....php?p=9081761

[Dmoore]

I'll snap a good photo of the glass codes here in a second and post it. Thanks for the idea!

[70STOVEBOLT]

AFAIK all deluxe side markers only light up on the top half

[Dmoore]

All Glass in this truck is original LOF. Here are two picks from the drivers vent window and drivers window. Driver side vent window.

[Dmoore]

Driver side glass.

[pjmoreland]

Based on that thread I linked above, YX = October, 1968.

[Dmoore]

Stamping on the windshield is directly below edge of passenger wiper arm corner of glass.

[Dmoore]

Rear glass stamping is directly behind driver bottom corner.

[Dmoore]

So this truck was built within the first 3 months of production 68?

[Dmoore]

And the 7?

[Dmoore]

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

[72c20customcamper]

Originally Posted by Dmoore

And the 7?

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

[Dmoore]

Thanks guys!

[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.

[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?

[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.

[DeadheadNM]

Originally Posted by Dmoore

It sure is, just like all other makes throughout.

This lens could have made in 1972, 1969, or 1980 and would still carry that "-69"

[FirstOwner69]

Originally Posted by DeadheadNM

Thanks Jim. Not a code for purposes of determining date of lens manufacture then.

Originally Posted by DeadheadNM

This lens could have made in 1972, 1969, or 1980 and would still carry that "-69"

Correct. Well said.

[FirstOwner69]

Originally Posted by DeadheadNM

Can anyone confirm this is actually a date code?

It is a first year date code, but it remains at "69" as long as GM used that particular lens design (more like a part number). As I mentioned in a post above, the vans (through much of the 80s) used the same lenses that still had "69" on them.

[DeadheadNM]

Originally Posted by FirstOwner69

It is a first year date code, but it remains at "69" as long as GM used that particular lens design (more like a part number). As I mentioned in a post above, the vans (through much of the 80s) used the same lenses that still had "69" on them.

Thanks Jim. Not a code for purposes of determining date of lens manufacture then.

[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.

[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.