[19652plus2]

Is there a realistic or customary time frame between the engine date and the date the car is built? For example, if a car is built in June, what would be an approximate engine build date, 2 months before, 3 months, 4?

Thanks.

[tripower]

My Pontiac MI assembled 65 had engine cast dates the same week of the assembly date. Motors did not sit around long at the Pontiac assembly plant.

Since all the engines were cast in Pontiac MI, there had to be some travel and wait time to the other assembly plants but I would guess they did not sit long on those sites either.

In other words, I don't a good answer for your question

[dld]

weeks in most cases.
my bal car cast date of 12/14/64 and car billing date 12/21/64

[60sstuff]

My 65 GTO is an 11A out of the Baltimore Plant.

Engine date = Sept. 14, 1964

Car billing date = Nov. 6, 1964

The GM strike in 1964 started on Sept. 25 and ended on Oct. 25 (except for Fremont).

This is why my car has around a month longer to be completed.

[War eagle]

K.C. build:
Block/heads/intake=L184
Invoice date 1-18-65

[Keith Seymore]

Good answers, all.

All engines were built in Pontiac Michigan, so it depends on travel time to the final vehicle assembly location, production rate (line rate and number of production shifts), downtime (like strikes or breakdowns), and engine option (rarer engines may have had longer shelf times).

For my car, which was built in Pontiac in September of 1964, there were nine days between when the block and heads were cast and when the car was completed.

K

[19652plus2]

Thanks so much for all your responses. A car I was looking at has a 3 month disparity between engine date to build date so now I'm assuming it's a replacement block.
Thanks again.

[War eagle]

2+2....If you would give us a little more info from the front of the block. The POP if available may state the engine production number. A number of engines did not make the cut when test fired. The engine may dwell a bit before and after repaired then shipped if not used at the Pontiac assem plant. I would also try and get the dates of the heads and intake to confirm a relationship to the block date.

[dld]

you know anything is possible. i guess?? but the car with the most explanation (a story) or the special exception. always is the lesser.

[19652plus2]

Heads are dated 5/25/64, block is dated 3/25/64 (C254)
Pics of trim tag and front of block attached.

[War eagle]

Head dates look about right but the block, as you already figured, is early. I would rather think the engine prod. number would be in the 500,000 range by May 25th. If the heads were close to block date, then it would be a little more conceivable. Wow what a neat car from the cowl tag. 76X is the tripower 3sp engine.

[cohopefull]

My car, which was assembled on the 2nd week in February in the Pontiac Mi plant, has the same date cast on the block. There appears to be a very tight window at the Pontiac plant.

[JIMMYM]

where is the build date on a 65 389 block?

[The Champ]

Behind the distributor.

[cohopefull]

Make sure the area is clean and have a bright light. It's there.

[Chuckgeo]

I took a picture of the engine number with my phone. Much easier to see that way.

[Tom Vaught]

Originally Posted by dld

you know anything is possible. i guess?? but the car with the most explanation (a story) or the special exception. always is the lesser.

"Stuff does happen" but is extremely rare and thousands of GTOs and other pontiacs fit the normal production line timing, parts installed, no screw-ups, etc.

But as was said above: "you know anything is possible. I guess?" BUT some things like RAV engines installed in production vehicles, 421 Cheater Engines installed in 64 GTOs, etc were not production issues but specific people "playing games" in that time frame.

Tom V.

[ReelFun]

Anybody know what the 1-13 is on the bottom right of the trim plate? My 65 has 23-2 in that location.

[Keith Seymore]

Originally Posted by ReelFun

Anybody know what the 1-13 is on the bottom right of the trim plate? My 65 has 23-2 in that location.

That refers to the body frame fixture, or "gate", used when welding the body side to the underbody.

It was numbered as an aide in problem diagnosis and tracking.

K

[ReelFun]

Thanks Keith, I have always wondered what that meant.

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk