Date code quandry - 68 LeMans Convertible
 

Guys - a good friend's wifes has owned a 68 LeMans convertible for an eternity (more than 20 years) and her husband is performing a "refresh" on the car for her over the long winter. They know the previous owner and the engine is said to be original to the car. In performing his cleanup, he pulled the engine and asked me to look at some codes/date codes to help determine if it is original. At first glance, it would appear to be original (that's still my take); however, I can't resolve a discrepancy between the Cowl Tag date and production casting dates on engine parts.

Here are the stats:

Cowl Tag - 11B (second week November 67)
Engine - YN code, dated K167 and stamped with the correct VIN by timing cover
Heads - #17 heads stamped K217 (third week 67)
Intake - stamped K247 (fourth week 67?)

The dates are all close, all K 67 dates and this was purchased WAY before people were worried about correct dates on engine parts. PHS has been sent for. Any ideas on this?

Thanks! Kurt

We have the exact same situation on a 68 GTO, car build date is 3rd week of dec 67, all casting dates are first few days of Jan. 68. It was a one owner13,000 mile car that has not left the garage since 1971.

The above car is a Pontiac built car and it's interesting to me that both of these cars are convertibles. Did the converts go into production as early as the hardtops? Curious if there may have been some delay causing the cars to sit idle on the line (actually they'd have been pulled off the line) for awhile...

Also assume when you posted "Stamped" you actually meant "cast"?

Paul,

Yes for head date code I meant cast. Good catch! :D VIN, of course, is stamped. hee hee

Like yours, the provenance of this car is known and I am convinced that this is the original engine. It too is a Pontiac-Built car. But you'll NEVER guess what color it is :o

Below is a picture of the Cowl Tag/Data Plate

http://i55.tinypic.com/oqefyf.jpg

http://i55.tinypic.com/2e1cfnc.jpg

TO lazt to check the codes so Guessing Verdoro Green, Black Bucket interior?

"I" wasn't used in the 67 casting dates - week to two for the parts to go from molten metal through machining & assembly and then get installed in the car.

Not sure how to explain yours Paul - unless the motor was DOA when it came time to drive off the end of the line.

I was wondering if that only applied to 67 model year cars or during the 1967 calendar year. Is it calendar year?

I have 68 intakes with an "I" date code... There are a dzen or more 68 intakes at the shop, 7 or 8 68 blocks and about the same number of sets of heads, never seem an "M" date code... Got any pics?

That color combo is truly rare and unique!

Myth busted! A quick trip around the net revealed about six engines with an I**7 date code! Not a single M**7 code. py, ebay and wallace racing were searced.

:noidea:

The alternative is difficult to explain then.

I have a M076 code engine (for a '67)

I should have specified that I had never seen an "M" date code for a 68...

I beleive the "I" was dropped and the "M" was used for the 67 model year, not calender year. Not sure about prior years...

68 LeMans
 

Thanks for the help guys, I am the owner of the car in question. I plan to get PHS on the car but I have to believe this is the numbers matching engine for this car. The Vin Stamped on the block is correct so at least one part is correct!

Vince

build sheet
 

Vince here (home account),
I found the build sheet today above the gas tank the car was built on 11-27 that would be the third/ fourth week right but the trim tag says the second week (11B)? GM? The VIN is stamped on the engine and the build sheet also has the correct VIN so it must be right.

Vince

Very cool... does your built sheet have the EUN?

EUN
 

Hey Paul,
I would need more information like what is a EUN number? I have never been a numbers guy so this is all new to me.

Vince

Vince, the EUN is an Engine Unit Number. When you look at the front of the block, just above the two-letter engine code, you will find a 6-digit number beginning with 4. See if you can find the same number on your build sheet. When you do, please post. This is another way that people can determine the provenance of a particular car's engine as the EUN wold fall into a certain range. This will help others know "about" where an EUN from this era car should fall. :D

The Big Human

The EUN may not be on the build sheet but it should be on your BILLING HISTORY CARD - the documentation PHS sends you for 68 & earlier.

No EUN number on the build sheet that I can read. The number on the block just above the YN is 264673.

Vince

Kurt, my 68 GTO Conv parts car has its numbers matching block and intake (heads were missing) K167 on the 400 block and K247 on the 4 bbl intake also. 11C build week. The block serial # is 268279. Scott