odd date code on my 72 steering box
 

i am pretty sure that this is the original steering box with all the crude on it . the date code is odd 4a298 it does not have the big S on it . anyone can help

any way i can check what ratio i have with the box off the car

Your cover is marked with part # 7812145. Parts manual says it should be 7812147 for 67-72. Don't see that number used on any up to 81.

http://www.camaros.org/images/pages/..._box_power.jpg

I surmise that the box is from a later vehicle. The date code for an original box from this era is a simple Julian date code.

thanks for the info , that is weird that this is not the original steering box . there was so much grease on it ,it must of been on the car for many , many years .

i have another box off a 71 car but not sure of the gear ratio , were they all the same boxes used in 1971

Because usually the cover PN will be more than just the cover casting number (bushing added, etc.).

If someone has an original 72 cover they can show, that will resolve the issue.

Plan on ck'ing the cover on my '72's box on Sun.
Both grd777's & my '72 are built the same week of '72.

I can snap a pic off the 71 tomorrow too

Had one in phone

This must be fo a 1971 car

Yes, it was from her '71. The casting number of hers shows the later '71/early '72 casting number. Later '72 would have used the '145 casting number, but my '74s probably used the same number. Are you sure this isn't from your '75?

I took this of my 72. I was cover in a lot of grease and dirt which to me looks like it was original to the car. But who know what was done over the years. Just can not figure why it has a weird date code number

I have a lot!,,,, more. I’ll see if I can dig some out, but hfr is right

I hear you. This was on one of my '74s. Shipping date was 2-23-74. As you can see, the assembly date is way past the ship date. But, the cast date of cover (if that's what it is) may have been close (19 may have been the mold number though).

Do you read my date code 4A298 or 44298

I read it as 298, missing the year. The 4A, is like the 1A on the one I posted (assembler or inspector stamp). I also see a 2 stamped on the cover, maybe it was the year. Being that yours was built right before the strike, maybe it was fixed under warranty early on after purchase. I would read the cast date of cover as 83 2 (March 25th, 1972), but again, I could be wrong.

I’ll dig a few years out tomorrow as long as it doesn’t snow

My 3/20 built 72 TA has 063 2. I tried to get a picture but it didn't turn out well. March 3rd. 17 days before assembly.

I'm reading that date a bit differently. I'm seeing it as 4 298 with that second character not as an 'A' but as a triangle which likely was an accidental "place holder". I've seen those triangle characters on other stamped in cast parts from GM cars often placed in the second position.
So 4 298 would simply be the 298th day of 1974, for early 1975 model year production.