65GS.com - Buick Gran Sport Enthusiasts!
General Discussion => Q & A => Topic started by: vinnie on January 11, 2017, 04:01:14 PM
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I have a question. Don't know if anyone will have an answer. On the Fremont cars firewall tag i see a hand stamped number. Pete Phillips car has an 11, new member Richardwa has a 21 and my 65 has a 14. Does anyone know what that number means?
Glenn
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Vinnie,
Per the 442Bro webpage:
?The last different feature was a hand stamped code that was hammered into the upper right corner of the tag. The most popular theory is the number stamped matched the body cradle number that brought the body shell from Fisher Body to the assembly plant. If a problem was found with the body it could be tracked back to where it came from. Now, this isn?t fact but it?s what the BPC owners agree to, having talked to guys that worked there back in the 1960s.?
Here's a link to his page:
http://www.442bro.com (http://www.442bro.com)
Go to the Accessory Option Codes page
Mark
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Mark, Very interesting information. I have an Olds buddy that I will share this with. Not everyone can drive a BUICK.
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Looks like mine is 24.
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Mine has an 11 also.
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Dear Glenn, Mark, Jim, Chuck, and owners of mid-60s Buick graduates of the "GM Fremont school of higher automotive engineering,"
Golly interesting stuff! I'll have to check my trusty wagon's plate to see what number she has.
I have an Olds buddy that I will share this with. Not everyone can drive a BUICK.
Well, I suppose so. :confused3: However, I'm sure they all would really rather have a Buick!! :angel4:
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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The hand stamped numbers are also stamped from the top down ,not from the reverse like the other codes l
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Dear Glenn and mid-60s Buick infomaniacs,
On the Fremont cars firewall tag i see a hand stamped number.
Okay, I just took a look at my trusty wagon's firewall tag and I don't seem to be spotting that hand stamped number. Here is it:
(http://www.canebas.org/Automotive/Misc.%20Biquette%20photos/Biquette%20builder%20plates/Engine%20compartment%20plate%20(thumb).jpg) (http://www.canebas.org/Automotive/Misc.%20Biquette%20photos/Biquette%20builder%20plates/Engine%20compartment%20plate.jpg)
You can click on the image to get a higher resolution version.
Did I miss the hand stamped code or is this something only the GS cars had on their firewall tag?
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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Isn't that a "1" or a "21" in the top right corner?
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Could be, Jim. Good eye!
Chuck
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Dear Jim, Chuck, and mid-60s Buick owners who decode ciphers,
Isn't that a "1" or a "21" in the top right corner?
Golly, is that where other people have been seeing those hand-stamped codes? Tomorrow I'll see if I take a photo that clarifies that one way or the other.
Cheers, Edouard
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I see a '21' stamped in, plain as can be... Are you guys surfing with your phones? I use a 32" tv for my computer screen!
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I agree, that sure looks like a 21 stamped in the upper right hand corner
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Vinnie,
Per the 442Bro webpage:
?The last different feature was a hand stamped code that was hammered into the upper right corner of the tag. The most popular theory is the number stamped matched the body cradle number that brought the body shell from Fisher Body to the assembly plant. If a problem was found with the body it could be tracked back to where it came from. Now, this isn?t fact but it?s what the BPC owners agree to, having talked to guys that worked there back in the 1960s.?
That starts to make sense because all of these Fremont cars say Flint on the tag. I am thinking these shells were made in Fisher body in Flint and were railroaded or otherwise to California. There really isn't any other reason that they would say Flint on every car. Mine appears to be a 21,but we may want to see what the olds or others say. Is is possible that the code simply designates what type of quarter panel or trunk section gets welded on. There were several designations of the same floor pan running down the line and the shift had to know if they were building a skylark,special,convertible,hardtop,sedan,even Buick,Olds,or Pontiac were probably all possibilities in that plant.
Here's a link to his page:
[url]http://www.442bro.com[/url] ([url]http://www.442bro.com[/url])
Go to the Accessory Option Codes page
Mark
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It is related to the "gate" used by Fisher Body when welding the body panels into a Body Assembly. Think of a fixturing jig.
Posted by John V on the maxperformance Pontiac forum:
>>>It is probable that the 2nd digit represented the fixture and the 1st digit represented the shift (1st or 2nd shift). (edit note, I think I had this backwards, so I changed it)
Similar coding used on the Pontiac Plant Data Plates except that had a lot more "gates" for each Model Series and built the entire line up so something like 60 different "gates" will show up, Fremont had somewhere around 5 IIRC and only built the A body.
Identifying the "gate" helped with QC if it was discovered that there was a fit up problem with the Body Assembly during Final Assembly. Knowing the "gate" allowed them to trace the problem back within Fisher Body.
In '64, this code was embossed on the Data Plate at Fremont with the rest of the codes. For some reason, I think it was stamped on the Plate in '65 presumably after the Data Plate went on the firewall.<<<<
The Max Performance forum was formerly Performance Years before the merger with Ames. Lots of great info that often pertains to our Buicks. Check it out:
http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/forums/index.php (http://forums.maxperformanceinc.com/forums/index.php)
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Dear Walt, Glenn, Dan, and mid-60s Buick code decoders,
I see a '21' stamped in, plain as can be...
I opened up the hood and indeed the 21 is very clear. It much clearer than on the photo.
It is related to the "gate" used by Fisher Body when welding the body panels into a Body Assembly. Think of a fixturing jig.
Posted by John V on the maxperformance Pontiac forum:
>>>It is probable that the 2nd digit represented the fixture and the 1st digit represented the shift (1st or 2nd shift). (edit note, I think I had this backwards, so I changed it)
Okay that now explains why my trusty wagon would also have this code since on this interpretation all the Fremont cars should have it, not just the GS.
Thanks for all the interesting info! (http://www.canebas.org/WeatherCat/Forum_support_documents/Custom_emoticons/thanks_sign.gif)
Cheers, Edouard :occasion14:
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My '65 has a hand stamped 21 along with a diamond-shaped punched out area in the upper right corner. I thought my car was built in Flint though. How can you tell which factory it came from if the cowl tags all indicate Flint?
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The "BF" code means Fremont while "FB" would mean Flint.
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The Special/Skylark/GS cars were built in 4 plants. Flint, Baltimore, Kansas City, Fremont.
Flint tags will have FB next to the body style
Baltimore tags will have BAL next to the body style
Kansas City tags will have KAN next to the body style
Fremont tags are unique, first they are the only tags that state "Flint, Michigan" on them.
They have an older style with rounded corners, the other three tags had a new, updated style.
They state "Magic Mirror Acrylic Lacquer" at the bottom
All the ones I've seen have a hand stamped number in the upper right corner
There will some kind of hole punched near the hand stamped number, I've seen 3 or 4 different shapes.
I'm sure I'm missing something, but thats the basics of how you can tell the plant from the tag.
Mark
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Thanks Mark, great information. My cars conform to your summary. My Flint car has an "FB" in front of the body style and the tag has beveled corners. My Fremont car has "BP" in front of the body style and the tag has rounded corners with a circular hole punched in the upper right corner. And the number 21 hand stamped on it, as well as "Magic Mirror Acrylic Lacquer" at the bottom of the tag. Pictures below.
Chuck