NUMBERS (Part 4 of 4)
Cowl markings
2T CE20934 6 S9KA 49TD T2
2T & T2 = upper and lower trim (? my guess)
CE20934 = SPID model number
6 = ???
S9KA = SPID engine option - 350
49TD = SPID transmission option - Turbo Hydra-matic
Seat Belts
Robbins Model #9300
40K68
40=40th week of 1968 (the 40th work week of 1968 is from Sep. 30 to Oct. 4)
K=Manufacturer code (i.e., Robbins)
68=1968
Seat Belt Ref:
http://www.camaros.org/seatbelt.shtml
1968 Calendar Ref:
http://www.timeanddate.com/calendar/...1968&country=1
The prevalence of late September 1968 codes leads me to believe that this truck was among the first of the 1969 model year trucks out the door, built in St. Louis probably in early October 1968. At that time I was 19 years old and in Navy basic electricity and electronic school in San Diego (beep school we called it), driving a 1958 Ford station wagon, my first car and surf wagon….but I digress.
The TH400 transmission looks to be a 1970 unit, so it was probably retrofitted into the truck later (or installed to replace a failed unit). When I got the truck, I could see that it had been set up for camper and trailer use, so a transmission retrofit (TH350 to TH400 perhaps ?) makes sense and an early failure of the original transmission isn’t out of the question,either. The detent (aka kickdown) wiring and switch for the TH400 look like factory pieces, could be from another truck, could be original to this truck, I dunno. If there was a kickdown cable for a TH350, it’s long gone. So I don’t really know what transmission it had originally. Perhaps some of you transmission gurus could shed some light on this one.
The serial number could provide a clue to the assembly date, but I don’t know of a reference source that shows the range of serial numbers produced in a given month at a specific assembly plant. If you know of one, I’d be interested in seeing it.
Many of these trucks have been scrapped or modified, and the number of intact examples decreases daily. In addition, an agreed-to authority on originality appears to be absent. I offer up this information hoping it will serve as a documented source to those interested in the historic aspect of these trucks.
OK class is over, you can wake up now.
Jim