Factory Correct Restoration Details

[WadmalawJoe]

Do you mean to tell me that the writing on the firewall comes from the factory?

[cericd]

Originally Posted by WadmalawJoe

Do you mean to tell me that the writing on the firewall comes from the factory?

Yep it sure does.

[Steve Hafner]

Originally Posted by WadmalawJoe

Do you mean to tell me that the writing on the firewall comes from the factory?

. . . .

My 70 C-10's firewall has a "B" in the upper right corner, seen in the picture below for the Baltimore assembly plant.

The "635" was the job number ( or line sequence )

. . . .

[Keith Seymore]

Originally Posted by WadmalawJoe

Do you mean to tell me that the writing on the firewall comes from the factory?

Writing on the firewall is to give the downstream workers a "heads up" on what is coming.

Vehicles can be marked with option content in the body shop, to aid the guys welding up the cab (and box) to make sure the proper base components are used or appropriate holes added. Vehicles can also be marked with the exterior color to give the painter a heads up of what color to spray or what two tone might be required. Markings can also be added after paint to aid in the trim process, which is why you will often discover numbers and letter both under and over the firewall paint. Lastly - and probably most importantly - vehicles can be marked with the build sequence number, in an attempt to make sure the correct content is added to that truck and to make sure everything stays in sequence.

Although often called "chalk marks" the actual marker was more of a tire marker, or grease pencil, rather than "chalk".

The writing can vary between model years, between plants, even between operators within the same plant. Colors vary, too, since they were not controlled. Normally you will see white or yellow, for contrast, but the truth is sometimes the guy will use a "stogey" that he found on the floor ("red" being another popular color).

[factorystock]

Originally Posted by factorystock

I suggest the best way to learn about how the factory did things for each year and model, search around for some super low mileage trucks the same year as yours and learn from them.

I still think this is the best way, there is just not enough detailed factory photographs available from GM from back in the day. Since this older post, we added the great time capsule thread. IMO, it ties in well with the factory correct theme.http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...capsule+thread

[rsavage]

Here are a few photos of small blocks from the GN Tonawanda Engine Plant. Obviously have chrome for the Hi performance applications but it will give you an idea of pulley, fan, exhaust manifolds, brackets, etc.

[sboris]

Cool. Great info
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[Coley]

One thing to keep in mind here about GM and their trucks in that era is that they weren't those most notorious bastions of consistency on a plant by plant basis.
So what is truly original can be disputed forever in specific areas of build methods or parts. If they had to substitute stuff or improvise methods and parts on line to keep things movin'...they would.
So what might have been painted a certain color at one plant may not have been painted at all....or the same color at another plant.
All good
Coley

[MusicMan70]

I had strange markings on the side of my block before I cleaned and repainted it. Looked like something spilled or smeared (UFO crop circles) on the side of the block, then I turned it upside down; TAX.
Guess this mark was added during the engine building process?

[factorystock]

Just curious, is a 1970 TAX 255HP 350 a 2 or 4 bolt main bearing cap engine?

[MusicMan70]

factorystock
Just curious, is a 1970 TAX 255HP 350 a 2 or 4 bolt main bearing cap engine?

You'd be CorrectaMundo Sir.

[custom10nut]

Originally Posted by factorystock

Just curious, is a 1970 TAX 255HP 350 a 2 or 4 bolt main bearing cap engine?

Mine is a 4 Bolt Main

[Graham57a]

TTT, I was doing some research on factory inline 6 grease markings and decals without much luck. Anyone have photos of a low mileage straight six truck stashed away?

[DeadheadNM]

Originally Posted by MusicMan70

I had strange markings on the side of my block before I cleaned and repainted it. Looked like something spilled or smeared (UFO crop circles) on the side of the block, then I turned it upside down; TAX.
Guess this mark was added during the engine building process?

Here's my block (Thanks Paul and Jason!) that shows similar factory markings. In this case, TDR is the correct code for a K20 4wd application in 1972 - this motor was pulled from a K20 Suburban and will have a new home in my 72 K20 Super

[Duncan and son]

Originally Posted by DeadheadNM

Here's my block (Thanks Paul and Jason!) that shows similar factory markings. In this case, TDR is the correct code for a K20 4wd application in 1972 - this motor was pulled from a K20 Suburban and will have a new home in my 72 K20 Super

Hey Pete , always good to see your post. Have you or anyone ever seen these markings on the side of the block, on a big block
Always appreciate you and your help Paul

[71K20chevy]

Bump!

[starfire58]

My '71 had six point bolts in the hood hinges and 12 point bolt in the hood latch assy.

[71K20chevy]

I just realized that when I made one of my previous posts, I said my hood hinge had 12 point bolts...I meant hood latch.

[kcfirstbuild]

I had a Wa on the front of my head. I put it back on looks nice.

[DeadheadNM]

I look for the correct paint/finish on the dash between the windshield and dash pad. On my hugger orange/white parchment interior truck it was factory matte black (pic attached). In my medium olive truck w green interior it's a matte medium olive color.

[Graham57a]

That's interesting. I'm not positive but i think the dash color was determined by the dash pad. Of course it was always a mat version to reduce reflection.

[71K20chevy]

Those do help! Now I know how to route my washer hoses! Thanks!!

[Graham57a]

Wow those are great pictures!!! Do I see a sticker on top of the heater box? Never seen that before

[Duncan and son]

When Jason (sameyrasmea72) was a kid he grew up watching us build NCRS, bloomington gold and top flight mid year corvettes. Of all the folks that restore cars, corvette people are the most fanatic, duplicating factory runs in the paint, over spray in undesirable places, not only bolts with correct finish but correct pattern on the head and no paint under parts that were on the unit when under the hood and bottom were blacked out. Example: the hood hinges were natural with black over spray and no paint under the hinge. Probably an over kill on explanation but my point is that Jason probably knows as much about correctness as anyone. I always say he is smarter than a white rat. Paul

[Lee H]

Originally Posted by Duncan and son

When Jason (sameyrasmea72) was a kid he grew up watching us build NCRS, bloomington gold and top flight mid year corvettes. Of all the folks that restore cars, corvette people are the most fanatic, duplicating factory runs in the paint, over spray in undesirable places, not only bolts with correct finish but correct pattern on the head and no paint under parts that were on the unit when under the hood and bottom were blacked out. Example: the hood hinges were natural with black over spray and no paint under the hinge. Probably an over kill on explanation but my point is that Jason probably knows as much about correctness as anyone. I always say he is smarter than a white rat. Paul

I hear ya, I've frame offed two mid years, won't do another. A few more C10s are on the the slate, after I get done with the current one.
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