75-77 cowl tag codes project...

[marco_1978_spyder]

would any 75- 77 owners be interested in a cowl tag code project to try to get a handle on what the 2 top 3 digit codes refered too?

I figured if a lot of people enterd some of the original options on there rides and the two, 3 digit codes from the cowl tag, we'll start to see some correlations, that could be a help to 75-77 owners.

78-80 cowl tags can be totally broken down.

the 75-77's have the paint codes, and body number, + 2 sets of 3 digit numbers that dont have any understanding yet.

any interest?
UPDATE:

This has been solved. Seems the St. Therese numbers serve the same purpose as the lordstown number code. Read the thru pg2 of this thread for more details.

[gerbsinmd]

sounds like fun, what do we need to do?

[marco_1978_spyder]

Just post your 2 sets of 3 digits codes from the top line of your cowl tag.

Then, if the date of manufacture is still on the door, above the latch post that+

interior color, vinyl or cloth

and any non standard options ordered with your car.

such as A/C or not.

[res0o7eb]

I looked at my 76 Vega cowl tag and I don't see anything that can't be decoded.
Are you taking about Canadian-built models or just 2nd-gen H-bodies?

[gerbsinmd]

Just post your 2 sets of 3 digits codes from the top line of your cowl tag.

Then, if the date of manufacture is still on the door, above the latch post that+

interior color, vinyl or cloth

and any non standard options ordered with your car.

such as A/C or not.

Here is the whole tag.

053 307 are the 3 digit codes

Interior is Vinyl bolsters with cloth center sections.
A/C
Digital clock
Power Steering
CA emissions with air-pump
Standard Steering wheel
Standard Gauges (no tach, etc)

[marco_1978_spyder]

I looked at my 76 Vega cowl tag and I don't see anything that can't be decoded.
Are you taking about Canadian-built models or just 2nd-gen H-bodies?

This is for Canadian built Monza, Sunbird (76-77), Skyhawk, and Starfire 1975-1980.

Chances are your vega was built in Ohio (U plant code & more detailed vin)

your on the right track if your cowl tag looks like the one Gerbsinmd posted.

[res0o7eb]

OK. So, you do want the tags from Canadian-built cars.
77 Sunbird Hatchback, 151 4-speed
123 602
Power Steering
Rear Window Defogger
Spare tire tie-down(full-size spare is in the hatch, not the tire well)
Black Vinyl (19N)

Door Sticker:
Mfg. Date = 03 7 77

[marco_1978_spyder]

the 2 codes in question.....are on the top line 3 digits a peice.

All else can be deciphered.


I'm leaning towards the idea that these codes are similar to the "xx-xxxx" found on the lordstown tags.

Looks like the 1st 3 might be the 'production day'
day # 53 in gerbs case.

If so the other was its position in line at some point in the plant.


thats the preliminary report.

[marco_1978_spyder]

Thanks Tom.

Your numbers follow suit....

08D (model year start month/week)
to 02D @ 20 production days a month would
= about 120 days.

[res0o7eb]

It might be interesting to see how much time lapsed between the body date codes and the actual manufacturing date.

02D - 4th week of Feb - body code date
03 7 77 - mfg. date
My Sunbird was built on a Monday.
But, that is the first full week in Mar 1977:
http://www.timeanddate.com/calendar/ind ... country=27
Is that good or bad? Monday-morning blues, back to the daily grind, etc. Perhaps, Canadian workers were more conscientious than American workers?
Shouldn't the body tag be 03A(or 03B) instead of 02D?
So, how do you determine exactly which week it was built from the body date code?
Does 02D mean Feb 21-25 or Feb 28 (or would it be Feb 28-Mar 4?)?
From the mfg. date I am assuming that the body was assembled during the week of Feb 28-Mar 4.

Weather on the day my Sunbird was manufactured:
High 2.2 C Low 0.6 C with a trace of snow:
http://www.climate.weatheroffice.ec.gc. ... h=3&Day=19
It might have been cold, but the Montreal Canadiens were dominating the NHL that year (76-77) and went on to win the Stanley Cup. On March 6, 1977, Guy Lafleur scores his 50th goal of the season against Buffalo.

So, perhaps the workers were in a good mood despite it being a cold Monday. Therefore, my Sunbird was built with extremely careful precision and pride. (no beer bottles left in the fender well)

[MIKESMONZA]

Marco; my 75 Monza 2+2 with v8 auto trans, powersteer powerbrake, A/C and fan mounted in front of condensor reads ST--- 75-- 1HR07 ST---0606078DY-- end of top# start of second line-- R----732--79L--79U--- PN--------end of second line 3rd line 4E177582---------------end of line third -----------------car has a red interior, red carpet red side panels Gt dash tach ,clock did have a paint job over the original deep "maroon" color??? Mike[/list]

[res0o7eb]

Thanks Tom.

Your numbers follow suit....

08D (model year start month/week)
to 02D @ 20 production days a month would
= about 120 days.

Marco,
My Sunbird also has the rare intermittent windshield wipers with the dash-mounted knob. Could that be the 602 code? Probably not.

Sorry for bringing up an old post - I am looking for the trim tag on my 76 Vega GT. I know I posted it somewhere on this site.

[marco_1978_spyder]

Is the door original to the car? the date code on the door doesn't match that trim tag.

[res0o7eb]

Is the door original to the car?

I have no reason to believe that it is NOT the original door. It is black on the inside and is in the same general condition as the passenger door. It seems unlikely that this is a replacement door from another H-Body - a previous owner would have just happened to find a black door built within 1 week of the original. I don't know what other data in on the door trim tag, I'll take a picture of it tomorrow.

the date code on the door doesn't match that trim tag.

It doesn't seem unreasonable that a body trim date code of 02D would have a car manufacturing date of 03/07/1977 (03A or 03B). Since only Canadian-built models have this manufacturing date on the door, I'd need more proof before I'd agree with your statement here Marco.

[marco_1978_spyder]

Lordstown cars had the date on the door.... The Vin number is there to for positive ID.

Your right though... there isnt much time between 02D and 03A / 03B... enough time for the body to be in the body bank after getting made during the week of 02D then after waiting in the body bank for a week, it rolled thru final assembly and received it's final finishing date of 3/7/77.