SAAC Forum

The Cars => 1966 Shelby GT350/GT350H => Topic started by: JohnnyQuest on August 24, 2018, 05:06:55 PM

Title: Build Dates
Post by: JohnnyQuest on August 24, 2018, 05:06:55 PM
Redundant I'm sure what are the approx. build dates? I haven't looked at the block, I'm lazy.

My invoice date was 2/9/66.

Thanks!
Title: Re: Build Dates
Post by: GT350Lad on August 24, 2018, 05:29:43 PM
Hi, not sure about yours but my car was scheduled to be build at Ford's San Jose, CA assembly plant about the 19th of October, 1965. Got that info from Howard.

Cheers
Title: Re: Build Dates
Post by: J_Speegle on August 24, 2018, 05:35:50 PM
If you provided the first three digits of your Ford sequential number a ball park guys at what Ford/Milpitas guessed would be the completion date. With more of the sequential number the closer to that number could be figured out based on other cars entered into the system around the same time.

Could make a guess just based on your Shelby number but that would possibly not be the best option since I can't tell what the Ford VIN is though I could guess

Of course that was only a guess made by an employee when the order was received and could be off by weeks in either (earlier or later) direction.

Another method is to find and list every possible sheet metal date that makes up the unibody (welded on not bolted on) and use that to help get a better educated guess at the possible real date the car may have been completed at Ford
Title: Re: Build Dates
Post by: Karguy on August 24, 2018, 11:15:21 PM
It would be interesting to see what the stamped production dates are on your steering box tag and on your left front inner fender. Those are the dates that are the latest on 281 and definitely close to what I believe the actual San Jose build date was, somewhere between Oct 6 and Oct 15.
Karl
Title: Re: Build Dates
Post by: Karguy on August 25, 2018, 12:15:25 PM
 After a very good discussion with a very knowledgeable guy , (Jeff)  I have adjusted what I believe to be the actual San Jose build date for 6S281.  The latest date stamp on my car is October 5 65 which caused me to set the San Jose date between October 6 and October 15. What I was not aware of is that the parts for these cars were stamped in Dearborn which means once produced they still had to travel to the San Jose plant For use in those cars. I now believe 281 was built at San Jose somewhere between the 11th and 25th of October of 1965. The SAAC form is truly an amazing resource for all of us Shelby and Mustang nerds, where else could you find this information but from the very knowledgeable people who generously participate?
Title: Re: Build Dates
Post by: JohnnyQuest on August 25, 2018, 04:34:41 PM
FORD vin is 113,xxx. Tried without luck finding the number through a FORD production number book but couldn't get my hands on one.

Stampings are a good idea though...
Title: Re: Build Dates
Post by: J_Speegle on August 25, 2018, 05:36:29 PM
Quote from: JohnnyQuest on August 25, 2018, 04:34:41 PM
FORD vin is 113,xxx. Tried without luck finding the number through a FORD production number book but couldn't get my hands on one.

San Jose would have likely assigned a date of  Sept 31 (30J) to the door tag based on other Mustangs with a similar sequential number

Yes date stampings would be a better indicator IMHO. Might want to swap notes with Karguy
Title: Re: Build Dates
Post by: GT350Lad on August 25, 2018, 07:22:27 PM
My car is also a 113xxx baby, so you can email me. Got some dates codes written down; steering box etc
Cheers
Title: Re: Build Dates
Post by: 6s1640 on August 26, 2018, 12:29:07 AM
Hi Johnnyquest,

The San Jose estimated scheduled production date for a 6R09K113XXX VIN, based on the attached chart would be very near the end of September (like Jeff said) or the beginning of the month of October 1965, the 1st or the 4th (Assuming no work on the weekends).  This estimated scheduled build date should be balanced against the all the date codes and  especially the engine assembly date.  It is likely Ford was running behind and the actual build date could be closer to the middle of October.  You can also used the HiPo registry to estimate the scheduled build date from other cars with near Ford VIN's.  Do you have a copy?

Hope this helps.

Cory
Title: Re: Build Dates
Post by: Karguy on August 26, 2018, 01:16:06 AM
 Strictly for reference, there was a San Jose built 66 K code fastback (not a Shelby) for sale on eBay about a year ago, Vin number 11376#, it was built September 30, 1965. Its engine build date was Aug 27 65.
Title: Re: Build Dates
Post by: Karguy on August 26, 2018, 01:52:32 AM
Hey Jeff,  i've been poring over 1965 September and October calendars recently so I noticed this in your last post on this.

"San Jose would have likely assigned a date of  Sept 31 (31J) to the door tag based on other Mustangs with a similar sequential number"

There are only 30 days in September, Not sure that it really matters but would Ford likely have assigned a date of September 30 or possibly October 1?  :)
Title: Re: Build Dates
Post by: SFM6S087 on August 27, 2018, 04:17:24 AM
It's my understanding that the ASSIGNED (or scheduled) build date is what would be stamped on the door tag on a regular Mustang. And those are the dates that will be found in the HiPo registry.

But the ACTUAL build date could be weeks before or more likely after the assigned date. Thus creating the need to check any dates you find on paper against the dates you find stamped into the sheet metal on your car.

I mention this in particular because I've seen people who believe the dates found in the HiPo registry are actual build dates. They're not. They're the dates people sent in from their door tags – i.e. assigned/scheduled production dates – not actual production dates.

If any of the above is wrong, please correct me.

Steve
Title: Re: Build Dates
Post by: JohnnyQuest on August 27, 2018, 08:56:08 AM
Great information, no don't have a copy of the Hi-po registry.

Thanks, JQ
Title: Re: Build Dates
Post by: J_Speegle on August 27, 2018, 02:07:41 PM
Quote from: Karguy on August 26, 2018, 01:52:32 AM
Hey Jeff,  i've been poring over 1965 September and October calendars recently so I noticed this in your last post on this.

"San Jose would have likely assigned a date of  Sept 31 (31J) to the door tag based on other Mustangs with a similar sequential number"

There are only 30 days in September, Not sure that it really matters but would Ford likely have assigned a date of September 30 or possibly October 1?  :)

Slip of the finger corrected it above - but yes guess it could be either. There is a gap in the data with a number of known Sept 30 and no Oct 1 reported but yes could be either - though it doesn't really matter since its only a rough guess/estimate from a data entry person
Title: Re: Build Dates
Post by: J_Speegle on August 27, 2018, 02:08:15 PM
Quote from: SFM6S087 on August 27, 2018, 04:17:24 AM
It's my understanding that the ASSIGNED (or scheduled) build date is what would be stamped on the door tag on a regular Mustang. And those are the dates that will be found in the HiPo registry.

But the ACTUAL build date could be weeks before or more likely after the assigned date. Thus creating the need to check any dates you find on paper against the dates you find stamped into the sheet metal on your car.

I mention this in particular because I've seen people who believe the dates found in the HiPo registry are actual build dates. They're not. They're the dates people sent in from their door tags – i.e. assigned/scheduled production dates – not actual production dates.

If any of the above is wrong, please correct me.

Steve

Believe you are correct
Title: Re: Build Dates
Post by: JohnnyQuest on August 27, 2018, 03:48:31 PM
Would this be the latest Hi-po registry info?

http://www.cobranda.com/289hipemu.html

Thanks!
Title: Re: Build Dates
Post by: J_Speegle on August 27, 2018, 03:51:48 PM
Quote from: JohnnyQuest on August 27, 2018, 03:48:31 PM
Would this be the latest Hi-po registry info?

http://www.cobranda.com/289hipemu.html

Thanks!

May be the most current (only complete up to the point when it was published) in print. Sites been down for a short while.

Of course for this discussion - projected build dates - you want to look at not just K codes but all of production and its not really going to be of much of a guide IMHO for the real completion date of your car.
Title: Re: Build Dates
Post by: JohnnyQuest on August 27, 2018, 04:04:25 PM
I agree, here is what concoursmustang.com said...dates of 30J and  31J are Sept 30 and Sept 31, no 31 in 1965 calendar year:

Welcome to the site. Hope you find it useful in your restoration focused endeavors

San Jose Mustangs with VINs like yours were assigned dates of 30J or 31J on their door tags typically.

These dates were assigned as a guess when the cars would be completed when the order was received by the car plant and entered into the computer system.  Dates (from examples we've collected) can be off a week or two typically. Sometimes closer some times much later. Furthest off I've got records of is 8 months late  ::)

"Looking for the latest dated sheet metal panel on the unibody, compared to bolt on panels (this may have been replaced at some point) and engine casting dates and assembly dates will provide a peek into a time period. Figure in the fact that each had to be stamped at the stamping plant (or cast and assembled into sub assemblies ), packaged, wait for a west bound train, the transportation time for the trip to northern Calif, unloaded or the car uncoupled and recoupled to a train going to the Milpitas car assembly plant, inventoried, and moved to the assembly line, then installed.

Sometimes everything feel into place and that process apparently didn't take that long in other examples it took a long time with delays and other issues

Again welcome to the site. T
here is an article in the Library section of this site on finding and decoding date codes. It is a basic outline but its a start and help for the process"

Title: Re: Build Dates
Post by: J_Speegle on August 27, 2018, 04:10:20 PM
Quote from: JohnnyQuest on August 27, 2018, 04:04:25 PM
I agree, here is what concoursmustang.com said...dates of 30J and  31J are Sept 30 and Sept 31, no 31 in 1965 calendar year:

Yes made the same mistake since it was asked and answered both places ;)  Has been corrected
Title: Re: Build Dates
Post by: 6s1640 on August 27, 2018, 08:03:48 PM
Hi all,

I am going to go out on a limb, but I would bet the scheduled build dates were used to forecast ordering parts from the suppliers or within Ford.  Just a tool for part ordering.  The Ford PA's (Purchase Agents, part of their supplier management organization) needed to know when to order parts, how many parts and have shipped/deliver to their receptive assembly build areas.  I am involved with a very large OEM with millions of parts being needed to build an end product.  We use what is called a "Firing order", essentially with the VIN's with scheduled build dates with a schedule when parts are due, without receiving too soon or too late.  It is quite the balancing act.

Cory