Thanks Dale, You hit it right on the head. I simply got the numbers copied
wrong from the ID plate
on the cowl. I am going to try to find the build sheet this weekend but my
hopes are not high on getting
it. The seats were recovered nicely about 4 years ago with new vinyl
headliner too. So I am guessing
the build sheet was found then and probably removed.
What I think I know about this car at this time is this. It was built 2nd
week in April of 70 at the
Arlington Texas plant. It was and is black bench interior but originally
cloth. The paint scheme was
Red (75) and Red (75) which indicates no vinyl top. I have looked all over
the optional hood and have found
red paint in a couple places which leads me to think it MAY possibly have
come on the car. The car
also has front and rear sway bars that look factory. I have not checked the
numbers on the engine,
heads, TH350 or the 10 bolt rear end but think the car may have been a 300
horse 350 from the
factory with a few options. Obviously the wheels are not stock as they are
15x8 and the car would
have had 14 inch wheels. At least I think that is true regarding the wheels.
The car was driven daily for a year before I got it and was basically
neglected by someone who did
not appreciate what he had.
With respect to the clone issue I cannot see the real reasoning for trying
to make someone think the
car was an SS optioned vehicle when it was not. I do think this car was
respectable muscle when new
and will know more about it as I continue my detective work on it. Lot's of
fun actually. Anyway back
to the "Clone" business. Like I said I think it would be nice to upgrade the
car with SS options like dash
and such but leave the emblems off. Being brand new to this I know that a 70
SS was a 396 (402) or
454. Damn sure not a 350. I like this little 355 and it appears quick enough
for me on the street. I
bought this car to drive and enjoy. One day after lots of time and money it
might drive into a show
now and then but doubt I will ever get serious about that aspect of it. I
got it to enjoy.
Thanks again for being on target and helping straightening me out. Now on to
other mysteries. Mike
K0AZ
Mike Sanders 18169 Highway 174
MT Vernon, MO 65712-9171
Emergency Coordinator
Lawrence County Missouri
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
6 Meter DXCC #436 WAZ #27
WAS #1094 WAC WAJD VUCC
-----Original Message-----
From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
[mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Behalf Of Dale McIntosh
Sent: Wednesday, December 31, 2003 4:25 PM
To: 'The Chevelle Mailing List'
Subject: RE: [Chevelle-list] Help with ID please
Nice looking car, Mike. I, generally in the minority, congratulate you
on deciding NOT to badge the car as a SS. Clone/fake/tribute car,
whatever someone wants to call it to make them feel better is still
that. After all, nothing wrong with the "lowly" or "plain-jane" Malibu,
it's still a Chevelle and that's what matters. No reason to laugh at
the car at all. Looks pretty good from the pictures to me! I've seen
many gorgeous cars today that started a lot worse.
The "date" on the body tag is all wrong, you might double check. The
leading "04" could be correct but there should be a letter "A..E" behind
it denoting the build week ('1..5') for April (04). Are you sure the
"3" isn't a "B"? The last 3 numbers "440" (assuming the 3 is really a
B) would be a data processing sequence number found on the build sheet
and be of no significance other than to tie the body number plate to the
build sheet.
You don't mention where the car was built, but I have a lot of sample
body number plates at my ChevelleStuff website
(http://www.chevellestuff.com/). Click 1970 > 1970 Chevelle >
Information N-Z > Trim Tag Samples, then pick the assembly plant. It
all depends on where on the tag you're getting the numbers from and
where the car was assembled. Lots of other decoding material there as
well.
If the number is indeed from the body number plate (on the firewall
cowl), the number does not represent the assembly sequence. That is
found in the last six digits of the VIN itself and be something like
136370K123456, meaning a V8 Malibu, 1970, K(ansas) assembly, and the
23,456th Chevelle down the line (sequence numbers started with 100001
for most years of Chevelles).
Dale McIntosh
> -----Original Message-----
> From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Mike Sanders
> Sent: Wednesday, December 31, 2003 3:16 PM
> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Subject: [Chevelle-list] Help with ID please
>
>
> Greetings all, I am brand new to this game. Just bought a 70
> Malibu that was partially restored about 4 years ago. It was
> also partially Cloned at that time. Not really sure how I
> feel about that but think I will go with SS upgrades minus
> the SS emblems. Made the title transfer on 11/11 of this
> year. Veterans day which I timed and felt appropriate for
> this car. Suspect it has a few stories to tell like most of
> them do. My question is about the body tag ID plate. Mine
> shows a time built code of 043440. Can anyone decipher that
> for me. I have been looking through all the books and on line
> sources I have found so far but no luck. Thanks in advance.
> The Chevelle is posted on the web at
> http://www.sofnet.com/k0az if anyone wants to > look. Please
> don't laugh because I know I have a lot of work ahead of me.
> At this time all I know is the 355 is supposed to have some
> internal work along with the unidentified heads, headers,
> intake etc. The carb is a Holley replacement 570 and there is
> an Accell coil. Tranny is a TH350 that I believe has some
> work done on it. The rear is a 10 bolt non posi with what I
> think are 331s. While I am at it Happy New Year and thanks
> for being here.
>
>
> K0AZ
> Mike Sanders 18169 Highway 174
> MT Vernon, MO 65712-9171
> Emergency Coordinator
> Lawrence County Missouri
> [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> 6 Meter DXCC #436 WAZ #27
> WAS #1094 WAC WAJD VUCC
>
>
>
