How to determine the correct yearly quarter by build date???

[Jimmy P.]

My 73 has an April 30th build date. I'm planning on replacing the aftermarket plug wires and belts. I want to make sure I order the correct date code. It always confuses me as to whether I need the 1Q or 3Q for my car because of it being built in April. Is there an easy way to always remember this. My first thought is because April is in the first part (early) of the year that it should be 1Q. not sure that's the case though in the vette production cycle!
Thanks!

[Keith B.]

Re: How to determine the correct yearly quarter by build date???

whats in your Judging Manual

[Michael W.]

Re: How to determine the correct yearly quarter by build date???

I think the HT wire manufacturer used the calender to date wires, not GM's production cycle. Your car probably came with 2Q wires originally or a mixture of 1Q and 2Q.

[Jimmy P.]

Re: How to determine the correct yearly quarter by build date???

Keith,
That's what's so confusing to me. The JM gives an example of " 4Q-73, which translates to the 4th Quarter of 73. Then, states the wires have varying date codes, eg. An engine built in Oct. of 73 might have wires dated in the first second and third quarter of 73. all wires may not be dated in the same quarter." So, given this info from the JM what would be the correct choice for my April build car for judging?

[Alan S.]

Re: How to determine the correct yearly quarter by build date???

Hi Jimmy,
I'd think your car COULD have a combo of 1Q 73 wires and 3Q 72 wires.
There have been some threads discussing how these wires were produced and why the dates may not fall as perfectly as we'd expect them to.
My mid-Janury built 71 has wires with a combination of three dates. Unless some 1Q 71 wires got the plant VERY quickly they wouldn't be appropriate for a mid-January 71 car.
Regards,
Alan

[Jimmy P.]

Re: How to determine the correct yearly quarter by build date???

Thanks Mike and Alan,
BTW, Happy Thanksgiving To your families
What would you guys order to be safe for judging?
It is also a bit confusing when deciding on correct belts. The 73-74 JM mentions that belts for the cars had raised or indented lettering and numbers. Having difficulty finding any of those. All I've seen are white letters and numbers

[Michael W.]

Re: How to determine the correct yearly quarter by build date???

Thanks Mike and Alan,
BTW, Happy Thanksgiving To your families
What would you guys order to be safe for judging?

Thanksgiving was October 12th in Canada, but thanks anyway.

Since 2Q (and 4Q) wires are not reproduced, you would have to settle for 1Q.

[Terry M.]

Re: How to determine the correct yearly quarter by build date???

Thanks Mike and Alan,
BTW, Happy Thanksgiving To your families
What would you guys order to be safe for judging?
It is also a bit confusing when deciding on correct belts. The 73-74 JM mentions that belts for the cars had raised or indented lettering and numbers. Having difficulty finding any of those. All I've seen are white letters and numbers

As our friend Mike W from the Great White North (no way you would know that since NCRS for security reasons keeps our locations away from the public eye) said; you are agonizing over nothing. Only odd quarters are available in reproduction. When I judge, which for NCRS isn't often any more, I modestly deduct for all spark plug wire dates being the same. Just as I do for all BB rocker cover bolt head marks being the same. The same for ALL intake manifold bolt heads being the same. None of those are TFP

[Don H.]

Re: How to determine the correct yearly quarter by build date???

Glad to hear you don't judge very often anymore....

[Terry M.]

Re: How to determine the correct yearly quarter by build date???

Glad to hear you don't judge very often anymore....

I am sure you are not alone in that sentiment.

[Michael W.]

Re: How to determine the correct yearly quarter by build date???

As our friend Mike W from the Great White North (no way you would know that since NCRS for security reasons keeps our locations away from the public eye)

Member's location is available on the 'about me' page under their profile.

Happy Thanksgiving to all our US cousins BTW. Has the turkey stupor kicked in with anyone yet?

[Terry M.]

Re: How to determine the correct yearly quarter by build date???

Member's location is available on the 'about me' page under their profile.

Happy Thanksgiving to all our US cousins BTW. Has the turkey stupor kicked in with anyone yet?

I am pretty sure one has to be logged in as a member to see the "about me page." That is what I meant by keeping our location away from the public. Some boards show the poster's location right on each message. Not NCRS.

[Michael J.]

Re: How to determine the correct yearly quarter by build date???

I am sure you are not alone in that sentiment.

[John S.]

Re: How to determine the correct yearly quarter by build date???

Interesting, my '73 is a Dec., 1972 car. All of my new plug wires and belts are 3 Qtr 72. Didn't know about the 1st qtr, 3rd qtr thing. We'll see what the judges say next June at the Bend Regional.

The belts themselves might be another conversation. The '73-'74 JM calls for belts with raised or indented P/N's, all of the vendors say those ended in '72 and '73 belts were printed with white ink. I have at least one additional confirmation of this with an original '73 owner in our chapter that has the original belts on his 20k mile car, all of his belts are printed with white ink. I see the same in photos in Richard Prince's restoration guide '73-'77 section, white printed P/N belts on engines noted as "unrestored examples".

Is the raised/indented spec a carry over from the earlier JM that needs to be reviewed ?? Looking for input, but please do not load up with both barrels !!

Thanks,
John