Could this starter be original?

[Doug L.]

The body build date on the VIN tag is D13 (December 13, 1963). The engine assembly date on the stamp pad is December 3, 1963 (F1203...). This date is confirmed by the original Owner Protection Plan book that also contains the validated original owner's name. The starter that was on my engine when I bought the car (1964 model year) is the correct part number (1107320) and has a correct Delco solenoid. The starter is dated 3M9 (December 9, 1963).

Is it possible that the date on the starter would be after the stamp pad date and only 4 days prior to the VIN tag date?

Thanks for any opinions.

Doug

[Gerard F.]

Re: Could this starter be original?

The body build date on the VIN tag is D13 (December 13, 1963). The engine assembly date on the stamp pad is December 3, 1963 (F1203...). This date is confirmed by the original Owner Protection Plan book that also contains the validated original owner's name. The starter that was on my engine when I bought the car (1964 model year) is the correct part number (1107320) and has a correct Delco solenoid. The starter is dated 3M9 (December 9, 1963).

Is it possible that the date on the starter would be after the stamp pad date and only 4 days prior to the VIN tag date?

Thanks for any opinions.

Doug

Doug,

I think it could be. If the starter was put on in St.Louis, it could precede or be after the engine stamp pad date. The body build date would probably precede the assembly date of the car coming off the line. The assembly date would probably be some time after the body build date.

I think you are OK as long as the starter is dated before the assembly date of the car.

I have an AOS 67, so what do I know

[John H.]

Re: Could this starter be original?

Is it possible that the date on the starter would be after the stamp pad date and only 4 days prior to the VIN tag date?

Thanks for any opinions.

Doug

Doug -

Yes, see Gerry's post above - the starter was installed at St. Louis, and it was a short trip from Anderson, Indiana to St. Louis.

[Doug L.]

Re: Could this starter be original?

Thanks Jerry and John. Jerry, you knew the answer.

Doug

[Joe L.]

Re: Could this starter be original?

Doug -

Yes, see Gerry's post above - the starter was installed at St. Louis, and it was a short trip from Anderson, Indiana to St. Louis.

John-----

...and can you just imagine how many of these things were flowing out of Anderson in those days to all of the vehicle assembly plants? There must have been a virtually endless string of trucks.

[John H.]

Re: Could this starter be original?

John-----

...and can you just imagine how many of these things were flowing out of Anderson in those days to all of the vehicle assembly plants? There must have been a virtually endless string of trucks.

Joe -

The new alternator plant in Anderson (1962) was, at the time, the most highly-automated manufacturing facility in GM - aluminum ingots in one end, alternators out the other, with very few people involved; one alternator every two seconds (30,000 per day). Starter volume was about the same, but nowhere near as automated. I always wondered how they wound all that heavy copper wire into starter armatures and field coils and alternator rotors and stators at 30,000 units per day, but I never got to see it.