How do you determine build date of 1968-1972 Chevy C10 pickups?

[HeavyHauler]

How do you find out the build date for 1967- 1972 Chevy C10 pickup trucks? It doesnt give a build date on the SPID or the body tag.

[71gmcC15]

If you have the original dash pad it might be thare. That's whare mine was. Just a sticker with a date on it.

[jocko]

Final Assembly date is on the blue driver's door sticker (June 1971 in the case of my 71's pic below - it was a late in the model year production truck). So if I were seeking "date correct" parts for this truck, they should all be date coded June 71 or prior. For instance, engine could be coded May 71 and be correct, but if coded July 71, you'd know it was a replacement. This info can also be found on the build sheet (almost upper left corner of Pic 2). Note Build Sheet date is 5/28/71, so actually 2 days prior to Jun 71. This may represent the date for starting the line and the sticker may go on at the end, don't know though (paging Keith!) Anyway, hope that helps.

[71gmcC15]

O you just want the mouth. I thought you wanted the exact birthday.

[jocko]

Originally Posted by 71gmcC15

O you just want the mouth. I thought you wanted the exact birthday.

I believe the date in your pic is only the date of the dash pad.

[Jason Banks]

The Protect-O-Plate has a month of manufacture code on it too, but I would say the build sheet is best!

[71gmcC15]

Originally Posted by jocko

I believe the date in your pic is only the date of the dash pad.

Your probably right. But it's the closed thing to an actual day not just a month.

[franken]

I'd ask, who cares? Also, why/how is the build date of a C10 different than a C20 or K10? The sequential number part of the VIN most likely begins at the beginning of the build run, so it's an indicator of when in the year the vehicle was built. Various castings have at least a month defined, from which a guess can be made as to when the vehicle came down the line.
But again, these are high volume, very similar vehicles. At least a million sold each year--they aren't Z16 65 SS Chevelles... Relax.

[jocko]

Originally Posted by franken

I'd ask, who cares? Also, why/how is the build date of a C10 different than a C20 or K10? The sequential number part of the VIN most likely begins at the beginning of the build run, so it's an indicator of when in the year the vehicle was built. Various castings have at least a month defined, from which a guess can be made as to when the vehicle came down the line.
But again, these are high volume, very similar vehicles. At least a million sold each year--they aren't Z16 65 SS Chevelles... Relax.

The OP cares, or he wouldn't have asked. It's reasonable question, and I didn't pick up on anyone sounding tense (until somewhere around post 8). Yes, they are "just trucks" but some folks on here would take a 67-72 pickup over a Z16 pretty much any day of the week (count me in that bunch). I look at it this way - if a million sold, then every one of our trucks is "one in a million" to us

[jocko]

Originally Posted by 71gmcC15

Your probably right. But it's the closed thing to an actual day not just a month.

Yes, but the point is that an individual dash pad date has nothing to do with the build date of the truck, it could have been on a shelf for 11 months before it was installed on a truck on the line.

[atog]

Frame build date will get you very close

[71gmcC15]

Originally Posted by jocko

Yes, but the point is that an individual dash pad date has nothing to do with the build date of the truck, it could have been on a shelf for 11 months before it was installed on a truck on the line.

well my pickups was built in February and the pad was made in February so it's got to be close.

[Stoli]

My 67 has the date stamped onto one of the boards on my wood bed.
The date 11/22/66

[special-K]

Originally Posted by franken

I'd ask, who cares? Also, why/how is the build date of a C10 different than a C20 or K10? The sequential number part of the VIN most likely begins at the beginning of the build run, so it's an indicator of when in the year the vehicle was built. Various castings have at least a month defined, from which a guess can be made as to when the vehicle came down the line.
But again, these are high volume, very similar vehicles. At least a million sold each year--they aren't Z16 65 SS Chevelles... Relax.

Originally Posted by jocko

The OP cares, or he wouldn't have asked. It's reasonable question, and I didn't pick up on anyone sounding tense (until somewhere around post 8). Yes, they are "just trucks" but some folks on here would take a 67-72 pickup over a Z16 pretty much any day of the week (count me in that bunch). I look at it this way - if a million sold, then every one of our trucks is "one in a million" to us

He probably asked when he got annoyed by the "C10" mentality the same way I do. These are C/K 10-30 Chevy light trucks, and there are also C/K 1500-3500 GMCs. All this reference to all these trucks as C10s gets on my nerves. I've had very few C10s and dozens of 67-72 GM light trucks. And the funny thing is, this is a Car guy question and it's car converts who refer to these as C10s, would expect the build date on the SPID, and use the term body tag. At least that's how this long time just the trucks don't need no car guy sees it. The term "body" on a truck means what's behind the cab. It's a pickup body as opposed to all the others that could also be dropped onto the cab & chassis. And the VIN-plate is on the Cab. A cab & chassis truck comes with no body.

Kind of annoying how so many speak of these trucks as Chevys as a whole when there is their older brother GMC, the original General Motors Truck. I always use "GM Trucks" so as to not exclude either. Date codes don't matter in these trucks the way they do in a Z16 as a whole. If it matters to an individual that is their prerogative. But I'm talking resale value and I'm thinking that is what was meant by Franken's reference.

[jocko]

Thanks, that clears it up. So you’re saying the OP was “insensitive” to 3/4 and 1 ton folks as well as GMC owners, prompting a “who cares” response to his reasonable question. Ya gotta be kidding me. Responses like “who cares” usually make new guys that read such responses not want to post on here. On the other hand, if a GMC or 3/4 ton guy gets hurt by someone saying C10, maybe everyone is a little too sensitive these days. It was a simple, reasonable question with a simple reasonable answer, all the rest is hot air, myself included.

[HeavyHauler]

Originally Posted by jocko

Thanks, that clears it up. So you’re saying the OP was “insensitive” to 3/4 and 1 ton folks as well as GMC owners, prompting a “who cares” response to his reasonable question. Ya gotta be kidding me. Responses like “who cares” usually make new guys that read such responses not want to post on here. On the other hand, if a GMC or 3/4 ton guy gets hurt by someone saying C10, maybe everyone is a little too sensitive these days. It was a simple, reasonable question with a simple reasonable answer, all the rest is hot air, myself included.

You were correct Jocko. I didnt mention C20 or K10 because I dont own either of those trucks. I also dont own a chevelle, dont care to own one and really doesnt have anything to do with my question.

But I do own a Chevy C10 and want to know as much about my truck and its history as possible.