Re: Gravel Shield Anti-Squeak Mute...what the heck is it?

Posted by Owen_Dyneto On 2015/4/14 17:22:24

Not so.

The date on the cylinder head is the date it was cast in the foundry; it was certainly later than that by the time it was machined and worked it's way into inventory for later engine assembly. It's not uncommon that cylinder heads were replaced, especially those with 10mm spark plugs, so it might be interesting to compare that date to the casting date of the engine block. Casting dates do not tell nor are then even good predictors of the build date for the finished vehicle.

Best predictors of early, mid, or late assembly are a combination of engine numbers, theft-proof numbers, and vehicle numbers but that to is somewhat imprecise as we really don't know how the individual models and body styles were sequenced into a production schedule. But if all 3 numbers are either very early or very late, then at least you can say you have an early or late vehicle (or something in between).

It is indeed a shame that many patent plates were not stamped at the time of delivery - it deprives current owners of a bit of a connection to the car's past.