Topic: 1970 Toploader date vs. tag serial number

[cobrajet_carl]

Is there any rough guideline for 1970 toploader tag serial number to production date? I have a tag RUG-AW with 011010. Binary coded?
There is no VIN stamping on it so I am trying to figure out if it could be original to the car. I know the motor isn't. The dates cast into the housings are ~6 months before the car was built.

[J_Speegle]

Don't know anyone that has built a cross reference between transmission serial numbers and car details (data and numbers)  Sorry

I include them when I get them in my spreadsheets but they have not been a focus of mine so don't have enough to provide any help  for a 70

Maybe someone else?

[specialed]

rug-az is 70 cj

[Vcode]

A RUG-AW is a small spline close ratio for a 1970 Boss 302 / 351.

[J_Speegle]

Is there any rough guideline for 1970 toploader tag serial number to production date? I have a tag RUG-AW with 011010. ..........

Had a moment so checked what I did have and found a couple that matched the type and year. This may be enough to compare if the numbers would match approximately your cars production period

I tried and I think we got pretty lucky this time


Both AW top loaders

011180 found in a Sept 25th Dearborn built example (only 170 units off from the one you posted)

014524 found in a November 12 bucked (from buck tag) NJ example



With those numbers I should at least mention that the transmissions may not have found their way into cars in any sequential order  (need to consider if casting dates would help )  but data on my part is very limited as mentioned earlier but would offer that I have another example (not a AW trans) with the number of 010337 that showed up in a Dec 15th built Dearborn car.

So this may suggest that trans were built in batches and stored/inventoried for a fair amount of time at the trans assembly plants. Just don't know at this time without more data

[Mike_B_SVT]

Is there any rough guideline for 1970 toploader tag serial number to production date? I have a tag RUG-AW with 011010. Binary coded?
There is no VIN stamping on it so I am trying to figure out if it could be original to the car. I know the motor isn't. The dates cast into the housings are ~6 months before the car was built.

You might try asking this over on the 428CobraJet.org forum.  At the very least you might get a bunch of input from others too :-)

Here is the info on mine...

Assembly Plant: Dearborn
Build Date: October 6th, 1969
Transmission;
- Rivet Tag:   RUG AZ 010632
- Case Date:   F3-9 (June 3rd, 1969)
- Case PN:    C8AR 7006-D W 2
- Tail Date:   F3-9 (June 3rd, 1969)
- Tail PN:           D0ZR-7A040-A W 2
- VIN:               513786 partial VIN stamp present on top lip
- Paint marks:   "G14" written on pass side - possibly July 14 assembly date?  "10" written on pass side, "GAZ" written on top cover, "2" stamp on drv side, "GAZ" stamp on bottom.

[J_Speegle]

You might try asking this over on the 428CobraJet.org forum.  At the very least you might get a bunch of input from others too :-)
.............

Lots of unknowns at the moment IMHO

Not sure if each transmission has a different sequential number pattern or if all top loaders were included when they started building them each year or when that start would have taken place

have examples of other types of transmissions might just confuse the lot  and then again its possible (given what I found already) that they were not installed anywhere near sequentially might make the whole exercise a waste of time.

Guess we might find out someday 

[Mike_B_SVT]

Lots of unknowns at the moment IMHO

Not sure if each transmission has a different sequential number pattern or if all top loaders were included when they started building them each year or when that start would have taken place

have examples of other types of transmissions might just confuse the lot  and then again its possible (given what I found already) that they were not installed anywhere near sequentially might make the whole exercise a waste of time.

Guess we might find out someday 

I do recall someone on the Boss 302 forum mentioning having a list that they put together over the years.  Of course that's a different Trans than what the OP was looking for, but thought I would throw it out there.

[J_Speegle]

I do recall someone on the Boss 302 forum mentioning having a list that they put together over the years.  Of course that's a different Trans than what the OP was looking for, but thought I would throw it out there.

Mike - no that would be the same trans the OP was looking for.   Not sure where that thread is located or what member your referring to.  Would help in figuring out if there was a pattern

Thanks

[cobrajet_carl]

Had a moment so checked what I did have and found a couple that matched the type and year. This may be enough to compare if the numbers would match approximately your cars production period

I tried and I think we got pretty lucky this time


Both AW top loaders

011180 found in a Sept 25th Dearborn built example (only 170 units off from the one you posted)

014524 found in a November 12 bucked (from buck tag) NJ example



With those numbers I should at least mention that the transmissions may not have found their way into cars in any sequential order  (need to consider if casting dates would help )  but data on my part is very limited as mentioned earlier but would offer that I have another example (not a AW trans) with the number of 010337 that showed up in a Dec 15th built Dearborn car.

So this may suggest that trans were built in batches and stored/inventoried for a fair amount of time at the trans assembly plants. Just don't know at this time without more data

Thanks everybody for looking into this. Given that a Sept. Dearborn has a later serial number than the one in my Feb Dearborn, I suspect it is not the original tranny. If I had to guess I would say the serial numbers probably very roughly track the build date for a given tranny. If they were indeed batch built they could be randomly selected as needed.

[Mike_B_SVT]

Mike - no that would be the same trans the OP was looking for.   Not sure where that thread is located or what member your referring to.  Would help in figuring out if there was a pattern

Thanks

Oops.  I got my AZ's and AW's mixed up >.<

I did a quick check, but couldn't find the exact thread I was thinking of :-/
However, I did find an interesting post regarding the tag numbers: http://www.boss302.com/smf/index.php?topic=72482.0
You might try contacting David Kee - who has probably seen more different Toploaders than darn near anyone else.

[preaction]

I always found these numbers interesting for the reason that I don't ever remember seeing a tag number below 5 digits.

[J_Speegle]

I always found these numbers interesting for the reason that I don't ever remember seeing a tag number below 5 digits.

Believe its likely that they choose to start at 10000. Sort of like starting the sequential numbers for Mustangs at 100001

As a side note. I don't have documentation of any with a number that wasn't in the 10,000's