Particulary of '66 - Framingham, but also in general - were the dash gauges (fuel/batt & water temp/oil press) option on the cowl tag?

Same for the knee knocker tach - was that listed on the cowl tag?

My vehicle did not come factory with these, but would like to add.

No. You are free to add these Options
with nobody knowing if they were Factory :)

KK was part of the gauge pkg. for what it's worth. Not to say someone could not have ordered a KK without the dash gauges but normally, a pkg deal.

Gauges and tachometer were not indicated on the trim tag. The console was on the trim tag, though. If you add guages to a non-console car you will have to add a dash top clock for correctness. If you have a console, the clock is located in the console.

I'm assuming that '66 tags work like '65 tags in that the tach and gauges were NOT indicated on the cowl tag in any way. The cowl tag is more accurately a BODY tag. The tag only contains codes which indicate some instructions to Fisher Body to make a modification or optional choice to the structure of the body.

For example, the model number dictates the body type (2-door hardtop, convertible, 4-door sedan, etc.). Certain options such as a 4-speed dictate a change to the body in that the transmission hump needs a hole in the floor pan and an attached shifter hump piece for example. Also, things like tinted glass are indicated since Fisher needed to install whatever glass was needed. So, only those options which required an alteration to a standard body shell are indicated.

Remember, the bodies were delivered as a complete assembly to the Chevy assmebly plant completely painted with glass, wiring (other than additional wiring needed for an accessory or option), interior and body trim as were engines, rear axles, etc. The cowl tags were already attached to the body shell at this point, think of them as a glorified part number tag which outlines the make up of the body shell "part". This is why installation of body structure items is not outlined in the Assembly Instruction Manual of which you can buy copies. I wish we could locate and publish the Fisher Body build manuals (which I'm sure existed back in the day).

My Fisher Body Service Manual calls it a "BODY NUMBER PLATE" and I believe only the firewall back was built by the Fisher side. The front sheet metal, chassis & drive line as done on the GM assembly line; at least that's how Camaros were built and I assume most cars in the GM family.

Reference: http://www.camaros.org/assemblyprocess.shtml

Fyi..........From an Article published in Late Great Chevys many years ago and authored by Verne Frantz
http://www.jerseylategreats.com/doc/docservice.html
Fisher's production was controlled by GM's need to fill dealer orders for certain models with a variety of equipment. In some cases the bodies had to be made differently to accommodate different options, some installed by Fisher, some later, on the Chevrolet assembly line after the body met up with its appropriate chassis. The point is, although Fisher built bodies to accept a variety of Chevrolet options, their own body labeling method, the cowl tag, contained information that only related to the body itself. Fisher Body, through the use of the cowl tag, provided information on each body in 8 separate categories. The information on the cowl tag was not placed on the cars for the benefit of the assembly line workers who were building the car, (they used the Production Broadcast Notice, or "build sheet", as most people call it); it was meant to be a permanent record of the way each body was manufactured for purposes of later identification for dealer servicing, or warranty claims. It also protected the manufacturer against possible safety or legal claims, considering that over the life span of these cars equipment might be changed.

Gauges and tachometer were not indicated on the trim tag. The console was on the trim tag, though. If you add guages to a non-console car you will have to add a dash top clock for correctness. If you have a console, the clock is located in the console.

Curious about the console being designated on the trim tag. Don't remember hearing that before - where and how?

brackets needed to by welder to floor and different hole cut for shift.

Curious about the console being designated on the trim tag. Don't remember hearing that before - where and how?

Dave,
In 1966 at all Chevelle assembly plants except Fremont and Baltimore, the console was identified on the cowl tag as a G in Group 2. Those two plants didn't put the accessory codes on the trim tag. I put Fremont in bold because I noticed your car was built at Fremont.

Actually, Atlanta did have the group codes from 64 through 67. Fremont and Baltimore didn't have group options on their tags. :thumbsup:

Dale, I realized my mistake almost immediately and edited my post. I always get Atlanta and Baltimore confused in my mind with respect to the accessory codes, so I checked your website. :thumbsup: I always remember Fremont and know that there is one other that doesn't have the codes. I was hoping no one would have noticed my original post, but you was quick!:yes:

I have to check it myself. I probably use it for reference as much, if not more, than anyone. I can't keep all that stuff in my head. :noway: :thumbsup:

Dave,
In 1966 at all Chevelle assembly plants except Fremont and Baltimore, the console was identified on the cowl tag as a G in Group 2. Those two plants didn't put the accessory codes on the trim tag. I put Fremont in bold because I noticed your car was built at Fremont.

Ah, cool - thanks, Bruce. :)

KK was part of the gauge pkg. for what it's worth. Not to say someone could not have ordered a KK without the dash gauges but normally, a pkg deal.

That's right. In 66 and 67, if RPO U-14 Special Instruments was ordered, a tach was included as part of that option. But a tach could be ordered alone under RPO U-16 without the rest of the gauges.

So you could get a tach without other gauges, but you couldn't get the gauges without a tach.