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1970 El Camino Dash Question

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dabeld

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
I am the third owner of a 1970 El Camino SS and I have pieced together the buildsheet as best that I can. While much of the optional codes section is missing, I do have the following codes:

AS1A01A02A51B79B80B90U27U35U14J50JL2

My question is, does the U14 code verify that it left the factory with the SS gauge dash?

Thanks,

Dane
 
Discussion starter · #2 ·
Sorry for the way the codes ran together on the first post - when I cut and pasted it previewed ok, here it is in an easier to read format!

AS1
A01
A02
A51
B79
B80
B90
U27
U35
U14
J50
JL2

Thanks again,

Dane
 
Discussion starter · #4 ·
Thanks Jeff. This El has been discussed on these boards before. It has the infamous woodgrain dash. Whether it came from the factory that way, or someone replaced an SS dash with a Monte dash is now the real head-scratcher.

Dane
 
#5 ·
Being that it is 38 years old, anything is possible. Lots of these cars have had stuff removed for other "more valuable" cars. It could be too that some one wanted the fancier looking Monte Dash and since it is a bolt-on piece....
One other thing for clarification, the U14 option means stuff like temp gauge, amp gauge, and small fuel gauge were used and not the idiot lights. I am not an expert but I know on the 68s the tach was an additional option even with the U14, not sure if that is the case on the other years.
 
#7 ·
Dane,

FWIW I believe that there were some El Cams (both std and SS versions) that came with the wood grain overlay and that they came from the LA plant.

I remember an original owner Daytona Yellow SS some 20 plus years ago.

Greg
 
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#8 ·
dabeld said:
I am the third owner of a 1970 El Camino SS and I have pieced together the buildsheet as best that I can. While much of the optional codes section is missing, I do have the following codes:

AS1A01A02A51B79B80B90U27U35U14J50JL2

My question is, does the U14 code verify that it left the factory with the SS gauge dash?

Thanks,

Dane
Click to expand...
To be correct, the U14 Instrument Panel Gauges (or Special Instrumentation in earlier years) was never an SS-only option. The U14 gauge package was never a SS specific item. In 1970 the U14 could be ordered on any V8 Malibu sport coupe, convertible, or pickup.

The U16 tachometer is a unique option and my documentation shows it was only a separate option from 1964 through 1967 and that, at least in 66 & 67, the U14 gauge option included the U16 tach meaning one could order either just the tach (U16) or the full gauge (U14) package and did not have to order both to get both.

All my docs say 1968 and later only the U14 gauge package is listed. No separate option for U16 indicating the tach was no longer available separately. If there is documentation to the contrary please let me know and I'll update my site's information.

http://www.chevellestuff.com/qd/rpo2.htm

A01 is all tinted glass and A02 is tinted windshield only - can't have both. ;)
 
Discussion starter · #9 ·
Thanks guys - this car has the BN code in block 65 of the build sheet and if I recall correctly, it was determined that this was indicative of cars with a wiring harness specifically for tachs, so it would seem to confirm that there was a tach along with the gauges. Why anone would add the woodgrain is beyond me, but to each his own. When I get around to taking the dash apart I'll look to see of the holes seem to be "factory" or homemade. Does anyone know if the holes for the dash insert were molded in, or drilled at assembly?

The car is a big block, TH400 with the kickdown and a 12 bolt - all which correlate to the build sheet, so if it's not a factory SS El Camino, it was equipped similar to one. And it is a Van Nuys-built El.

Thanks again guys,

Dane
 
#11 ·
dabeld said:
Thanks guys - this car has the BN code in block 65 of the build sheet and if I recall correctly, it was determined that this was indicative of cars with a wiring harness specifically for tachs, so it would seem to confirm that there was a tach along with the gauges.
Dane
Click to expand...
The BN broadcast code for the harness is found along with U14 IP GAUGES option. Saying it's indicative of a tach might be misleading to someone implying the tach and the amp and water temp gauges would be a separate item. The tachometer is one of the gauges in U14 and that has already been confirmed by Chevrolet's annual production report, specifically the number of specific options sold. In the report there is no tachometer listed individually, only the U14 IP GAUGES. :thumbsup:
 
Discussion starter · #13 ·
Stacy,

That's where it was, what was left of it. Thankfully the top of it is basically complete so I can confirm it matches the body number/VIN number, but the bottom has a fair amount missing. I spent a weekend piecing it back together.

I've looked behind the door panels with no luck, perhaps another buld sheet is under the carpet, or in the buckets.

Dane
 
#14 ·
ss1970chev454 said:
Dane,

FWIW I believe that there were some El Cams (both std and SS versions) that came with the wood grain overlay and that they came from the LA plant.

I remember an original owner Daytona Yellow SS some 20 plus years ago.

Greg
Click to expand...
Do you have anything to back that up? I dont believe it for a second.
Ron
 
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#15 ·
Nope Ron I don't.

I could go back through my old issues of NCOA as I recall there was some info published there.

The 2 or 3 I have seen over the last 20 plus years have all come from Cali. So...I would tend to believe it could have happened. This was the same plant that was making Montes, Wagons, etc.

Dane is the only one I have seen with a build sheet, that in it's self should offer the possiblity.

And it's cool, I respect your opinion. :)
 
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Discussion starter · #16 ·
Greg,

My build sheet only authenticates the fact that the El was delivered with gauges (and therefore not the sweep dash), but it isn't necessiarly so that the woodgrain insert was shipped from the factory. The second owner claims it was there when he bought the car (which was 1985) and knew the guy he bought it from and didn't think he would go through the work to put it on. At any rate, the debate continues, but what I was trying to confirm was that the car was shipped from the factory with a non-sweep dash and based on the U14 code this seems to be the case. At some point I'll pull the dash and see if this was done after-the-fact.

Sorry if this caused a stir - that wasn't my intent.

Dane
 
#18 ·
dabeld said:
Stacy,

That's where it was, what was left of it. Thankfully the top of it is basically complete so I can confirm it matches the body number/VIN number, but the bottom has a fair amount missing. I spent a weekend piecing it back together.

I've looked behind the door panels with no luck, perhaps another buld sheet is under the carpet, or in the buckets.

Dane
Click to expand...
The same is with BOTH of my build sheets from my cars. The top was fine and the bottom was in a thousand little peices. I put it all together but I am still thinking on how I want to seal it together.
 
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Discussion starter · #19 ·
I used a piece of non-acid mat board and also a glue stick for archival purposes then set them in place and framed it so it's all protected. I'm sure there are bettwe ways, but when you have a number of pieces that are as small as a BB and the paper is brittle it allowed me to place them well. Good luck!

Dane
 
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