Nope, no bogus woodgrain on a real SS. No codes to be found because it didn't exist on the SS. Is your car built in Atlanta? Most Atlanta built LS5 cars DID come with a 5000 redline tach, it would be coded as 938 on the build sheet.

 

We all have dreams. No wood grain dashes in Chevelles.
Ron

 

Atlanta put 5000 red line tachs in their LS5 cars for some reason, probably a programming error. Oddly, the L34 still got the 5500 red line units.

It's been discussed here several times with claims of a wood grain dash. Some say it's possible a MC dash was installed to keep the line moving. Back in April, Rick_Nelson said he talked to an owner of a 350 Malibu with the wood grain dash and owner claimed to have a build sheet to show the dash. I never heard back on just what on the build sheet is suppose to show that; what block and what code.

Edit: I don't get the dash tag relevance on the thread's subject line.

 

Some say it's possible a MC dash was installed to keep the line moving.

I don't buy that. The dash was not made until the car was released onto the final assembly line. So it was built for each specific car, they did not have a storage pile of them to pull from any many assume.

It was near impossible to install the wrong dash by mistake so forget about that idea, too many other variables to content like wrong electrical connections, etc.

To get a Monte Carlo dash put into a Chevelle would have required F&SO approval, in other words, a COPO! There have been hints that there are legit cars with them but no one have ever provided the documentation to back it up. If it were so, you would think a few would surface with the doc's.

 

I don't buy that. The dash was not made until the car was released onto the final assembly line. So it was built for each specific car, they did not have a storage pile of them to pull from any many assume.

Certainly not avocating or promoting the idea of a MC dash and it's correct the dash was made for a specific car's requirements such as gauges/no gauges, AC or no AC, gear selection indicator or not, etc. but Chevelles and MCs were built on the same lines.

It was near impossible to install the wrong dash by mistake so forget about that idea, too many other variables to content like wrong electrical connections, etc.

I would think the 'blank' dash assemblies would have been started at the same station be they a black SS or wood grain MC blank. From that blank dash face, option-for-option, aren't the clusters and wiring harnesses the same between the two? I only have one MC build sheet (Van Nuys) and it's a LS3/M40/AC car. Block #65 (IP harness) shows the same BR code that appears on many SS Chevelles.

To get a Monte Carlo dash put into a Chevelle would have required F&SO approval, in other words, a COPO! There have been hints that there are legit cars with them but no one have ever provided the documentation to back it up. If it were so, you would think a few would surface with the doc's.

If one were trying to order one that way, I agree. Wish Rick_Nelson would let us know what he found out about the 350 car and just what on the build sheet 'proves' it's a MC-style dash. Unfortunately we'll never know all the stories of factory problems or what's really happened to these cars over the past 38 years.

Q: Is it possible?
A: Was anything not possible?

Q: Did it happen with this car?
A: Law of probability says no.

But then I've seen a 70 Malibu purchased at an estate sale with the round gauge pod dash but no gauges; identical to a base SS dash. I always thought to get the round pod dash in a Malibu, one had to order the U14 gauge package.

 

Maybe the dash has been replaced and/or someone added the M/C wood grain.

 

wow some strong opinions. You know with the labor strikes at the time I'd have to say the probability is there for this. The fact that I have seen two now and both are stock I more of a believer than I was.

And yes this was an Atlanta car BOX 72 is 938 not 985

 

ALL assembly components were pre-scheduled to arrive at the final assembly point in a JIT type operation - parts were there when needed and options (including engine assemblies) coded only for the vehicle by broadcast sheets printed for that vehicle - period. No weird' spares were sitting around the plant to be installed by accident ...
If a particular drive-train, RPO or other major part for a given vehicle was not available, then final assembly was scheduled for a production period when it would be available.


Btw-While Montes' were part of the Chevelle lineup, NONE were built at Atlanta assembly.

1970-72 Monte Carlo plants
Baltimore
Flint
Leeds 71up
Los Angeles

 

If a particular drive-train, RPO or other major part for a given vehicle was not available, then final assembly was scheduled for a production period when it would be available.


Btw-While Montes' were part of the Chevelle lineup, NONE were built at Atlanta assembly.

1970-72 Monte Carlo plants
Baltimore
Flint
Leeds 71up
Los Angeles

Guess that blows all kinds of holes in theories, eh??
And at least with the Camaro plants, if an odd option had not arrived at the assembly plant for some reason, there was a holding area that unassembled bodies could be staged at for a few days until all the parts were there to put them together. If there was something really odd ordered, it may even delay the initial body build so the car would not take up needed space.

 

There you go, didn't double-check MC plants for 70. :wacko: