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I Found It (the build sheet)!!

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AK_71_454SS

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Discussion starter · #1 ·
I purchased a 1971 Chevelle in Fairbanks, Alaska this last summer. I then joined Team Chevelle and have been enjoying reading the wealth of information posted here by good folks that share their love for these vehicles. I read about how one can find the original build sheet for the car in various places (in the backs of seats, on top of the gas tank, etc.) and I set out to find mine. I looked everywhere but could not find it and finally forgot about it. Tonight I was pulling out the center console in preparation for replacing the carpet and to my surprise, right there under the console, underneath the factory sound deadening material, was a piece of paper that turned out to be the long sought after build sheet! I had never heard of anyone finding one in this location. I can now say that the car is in fact a true SS 454 (LS5). Unfortunately, the original engine is long gone...replaced by a 396, but still wearing the SS 454 badges. What a great Christmas gift!

Question #1: What are some good resources for example build sheets that explain the various fields and what they mean.

Question #2: What are the chances of locating a 454 big block with the correct casting number of 3963512?

Thanks in advance for your comments. Sorry for the protracted posting....
Brad
 
#2 ·
you are very fortunate. i've owned probably 10 cars from the '68-'72 era and have never found a build sheet.
finding a correct block casting shouldn't be too hard. i imagine that the casting is the same for all passenger cars with a 454 which would include impala and monte carlo. plus, they made that casting for 6 years. i would look for one that is dated correctly for your car. of course, in alaska, the pickin's will be slim. check ebay, classifieds on this site, hemmings, etc... you'll find one eventually.
good luck.
 
Discussion starter · #6 ·
Glennslanaker: I will definitely be on the look out for a "correct" 454 engine. In the meantime, I may overhaul the 396 that is in there currently. It was burning over a quart an hour driving back from Fairbanks. We made it, but after a week of cruising around Kenai the engine started knocking badly. So much so that I was afraid a rod was going to come out the side of the block. My two kids and I (daughter 17 and son who's 12) plan to pull the engine next week and see what needs to be done.

I've attached a photo of the build sheet. It's amazing that it is in as good a shape as it is. It took me over an hour to extract it from underneath a thick, rubberized sound deadener material. All of the important information is visible. The VIN number matches the VIN tag in the windshield.
 

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#7 ·
That sure is nice , as I am in the process of a complete restoration and have completely taken everything apart & no build sheet, so you should feel fortunate. I purchased this car in 1976 from the origonal owner and he was a middle aged family man with no intrest in modifications, so I know the history of mine. Its a shame there is no real way to authenticate a true SS in the 70 model year, like the old chevelles could in the VIN # I think it was something like all true SS cars had a "138" in their VIN # or something like that. As far as the correct casting # & date code on the block is concerned, I wouldn't get too carried away, once the "origonal" block is gone there can never be a "true matching #'s " car again as a authentic Matching #'s car is considered authentic only when the VIN #s on the block & tranny are verified as matching to the vehicle VIN.
 
#9 ·
Great you found your build sheet. I have a 71 Big Block Malibu and when restoring the interior I found two build sheets. One in the back upper part of the rear seat and one under the sound proofing behind the driver's seat. The one under the sound proofing confirmed that my car is a true big block Malibu (LS3). The one in the seat listed a Small Block 350 - when looking closer, I realized that build sheet was not even for my car - the vin was different. I guess going down the assembly line my car got another car's rear upper seat. So, I found 2 but only one was for my car. I later purchased a 71 SS 454 and found its build sheet also in the upper portion of the rear seat. So, there are a few that can still be found. Good luck to everyone looking. Michael
 
Discussion starter · #10 ·
Michael,
When you found the build sheet in the upper part of the rear seat, was it between the foam and the springs so that you could see it simply by turning the seat upside down? Or, did you have to remove the covering to find it? I checked underneath my back seat and all I found there was a squirrel's nest....
Thanks,
Brad
 
#11 · (Edited)
71SSBB said:
FWIW: To the best of my knowledge, no one has ever found or seen a 68 Chevelle build sheet since these cars were built.
Click to expand...
Hey Bill... are you being facetious or what? No disrespect, I consider you one of the most knowledgeable 68 guys here, but I have seen many 68 build sheets. Or at least what are purported to be original 68 build sheets. The one below was gleaned from a recent ebay ad for the car that goes with it. I have a partial build sheet from my 68SS, found in the headliner.
Sorry if I missed the joke.
 
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#12 ·
I had my car for about five years and decided to do a frame off restoration.The previous owner did not have any documents to go with the car except the title.I bought the car not knowing if it was actually an SS because it had all the base options (12 boltrear,large front and rear sway bars,frt disk brakes,11" clutch)and all I wanted was a 1970 4sp. While removing the interior my build sheet was attached to the back of the drivers door interior panel.It was in great shape with only one water stain.I have heard of them being found in top of the gas tank,behind the rear seat,under console's and bucket seat back's but never in door panel's.Can any one tell me how they decided at the factory were to place the build sheet or was it just up to the worker on the line?Also did anyone find one in another location?
By the way I was about to toss the door.I learned neve to get rid of any parts till the car is finished.
 
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#13 · (Edited)
Merlin said:
Hey Bill... are you being facetious or what? No disrespect, I consider you one of the most knowledgeable 68 guys here, but I have seen many 68 build sheets. Or at least what are purported to be original 68 build sheets. The one below was gleaned from a recent ebay ad for the car that goes with it. I have a partial build sheet from my 68SS, found in the headliner.
Sorry if I missed the joke.
Click to expand...
Sorry, I missed this. Was busy with Christmas.

What! Me joke about build sheets? Patrick ... What you have in your picture is an interior build sheet. Very common in 68's. I have the interior build sheet for my 68. Mine shows the console D-55, black bucket seats -A51 766, trans- M-20, etc.

When they were building the Fisher body, they would obviously have to know which seat mounts, console mounts, etc, to install. I don't think of this as a build sheet, although I guess you could make an argument that it is a BS for a 68. I think of build sheets as showing the components of the entire construction of the car on the final assembly line, like we have all seen for the 69 thru 72's. I have still never seen a full assembly line build sheet for a 68 Chevelle. If someone wants to convince me, that I have the build sheet for my 68, I go for it. Heres a shot of mine.
Image
 
#14 ·
OK Bill, I stand corrected. I have all along been making the assumption, that the format for the build sheet for a 68 was simply different from those seen in 69 through 72. It makes sense now, that what I have been looking at is a different beast all together. Thanks for the explanation.
Just when I think I've heard all there is to know about these cars, along comes more info. Thankfully, I'll never be too old to learn!
 
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#15 ·
To take this subject a little further, my 68 interior sheet shows:
009923 - is the body no. which corresponds with the body no. on the trim tag.


model code (13837)
exterior paint/roof code (H2 Grecian, black vinyl top)
interior color (black)
glass (A01 tinted all windows)

When building the Fisher body they had to know what:
1) body they were building (2 door coupe)
2) roof/paint (pins for vinyl moldings H2)
3) bucket seat (tracks 766)
4) console (brackets D55)
5) trans hump (M20)
 
#18 · (Edited)
Hey Bill,
This business with 68 Build Sheets or Interior Sheets is interesting. Quick question for you. On the picture you posted earlier, what are the headings for the three boxes I have circled below? I cannot quite make them out.
Thanks for your input...
Patrick
 
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#19 ·
Merlin said:
Hey Bill,
This business with 68 Build Sheets or Interior Sheets is interesting. Quick question for you. On the picture you posted earlier, what are the headings for the three boxes I have circled below? I cannot quite make them out.
Thanks for your input...
Patrick
Click to expand...
The first box you circled is: SEQ./MO/DAY
The second box you circled is: PLT OPT. 18
The third box you circled is: COPO-F & SO
 
Discussion starter · #20 ·
freshayr said:
AK 71...where was your car built?
Click to expand...
My car was built in Baltimore. I've included some photos of the Fisher data plate, the VIN plate, and a composite photo showing several shots of the car. Enjoy!
Brad
 

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AK_71_454SS
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