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Rocker Panel stamping numbers -- unsolved "W6" & date mysteries ( 69 Conv. )
Here's the deal. We are working on a video about "matching numbers" and also getting into the meaning of date codes and part numbers and tags and so on. One slight mystery we're trying to solve has to do with the stampings on the undersides of the rocker panels.
Using Don's 69 CJ convertible as an example, here are the numbers.
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We have a C9WB3 part number which is fairly self explanatory. 1969 Cougar specific, B probably referring to it being a body part.
Also there is a date of 9 20 D2 (Sept. 20, presumably 1968, Dearborn 2nd shift)
(The car itself was assembled in March '69)
The 76 means convertible Cougar.
And the W6 means...........? We don't know.
Some additional research:
I went to the wrecking yard today to investigate the two '69 convertibles we have. Unfortunately neither had door tags because Scott has a door tag fetish, but we can get a rough idea of the dates from the VIN sequential numbers.
First off, Don's car for a starting point:
9F94R557107 (sched. build date 3/19/69, actual date 3/24)
Rocker date stamp 9 20 D2
-Now the other two-
9F94S557420 (pretty close to Don's!)
Rocker date stamp 8 2 D2 (what the? a month and a half earlier, for a later car?)
Also, there is no W6 stamp on this one.
9F92H516006 (significantly earlier)
Rocker date stamp 9 19 D2 (one day before Don's car??)
And on this one there IS a W6 stamp.
From this data, we infer that, since there weren't a ton of 69 convertibles, they did limited runs of body parts, and they must have sat around for several months before being used. Also the W6 must have appeared sometime between August and September '68. Another observation -- they are all D2. Coincidence, or...? Also, the D is always backwards, at least from this sampling.
Here's the deal. We are working on a video about "matching numbers" and also getting into the meaning of date codes and part numbers and tags and so on. One slight mystery we're trying to solve has to do with the stampings on the undersides of the rocker panels.
Using Don's 69 CJ convertible as an example, here are the numbers.
We have a C9WB3 part number which is fairly self explanatory. 1969 Cougar specific, B probably referring to it being a body part.
Also there is a date of 9 20 D2 (Sept. 20, presumably 1968, Dearborn 2nd shift)
(The car itself was assembled in March '69)
The 76 means convertible Cougar.
And the W6 means...........? We don't know.
Some additional research:
I went to the wrecking yard today to investigate the two '69 convertibles we have. Unfortunately neither had door tags because Scott has a door tag fetish, but we can get a rough idea of the dates from the VIN sequential numbers.
First off, Don's car for a starting point:
9F94R557107 (sched. build date 3/19/69, actual date 3/24)
Rocker date stamp 9 20 D2
-Now the other two-
9F94S557420 (pretty close to Don's!)
Rocker date stamp 8 2 D2 (what the? a month and a half earlier, for a later car?)
Also, there is no W6 stamp on this one.
9F92H516006 (significantly earlier)
Rocker date stamp 9 19 D2 (one day before Don's car??)
And on this one there IS a W6 stamp.
From this data, we infer that, since there weren't a ton of 69 convertibles, they did limited runs of body parts, and they must have sat around for several months before being used. Also the W6 must have appeared sometime between August and September '68. Another observation -- they are all D2. Coincidence, or...? Also, the D is always backwards, at least from this sampling.
