How to decode build date of a carb?

[resq302]

I am looking at getting a correctly dated carb for my car.  The carb is a Carter AVS 4615 SA model and the date code is 1C9.  Am I correct in assuming that the build date of the carb is the first week in Marchof 1969?

[hemigeno]

I don't know that I've ever seen a number stamped in front of the letter like that.

Like you said, C9 means March of '69.  That's all the date coding that I normally see, just a letter for the month and a single digit for the year.  I think I would just ignore the "1" and assume that your carb is a March '69 dated 383HP 4bbl.

Here's a picture of my carb's stamping:

[resq302]

That is what threw me off as well.  I have always seen a date code on carbs as being a two letter/number combo.  Unless it stands for which shift made the carb?

[hemigeno]

Incidentally, the "A" suffix to the model number has to do with mid-year revisions to the carburetor model.  Each time they made one or more revisions to a carburetor from its initial configuration, they added a suffix.  From whatever point that they made the change, all carburetors made after that will have the latest suffix stamped on them.

Dick Katter told me that the 4617S ('69 440 w/ manual trans) carburetors changed over to 4617SA sometime in January of 1969, since the A9-dated carburetors he had on his shelf were marked SA, whereas all his 1968-dated carbs only had the "S".  This revision included several changes, such as adding adjustable idle mixture screws, etc.  Very rarely, they would have a second batch of revisions to the carburetor model, which would be denoted by an "SB" suffix.  I don't know that there are too many models that they did that with, but Mr. Katter said it was definitely possible.

I've had lots of people tell me that the "S" suffix meant it was a factory-installed carb, and "SA" meant an over-the-counter replacement.  That's not true, since every carb that Carter made after a revision was incorporated would be stamped the same way.  I just never knew those details until I spent some time talking with an expert (Mr. Katter).

Just thought I'd throw those details out there...

Geno

[hemigeno]

That is what threw me off as well.  I have always seen a date code on carbs as being a two letter/number combo.  Unless it stands for which shift made the carb?

More than likely, it was just a mis-stamped carb.  They used a dial-type die stamper, and it probably had a set of numbers/characters before the month letter.  My guess is that the line worker just didn't have that character space set to "blank".  I've never seen a shift noted on a carburetor before, but it's at least possible.  If that were the case, I think they would have noted that on more carburetors than just yours.

Interesting though.

[resq302]

Geno,

I remember reading what you said about the "S" vs. "SA" in the Winged Warriors newsletter a couple months ago.  Interesting material.  Since my car was built in May of 69, it would have to have the SA as opposed to the current S model on my car.  I also found out what the difference in revision was between the two models.  The "S" model had a left handed mixture screw just above dead center on the front of the carb with the lower two mixture screws blocked off.  The SA has the left handed mixture screw blocked off with the loewr two being in place.  I guess the could get a better fine tune mixture and emissions with the lower ones and being two instead of one.

I always look forward to getting the new monthly issue of the WW/NBOA newsletter.  Lots of info in there frm David Patik and other people.

[hemigeno]

David Patik probably cringes when he gets an email from me...  He's the best, though, when it comes to research and trying to figure things out about these cars.

[resq302]

I agree, I sent my voltage regulator cover down to them to have redone.  They do AWESOME work.

[mysil bergsprekken]

Geno,

I remember reading what you said about the "S" vs. "SA" in the Winged Warriors newsletter a couple months ago.  Interesting material.  Since my car was built in May of 69, it would have to have the SA as opposed to the current S model on my car.  I also found out what the difference in revision was between the two models.  The "S" model had a left handed mixture screw just above dead center on the front of the carb with the lower two mixture screws blocked off.  The SA has the left handed mixture screw blocked off with the loewr two being in place.  I guess the could get a better fine tune mixture and emissions with the lower ones and being two instead of one.

I always look forward to getting the new monthly issue of the WW/NBOA newsletter.  Lots of info in there frm David Patik and other people.

Just what I wanted to know, interesting info. Thanks for posting.