AMC Date Codes

 Incomplete list.

AMC date codes are sometimes confusing and contradictory. 

Day/ Year: 2139 213th day of 69
Week/year: 319 31st week of 69
Month/year: 89 Aug 69
Day/Month/yr: 8 1 69 8 Jan 1969
Yr/Qtr: 1969-3 69 3rd quarter
Qtr/year: 2/70 Second quarter 1970
Month/Day: 8 1 Aug 1st
Month /day/year 1 8 9 Jan 8, 1969

5 digit parts coding: 003-9-2 Jan 3 1969 2nd shift 5 digit parts
coding: 1-30-69 Jan 30, 1969
Month/ Week/ Year: 1 A 9 January 1st week 1969
Month/ Day/Year: A02J January 2, 1969
Month/ Day / Year /shift : L 12 A C December 12, 1970 3rd shift


Most companies didn't use "I" as it was confused with "1", but some did.
Eaton used "I"

Rubber hoses: heater, power steering, pcv:
They are usually coded EB 02090. Which decodes to Gates , Feb 9,
1970.

Usually a 5 digit code is Month, Day, Year,
I have found the following manufacturer codes on hoses to be as
follows:
AU= Good Year
AY= Firestone
EB= Gates
AO= ?

1968s had a very strange upper radiator hose on it as OE- look in the
68 manual. It is a coarse waffle like pattern.

Original PCV hose has yellow inking on it.

OE heater hoses have the date code as above, and the AMC PN
on them. Some have several PNs inked on the same size 68-9 issue heater
hose and none of the PNs is in the 68-70 AMX/Javelin parts manual. For
whatever reason, AMC changed the part number at least 3 times for a 5/8"?
hose.

Not all high pressure PS hoses have date codes that follow the above
pattern. Some I can't figure out. The original high pressure PS hose had a
silver cad thingy clamped in the middle of the hose. It appears to serve no
purpose but may be a reinforcement or damper.

The heater water valves sometimes have a partial code stamped on the
top. I have not seen a readable date code on one yet, but it may exist.
However, the OE heater valve was silver zinc, had the patent # on the top,
and were assembled slightly different from the later ones. Later AMC ones
were silver zinc and assembled different and most now are zinc dichromate,
aka gold zinc.

Wiper motor- not sure. 68-70 was prestolite, gold zinc body and mtg
plate. Silver zinc end plate for brushes. Most had codes like A11, Z11,
etc. Some have no codes. I haven't figured this out.

The flex fans have a date code. It is on the portion near the hub
that's "folded" over the blade- near the rivets. It is not on the blade.
This will have a code like L67. Readable when installed. Also has a PN,
but not the AMC PN; I assume it's the vendor's PN. Later flex fans had each
blade area date coded, and use a much bigger font. Early fans only have 1
code. OE flex fans had a copper plating put on the metal and were then
paint dipped, not sprayed, at the factory.
Original Wittek Tower clamps had 3/69 for 3rd quarter 1969, etc. Side
screw clamps for the heater hoses had a #7 on them, but no date code. Side
screw clamps for the low pressure PS hose had a "2" on them. Current Wittek
clamps don't have the "7" or "2"

The tilt steering columns had a date stamped into one of the shrouds.
It is inside the car. 050 8= 50th day of 1968. Not sure if this is visible
when installed, may be on the 'top" side, under the dash. the steering
shaft that goes to the box is natural metal. The collapsible housing
portion is universal or semi gloss black. The clamp for the spring thingy
(look in the parts metal) is dark natural metal- heated look. This is the
part that looks like a clamp for a bicycle's seat post. The screw for this
is black phosphate and the nut is natural metal, not plated.

Steering box has a casting date on the box, a machining date on the
box
under the alum cover, and an assembly date on the alum cover. All follow
the
312 8= 312th day of 1968 formula, except the casting date may not have a
year. The machining date is not easily visible as the
alum cover blocks most of it. Keep in mind all the machined surfaces should
be shiny metal on a restored box; they should not be painted with cast iron
paint. The best method is to disassemble the entire box, sand blast it,
gray phosphate it, then freshen the machined surfaces.

The pitman arms with the "AM" script have some sort of
codes on them. I have not made any sense out of them, they're all over the
map. Some have letters, some numbers, etc. All are visible on the bottom
of the car. No provision for a grease fitting on the OE pitman arm. Top of
pitman arm has a yellow or blue paint daub on it that's near the area where
it connect to the center link.

Original outer tie rod ends are always on ebay. No grease
fitting provision, very distinctive looking.

Original ball joints are riveted on with 2 rivets, not
bolted. Screw in plugs where grease fittings go. Later replacement lower
control arms are a little different where the ball joints attach. They
still use rivets, some slight differences.

Original inner tie rods also had the screw in grease
plugs. Inners were not very distinctive looking.

The alternator date code is inked on the rear of the alt,
in the center circle- the rear bearing would be behind this mark. Keep in
mind you also need the correct model number on the tag.

The Eaton PS pump codes make no sense. The
codes on the plugs do not decode correctly using the conventional info
above. I've seen 4-5 on original cars and they always seem to be off a
year. The cast iron body was not painted black but was a dark natural cast
iron look.

Radio date code is usually stamped, with ink, on the side.

Horns: Most have FoMoCo stamped on them. Later models are
made by Spartan brand. Can't remember how the horns
Code is stamped in and visible from the front.

Parking brake is stamped on the backside of the lever arm.
Probably will have to be removed from the car to read it.

Proportioning valve: 060 8= 60th day of 1968. Also has a
"KH" for Kelsey Hays, and an "R". Visible when installed if not
undercoated. Bracket and bolt "plug" on valve are gold zinc.

Starter solenoid has the AMC PN on the top- same as in the
parts manual. Bottom has a faint date code stamped in following one of the
above standards. Original solenoid was silver zinc, 70-71+ was gold zinc.
Has a red oxide paint daub on the top of the bracket.

Shocks should say "Gabriel", "made in Canada", have the
AMC PN, then T8AD or similar. The "T" is believed to be a in house letter.
8=1968, A= January, D= 4th week ect.
The part numbers start with 317 or 318 or 319 and are not in the "68/70AMX
and Javelin parts manual". The manual lists later numbers that were not
stamped on the original shocks. They also had paint inspection dabs on
them. Shocks are nearly gloss black, not chassis black. All of the OE
68-9 AMX shocks I've seen were made in Canada, but there is a possibility
that some were not.
Some OE 68 shocks said "American Motors" on them, although have seen
originals that did not feature this. The 812xxxxx PNs started after 1970.
Dealer replacement shocks were a reddish color.

Water pumps: They have a 7 digit AMC casting number in
them. It is very faint and is read upside down as installed. Some have
casting date? near the lower hose outlet, unknown what this means.

Leaf springs: 121 8 convention. 68-9 with HD suspension
had a
"69" ID number on them- this is in the service manual. The code is near, or
under, the plate that the shocks mount to and the U bolts go thru. The
front spring eye should have a couple of red or orange paint stripes on
them- they are not visible when installed. Easy to look for feature is the
OE leafs had the anti-squeak pads with the oval shaped protrusions that
stuck thru the leafs.

Spring shackles are bare, natural, metal as are the rear
shock's upper brackets that attach the shocks to the body.

Exhaust manifolds: are A 12 8 for Jan 12 1968, or 1 12 8
for Jan 12, 1968. I have a matched set, one has "A" for January, one has
"1". Not visible unless removed from engine.

Cylinder heads; remove valve cover: 1 30 for Jan 30th. I
believe there may be an "8" for 1968 cast somewhere else under the valve
cover.
Engine: Casting number on rear of block near bellhousing.
Also had a large "68" under intake manifold. Do not remember if it has easy
to decode date.

Distributor marked around ring; 1968-69:290 2V-1111106: 290 4V=1111198; 343 4V 1968=1111191
343 4V 1969=1111948; 390=1111473; 1970 304 AT=1112018; 304 standard=1111988; 
360 2V=1111988; 360 4V=1111987; 390 4V early=1111473; 390 4V late=1111948

Bellhousing: 317 or 318? casting number. Later parts
have different casting number. Bellhousing is natural aluminum except for
2-3 inches next to the engine where it is engine color- bellhousing was
assembled to engine when it was painted.

Hood: 8 4 2; 1968 April 2nd. Behind stainless trim. I'm
not sure if that's the convention used...Original 68-9 hoods had fine thread
studs that held it to the hood hinges.

Timing cover; easy to look for detail: R10-A10 scale.
Later ones were 0-A20. Casting date is inside cover, must remove to see.

Oil filter adapter: has a faint 67 68 in a circle on
the outside. Later adapters were a very different shape to smooth out the
flow. Even 1971? was very slightly different than 68-9, but later was very
different.

The 4spd trans also has an AMC steel PN tag on one of the
bolts. RH side on trans has a 3"? long white and also a red stripe. LH
side had a yellow paint daub on the side cover.

Painted steel wheels were date coded near the valve stem.
Do not recall is this continued into later years.

68-9 space saver spares were 7.35X14. 70's were E70X14

68-9 blinker bulbs in the bumper were painted yellow.
They were *not* amber glass. OE lenses have only *one* line of SAE text. I
have a NOS set in the AM script bag that has 2 lines of text so this was
changed quickly. Common ones today have three lines.

Fender side markers have either black or white tape that
hides the screws. Can't remember which is OE correct offhand, but only one
is. I think white is correct...

Seat belts are marked with quarter and year on the tags

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