1973 454 Malibu Build Sheet - Paul Mundy

by jpowen49 Thu Dec 07, 2023 8:22 pm

It`s good that you found it. Where was it located ?

by Keith Seymore Fri Dec 08, 2023 10:55 am

Thank you for posting that.

I've only found one build sheet in any of my collector cars (and not my Chevelle).

K

by Keith Seymore Thu Dec 21, 2023 4:02 pm

Did you notice it says "SPEC PAINT/COPO" on the right hand side?

K

by zucchi Fri Dec 22, 2023 9:10 am

Keith Seymore wrote:I've only found one build sheet in any of my collector cars (and not my Chevelle).

Mine was on the inside of the passenger door panel…

1973 454 Malibu Build Sheet - Paul Mundy Img_2027

by Keith Seymore Fri Dec 22, 2023 9:34 am

zucchi wrote:
Keith Seymore wrote:I've only found one build sheet in any of my collector cars (and not my Chevelle).
Mine was on the inside of the passenger door panel…

You are very fortunate (congratulations, btw!).

I've had both doors apart, the seats apart, the carpet up, the quarter panel interior trim out, and the fuel tank replaced and no build sheet.

About the only places I haven't checked yet are behind the headliner (coming soon), behind the A pillar trim, and under the dash pad (not happening ever).

It's pretty important to me because Dad had always maintained he ordered the car with the Police package but when I got the build information through GM of Canada it didn't say anything about that.

I'm beginning to think Oshawa just told him that to shut him up (!).

K

by zucchi Fri Dec 22, 2023 10:26 am

It could be that each assembly plant had their own place where they stashed a copy of the build sheet. My car came from Fremont California. The door panel may have been their preferred stash point. I've heard some folks mention they found it on top of the fuel tank.

by Keith Seymore Fri Dec 22, 2023 12:07 pm

zucchi wrote:It could be that each assembly plant had their own place where they stashed a copy of the build sheet. My car came from Fremont California. The door panel may have been their preferred stash point. I've heard some folks mention they found it on top of the fuel tank.

Yes - it varied by assembly plant, but - no - not really "stashed" (and not really "a copy").

Build sheets were never intended to be left anywhere, as a boon for future historians. They were supposed to be thrown away at the end of the line just like all the other detritus: extra fasteners, inspection tickets, paper coffee cups, wrappers, love notes, letters to your bookie, etc.

There are/were several per vehicle. Each area that built up parts remotely and fed them to the main line in sequence would have their own build sheet. Ie, motor line, chassis line, cab shop, axle line, trim line, front end sheet metal, seat cushion room, tire/wheel bay, etc. in very slightly different formats.

Since they sometimes ended up getting built into the vehicle it was often easier to just leave them where they lay. That's why you find them stuck in the tar under the carpet, or with a screw shot through them, or built into the springs of the seat.

Cars today are still built with a piece of paper taped to the front.

1973 454 Malibu Build Sheet - Paul Mundy Attachment

1973 454 Malibu Build Sheet - Paul Mundy Attachment

by Keith Seymore Fri Dec 22, 2023 12:25 pm

This is the only one I've ever found: top of the fuel tank of my unrestored 5000 mile '65 GTO (built in Pontiac Michigan).

1973 454 Malibu Build Sheet - Paul Mundy Attachment

by Mcarlo77 Fri Dec 22, 2023 1:19 pm

I found two Build Sheets in my '77 Monte built in K.C. Both were attached to the inside of the fender and could only be seen by opening the doors and peering past the hinges. Took a putty knife and attached it to a stick to reach in and gently scrape them free of the spot of adhesive (about the size of a quarter) in the middle of each sheet. It was that or, remove the inner fender liners to access them. End result would have been the same, anyway.

My Laguna's Build Sheet (built in Fremont) was on top of the gas tank.

by Keith Seymore Fri Dec 22, 2023 4:22 pm

Mcarlo77 wrote:I found two Build Sheets in my '77 Monte built in K.C. Both were attached to the inside of the fender and could only be seen by opening the doors and peering past the hinges.

**Keith runs out to back garage**

Smile

by zucchi Fri Dec 22, 2023 4:55 pm

Mcarlo77 wrote:My Laguna's Build Sheet (built in Fremont) was on top of the gas tank.

Freemont

I haven't had the need to drop the tank. I wonder if my car has another build sheet?

by Mitchell Murphy Wed Dec 27, 2023 10:31 pm

On my 1973 Chevelle SS 454 4 speed car built the 5 the week of May, the build sheet was taped to the top of my gas tank. As a late produced car, GM put a 74 block in my car.

by Keith Seymore Fri Dec 29, 2023 10:18 am

Mitchell Murphy wrote:On my 1973 Chevelle SS 454 4 speed car built the 5 the week of May, the build sheet was taped to the top of my gas tank. As a late produced car, GM put a 74 block in my car.

Not trying to be argumentative - but May is not that late in the model year. July or August would be pretty late, as there would be (normally) a couple week shutdown and then start up in early September.

I ask these questions in sincerity, because I seek to understand:

a) How did you come to the conclusion it is a '74 block?

b) What RPO is the engine labeled? ie, - LS5, or LS4, or LS3?

c) How do you know it's the original motor?

d) What assembly plant was your car built in?

It appears the '73 Chevelle and the '74 Chevelle both received an LS4 optioned 454, although the '73 was rated 245hp and the '74 was rated 235hp.

Generally we could pull ahead "unmarketable" changes, things the customer wouldn't notice, if the timing worked out to be convenient at some non-model year breakpoint. Conversely we could not and would not pull ahead a change that was "marketable", that is something the customer would notice (a new grille, or front end appearance), or that we were hanging our hat on as new/improved, or that we could charge more money for.

Additionally - if a mistake was made and a customer got more than they paid for (like we accidentally added a trailer hitch) then that's ok. But if the customer does not get what they paid for (ie, they wanted a hitch, paid for it and didn't get it) then that is a Federal Trade Commission violation. GM would have to fix that specific car but would also be open to federal fines and penalties.

K

by Mitchell Murphy Fri Dec 29, 2023 10:26 am

Send me your address, and I will send you the information from the Chevelle Report.

by Keith Seymore Fri Dec 29, 2023 10:28 am

Mitchell Murphy wrote:Send me your address, and I will send you the information from the Chevelle Report.

Thank you -

K

by Zed06 Sat Dec 30, 2023 1:42 pm

Don’t forget to look within the seat, as well. Take off the hard back cover of bucket seats and look there. Behind or under the rear seat, as well. Under the trunk mat. Look in some of the most undisturbed areas. Behind 1/4 panel inside trim, too. The more obscure places would retain them over decades.

by bracketchev1221 Tue Jan 02, 2024 9:21 am

The car I wanted to find a build sheet in (my SS396) has none, but the car that I couldn't care less about (my 70 Malibu race car) had 3!!!! Being the SS was built in Canada I have a VIN break down from some company in Canada that states it was a Citrus Green SS 396/T400 car.

by Keith Seymore Tue Jan 02, 2024 12:32 pm

bracketchev1221 wrote: Being the SS was built in Canada I have a VIN break down from some company in Canada that states it was a Citrus Green SS 396/T400 car.

GM of Canada: https://www.vintagevehicleservices.com/

Since my car was built in Oshawa I have the build information from GM of Canada as well.

K

by bracketchev1221 Wed Jan 03, 2024 9:38 pm

Keith Seymore wrote:
bracketchev1221 wrote: Being the SS was built in Canada I have a VIN break down from some company in Canada that states it was a Citrus Green SS 396/T400 car.

GM of Canada: https://www.vintagevehicleservices.com/

Since my car was built in Oshawa I have the build information from GM of Canada as well.

K

Keith did they do anything special on your car to identify it as a big block car? On the 70 and being built in Canada, the code Z25/M40 is on the trim tag. U.S built cars did not have this but for code break down its Z25 is 396 engine and M40 was the t-400. Otherwise there is no way to identify a REAL 70 ss without the build sheet.

by Keith Seymore Thu Jan 04, 2024 12:27 pm

bracketchev1221 wrote:

Keith did they do anything special on your car to identify it as a big block car? On the 70 and being built in Canada, the code Z25/M40 is on the trim tag. U.S built cars did not have this but for code break down its Z25 is 396 engine and M40 was the t-400. Otherwise there is no way to identify a REAL 70 ss without the build sheet.

I'll have to check the cowl tag, but there was only one big block available in '74.

The invoice and window sticker specific LS4, which is the RPO for the 454, so one does not have to worry about making a distinction with a 396.

K

by bracketchev1221 Thu Jan 04, 2024 2:02 pm

Yes that would be correct, but in 70 there was no distinction between a small block or big block car on the VIN either in the US. The Z25 gave that clarification that it at least had a big block in the car. Otherwise, the VIN would be a v8 chevelle. I was just wondering if they clarify a big block for your car on the vin to distinguish from it other malibus.

by Mitchell Murphy Thu Jan 04, 2024 3:07 pm

In 1973, down to only one big block. That was the LS4. GM did offer the LS5 1970-72. The Y designation in the VIN for 1973, is the LS4.

by Keith Seymore Thu Jan 04, 2024 3:12 pm

bracketchev1221 wrote:Yes that would be correct, but in 70 there was no distinction between a small block or big block car on the VIN either in the US. The Z25 gave that clarification that it at least had a big block in the car. Otherwise, the VIN would be a v8 chevelle. I was just wondering if they clarify a big block for your car on the vin to distinguish from it other malibus.

Yes - the VIN has a character which denotes engine type.

Nothing on the cowl tag for either engine or trans options.

K

1973 454 Malibu Build Sheet - Paul Mundy Attachment

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1973 454 Malibu Build Sheet - Paul Mundy

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Re: 1973 454 Malibu Build Sheet - Paul Mundy

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