Need help deciphering grease pencil marks

[eric8]

Going to detail my engine bay so I'd like to preserve all the factory markings. Apparently, the guy who wrote the numbers on my truck was having a bad day, was a sloppy writer, didn't give a s#it, or all of the above, because I can't make heads or tails of his doodling. The truck in question is a 1972 C10 Deluxe. First pic is on the drivers side upper firewall area. Looks like "740 BLK" or "940 BLK". It gets a little more confusing on the passenger side forward inner fender (just outboard of the battery box. Is it "43"? "413"? Has he marked through the number "1"? Maybe changed the 3 to a 1? What do these #s mean?

[tommys72]

I see no pics?

[eric8]

Sorry, this one is the first pic by the firewall area.

[tommys72]

One of these smarter members can tell you what the mean. Trim levels and paint codes and whatnot. I think it looks like 940 and 43. The one looks scribbled out

[Tinkermc]

could b inspection numbers from the employee that did the inspection.

[71 super]

Best way to check numbers is as you pull it apart they should show up at other locations. In the case of my 68 they were on insides of both fenders (820) and head gate front. I left them in place. The first number looks to be 43 by a distracted worker, the other is likely the paint code. Check it against the spid. Is truck a two tone black and white, with white top only? My 71 black and white deluxe two tone is code 460

[Keith Seymore]

Hard to say on that "43" or "413" in this case.

In their defense it is kinda hard to write on the moving vehicle as it is going by. I have a hard time writing on a stationary chalk board because of its vertical surface.

Usually the numbers relate to option content on the vehicle (paint colors or trim levels, for example) and are a heads up to downstream workers.

Numbers are also often the general assembly build sequence number. This is an attempt to keep the components conveyed to the main line from remote locations in order (or to verify that they remain in order). Examples would be radiator support, hood, fenders, rear axle, front axle (or front suspension assembly) and tire/wheels. Typically the last two or three digits are written of the full GA sequence number (ie, the full number might be "123456" but the operator would write "56" or "456" on the components).

My own truck was number "87", as discovered on the hood, radiator support and grille.

Supervisors and inspectors do not normally write on the vehicle itself to indicate their approval (although I have seens some ink stamps indicating a "pass"). They use the Inspection Ticket (bundle of paper tickets) and either circle the offending item or buy off on the repair with their coded hole punch.

Lastly - for Fremont builds: those guys practiced some straight up graffiti. These are the most personal marks I've seen in 35 years at GM assembly and 50 years in the hobby - other than a lady named "Linda" who signed several years of glovebox doors on Pontiac F cars:

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...d.php?t=607102

K