Hey guys can anybody help with telling me what these numbers/letters mean on the side cover of the th350 in my 71 GS. 71 MA 143 My guess is 71 is the year but what do the others mean THANKS John
your guess is right, 71 is the year built. MA stands for th350/th350c (c meaning lock up style torque converter) 143 means the tranny was built on the 143rd day of the year there should either be a D or a N below those numbers meaning either the day shift or the night shift hope this helps.:beer
The engines have code numbers and so do the trans, used by GM internally. They have nothing to do with a date, and give you no information about the trans. You will see the same code on the p-o-p if you have it. Thats all I going to say regarding them.:TU:
MA = M38 3 speed auto (TH350) used when G91 or G92 is specified with M38. Optional trans. on Sportwagon & GS350. G91= performance axle with posi.. G92 = rear axle performance ratio. Not sure on what the exact difference was, perhaps valve body, clutches??
Then EXPLAIN how some codes go beyond 365, and I 've seen over 544!!!:bglasses: I've seen many cars built in the BEGINNING of the model year (August, September, etc) with codes 005 to 150 with original trans (vin stamped on), so how could that be? The service books were all written after the cars were built, and that is just another fine example of a typical mistake.:kodak: What is the build date of the car on the body plate? Chances are the car was completed before the trans was made.:shock: :sleep:
on early th350s built by buick the number is stamped on the accumulator cover. for example, 71 MA 143 D or N 71=model year MA=model type 143=day of year built D or N=day or night shift on later th350s built by buick, the numbers are stamped in the governor cover. for example, 7 KE 082 D 80 7=id number, 78-81 models only. (5= 1978, 6= 1979, 7= 1980, 8= 1981) not on all models however KE=model type 082=day of year built D=day shift 80=last two digits of production year on 82 and later th350s built by buick, the tranny code is stamped into a plate thats attached to the right side of the transmission case, for example 10 KY 325 N 82 10=model year (9=1982, 10=1983, 11=1984, 12=1985, 13=1986, 14=1987) KY=model type 325=day of year built N=night shift 82=year built i got all this info out of my service manual that covers the th200-4r, th350, th400, and th700r4. service manuals dont lie......o No:
Still wrong. Look in your service manual on the vin stamp location on the blocks 350 & 455 blocks. Then look in the assembly manual, and notice that all the 71 blocks are stamped according the assembly manual. Assembly manuals come 1st, service manuals are supplied AFTER the cars built. Go back to the 71 in question with the 143. Get the Fisher Body date of the plate (a # 1 thru 12 followed by a letter) and post it, then I will try to prove it wrong.:bla: :idea2: That is assuming the trans came with that car (meaning the vin on the trans matches the one on the body).
I guess that GM (generally mezmorized) likes to confuse the confused. Good thing I don't have one of them there 350s!ou: As Leif Garrett says: IT DON'T GET NO DUMBER THAN THIS!
Hey Had a thought, i have another car here that i know is numbers matching. I will get the numbers/build date etc. off that car to see if the theory is correct. This car is a 72 Olds Cutlass. I know not a Buick but it would think it would prove or disprove the ideas. Will this work? John
Yeah Galactic days, I think you solved it!:laugh: Don't waist your time on the Olds, because all the divisions were STILL separate. But more importantly, I have a matching numbers 71 (early model year). Built 09A (1st week of September 1970), trans is MA 050, block is TD-012. The casting date on the block is G-2 (July 2), heads are G-1 and G-3 with the intake at F-31. So how could this be? Casting made in July, car assembled in September, but the trans and engine were assembled Feb or January??? If that is true, then the 71 block would have had to be casted in July of 69, asm in Jan 70, and installed in Sept 70.:laugh: o No: :laugh: :3gears:
Something just doesn't fit . I understand what you are saying, but those numbers don't jive. I understand you are relutant to give the info. But to prove your point i think we need an explanation on the Tranny 050 and motor 012. If they are not day build dates then what?
Not a bad way to start a day, by confusion! This thread is in outer space, and yes gallactic is the G in GM. Gallactic Morons!:TU:
Wasn't that my claim? They are not day build dates!!! And my proof clearly shows they are not. They are part of the factory two letter code, and not the day of assembly. They tell you no meaningful info about the specific trans or engine, if you believe they are assembly days, then good for you. The bottom line is it doesn't matter what they meant to Buick.:beer
