[vflorio]

1. I found this stamping in a few places on the fender aprons 8 12 2D what does it mean?

2. I bought the rebuild kit for my door hinges. The pins seem to be about an inch or so too long. Why? Should I cut them to size?

 

[vflorio]

I forgot, the car is a 65 coupe.

 

[JohnnyK]

Dunno about the first..

Yes, install them, then cut them.

 

[snugs]

good chance its the date it was made the dies that stamp out the parts have date stamps in them that are suppose to be changed daily and on each shift this is the way its been for the last 16 years at least. I worked as a diemaker for fords until I was retired. Lots of times they don't get put in or changed regularly if the bosses are pushing to keep making parts August 12th 2 shift d possibly a part code thats my guess

 

[2c1965]

The d is the plant code.

 

[Hemikiller]

8 12: stamping date

2d: shift & plant code

 

[Tonys65Pony]

Hemikiller is right!

 

[Mustangerbob1]

Add on to Hemikiller, the first number is NOT the year, like so many part numbers. It is more of a tracking/QC type number, so if they had a bad lot, etc., the parts can be found and dispositioned, etc. You will see the same type numbers on intakes, etc, only it is a year month day arrangement.

Now, if you want to get fancy, seeing how you have a 8 12 (August 12) how does that compare with the build date of your car. Most cars that have original fenders, that I have seen, the stamping date is only a few days before the build date, and the stampings are normally pretty close together, like a car with a build date of August 22 might have a 8 12 2D and a 8 13 1D fenders. Compare these stamps to some of the stamped parts that normally don't get changed, like the rear fender aprons, etc.

 

[vflorio]

Thanks for the info. I will check other parts for date stamps. I will keep you updated.