In AMC use, all three types of numbers look the same. I would put forth the proposition that casting, engineering, and part numbers are all the same thing; a "casting" number is the number that engineering assigned to the raw casting, and an "engineering" number is the number assigned to that part after it has been machined. The first part machined from a given casting may have an engineering number close to the casting number, but that subsequent variations may not. "Part" numbers in the corporate inventory system intended for service operations may be an assembly consisting of an "engineering" number and the package in which it is sold. Service parts would have been selected by the service parts operation from the factory bill of materials as items that need to be made available for service. There would be consolidation, especially in interior plastics, where only one color may have been available for repair. Parts of modules purchased by the factory as an assembly, such as a steering column, would be made available separately for servicing. Depending on the agreement with the OEM, purchased assemblies may or may not have an AMC "engineering" or "part" number on the part. Starters from Ford were typically stamped "AMERICAN MOTORS" with a number. CEC computers from the '80s had both AMC and Ford numbers. Early EGR valves carried only an OEM (probably GM) number. (Later valves were marked with an AMC number in ink, which is often unreadable today.) It's a complex topic, but at least at AMC, all numbers were assigned from one pool of seven digit numbers, and probably treated more or less equally inside the corporation. Are there any ex-AMC cost accountants on the list? The "bean counters" would be the ones to ask about AMC inventory control systems and numbering practices. --Glen At 04:04 PM 3/2/2008, you wrote: >There are several numbers that need to be defined: > >Part Numbers. Assigned to a part in order to be cataloged and sold. If the >part is superceded by an improved version then the part number is changed to >reflect the new applications. Part numbers do not appear on the parts >themselves. > >Engineering numbers. Assigned during the design proces and appear molded or >printed on the part. To add confusion the engineering number follows the >same format as the part number. Trying to find or order a part using the >engineering number will not work. I know of no AMC cross reference between >engineering to part number reference books (Ford has one). Aftermarket >suppliers will reference engineering numbers in their parts catalogs on some >specific application parts such as EGR valves. > >Casting numbers. Much like engineering numbers. Cast into a part but are not >linked to the part number. The confusion is over time people have confused >part and engineering numbers. The cast number appears on the part itself. >Part numbers are the number used to order the part which will have the >casting number on it when it arrives. > > > >Bill Strobel >Fayetteville, NC >1967 Rebel SST >1969 SC/Rambler >1972 Hornet Sportabout >1976 Matador Brougham >AMCRC. AMCWC, AMO, NAMDRA > > >_______________________________________________ >Amc-list mailing list >Amc-list@xxxxxxxxxxxx >http://splatter.wps.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/amc-list _______________________________________________ Amc-list mailing list Amc-list@xxxxxxxxxxxx http://splatter.wps.com/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/amc-list