Re: 1968 American floor info and a big question

[Matt Haas <mhaas@xxxxxxx>]

Frank,

I know all about the VINs being assigned as the cars were ordered vs. when 
they were produced. Collapsible columns were introduced in 1967 on all 
models so this change was in addition to the steering column.

Matt

At 05:21 AM 2/22/2005 -0500, you wrote:
> Matt, you're forgetting something... AMC assigned VINS as cars were 
> ordered, not built! You need the body number and/or final assembly number. 
> I think the body number will be the best indicator, though I think bodies 
> were numbered as they rolled out of the plant regardless of model. Still, 
> that would indicate a less than/greater than body number. Other AMC had to 
> meet the spec too, but I think the big cars just got collapsible steering 
> columns, no body mods.
>
> On February 21, 2005 Matt Haas wrote:
>
> > A few weeks ago, I started in on the process of tracking down a rear clip
> > for my American sedan and I noticed that the parts book lists two front
> > floor pans for 1968 Americans. Which pan you have/need/want depends upon if
> > the door tag lists that it meets federal safety standard 204. There's also
> > a Canadian standard with the same number and requirements. I don't know if
> > the body tag is different for cars meant to be sold in Canada but in any
> > case, it should list this same standard. This standard says that in a
> > collision, the steering column can't move back more than 5 inches and that
> > cars manufactured starting on Jan 1, 1968 had to meet this standard. To
> > meet this standard, AMC changed (this was to American only) the floor pan,
> > extended the braces that connect the front frame sills to the floor, and
> > also changed a few front end body parts. If you'd like to read more on
> > this, you can take a look at these two links:
> >
> > http://www.nhtsa.dot.gov/cars/rules/import/FMVSS/#SN204
> > 
> http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/get-cfr.cgi?TITLE=49&PART=571&SECTION=204&YEAR=2001&TYPE=TEXT
> >
> > When I was at AJ Jacob's (South Texas AMC) last week, I brought this up and
> > we started looking at the cars he had there. The most noticeable difference
> > is that the frame sills were connected on the later 68 he had there but the
> > earlier one (which is like mine) does not have them connected.
> >
> > According to the safety standard, the cars had to meet it starting on Jan
> > 1, 1968 but I'd like to know if that's when AMC actually started making
> > Americans with these changes or if they actually started making cars with
> > this change earlier. If you have a 1968 American with no VIN on the dash,
> > the body tag states it meets standard 204 and/or has the frame sills
> > connected, I'd be very interested in the VIN and numbers off of the body
> > tag to try and track down when exactly this change happened.
> >
> > Thanks,
> >
> > Matt
> >
> > mhaas@xxxxxxx
> > Cincinnati, OH
> > http://www.mattsoldcars.com
> > 1966 Rambler Rebel
> > 1967 Rambler American wagon
> > 1968 Rambler American sedan
> > ===============================================================
> > According to a February survey of Internet holdouts released by
> > UCLA's Center for Communication Policy, people cite
> > not having a computer as the No. 1 reason they won't go online.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > .
>
>
> =============================================================
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mhaas@xxxxxxx
Cincinnati, OH
http://www.mattsoldcars.com
1966 Rambler Rebel
1967 Rambler American wagon
1968 Rambler American sedan
===============================================================
According to a February survey of Internet holdouts released by
UCLA's Center for Communication Policy, people cite
not having a computer as the No. 1 reason they won't go online.