PurelyPMD

iTrader: (3)

Where have you guys found the build sheets in the cars? I've seen two different styles - one with the small text/codes & all of the options which was usually on the floor when it arrived at the dealership (& thrown out in the dealer prep) and the other with the large font letter codes that's often buried in the car someplace.

So where have you found yours & was your car a Norwood or Van Nuys build?

kymmee

I have found 2. Both cars are 1982 and Van Nuys. 82 Trans Am found on drivers side front, 82 base Firebird found on passenger side front. Interestingly, both cars were April 82 builds but different weeks.

PurelyPMD

iTrader: (3)

Large or small font style?

kymmee

Large.

86blackiroc

iTrader: (12)

I've had a bunch of third gens now, and have only been lucky enough to find one build sheet. It was in the bottom seat cushion of the driver's seat and was in a bunch of little pieces by the time I was able to get it out. Had to piece it all back together to read it. Car is an '84 Z-28, I'll have to look again to see where it was built.

JT

iTrader: (1)

There was multiple sheets.


This is what is often referred to as the build sheet. It contains all RPO codes for the vehicle as well as dealership information.


This is what some call the trim sheet while some refer to it as the build sheet. This sheet has less information than the build sheet shown above as this sheet doesn't have all RPO codes for the vehicle or dealership information. There was more than one of these sheets for the different assemblies.


This is a assembly line sheet on the last 1992 camaro that Leonard owns. If I recall correctly, there may have been more than one of these but I think he said a worker took one of them.

NowhereFast

Build sheet for my 1987 Trans Am was under the carpet under the driver's side rear seat.

edit: Norwood car

okfoz

My 87 Formula (Norwood) build sheet was passenger side under the carpet about where the catalytic convertor is.

Bob88GTA

iTrader: (2)

I always had a question regarding build sheets/trim sheets. And I know there is no answer, but I wonder why there were no "standards" or control measures in place for the placement of these? They could of put these in the packet you recieve from the dealer when you purchase the car.
I never got anything in my packet. I need to look under my carpet some day. I know its a Van Nuys car (88) and I bought it in Valencia Ca. about 10 miles from the plant.
Just curious.

gt4373

I Don't Think There Were Any "Standards",Guess It Depended On What Worker Was On The Assembly Line When The Car Was Built,Some Left Them Behind ,Some Didn't,That's Why Some Cars Have Them,Some Don't.

92RS_Ttop

iTrader: (3)

I found the large font sheet behind the drivers door panel on my 92 camaro. Car was built in Van Nuys I think.

Not a thirdgen, but my dad found the build sheet for his 67 Corvette stuck to the top of the gas tank when he dropped it earlier this year while starting the restoration process. Surprisingly, it was still perfectly readable after 47 years!

SolarGoldRaptor

1984 Trans Am : under the carpet on the passenger side of the transmission tunnel
1989 Firebird : found the trim sheet under the carpet in the deeper part of the cargo area.

In both cases, I couldn't remove them, they were stuck to the floor.

Bob88GTA

iTrader: (2)

So from what I been reading, there must of been some guy "flinging" the sheet into the designated car and where it landed, it stayed and got covered up by whatever??

And when was the sheet put in the car...beginning....middle... end of the line?

PurelyPMD

iTrader: (3)

Bob there were likely several sheets involved in the assembly process, one likely with the mechanical sub-assembly, 1 likely with the electronics (dash) and one with/in the body.

Unfortunately I think the carpet has been changed in mine so the odds of finding one there are slim, but I'll be looking anyways.

Here's a picture showing sheets taped to 1st gen drive line assemblies.

JT

iTrader: (1)

It is because the build sheets were used by the assembly plant and not intended for owners. At a Norwood meet, I recall one of the guys saying the assembly workers would trash those documents but that it didn't always happen.

kymmee

Both the one's I found, were tucked nicely under the front seats.

I took pictures before I removed them.
The 82 MSE Trans AM.


The 82 base Firebird.

mantaguy

iTrader: (5)

I think they played,Hide & Seek with those docs.

SolarGoldRaptor

It's totally random. It was easier to hide it in the car than walk to the bin.

gt4373

FormerL69

iTrader: (2)

As with kymmee, the build sheet for my 82 pace car was tucked safe and sound under the passenger seat. I have not pulled the carpet to see if anything is under there, but so far that is the only major documentation I have found in my car. I think I found a piece of paper from the IP cluster test (dot matrix printout) with a bunch of "OK"s listed when I removed the dash.

KMK454

Cross-posting from my car's thread:

Dropped a camera lens cap under the seat and found this... pretty sure this is an assembly sheet and not a build sheet, but its condition leads me to believe there's a good chance the build sheet has survived if it is hidden in the car. I left this sheet in the car for now.

battmann

iTrader: (9)

I've had so many third gens and never been lucky enough to find a build sheet.
Some day...

PurelyPMD

iTrader: (3)

That's where mine was at one point - this is all that's left. 87 IROC

okfoz

That stinks...

Drew

iTrader: (58)

On the early cars, the sheet between the seat foam and springs will be the complete build sheet. On later cars it'll only cover some of the interior trim. Personally, I wouldn't bother removing the seat sheet on a 91-92, there shouldn't be anything on the sheet that isn't extremely obvious.


I've lost count of how many interiors I've pulled out of thirdgens. I've yet to find anything beyond the seat sheet. The conclusion I have to draw is that the buildsheet more often than not, was never left in the car. Or that it was left someplace so obvious that it was trashed when the car was cleaned up.

92RS(real slow)

I found mine in the cargo area under the carpet. Unfortunately through Out the years it must have gotten damp, and is stuck to the floor. Have yet to find a way to remove it without potentially damaging it. I would love a solution to getting it out if anyone has any?

mikeceli

iTrader: (2)

On my '79 Y84 "Bandit " Trans Am, I found one under a rear seat carpet and another on top of the fuel tank. Both in nice shape. (Van Nuys build)

PurelyPMD

iTrader: (3)

I found the one for my 79 Formula stuck in the rear seat back springs. That's the only one I've found after all of these years and so many cars!

okfoz

I found one in my 87 Formula... it was a Norwood car, not sure if that makes a difference...

I would have preferred one in my 89 350 convertible or one of the LB9/MM5 cars, but not so far...

John

TylerSteez

iTrader: (3)

always thought it was weird how they would just cover it up under the carpet without any care in the world. I just couldn't see myself doing that if I was on the assembly line back in the day. I most likely would have just thrown them away and made all the future owners very upset that it wasn't there when they ripped their carpets out lol

PurelyPMD

iTrader: (3)

Think of it this way Tyler - there are hundreds of cars going by during your shift. You have a mindless (usually) repetitive task to complete in a limited amount of time, all while talking to the co-workers around you about the game last night, your girlfriend, a hangover, where you are going when you get out. You figure out the best way to perform it to your ability with the least amount of work. If you have to bend over 1 extra time to pick it up then walk 8 steps & back to throw it away on every car - you're greatly increasing your work load.

They were left where they sat - and anything else that was laying there got left there too.

TTOP350

iTrader: (8)

I have the one for my JY ttop 305 5speed. found it in the folder of paper work right along the dealer receipt for SLP parts install.

F-body-fan

I have build sheets for several of my 2nd gen cars, but they had already been removed by the previous owners & put in safe keeping before I bought the cars. I have never found one on my own yet. I thought my 87 & 89 third gens would have them somewhere because I know the history of the cars from new. The owners before me would never have taken the cars apart (at least I don't think so anyway) I looked under the front & rear seats, rear hatch carpet area & found nothing. I didn't remove the door panels or the entire carpet, but I figure if they aren't in the normal spots they probably aren't in the car.

I also have an 80 T/A that I bought from the original owner who I asked about the build sheet & she had no idea there was something like that in the car. Haven't found that one either, but have not attempted to remove the entire interior to look further than the usual places. The 80 is a pace car replica, so that build sheet would be identical to the other 5699 of them

F-body-fan

Finding that one had to be an exciting let down.

F-body-fan

This had to be like finding Santa Claus at the tree on Christmas morning!

PurelyPMD

iTrader: (3)

I've got back the car I ordered new - that's exciting enough for me. For paper I've got every stitch of documentation from the first two years of ownership from the original ordering worksheet to the service replacement invoice for the heads & engine. It was a let-down, but a minor one in the scheme of things.

TTOP350

iTrader: (8)

Which one would this be?

okfoz

I think they would leave the sheets in the cars when the trash can got full...

gt4373

There Was No SOP For These Sheets To Be Left In The Car,Was Just Dependent On Who Happened To Working On The Assembly Line That Day,Some Line Workings Tossed Them In The Trash Others Left Them In The Car.

PurelyPMD

iTrader: (3)

My black 87 IROC that I ordered new.

kymmee

Yes it was! Both 82's were low mile cars, so my assumption is that the seats were never unbolted and removed for cleaning, so no one knew the sheets were there.

CPC Norwood

Both of my 1982's were found under the front seats. Carmine LG4 under the drivers side. Z-50 LU5 was under the passenger side, and included a bonus-a ladies Bulova watch was entangled up in the wiring Harness. I found it when I serviced the power antenna motor 25 years ago. The gold kind of stood out. Both LA built.

On the 87 I got the build sheet from the first owner of the car. Norwood build.

F-body-fan

Kinda funny you say that. I'm thinking that the guys on the line that paid attention to detail probably tossed the sheets to keep the install of the interior cleaner. But more than likely if a sheet was in an area that was inconvenient to grab & throw in the trash, thats probably when it stayed in the car or attached to the parts being installed.

When did these sheets come into existence with GM? early 70's?

CPC Norwood

Mid 1965 at Norwood.