As I’m ordering parts for the 68 Cougar I’m restoring. I’m ordering some reproduction tags from Marti. I have a few questions from the experts here.
On the Carb tag, There are two lines on the tag, the top line is the model number C8ZFD, I’m not sure what the bottom line of the tag should be. Is it a date code or production number?
Did a 68 Standard, built in Dearborn have a buck tag? I’ve read that they would be on the left fender up by the hood spring or on the right side of the radiator support. My car doesn’t have one, or any evidence of one being there. I know the history of the car from day one, so I’m ruling out it being lost in body work.
The second line on the carb tag will look something like this: B 8B 22. This decodes to B = design change. It could be an A, a B, a C etc. The rest is a date code. In this case 8B 22 = 1968, February, 22nd day of February. This is just an example, I do not know what the exact codes would be on your tag.
I have only seen buck tags mounted to the face of the radiator support on the passenger side for 68 Dearborn cars. I have never seen a Cougar with the buck tag mounted on the left fender apron by the hood hinge. Some of the early 67s had the tag sandwiched between the upper and lower cowls on the passenger side. It’s possible that your car left the factory without one. If you take a closer look at your radiator support the tag was only held in place by a single self tapping screw so there will only be one small hole where it was.
Randy, Excellent. Thanks for your prompt response, that helps a lot.
I’m still confused my the example date code you provided, how did you get February? According to the Marti report, my car was built on 6/27 so the date code on the carb should be shortly before that.
They utilized a letter to indicate the month, so in Randy’s example 8B 22.
8 is the year
B is the second letter of the alphabet hence February
22 is the day of the month.
A = January, B = February, C = March, D = April, E = May, F = June, G = July, H = August, I is not used (can be confused with a 1), J = September, K = October, L = November and M = December.
Per Dave’s post and your build date, the tag on your carb should be either 8E or 8F, followed by the day of the month. 8D would probably be on the outer edge. Generally speaking, it’s my understanding that 6-8 weeks prior to the build date can be considered correct for Ford.
As I stated in my original reply the date codes I listed were just an example of what is on the second line. I had no idea what actual design change and date codes would be on your tag.