Date of Manufacture

[Fresh Air Inspector]

Hello All,

For some bizarre reason the vehicle identification sticker (date of manufacture (DoM), paint codes, etc.), is missing from my B pillar. I'm hoping someone has a VIN number close to mine which ends with 694977. If you do and can share your DoM I will have a rough idea as to my DoM. Doesn't help with paint codes, etc. but that will be my next challenge.

Looking forward to your input.

[asifahmed]

Hi

I contacted rotunda@service-solutions.com and provided my VIN and got the key codes for the car..not sure what else they can provide??? Oh the strut tower has the day and month of ? (not sure if is manufacture of the car or just the unibody)


Steve

[brokencase]

There is a calibration label on the engine's passenger side valve cover that has a date that will be close to your date of manufacture.

Is there some compelling reason that you desire to know the exact date of manufacture?

[Fresh Air Inspector]

Hello Brokencase,

You are definitely a prolific contributor.

You asked why I need the 'date of manufacture' - sometimes a part number has a 'flag' that indicates it only fits models built 'prior to' or 'after' a specific date.

I haven't had a chance to check the strut tower for a date stamp or the label on the valve cover. I know the valve cover has a label that is faded in places. Need to dig out the entrance to my shop - recent snow storm created a large snow drift of wet snow that has now frozen. We expect warmer temperatures over the next few days. I will update this thread as soon as I have the info.

[Bob Weir]

If I remember correctly, the two important differences between 88 & 89 Scorpio are water hoses and the connectors of the Fuel Injection harness. See my post about FI Harness Wiring vs Sensors

See attached from BAT catalog [who don't have many if any Merkur parts anymore]

While I'm thinking about water hoses here's a couple of FYIs p 20 I cut off the "L" end of hose F and replaced hose H with a straight hose because none of my 5 scorpios had oil coolers and it makes it so much easier to R&R the oil filter.
Hose J is between the AC compressor & block. It has different IDs on each end.
Your best sources for these water hoses and other parts are:

MC2 Racing
Chris Grayson
(513) 253-9133
http://mc2racing.com
West Chester OH

Merkur Depot
Mike Oyler
(330) 687-6498
http://merkurdepot.com
Barberton OH

Merkur Midwest
Jeff Herson
(847) 688-1234
http://merkurmidwest.com
North Chicago IL


Rapido
Russ Harness
(541) 544-3333
http://rapidogroup.com
Tygh Valley OR

Stinger Performance
Shannon Gustafson
http://stinger-performance.com
Shawnee KS

[Fresh Air Inspector]

Hello Bob,

Great feedback. I've already been in touch with MerkurDepot (Mike) and Rapido (Russ). Mike doesn't have any at the moment and he only has hose 'K' (page 19 in your attachment), in stock (water pump to pipe to 'missing' oil cooler). NAPA lists a few hoses but I haven't seen them plus I find aftermarket hose quality is marginal. Material is thinner and tends to leak at the fittings due to material compression resulting in a poor seal.

I went through a dusty box of leftover Silicone coolant hoses from a Mercedes conversion many years ago - lo and behold I have a few 90 degree pieces that will work for the heater matrix plus a few diameter reduction pieces that I may be able to adapt elsewhere. I'll order a couple of metres of Silicone heater hose as well as some large diameter straight / bends for the radiators from a hose supplier and build up a new set of coolant hose. May end up with a few joiners and extra hose clamps but at least the hoses will be 'fit and forget' (stole that expression from a UK supplier .

Enjoy the holidays and all the best for 2021.

[Fresh Air Inspector]

Hello Brokencase, Asifahmed,

Neglected to respond to your comments;

Valve Cover Sticker - I checked my label and could not find anything resembling a date code (main digits are; 8A930AC). The Merkur Shop Manual identification section shows a completely different style of label and all the references do not align at all.

Strut Tower - could not find any sort of stamp or date reference.

I was recently speaking to the second owner (I'm the fourth), and he purchased the car in 2015 from the estate of the original owner. The OO titled the car on July 8th, 1988 in Fremont, CA (as in California not Canada). This would lead me to believe it was manufactured in the Spring (??) of 1988.

I will contact Rotunda as Asifahmed suggested and see what they come back with. I will update this thread when I have additional information.

[asifahmed]

Here's a pic of my strut tower

Scorpio Strut Tower Date Stamp Low Res.jpg (68.3 KiB) Viewed 49 times

Merry Christmas to all

Scorpio Strut Tower Date Stamp Low Res.jpg (68.3 KiB) Viewed 49 times

[Fresh Air Inspector]

Hello Asifahmed,

Thanks for the follow-up and pictures. Always interesting how people interpret words. You said 'stamped' so I was looking for actual embossed numbers and not 'ink stamped'.

Mine shows '02 24', which would seem to indicate February 24, 1988 and the one in your picture November 09, 1988. I assume your car is 1989 model due to the date code and your AC return line is routed differently compared to mine.

Interesting to see how the Ford assembly line in Cologne set the date stamp in a Canada / US format (MM DD). In Europe the standard practice is DD MM.

To all of you celebrating Christmas I hope it is an enjoyable one considering the pandemic restrictions and all the best for 2021. Let's hope it is a 'more normal' year than 2020.

[Bob Weir]

"your AC return line is routed differently compared to mine."

Sorry, I forgot about that one.