Where can you find the build sheet in a 1971 El Camino?

Answer 1

Your build sheets can be found:

1. On top of your gas tank
2. Behind Door Panel
3. Inside the seat
4. Behind the glovebox

Of course no one elaborates on EXACTLY where it was found!

For bench check the seat bottom and for buckets the seat back.

Apparently the govebox liner must be removed to find that one.

I would also check:

• Under the carpet
• behind the front interior A-pillars
• under the headliner.

There can be up to four build sheets located 1 through 4 above and the body inspection sheet sometimes found in the A-pillar.

I found only a partial sheet on the top driver side of my gas tank.

It was in the same groove as the tank strap except for the fact that it is on the top side of the tank. The straps only hold the tank from the bottom, while the same two channels molded on the upper side fit into the frame.

Unfortunately, there is some kind of tar paper strip they put between the tank and the frame for vibration so much of mine was ruined before I was even born!

So from the top there was body, frame, tar strip, build sheet, and then tank.

The writing was facing up and covered in fine dust a good huff cleared off.

I pried up the scrap that was there and rechecked for any fragments still stuck to the car but there was only a corner with no printing.

You may want to have an assistant peek in as you drop the tank in case half of it gets hung up. Also in case pieces start blowing away down the street.

While searching the net for ways to try to salvage what I have left I found your question. If they can read burnt manuscripts from ancient Rome why can't they clean this up for me?

There are great sources out there like chevelles.com and .net not to mention your local El Camino clubs with old times that might know a great deal but may not be into the whole computer thing.

I have found info in unlikely places. The Buick GS forum for example is full of guys who found build sheets to other cars in their cars or sheets a number or two behind them in the assemblyline. Sometimes several sheets at a time from every car but their own. If twelve cars on the line were ordered with black bench seats, all cars got bench seats but to the line worker it may not have mattered if the seats were mixed up during installation. At least that's how I understand it.

Hopefully you have something worth all the trouble. Those slick flip out razor knives from the local home improvement store make quick work of seats and headliners!

Remember to take photos before you trash everything and before you remove any build sheets as insurance.

Good luck,

Cash