How close should the carburator date code be to the build date of the car?

My Z28 was build 3rd week of March 1968.

I have a line on a Holley 4053 dated 833 (1968, 3rd week, March)....

Are these date too close?

I would say that is pushing it for a 68 z/28. You may want to grab it until you find an earlier date.

How much earlier you would suggest? I know of another that's dated 7A4 (4th week Nov 67). Would that be more appropriate, or too old?

Carb date as it relates to the engine assembly date is more important than car build date. Carb was installed on the engine on date of assembly so should be dated before assembly date.

Lynn

Sorry Lynn, you got that backwards. Check the CRG Research Report from John Hinckley (JohnZ) on the The First-Generation Camaro Assembly Process (http://www.camaros.org/assemblyprocess.shtml).

Chevrolet Assembly - Engine Dress Line Operations Details
The VIN derivative numbers were stamped in the next operation on both the engine pad and the transmission, using a gang-stamp holder and a hammer. From here on, all the detail dress items were added (plug wires, coil, engine harness, battery cables, carburetor, pulleys, alternator, starter, fan and clutch, A/C compressor, power steering pump, transmission cooler lines and fill tube, A.I.R. pump, diverter valve and air manifolds, drive belts, dipstick and tube, oil filter, engine and transmission mounts, PCV plumbing, vacuum fittings, fuel pump and fuel line, radiator hoses, and (if applicable) the transmission-mounted 4-speed manual shifter and linkage was installed and adjusted (3-speed manual floor shifters were mounted on the cross-member and adjusted later on the Chassis line). Engine oil and transmission lube were added, and the completed engine/transmission assembly was conveyed to the Chassis Line for installation in the subframe. The engine line inspector wrote the engine, transmission, and carburetor codes on the Broadcast Copy and put the sheet in a box for pickup by a Scheduling clerk (needed to create the P-O-P at the end of the Final Line).

On a related note, my car was started the 4th week of May, 1968 (05D) and the carb is dated 833 like chedderboys. The 4053 carbs were built in batches and I've seen several 4053's with this date stamp. Now, I'm not sure when the batch before that was built, or the batch after that, but usually, the Holley carbs are a few days to several weeks before the cars assembly.

Ed