overdrive

I read the partial VIN stamp on the block as 10F1667xx. Even with being unable to read the last 2, I believe it's very safe to say that that is the original 454 for that car. The VIN stamp narrows it down to 100 cars. The chance of a previous owner somehow finding and installing a 454 with a partial VIN stamp showing the block was originally from another SS that came from the same assembly plant, and was assembled the same day as this car, would be astronomical. The correct engine assembly date is another good thing. It's either April 1 or April 16. The rough surface and poor stamping by the oil filter is not at all uncommon. Dan

The info in the build sheet boxes varies by year, and some varies by plant. Where was your car built? Dan

The line sheet is a great addition to the car. My build sheet shows my SS had the engine block heater when new, but it's long gone. I've wondered how it looked and installed. Does your car still have it? Dan

Willie, the Oshawa built cars only had line sheets. Aaron, that's a great find! Congratulations! Dan

Beautiful car and incredible find. Congratulations! Dan

The blue connector is a factory installed part. Both methods to connect power were used. Dan

The blue quick connector is also an indication of the factory installed system. The washer fluid monitor is included in the lighting convenience package. I ordered a new float for mine. The original is now a non-float. Dan

My '70 Van Nuys SS was also assembled the second week of January. Sequence #164181. The first sequence # that left that plant that month was 159234, and the last one was 167285. Scott S., please post a pic of your trim tag. Dan

Excellent work! Dan

The hinges can be removed one at a time and the hood can stay in place. I've done that while using a blanket and wooden blocks behind the hinge, and a prop rod at the front. Dan

The washer trick works good, but put a string through them. It's so much easier to find them all after you close the hood and they fall out. I took my springs off and put them back on with the hinges in a vice. I used #9 wire to put loops on an old bumper jack. It worked great and was very safe, but it may not work as easily on the car, just because of the size of the jack. Dan

These are the closet match I've found. Just cut the heads off some 10-32 screws to add the second stud. Dan

I know of 2 Facebook members with '72s that came with the smooth end. Both are high option cars. I don't know of any others at this time. Dan

It's great to read about the history of this car. I'm sure the new owner would like to see this post. As far as the load leveling compressor goes, I've seen two '72s that have the G67 option from the factory (build sheet verified) with what many consider "the wrong tank". I believe that both tanks were used, at least for '72, but I haven't seen an earlier model with the smooth end on the tank. Not before this car. Dan

I've seen the same factory mistake on the engine stamp once before. It happened sometimes. I think you can be very confident that the car has the original engine. Dan

The car in my pic doesn't have cruise control. It's the electro-tip wipers option. Dan

This is a Flint built, matching numbers '70 SS454 with every option. Dan

I don't believe any were made in Atlanta. Did Oshawa make '70 Montes? I know they were making them for '71. The chevellestuff website doesn't show Oshawa production of Montes for '70. Dan

Dennis is right. The only part of the actual VIN that's on a trim tag is 13587, plus 0, 1, or 2 for the year, then the letter for the assembly plant. The exception is that the Oshawa plant used a 1, not a letter. The sequence number following those is never on the trim tag, because the trim tag was applied by the Fisher Body plant before it entered the Chevrolet assembly plant. The US assembly plants each started with 100001 as the sequence number. Each plant had a car with this number. The difference in the VINs were the letter for the assembly plant. For 1970, there could have been a VIN 138570F100001, 138570B100001, and 138570L100001. Since Chevelles were built on the same line, sequence number 100001, or any other number in any plant could have been for a Chevelle, not a Monte. Oshawa started with 500001. Dan

I happened across this thread again from years past. I found a couple of '72s awhile back that had an assembly plant code of R, which is for Arlington, TX. Aaron added the information to the club resources at that time. I've still never found a Monte with an assembly code for Atlanta. Dan

Lyle, here is the VIN for the triple black SS that I sold to a man in California. It had a numbers matching 454, buckets and console. Dan

Glen, the Kansas City plant didn't build Montes until the '71 model year. Flint only made them for '70. This car was ordered to be used as an executive pool car. Each plant would get cars and trucks that they didn't have from the other plants so that their executives could use them. I did a title search and found that the Leeds plant sold the car to Pappas Chevrolet after 5 months. Pappas Chevrolet had it for 24 months. I've talked with 3 of the 5 previous owners. The title was in the original owners name until '95 or '96. The second owner was a friend of his, and he died of a brain tumor, but the second owner was unsure of what year that was. He bought the car from the estate. Dan

My '70 SS Van Nuys build sheet has different codes for the air cleaner (CN) and the tune label (DQ). A friend's survivor SS still has the original stickers. PP on the air cleaner. I don't have a pic of his tune label. It's also a Van Nuys car, but it was assembled in September of '69. Mine was January of '70. My car has NA9 on the build sheet, but not in the equipment list, like I've seen on '71 sheets. The car never had the NA9 emissions, though. Dan

Yes, 1970 sheet is different than '71. Dan

The man that Butch got his two SS454s from allowed me to post them in an ad here. Butch contacted me for his number. He bought the gold one, then went back and bought the green one a week later. We've communicated a number of times, since then. He came here once to pick up some parts I made for him. I'll be at the Magic Dragon Car Show on Saturday, May 6th. It would be good to see you there. Dan