ejw71 Posted February 26, 2006 Share Posted February 26, 2006 Discovered today last nine alphanumerics of VIN are stamped on transmission of my 71. I may the last 1st Gen owner to become aware of this info. Last nine of VIN are: 71K197166. However, on the trans is stampted: 11K197166. The 71 is correct due to year of car. The first digit on trans could be a 7 but it sure looks like a 1 and it's shape is the same as the second 1. Probably just an error or my inability to discern numbers. This car isn't an SS, but thought it's important enough to post here. What this means to me in reference to SS454s is if the motor has been exchanged, no build sheet and no pro-tech-no plate then the trans stamped VIN portion would document the car as a real SS454. Wonder if rear axle has the same portion of the VIN. Ed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 27, 2006 Share Posted February 27, 2006 I could swear that the VIN is also located on the frame towards the back. Leo did I hear this from you?? Awesome info Ed!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam (Bones) Posted February 27, 2006 Share Posted February 27, 2006 just went out and checked the m-20 out of the '70, found the seq # stamped on the pass side Sam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alex's72fgmc Posted February 27, 2006 Share Posted February 27, 2006 hey pete, the only numbers i have found on the two frames i have is the part number atthe drivers side rear section of the frame rail. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vaughn Posted February 27, 2006 Share Posted February 27, 2006 Ed, I also just dicovered this on the tranny of my 71 SS454 a couple of weeks back. I also have an extra 1 stamped on mine. It has a 1 and then the vin that also starts with one. The funny thing is that it is the exact same on the engine. Has one extra 1 stamped on it. I have checked out the build sheet, and the raised casting #'s on the back of the block. Everything down to the water pump is correctly stamped and dated. Not sure what this extra 1 means? Vaughn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ejw71 Posted February 27, 2006 Author Share Posted February 27, 2006 Vaughn, Is the "extra 1" in place of a '7' as mine is? I also going to check on the engine block stamped number to determine simularity. And will do the same on my 71SS454. Pete, In your research on rear axles have you come across the production sequence number portion of the VIN? If such is available our club would be able to go a long way in answering the never-ending question of: "Is it a real one". Ed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NateZ Posted February 27, 2006 Share Posted February 27, 2006 As with some other GM parts, the first "1" you're seeing is probably representative of the brand, i.e. "Chevrolet", followed by the "1" for the last digit of the year, and so on. Other GM brands, such as Pontiac, Buick, Olds, etc, would have different first digits. Also, if you find a partial VIN on the rear axle, it would be a first. Never been found there in all the research I've done. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edlipman Posted February 27, 2006 Share Posted February 27, 2006 Yeah , as Nate said the first digit in the stampings for the serial number on the engine and trans is 1 for Chev 2 for Pontiac 3 for Olds 4 for Buick and 6 for Cadillac. These do change sometimes but are generally correct. Hope this helps Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edlipman Posted February 27, 2006 Share Posted February 27, 2006 Forgot , that digit is also the first number in the serial number of the car. As in 138570B123456 the stamping would be 10B123456 leaving out the 3857. Ed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted February 27, 2006 Share Posted February 27, 2006 Ed, It was Alex who did the rear end research. But I could still swear someone told me that about the frame rail. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alex's72fgmc Posted February 27, 2006 Share Posted February 27, 2006 ed, gm did not stamp a vin on the rear end only the trans and engine and on the firewall of the body got that stamping besides the vin plate on the cowl. the protecto plate was the only document to show what.... brand of carb "bay city, holly, rocheste or carter", radio, a/c, pwr steering, power brakes, disc brakes, pwr window, engine, trans, rear end, and vin of vehicle alex Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jim Boczar Posted February 28, 2006 Share Posted February 28, 2006 I know the frame part number is on the side of the frame rail in the left rear - but I thought I read somewhere the vin is stamped on the top of the frame rail not far from the part number??? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ejw71 Posted February 28, 2006 Author Share Posted February 28, 2006 Yep, the "1" in question refers to Chevrolet. Thanks fellas. Pete, Sorry I got you and Alex mixed up. Guess you both look alike. Since you probably have direct contact with Leo, ask him about VIN numbers on frame. Doubt it, as would have been informed of it by now in the hundred discussions converning real vs fake SS454s. Alex, long time no see. I expect to be at Easten meet see ya then. If I understand your first sentence. The VIN (or part of it) will located in three places: 1. on the metal tab viewable thru driver side of windshield, 2. on block pad behind alternator and 3. on transmission. Is that correct? Ed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vaughn Posted February 28, 2006 Share Posted February 28, 2006 Great post Ed, As always I have learned something new from this great club. It all makes sense now. I will not speak for Leo, but I have had a discussion with him before about Vin #'s on the frame and if I remember correctly, he said no Vin #'s stamped on the frames. Vaughn Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NateZ Posted February 28, 2006 Share Posted February 28, 2006 As with Chevelles, the partial VIN or CON VIN can generally be found stamped on the top of the frame behind the driver's side rear wheel where the rail runs under the trunk. You can't see it unless the body is off the frame. It has also been found on the passenger side of some Atlanta-built cars. Again, this is generally the case, but not always the case. Some cars simply don't have them (there was one assembly plant in particular reputed to have left off this location when stamping CON VINs), but they will have the CON VIN someplace else. Don't confuse this with the frame part number usually stamped on the driver's side rear frame rail on the outside -- which is visible without removing the body. Note, this is the CON VIN or confidential VIN. So it's a partial VIN. The CON VIN will look like this up to 1968: 7F123456 (example). They did not always include the GM division, and they never stamped the complete VIN, just a derivative. They omitted the model number as anyone could tell what that was from the body plate and other ident sources. The goal was to ID the specific car not the generic model. From 1969 on up, it looks like this: 10F123456 (example) 1 - GM Division (1,2,3,4,5,6,7) 0 - Model Year F - Assembly Plant for car 123456 - Last 6 digits of the cars VIN The CON VIN's were stamped in hidden areas. The reason for this is to hide them from people so they cannot be easily found and altered. They were placed there for tracking of stolen vehicles and parts to be used by law enforcement. Crooks could alter the VIN on the A pillar or dash but they often were not aware of the confidential vehicle indentication number derivatives stamped onto the engine, trans, frame, or body. ~ Nate Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tazman Posted February 28, 2006 Share Posted February 28, 2006 Wouldn't the book by Alan Colvin "Chevrolet By The Numbers" answer all these questions? It is supposed to be a very comprehensive reference. Claims you are able to identify all parts by any number that may have been stamped on them as being either oem or aftermarket as well as identify the part as being original to a particular vehicle. I have been thinking about buying one just for this purpose. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alex's72fgmc Posted February 28, 2006 Share Posted February 28, 2006 ed, there is also a "con vin" behind the a/c box on the firewall. you have to remove the a/c box in order to see it. as for the chevy by the numbers book it is a great reference but it does not cover everything on a car. but is still worth the money. If all goes well ed i should be able to make it to the meet. see ya there if not i will let ya know. Alex Alex Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ejw71 Posted February 28, 2006 Author Share Posted February 28, 2006 Nate, Thanks, first time learning about CON VIN. Alex, Thanks didn't know about behind the A/C box numbers. Ed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KLASSIK1 Posted February 28, 2006 Share Posted February 28, 2006 each assembly plant was its own world and still is today , they can build the same car or sister models in different plants using the same parts and completly different assemble process ,that being said anything goes , i have parted several hundred montes impalas chevelles and other gm products over the last 30 years, i have seen several different locations for vin numbers the impala has a vin under the sill plate drivers side , to this point i have not seen a vin on any monte frame but i have on chevelles ??? as ozzy would say everyone is looking for answers dont ask me i dont know Leo Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NateZ Posted February 28, 2006 Share Posted February 28, 2006 Nate, Thanks, first time learning about CON VIN. Alex, Thanks didn't know about behind the A/C box numbers. Ed Anytime, Ed. I should've mentioned the other locations of CON VINs, but I limited my response because someone had specifically mentioned the partial VIN on the frame rail. As Alex stated, the CON VIN can also be found behind the A/C box on the firewall as well as behind the blower motor. So, two locations on the firewall. Again, this isn't always the case -- it mostly depends on the assembly plant. As Leo can attest, we found two CON VINs on the firewall of my Baltimore-built '70 during restoration. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ejw71 Posted February 28, 2006 Author Share Posted February 28, 2006 Behind the blower motor. Great info. I'm gonna go check a '71 parts car right now. I'm crazy about documentation. Well, sex too. Ed Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alex's72fgmc Posted February 28, 2006 Share Posted February 28, 2006 lol ed lol Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam (Bones) Posted March 1, 2006 Share Posted March 1, 2006 I'll have to go check the '70, it's totaly stripped right now Sam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted March 1, 2006 Share Posted March 1, 2006 That must of been what I was thinking of Nate. Thanks for clearing that up for me. I must of missed the CON part in my limited memory Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sam (Bones) Posted March 1, 2006 Share Posted March 1, 2006 My '70 has it on the firewall behind the blower motor, it was built in calf., anywhere else to look? Sam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.