Vin On Trans And Engine?
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Joined: Mar 2013
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From: Phillipsburg Kansas
Vin On Trans And Engine?
Iv been doing some reading and am trying to make sure I understand correctly. I have a 68 427 tripower 4 speed car. Is part of the cars vin stamped on the block pad, and also stamped on the trans case? If so that would make proving originality a breeze. I thought there was no 100% way to really prove the engine and trans were the originals without the protect-o-plate to show all the serial numbers? Of coarse there are build dates, but thats not 100% fool proof. I have the build sheet but it doesn't have serial numbers to link the motor and trans to the car 100%.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2005
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From: Glen Allen, VA
Yes, part of the VIN would be stamped on both. It doesn't necessarily make it a breeze, as these numbers are sometimes faked, especially on higher horsepower cars. Now, if you have the protecto plate and the build sheet, that's more feathers in your cap as to your car being factory original.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2007
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From: Indy Indiana
protect-o-plate does nothing to prove original engine.
The car assembly factory did stamp the VIN derivative onto the engine stamping pad and the transmission.
in order to have a greater faith in these stamps being original from the factory ( not faked ), these 2 stamps should be exactly alike in fonts and spacing and be typical of the fonts and spacing of engine stamps of that date. faith can be increased by the protect-o-plate, build sheet, characteristics of the stamps, the surface they are stamped on, engine and tranny build date codes, and engine and tranny casting date codes.
As you see, there is a lot more to proving original engine than with a engine stamp which is commonly faked. especially for a 427-435
The car assembly factory did stamp the VIN derivative onto the engine stamping pad and the transmission.
in order to have a greater faith in these stamps being original from the factory ( not faked ), these 2 stamps should be exactly alike in fonts and spacing and be typical of the fonts and spacing of engine stamps of that date. faith can be increased by the protect-o-plate, build sheet, characteristics of the stamps, the surface they are stamped on, engine and tranny build date codes, and engine and tranny casting date codes.
As you see, there is a lot more to proving original engine than with a engine stamp which is commonly faked. especially for a 427-435
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Joined: Mar 2013
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From: Phillipsburg Kansas
This is great info, I really appreciate it. Would the number on the trans be on the left side behind the side cover stamped vertically?
Alittle background of the car.
I got the car a few years ago from a guy that had it since 78. He broke a rear spindle and put it in a garage where it sat for more then 20 years. Rebuilt all the rear end, trailing arms, and any other parts that were needed and have used it since. Just pulled the trans because the clutch needed some help. Getting ready to pull the motor and freshen up and fix some oil leaks, since I'm halfway there with the trans out.
Alittle background of the car.
I got the car a few years ago from a guy that had it since 78. He broke a rear spindle and put it in a garage where it sat for more then 20 years. Rebuilt all the rear end, trailing arms, and any other parts that were needed and have used it since. Just pulled the trans because the clutch needed some help. Getting ready to pull the motor and freshen up and fix some oil leaks, since I'm halfway there with the trans out.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2005
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From: Glen Allen, VA
I will say this, whether it's an original engine and trans or not, I like the car a lot! I know on my 79 with the Borg Warner ST10, the VIN stamp is on the passenger side. Your 68 may be completely different because i know from the factory it would have had a different trans.
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2000
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From: Shamong, NJ
The engine and trans VIN stamp should be identical. They were both stamped at the same time on the assembly line, using the same set of digits, without removing them from the gang holder.
On 4 speed Muncie's, the trans VIN is stamped vertically on the right (passenger) side of the transmission case, just ahead of where the tail shaft housing is attached. Along with the VIN stamp, there will be a date stamp, and a letter to identify the type of trans.
The rear did not get a VIN stamp, but it did get a two letter code to identify the gear ratio, a date and a "W" for the Warner Gear Division, stamped into the bottom differencial main case.
Nice looking car. Personally I'm not a fan of oversize wheels on early Corvettes, but I am a sucker for just about any Corvette painted charcoal gray.
On 4 speed Muncie's, the trans VIN is stamped vertically on the right (passenger) side of the transmission case, just ahead of where the tail shaft housing is attached. Along with the VIN stamp, there will be a date stamp, and a letter to identify the type of trans.
The rear did not get a VIN stamp, but it did get a two letter code to identify the gear ratio, a date and a "W" for the Warner Gear Division, stamped into the bottom differencial main case.
Nice looking car. Personally I'm not a fan of oversize wheels on early Corvettes, but I am a sucker for just about any Corvette painted charcoal gray.
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Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2009
Posts: 935
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From: Indianapolis Indiana
Wow, I didn't notice that at first. You guys are right. That looks scary dangerous.
Im paranoid working under the car. I usually have wheel chocks, jack stands, floor jack and sometimes a large wheel/tire under the car. Just in case. I have some kind of phobia that someone is going to find me squished under my car some day.
Im paranoid working under the car. I usually have wheel chocks, jack stands, floor jack and sometimes a large wheel/tire under the car. Just in case. I have some kind of phobia that someone is going to find me squished under my car some day.
Race Director
Joined: Mar 2016
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From: Napa Valley California
My Uncle was pinned under his car in the street when it slipped off the jack stand.
Lucky for him the brake drum hit the lip of the curb and kept his head from being squished like a pumpkin. The unlucky part was the car caught fire and he suffered burns over a portion of his body. He said the worst part was the recovery because his nylon clothing melted into his skin and had to be scrapped off. I'm overly cautious and hate crawling under any car.
Lucky for him the brake drum hit the lip of the curb and kept his head from being squished like a pumpkin. The unlucky part was the car caught fire and he suffered burns over a portion of his body. He said the worst part was the recovery because his nylon clothing melted into his skin and had to be scrapped off. I'm overly cautious and hate crawling under any car.
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2008
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From: Easton, PA
St. Jude Donor '10
You can also find your partial VIN located above the #4 body mount which is accessable when you have that left rear tire off the car. But please, put something under there to support it before you go to check it out.
Last edited by AllC34Me; Feb 24, 2018 at 07:13 AM.
Thread Starter
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Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 55
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From: Phillipsburg Kansas
I thank you all for your information, also that was jacked up by another person and sat down on the blocks because they needed the jack stands I had supporting the front, after I took that picture when I saw what they did, we immediately replaced with the stands and finished assembling the rear end and trailing arms. Thank you for the concern though. It's a fear of mine being trapped under a car while working on it. Advice is always appreciated.
I have one other question, does the vin stamped on the block and trans always start with a 1 followed by the partial vin number? My tans has been replaced, come to find out, so I can't reference that, but the number on the engine is the exactly the same as the vin except it begins with 1 and my cars vin doesn't have a 1 in that loacation. I will have too look at the body mount vin derivative I have never heard of that one. Thanks again
I have one other question, does the vin stamped on the block and trans always start with a 1 followed by the partial vin number? My tans has been replaced, come to find out, so I can't reference that, but the number on the engine is the exactly the same as the vin except it begins with 1 and my cars vin doesn't have a 1 in that loacation. I will have too look at the body mount vin derivative I have never heard of that one. Thanks again
Race Director
Joined: Oct 2000
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From: Shamong, NJ
I have one other question, does the vin stamped on the block and trans always start with a 1 followed by the partial vin number? My tans has been replaced, come to find out, so I can't reference that, but the number on the engine is the exactly the same as the vin except it begins with 1 and my cars vin doesn't have a 1 in that loacation. I will have too look at the body mount vin derivative I have never heard of that one. Thanks again
A typical 68 VIN should look like this, 194378S400000, and breaks down as follows:
1 - Chevrolet Motor Division
9 - Corvette
4 - V8 engine
37 - Coupe body (67 if it's a convertible)
8 - 1968
S - St. Louis Assembly Plant
4 - GM control number
00000 - The built number, starting with 00001 and continuing through 28566
The VIN stamping on the engine pad will also start with a "1" for Chevrolet, and be followed by 8S400000. The 9437 or (9467 for a convertible) were left out of the block VIN derivative.
Thread Starter
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Joined: Mar 2013
Posts: 55
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From: Phillipsburg Kansas
The windshield vin does start with 1, I was talking about the stamping on the block pad starts with 1 and then the partial vin number. That answers my question completely. Thanks for the help again. I appreciate the knowledge.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 3,189
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From: Tolland CT
If originality is of high importance to you, maybe consider the services of this fellow? He has an extensive database of number pad photos he uses to compare the broach mark patterns. To my knowledge, not possible to forge. He offers other verification services as well. Might be worth the fee for peace of mind or resale advantage?
http://ccas4vettes.com/
http://ccas4vettes.com/