Frame VIN stamping question...
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 277
Likes: 29
From: Gretna, NE
Frame VIN stamping question...
So my 02 Z is in the body shop having some work done and I went in to see the progress (which is going very slow by the way
) and I noticed that the front right side frame horn has a stamping of the VIN on it. The odd part is that it appears that there was originally a different VIN stamped on there, and then they stamped "X's" through that one and then stamped the current VIN in. (See pic below) I just thought it was odd and was wondering if anybody knows why GM would have done this?
) and I noticed that the front right side frame horn has a stamping of the VIN on it. The odd part is that it appears that there was originally a different VIN stamped on there, and then they stamped "X's" through that one and then stamped the current VIN in. (See pic below) I just thought it was odd and was wondering if anybody knows why GM would have done this?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 2,275
Likes: 5
From: Lake Oswego, Near Portland Oregon
Never seen that one from a factory before.....I'm going to subscribe to this thread to see what stories/reasons might come up.
Of course we will assume that your car was not a wreck recovery rebuild with a new frame or frame sections from a different doner car....I have seen really top notch body shops stamp the correct VIN into doner car parts, or new replacement parts that are unmarked, but your photo looks like factory stamping to me, same style exactly.
....as the guy on the old Laugh-In TV show from the late 60s used to say...
" Very Interesting"
Of course we will assume that your car was not a wreck recovery rebuild with a new frame or frame sections from a different doner car....I have seen really top notch body shops stamp the correct VIN into doner car parts, or new replacement parts that are unmarked, but your photo looks like factory stamping to me, same style exactly.
....as the guy on the old Laugh-In TV show from the late 60s used to say...
" Very Interesting"
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I'm going to subscribe too. Have not heard of that happening before from the factory. 
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2007
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From: Reno is so close to Hell you can see Sparks , State Of Confusion
St. Jude Donor '12-'13-'14
I really don't think the factory would do something like that, I have found that carfax misses a lot because the way the repair was done and not reported. I bet at some point if you have to have the vin numbers checked you will have issues the way it was done.
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Drifting
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From: Olmsted Falls Ohio
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I don't have any input on how/why that happened, but it occurs to me if it was a factory job then you might have something really rare and unique - kind of like a coin that escaped the mint that a coin afficianado would consider worth having. It sure doesn't look like something that someone did later in its life - the cross-out stamping just looks too precise. Is this both on the side rail and front cross member? Good luck to you.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 277
Likes: 29
From: Gretna, NE
I don't have any input on how/why that happened, but it occurs to me if it was a factory job then you might have something really rare and unique - kind of like a coin that escaped the mint that a coin afficianado would consider worth having. It sure doesn't look like something that someone did later in its life - the cross-out stamping just looks too precise. Is this both on the side rail and front cross member? Good luck to you.
I was hoping that it was just a rare mistake so thats why I would see if anyone has heard or seen of any such thing before. I dont know of any body shop that would have the ability to be THAT precise or have the tooling to do that.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2003
Posts: 1,079
Likes: 1
From: Niagara Falls ON
There was as discussion on the forum about this recently. Here it is:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-z...-question.html
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-z...-question.html
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 277
Likes: 29
From: Gretna, NE
There was as discussion on the forum about this recently. Here it is:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-z...-question.html
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/c5-z...-question.html
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 277
Likes: 29
From: Gretna, NE
As posted in the above link, I will post here so others following can read the explaination:
Ok....the first of a possible answer for my frame rail vin question. I said in an above string, that I was in contact with a club out of Bowling Green. To be exact it's the "Bowling Green Assembly Corvette Club". The club members worked on the assembly line from various periods of models. So far the president has sent out some emails regarding my question. Here is the latest email to me from Charles D. Chrisley. I am in hopes of several other emails to validate the stamping question: From Dave........
My first thought is, right around 2003, I was the Safety Trainer at the plant and associate Safety Rep. We were locating and installing a new Vin Machine into the trim department that put the vin on the rails early in the build process. There was some serious problems with the noise, and with the tuning of the machine as well as movement in the location of the machine, my guess is that there was a minor sequense issue, thus the changing of the Vin to match. I will let you know what my contacts say probably later today. end of email.
I will repost any other responses as they come in in case you might be interested.
Dave Bunker
My first thought is, right around 2003, I was the Safety Trainer at the plant and associate Safety Rep. We were locating and installing a new Vin Machine into the trim department that put the vin on the rails early in the build process. There was some serious problems with the noise, and with the tuning of the machine as well as movement in the location of the machine, my guess is that there was a minor sequense issue, thus the changing of the Vin to match. I will let you know what my contacts say probably later today. end of email.
I will repost any other responses as they come in in case you might be interested.
Dave Bunker
I wanted to put this question to bed with a final answer. An answer that should interest those of you following this string. The president of the Assembly line club in Bowling Green emailed me back with this:
Dear Dave:
The Xing out of the Vin on the frame is standard procedure if there is any sequence or equipment problem. As long as the Vin matches on the dash and the engine matches, everything is good. No repair shops really have the ability to duplicate our stamping procedure and this comes from Head of Quality. I hope this puts your mind at ease, noe Drive It Like You Stole It! :-) We would love to have you as a club member, you can access a application at www.bgacorvetteclub.com Take Care and be Safe.
Dear Dave:
The Xing out of the Vin on the frame is standard procedure if there is any sequence or equipment problem. As long as the Vin matches on the dash and the engine matches, everything is good. No repair shops really have the ability to duplicate our stamping procedure and this comes from Head of Quality. I hope this puts your mind at ease, noe Drive It Like You Stole It! :-) We would love to have you as a club member, you can access a application at www.bgacorvetteclub.com Take Care and be Safe.