"Again, an engine with matching partial VIN stamped on them is not a way to tell 1971-1972 SS-optioned Chevelles as noted above."
Not completely true. A 71 Chevelle with a 454 in which the partial VIN on the block matches that of the car's VIN would verify it as an SS. 72 as well but not needed because the W in the VIN would verify this year. ----- Original Message ----- From: Dale To: 'The Chevelle Mailing List' Sent: Saturday, May 07, 2011 6:49 AM Subject: Re: [Chevelle-list] 69 chevelle Just a couple of changes. Dale From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Trooper Sent: Saturday, May 07, 2011 5:34 AM To: The Chevelle Mailing List Subject: Re: [Chevelle-list] 69 chevelle There seems to be some confusion about the different "plates" we all are talking about here so here is a brief description of each to help. The 65-67 Chevelles has the VIN tag on the left front door hinge pillar. 68-72 are on the left dash visible through the windshield. This is the tag that identifies your car with the DMV for licensing, ownership, etc. It is illegal to tamper with or remove this tag. There are several places you can find the "hidden VIN's" on these cars. Since the frames can be changed, probably the best place would be on the fire wall under the heater blower. The only 1965-1967 model year and plant I know of that stamped a partial VIN behind the heater box on the firewall was Atlanta in 1967. I believe it became common practice for all plants from 1968 on. The tag on the left hand portion of the cowl is the trim tag. This tag gives you body build date, trim codes,Model year and ID, interior style, body color, etc. Most restorers feel this tag is also very important to the car but it will not suffice for a VIN tag with the DMV and it is not illegal to remove. Formal name is Fisher Body Number plate (aka trim tag, cowl tag, etc.) It is illegal to remove/alter/etc. in Oklahoma as of November of 2007 for 1953 through 1977 model year vehicles. See http://chevellestuff.net/misc/oklahoma_trim_tag_law.htm The protect-o-plate is a plate that came with your classic when it was new. It came in a cardboard pamphlet in your glovebox. It was used for warrantee purposes. It is coded for all the options on your car and thus can identify an SS for 69-72 when SS was simply an option. Other Chevelles 65-68 an SS can be identified in the VIN code. The Protect-O-Plate first appeared in 1965, so there would be no such thing for the 1964 model year. Only certain options were coded (not all options) and different years showed different options. Only in 1969 and 1970 can it be used to identify an SS-optioned Chevelle by looking at the original engine code since all 69-70 Chevelle SS-optioned Chevelles came with a performance-oriented 396 or 454 and that engine code is on the POP. When the SS option became more of a dress-up option than a performance one in 1971-72, both 350 engines as well as the 402 engine could be ordered with or without the SS option so the presence of these engine codes is not a way to tell; only the 454 engine in both 1971-72 were available with the SS option exclusively. The build sheets were sheets with all the specific cars options so the guys on the line knew how to build each individual car. They were to be thrown away after they were used but many guys simply stuffed them in the seats, doors, above the glove box or gas tank and anywhere else they could hide them. So if you can't find your build sheet it's because someone else did many years ago and tossed it or the guys on the line that day were doing their job correctly and disposing of your sheets correctly. These sheets have all your options on them and thus can identify a real 69-72 SS. There are other ways to identify an SS Chevelle from 69-72 such as unique paint codes, engines with matching VINs, W in the VIN of the 72's, etc. But the build sheet is the gold standard. Again, an engine with matching partial VIN stamped on them is not a way to tell 1971-1972 SS-optioned Chevelles as noted above. The generally accepted paperwork called a 'buildsheet' was used in Fremont as early as 1964. Other plants didn't begin using them until the 1969 model year. From 1964 (except for Fremont) through 1969, the paperwork used by workstations was BODY BROADCAST COPY and CHASSIS BROADCAST COPY sheets and has almost no information about options. See http://chevellestuff.net/1969/bs/kan/kan.htm for some 1969 examples of these sheets. Hope this clarifies a few things. Tony I didn't see a response to the message below but may have missed it. VIN plates have been around for years, at least as far back as 47 that I know of for Chevrolets and maybe earlier. ----- Original Message ----- From: Jim Thompson To: 'The Chevelle Mailing List' Sent: Friday, May 06, 2011 6:06 PM Subject: Re: [Chevelle-list] 69 chevelle My 65 does not have a plate on the door post. Just the plate on the firewall, I think they came later. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ No virus found in this message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 10.0.1325 / Virus Database: 1500/3622 - Release Date: 05/07/11
