Funny,factory has two bare shells,one gets tags for a lowly slant six,the other a Hemi and suddenly one is a highly sought after,the other just a low dollar turd yet they both started out exactly the same.
No the two bodies are not the same. Some very specific Hemi only parts in the frame work of the Hemi car. They only made 50 of the Hemi's for example versus maybe 5000 of the slant 6 cars. Hence the difference in value. Moving the Hemi tags and numbers to the slant 6 body devalues the remaining 49 Hemi cars.
Davtona's statement is correct IMO. It all starts when the car is ordered when a VIN is assigned and Body-In-White hangs or attaches a data tag WITH the VIN on the tag. Then Body-In-White stamps the "hidden" radiator support and drip rail serial numbers. The engine and transmission also get matching numbers stamped and that I think happens very early in the assembly process too and matched to the BIW body. Most of that is done well before the dash and dash VIN plate are ever installed or attached. There's a lot that has to be done or considered the very day the car's order is placed and a VIN assigned and whether it is ordered by a dealer or manufacture (sales bank, media, fleet, etc.,) A Hemi or V8 I don't think bolts up to a /6 k-frame or A/C works with a heater only firewall, or bucket seats or console mounts to a bench seat floor pan. Or dual exhausts have the driver's side exhaust hanger holes or..........on and on. All of the car's identity is created at the time of the order and it is what it is on that day including the VIN. Carry on, better yet OP go get a PA State issued VIN plate and restore it and drive it and be done with this madness.
