Factory Assembly VIN ?

Posted By: 71383beep

Factory Assembly VIN ? - 04/10/12 01:52 PM

I was looking at a 71 B Body the other day and the owner pointed out something very strange to me. He pointed out that to his knowledge the drivetrain was all original and it certainly appeared that way but the part VIN stamping on the motor and tranny (which matched) were a few hundred digits off of the VIN on the vehicle. They both had the same initial numbers at 1E106...but the last 3 digits were different.

I was wondering what the factory process was that could explain this. It sounds like a different motor and tranny were grabbed and placed on the k wherever the K frame sub assemblies were assembled. Is that possible? Or was the VIN stamped in after the sub assembly was installed?

The reason I ask is that the claim is #'s matching but they clearly don't. However, on the flip side how likely is it that a complete drivetrain from another closely matched VIN built from the same plant at about the same time is transplanted into the car?

Has anyone else encountered such a thing?

Posted By: burdar

Re: Factory Assembly VIN ? - 04/10/12 02:05 PM

The guy that stamped it probably set up the machine wrong. My VIN 159366 is stamped wrong on the trans.(I havn't looked at the block yet but I assume it's wrong too...the same punch was used) Mine says 159369.

Posted By: NV69B7RR

Re: Factory Assembly VIN ? - 04/10/12 02:53 PM

Were the last 3 #'s similar, or easy to transpose? Say 959 instead of 656? Anything is possible. I see its an early LA built car. There were some funky things going on with VIN stamping there, heres my trans#

Posted By: ScottSmith_Harms

Re: Factory Assembly VIN ? - 04/10/12 03:28 PM

Yes, LA cars are oddballs, I have a confirmed an original 71 340 4 speed Demon as original and numbers matching, the trans never got stamped at all! Another 1971 Demon trans stamping looked similar to the example above, not very readable but 100% authentic.

Mistakes like described by the original poster did happen. It makes authentication difficult but usually there are other clues to help determine the cars originallity.

Posted By: 71383beep

Re: Factory Assembly VIN ? - 04/10/12 06:19 PM

Okay so I am not the only one then.

So when were the numbers stamped in? I am imagining an assembly area where the motor and tranny are mated to the k and the whole thing is wheeled/hoisted etc over to the car. Is this about right? Do they punch numbers prior to the car, on the car, before going on the K?

For some reason I find this an intersting subject.

I am imagining that the guys assembling the car knew they needed a N code Auto w/ air grabber they go over to grab one and accidentally grab one for another car and hoist it in and that's that...switched numbers.

Why is LA such an oddball. I know they closed soon after the 71 models were done. Was QC a big issue there?

Posted By: burdar

Re: Factory Assembly VIN ? - 04/10/12 06:33 PM

The engine/trans, front suspension, driveshaft, rear axle, leaf springs and exhaust were all installed onto a cart and sent down the line. The bodies were up in the air on a conveyor and were dropped over the drivetrain assemblies.

The engine and trans were stamped after they were bolted together but probably before they were installed on the carts. Someone will correct me if I'm wrong. I still say the line worker didn't have the stamp setup right and got a few numbers wrong.

http://www.hamtramck-historical.com/images/misc/robin2.jpg

Posted By: 71383beep

Re: Factory Assembly VIN ? - 04/10/12 07:38 PM

Quote:

The engine/trans, front suspension, driveshaft, rear axle, leaf springs and exhaust were all installed onto a cart and sent down the line. The bodies were up in the air on a conveyor and were dropped over the drivetrain assemblies.

The engine and trans were stamped after they were bolted together but probably before they were installed on the carts. Someone will correct me if I'm wrong. I still say the line worker didn't have the stamp setup right and got a few numbers wrong.

http://www.hamtramck-historical.com/images/misc/robin2.jpg

I see well that is interesting.

The issue with the mis stamped Vin is that the numbers are not even the same digits its 594 vs 170. The mis stamp you pointed out seems very likely where as this is not as much. That is why i am thinking the guy either forgot to change the stamp or maybe the motor and trans were intended for another 383 AG auto car.

Interesting!

Posted By: Ron69rr

Re: Factory Assembly VIN ? - 04/11/12 03:06 AM

Quote:

Quote:

The engine/trans, front suspension, driveshaft, rear axle, leaf springs and exhaust were all installed onto a cart and sent down the line. The bodies were up in the air on a conveyor and were dropped over the drivetrain assemblies.

The engine and trans were stamped after they were bolted together but probably before they were installed on the carts. Someone will correct me if I'm wrong. I still say the line worker didn't have the stamp setup right and got a few numbers wrong.

http://www.hamtramck-historical.com/images/misc/robin2.jpg

I see well that is interesting.

The issue with the mis stamped Vin is that the numbers are not even the same digits its 594 vs 170. The mis stamp you pointed out seems very likely where as this is not as much. That is why i am thinking the guy either forgot to change the stamp or maybe the motor and trans were intended for another 383 AG auto car.

Interesting!

What I find interesting is there is only 2 workers to put the unit together.

Posted By: NV69B7RR

Re: Factory Assembly VIN ? - 04/11/12 04:09 AM

Theres a 3rd guy in the picture.

Posted By: Anonymous

Post deleted by moparts - 04/11/12 04:10 AM

Posted By: autoxcuda

Re: Factory Assembly VIN ? - 04/11/12 04:42 AM

Troy just bought a 69 Swinger 340 built at the L.A. plant that has a numbers matching oil pan. Missed the block entirely.

I saw a 70 Hemi Cuda recently that they hit the VIN high on the casted part of the block. That's a Hamtramck built car.