13667
06-25-2005, 11:55 PM
I'm looking for a little help with the authenticity of a 1970 396/350HP Chevelle SS.
The car in question was made in GA, it has a 396/350 TH 400, etc. The vin tag matches the build sheet with the body code 13637 as well as the last 6 digits of the vin and the title matches the vin code. The number on the body tag matches the block on the build sheet that says seq number. Behind the right rear tire on the top side of the frame there is a number stamped that contains the last 6 numbers of the vin. I believe the numbers on the frame before the last 6 digits contain 0 and A and possibly 1, but it is difficult to see with the body jacked up only slightly off of the frame at this time. It appears to be stamped twice with the same number in two different directions on the frame.
The build sheet has a code that says "ZL3 SS 396 Conversion", is this normal for an SS 396 to say "conversion."
Here is where the question comes in, under the heater box on the firewall there is number stamped on the inside of the firewall that is inside the heater duct area. The number stamped in this area reads 13437Z19. I would expect it to begin with 13637 since it is V8 coupe as opposed to 13437.
The car was orignally painted a special paint code "927-99846 Green A.L." as noted on the build sheet. Build sheet also has "ZP3 Spcl Paint." I believe that this is citrus green. The car was formerly this green, inside the door jambs, everywhere it has traces of this green now covered in 73 corvette blue.
Another questionable area is the vin tag, it is riveted to the body in the normal location with star shaped rivets but the rivets appear to be in upside down. The star side is on the bottom and not on the top or visible side as is typical with modern cars. I never noticed this with the dash pad in place, I have noticed it now.
I spoke to the previous two owners and they say that the body has not been changed nor has the vin tag been removed and reinstalled. I've owned it for 20 years (1985), the previous owner bought it in 1977 and the owner before that bought it a while before 1977 from his brother in law and sold it when his work commute increased. All former owners that I spoke with said that the car was not wrecked, the body was not removed and replaced nor was there any significant damage to the car or frame.
I realize that this is not an LS6, L-78, or super rare car but it was my post-high-school car when I graduated in 1970.
Is there any chance that when the car was ordered in this color that GM grabbed a painted body shell and changed the vin and put it on top of a frame that was set up for the SS with F41 components, big fuel line, bigger sway bars? If this is the case they would have had to change the vin, and if they did change the vin in the plant would the car have had the windshield in place already causing them to put rivets in upside down? Are there other cases of rivets in upside down? Are there cases of the body code being stamped incorrectly in the firewall?
Did I get taken for a ride some 20 years ago? The car was fun when I drove it, it is stored now.
I enjoy the posts and the level of detail from the experts, I just signed up recently. Any help is appreciated.
The car in question was made in GA, it has a 396/350 TH 400, etc. The vin tag matches the build sheet with the body code 13637 as well as the last 6 digits of the vin and the title matches the vin code. The number on the body tag matches the block on the build sheet that says seq number. Behind the right rear tire on the top side of the frame there is a number stamped that contains the last 6 numbers of the vin. I believe the numbers on the frame before the last 6 digits contain 0 and A and possibly 1, but it is difficult to see with the body jacked up only slightly off of the frame at this time. It appears to be stamped twice with the same number in two different directions on the frame.
The build sheet has a code that says "ZL3 SS 396 Conversion", is this normal for an SS 396 to say "conversion."
Here is where the question comes in, under the heater box on the firewall there is number stamped on the inside of the firewall that is inside the heater duct area. The number stamped in this area reads 13437Z19. I would expect it to begin with 13637 since it is V8 coupe as opposed to 13437.
The car was orignally painted a special paint code "927-99846 Green A.L." as noted on the build sheet. Build sheet also has "ZP3 Spcl Paint." I believe that this is citrus green. The car was formerly this green, inside the door jambs, everywhere it has traces of this green now covered in 73 corvette blue.
Another questionable area is the vin tag, it is riveted to the body in the normal location with star shaped rivets but the rivets appear to be in upside down. The star side is on the bottom and not on the top or visible side as is typical with modern cars. I never noticed this with the dash pad in place, I have noticed it now.
I spoke to the previous two owners and they say that the body has not been changed nor has the vin tag been removed and reinstalled. I've owned it for 20 years (1985), the previous owner bought it in 1977 and the owner before that bought it a while before 1977 from his brother in law and sold it when his work commute increased. All former owners that I spoke with said that the car was not wrecked, the body was not removed and replaced nor was there any significant damage to the car or frame.
I realize that this is not an LS6, L-78, or super rare car but it was my post-high-school car when I graduated in 1970.
Is there any chance that when the car was ordered in this color that GM grabbed a painted body shell and changed the vin and put it on top of a frame that was set up for the SS with F41 components, big fuel line, bigger sway bars? If this is the case they would have had to change the vin, and if they did change the vin in the plant would the car have had the windshield in place already causing them to put rivets in upside down? Are there other cases of rivets in upside down? Are there cases of the body code being stamped incorrectly in the firewall?
Did I get taken for a ride some 20 years ago? The car was fun when I drove it, it is stored now.
I enjoy the posts and the level of detail from the experts, I just signed up recently. Any help is appreciated.