partial frame VIN/Cab VIN don't match question

[naphtali5725]

CFF395273 stamped twice in two different places on top of passenger side frame rail

my frame VIN and Cab VIN don't match...
to top it off... VIN tag has been removed/reattached in the past...

have to go thru redtape BS with DMV inspector

curious to what the frame went to, cab is an 86

thanks guys

[Keith Seymore]

C = Chevrolet
F = 1985 model year
F = Flint Assembly plant
395273 = sequential portion of VIN

[1963c-10]

Did you purchase the truck in NC? Out of state transactions to NC can be a pain in the rear. Had to do one on my 63 when I purchase it in SC last year. In state....much easier.

I do know when they came out to inspect the truck VINS.....my frame and cab ID had to match.

[naphtali5725]

yeah, i have talked to a DMV inspector, and he's coming to look at it next week... since the VIN's don't match and the VIN tag has been removed/reattached... i hope i'm not in a serious situation... like confiscation.

i do have a clear NC title since i bought/titled it here in NC. i do have the glove box sticker, and the VIN on it matches with the cowl tag

[naphtali5725]

if i have the truck in pieces... front clip, cab, bed.. and the frame sitting by itself... rails only, no front crossmember... if something was amiss, would they just take the cab, and or frame rails? or load all of it up (fenders, doors, bed, rear end, suspension etc. etc.)? even though none of it was put together(parts sitting in a garage so to speak)?

[1963c-10]

I don't know personally. But when they came to inspect my latest 63 that was added to the fleet I removed what I could just in case. I don't really know what their protocol is in situations like this.

I see your ex 82nd, are you still in Fayetteville area?

[hatzie]

I don't see how they could justify taking the whole shebang.
This is the gubmint we're talking about tho... Many times they just do things with no justification as long as they figure they will get away with it.

You can pretty well guess what the first third of the VIN might be if you have a VIN decoding card for 1985...
http://www.73-87chevytrucks.com/tech.../1985truck.pdf

There are only 3 digits we don't know. 5, 8, & 9.
--There are only 3 reasonable Valid 1/2ton Brake types for VIN Position 5 {C, D, & E}
--There are 9 possible stock engine letters for VIN position 8. C,J 6.2L - N 4.3L - F,N 5.0L - K 5.7LPG - L,M 5.7L - W 7.4L
--I'm not sure how the check digit VIN Position 9 was generated so that'll add 0-9 for 10 more possible VIN#s to the guess pool.

1GCCx14xxFF395273

It could be a handful of numbers using this as the base known numbers... Some will be invalid.

1GCCC14N3FF395273 is a valid VIN#
1GCCD14N3FF395273 & 1GCCE14N3FF395273 are invalid...

Get Carfax or some other VIN check subscription and run the handful you WAG.

[naphtali5725]

Originally Posted by hatzie

Get Carfax or some other VIN check subscription and run the handful you WAG.

what is a WAG?

[naphtali5725]

Originally Posted by 1963c-10

I don't know personally. But when they came to inspect my latest 63 that was added to the fleet I removed what I could just in case. I don't really know what their protocol is in situations like this.

I see your ex 82nd, are you still in Fayetteville area?

naa man, i left Fayettenam in 1998, when I ETS'd... loved Bragg, nothing like jumping outta airplanes LOL

i'm gonna take mine down to the bare frame, and cab separate... if all is well, won't take much at all to throw it back together

[Keith Seymore]

Originally Posted by naphtali5725

what is a WAG?

Wild azz guess.

K

[hatzie]

Originally Posted by naphtali5725

what is a WAG?

A Wild Guess... This is closer to an edumacated guess.

[68Timber]

I wouldn't have that motor attached to questionable parts (ie frame) when the inspector shows up. I know its extra work but I'd play it safe.

[UKNOWME]

How can they take anything? If you have a title to the cab. What if you bought a frame because the original was damaged?

[hatzie]

They can do anything they want. I agree. Make sure the cab and frame are not attached to anything of value.
There are other covert VIN #s on most rigs. I'm not sure where they are on the squares. Some cars have em stamped in the firewall, strut towers, or the radiator support.

[Gregski]

isn't the number on the engine part of the VIN, I did not catch what engine you have, but if the engine has a number that matches the frame then that should be enuff to register it I think, the cab you can call a replacement part sometimes the VIN plate gets lost during body work of the restoration process

[naphtali5725]

Originally Posted by BRUISER

I wouldn't have that motor attached to questionable parts (ie frame) when the inspector shows up. I know its extra work but I'd play it safe.

yeah, i'm pulling it all apart... nothing but frame rails laying there and the cab on the ground... what a load of crap...
it is what it is LOL

[andrewmp6]

As long as both vins come back clean and not stolen i don't think they will take your truck but who knows.It is the goverment they do some screwy things sometimes.

[naphtali5725]

Originally Posted by andrewmp6

As long as both vins come back clean and not stolen i don't think they will take your truck but who knows.It is the goverment they do some screwy things sometimes.

right, i'm not as worried about them being stolen, as i am the tampered VIN tag.

i'm sure it was totaled and they just a bunch of used parts and that VIN to make a complete vehicle.

i'm pulling it apart anyway for peace of mind

[Keith Seymore]

Originally Posted by hatzie

They can do anything they want. I agree. Make sure the cab and frame are not attached to anything of value.
There are other covert VIN #s on most rigs. I'm not sure where they are on the squares. Some cars have em stamped in the firewall, strut towers, or the radiator support.

Squares don't; just the one(s) on the frame. No additional VINs on the body (except for some Oshawa builds).


K

[hatzie]

Originally Posted by Keith Seymore

C = Chevrolet
F = 1985 model year
F = Flint Assembly plant
395273 = sequential portion of VIN

I'm curious about the sequential number. Correct me if I'm wrong... That number indicates this frame was to be used or was used on the 395,273rd light truck to roll off the Flint Assembly line in 1985?

If that means what I think it does then I was wrong in my assumption above... There could only be one VIN from the Flint assembly plant with that 6 digit sequential number????

If so I stumbled on it fairly quickly by just looking at the truck and guessing at the three missing digits.

[Keith Seymore]

Originally Posted by hatzie

I'm curious about the sequential number. Correct me if I'm wrong... That number indicates this frame was to be used or was used on the 395,273rd light truck to roll off the Flint Assembly line in 1985?

If that means what I think it does then I was wrong in my assumption above... There could only be one VIN from the Flint assembly plant with that 6 digit sequential number????

If so I stumbled on it fairly quickly by just looking at the truck and guessing at the three missing digits.

You are correct that there is only one unique VIN per vehicle, by law. There would be common sequence numbers coming out of the various assembly plants but the VIN prefix would make the number associated with each truck unique.

Example: I have in my records a Fremont built '65 GTO: 237375Z123456, and also a Pontiac built '65 GTO 237375P123456. Same sequential portion, different plant code.

You are not correct about this truck being the 395,273rd vehicle built. In the first place, it is likely that Flint built Chevrolet nameplated vehicles started at 300001. Secondly, Flint also built GMCs, approximately one out of every nine trucks, which incremented up with their own sequence.

So my guess would be 395,273 - 300001 = 95,272 + 10,585 GMCs = 105,857th or so vehicle produced for the 1985 model year.

K

[naphtali5725]

thnks for the info so far, appreciated...
i guess i'll be updating this thread next week... hopefully all will go well, at least i can share the experience, and post the right process to others here in NC

thanks Keith for all the cool info

i have the front clip/cab/bed all unbolted, gonna unbolt front crossmember, and the 4 leaf spring bolts and get down to only the frame rails...

oh yeah, after i pull the damn engine/tranny

stay tuned, wish me luck LOL

[hatzie]

Originally Posted by Keith Seymore

You are correct that there is only one unique VIN per vehicle, by law. There would be common sequence numbers coming out of the various assembly plants but the VIN prefeix would make the number associated with each truck unique.

Example: I have in my records a Fremont built '65 GTO: 237375Z123456, and also a Pontiac built '65 GTO 237375P123456. Same sequential portion, different plant code.

You are not correct about this truck being the 395,273rd vehicle built. In the first place, it is likely that Flint built Chevrolet nameplated vehicles started at 300001. Secondly, Flint also built GMCs, approximately one out of every nine trucks, which incremented up with their own sequence.

So my guess would be 395,273 - 300001 = 95,272 + 10,585 GMCs = 105,857th or so vehicle produced for the 1985 model year.

K

So there's only one valid VIN ending in FF395273...

1GCCC14N3FF395273 is the only VIN out of 8 I tried with that suffix that showed as valid. It was the first VIN I guessed too... Dang I'm good...

That's probably the whole VIN of the truck that was associated with that frame.

[naphtali5725]

one other question, the dash panel that the VIN tag is on, that is welded to the windshield area and bolts to each side of the cab. i removed the spot welds, and took out that whole piece, for repair near windshield, and to install my custom aluminum dash... is that considered tampering? LOL or just physically taking the tag rivets out is what constitutes tampering?

[UKNOWME]

Y'all have it tough. That stuff doesn't matter in my part of NM. I also have a title clerk at the dealership I work for if it was a problem she'd just handle it for me. We don't have inspectors come out to the vehicle at all.