Topic: Did they ever VIN stamp the W72 blocks differently at Van Nuys?

[bobg]

Two of my 79 w72 trans ams were built at Norwood, and my 3rd 79 w72 was built at Van Nuys. The 2 Norwood cars have the vin stamp in the usual spot down in the front near the timing chain cover. The Van Nuys car has the vin stamp on the r/front of the block just below the head, in the area to the left of the PWH stamp. Did they stamps blocks in this area on the assembly line, or could of it have been a service replacement that was stamped in that area? There are no stampings down by the timing chain cover.

[RENOVATIONS]

Probably just typical '70's laziness    ...and the fact that Van Nuys seemed to do (and not do at all) a lot of things differently from the Norwood plant

It would be stamped as such if it were a service replacement block

[bobg]

Thanks Jeff. I remember hearing thar Van Nuys did some things differently at times and wasn't sure if that was the case with my vin stamping.The numbers match the car, they are just not stamped in the normal spot.I guess that it is either that, or a service replacement was stamped and installed.

[jjr]

 I don't know about 1979, I have several 1980 and 1981 cars and all were
Van Nuys built. Every '80 and '81 301/301T I've checked does have the
partial vin stamped along the timing cover.

 Joe

[bobg]

Ok thanks for checking. Maybe it is a service replacement that was stamped differently.

[80TAPaceCar]

Maybe it is a service replacement that was stamped differently.

Did they even VIN Stamp the service replacements?

Kev

[RENOVATIONS]

Not that I've ever been aware of...I don't believe they stamped them with anything other than "SR".

I have however heard of people (and some businesses) stamping/re-stamping blocks to match their car. I actually had this service offered to me once from a company in Wisconsin...I declined.

Not ethical IMO

[bobg]

I don't know then.This car has been sitting for at least 15 years before I got it and needs a restoration.It is very original right down to the choke deflector plate on the carb.I believe I am the third owner.Paint is original and nothing looks to have ever been modified or tampered with.All numbers on heads, intake and carb are correct.The numbers on rear axle and trans are correct also.There are no signs of any stampings in the timing cover area where they normally are.There are no signs of any tampering in that area also.I would think if someone was going to go through the trouble to remove old numbers and restamp, they would do it in the common spot down near the timing cover.PWH stamp is in proper spot with nothing odd looking.Block is correct date coded W72 block.It is really weird, I wish I knew the story of the vin stamping on it.

[80TAPaceCar]

I would probably just say that Van Nuys was in a different spot than Norwood.

I'm employed by a wallboard plant and although we have to have the same markings on our board as the rest of our sister wallboard plants, they are not in the same place.  I do that on purpose, as I'm in charge of the programming for that part of the manufacturing!

Kev

[bobg]

I am hoping that it just happened to be stamped there for whatever reason at Van Nuys.I am not sure if it does or doesn't hurt the value of the car being stamped there instead of the usual spot.Everything on the car is all numbers match and correct.

[80TAPaceCar]

One of my PC's was built at Van Nuys, I will try to look this weekend to see where it is located.

Kev

[jjr]

 Every service replacment block I've ever seen had a large and
obvious SR on it.

 Joe

[bobg]

I was over on TAC browsing the W72 forum section and found a post on finding a Viv and some of the posts referred to seeing a vin stampings up closer to the engine code area on some blocks. Maybe there are a few others out there like mine.I don't think they mentioned what plants the blocks were originated from.

[ta78w72]

They had to stamp the vin at the factory once they knew the vin of the car the engine was going into, so it's possible that someone stamped it in a different place.  I don't think it's a big deal.

[y88rick]

my 78's vin from van nuys was behind the timing chain cover. with it on, you couldnt even see it. thats the only one i have ever seen like that, so my guess it they figured if it was in the correct general area then it was "good enough" maybe thats how they got the name "general motors"