Hitman's Pontiac Trans Am Forum

Trans Am Information => Trans Am Information => Topic started by: dazeakamike on April 14, 2006, 12:39:11 AM

Title: Alternate VIN locations
Post by: dazeakamike on April 14, 2006, 12:39:11 AM

I have an 80 firebird and i was wondering if anyone knew of any hidden VIN locations. I heard rumor that there is one on the right front side of the car, on top of the frame rail and one under the heater box.... i do not know how true this is. I found a number stamped into the body near the middle body bushing on the pass side... any ideas on what this number means ? The numbers look they were done with one of those punch style stamps... each nuber has a square around it.

Title: Alternate VIN locations
Post by: Hitman on April 14, 2006, 11:11:59 AM

There are four spots on your car that the VIN number is located.  The first is of course up on the dash visible through the windshield.  The second is on the engine on the lower passenger side of the block.  The third is on the transmission on the drivers side.  And the fourth is behind the heater box ( there is actually two back behind the heater box.... so does that count as 5?).  So that is the only places that you will find a VIN number for your car.

Title: Alternate VIN locations
Post by: Tin Indians Rule on April 14, 2006, 12:03:49 PM

I thought there was one on the top of the frame under the passengers side floorpan. I've never looked on the subframe to verify. Or, is that one of the two you mention behind the heater box? Just curious?

Title: Alternate VIN locations
Post by: dazeakamike on April 14, 2006, 08:47:53 PM

sweet.... motor gone... trans gone... will check around heater box i understand this is prob a noob question but do i have to pull it to see it ?

Title: Alternate VIN locations
Post by: Eagle 1 on April 16, 2006, 06:32:25 PM

Quote

will check around heater box i understand this is prob a noob question but do i have to pull it to see it ?

Yes, you will also have to remove the right side inner fender if you havent done so.

Title: vin numbers
Post by: Luv-my-78-TA on May 20, 2006, 02:21:08 AM

:roll:  :o

I purchased my 1978 trans am last summer. Would you look in the same place as quoted for the 1980?

Title: Alternate VIN locations
Post by: Gold78Spc on May 20, 2006, 08:18:26 AM

Yup, VIN locations on a 78 should be same as an 80

Title: Alternate VIN locations
Post by: Wallington on June 30, 2006, 09:16:16 AM

Probably been asked a million times....how can you check to see if your engine number matches? Is there a section of the serial number that should be the same as VIN or perhaps on the build sheet. My build sheet was found in bits so hard to make out half of it.
Ben

Title: Alternate VIN locations
Post by: eroc022 on June 30, 2006, 09:58:45 AM

not 100% sure but its supposed to be stamped onto the block...not the full thing just the like last 8 digits or something, (the body number)

Title: Alternate VIN locations
Post by: Wallington on July 01, 2006, 03:06:30 AM

Thanks for that, time to get out the degreaser and small mirror!
Ben

Title: Alternate VIN locations
Post by: Wallington on July 01, 2006, 03:13:00 AM

Wait a minute....is it a separate stamped number or is it the back half of the Engine number that should match the back half of the VIN number?
cheers,
Ben

Title: Alternate VIN locations
Post by: ta78w72 on July 01, 2006, 10:42:31 AM

It's just the last portion of the VIN that matches the numbers on the transmission and engine.  It's the sequence number.  Mine is 118002.  I've always wondered how they got all this to match during assembly.  It must be magic!  

If any of you guys pull the heater box to get the VIN, change the heater core and blower motor while you're at it.  Oh, and change the little orange vaccum line that comes out of the box becaue that gets brittle and breaks apart over time.

Title: Alternate VIN locations
Post by: Eagle 1 on July 01, 2006, 11:15:31 AM

The vin number on the engine is located on the front of the engine.  As you are looking at it from the front, it will be just to the left of the timing chain cover.  You will probably need a mirror and flashlight to see it.
Here is a picture of mine to help you visualize it.  You can see the timing chain on the right of the picture since I had my timing chain cover off when I took the picture.  However, it will NOT be necessary for you to remove the timing cover to see the vin number.  You will probably have to scrape off some paint and grime to see it.

(http://img165.imageshack.us/img165/640/picture0326cf.jpg)

Title: Alternate VIN locations
Post by: Wallington on July 02, 2006, 01:34:55 AM

Thanks Eagle 1,
I have an olds 403, is the location similar? Also, still trying to verify if the VIN on the engine is the same or separate to the engine number. I know from registration papers that the engine number and VIN don't match.
Ben

Title: Alternate VIN locations
Post by: Eagle 1 on July 02, 2006, 12:00:26 PM

Sorry, Im not sure about the Olds 403.  I would assume that it would be in the same location.   Let us know what you find.

Title: Alternate VIN locations
Post by: Hitman on July 02, 2006, 04:53:22 PM

The olds 4503 actually had a tag that was bolted on one of the bolts underneath the engine.  They did not have the VIN stamped on the bolck like the Pontiac motors did.

Title: Alternate VIN locations
Post by: Wallington on July 03, 2006, 02:22:05 AM

Found the Engine ID number and it is stamped onto a machined section on mine, behind the power steering pump. Numbers still don't look anything like what I have on the body VIN so assume it was changed at some point.
Ben