CRG Discussion Forum

Camaro Research Group Discussion => Decoding/Numbers => Topic started by: Fastcompany69 on July 27, 2009, 02:01:29 AM

Title: Strange VIN on orphan 69 L78 (?)
Post by: Fastcompany69 on July 27, 2009, 02:01:29 AM
Hello, sorry for barging in here but I have a JH code 396 with a strange VIN stamp near the bellhousing. The numbers read: 191... I thought the 1 was supposed to be an L, but it is clearly a one.

I didn't even know the engine had a VIN stamp at first because it was buried under paint and is kind of half-stamped. Any answers for a lowly Nova guy? LOL!

If you need more pics I can email to someone for resizing because they are not going through.
Title: Re: Strange VIN on orphan 69 L78 (?)
Post by: bcmiller on July 27, 2009, 02:21:41 AM
Looks like it could be OK.

Can you make it all out?  Is is something like 19L555192?

What is the date code on the front pad?

This is a 4 bolt main block with the large oil galley holes, right?
Title: Re: Strange VIN on orphan 69 L78 (?)
Post by: bcmiller on July 27, 2009, 02:22:42 AM
Sometimes you don't get a good stamping because of the roughness of the block surface.
Title: Re: Strange VIN on orphan 69 L78 (?)
Post by: KurtS on July 27, 2009, 02:49:53 AM
Can you send the pics to me? KurtS2@gmail.com
Can you include a pic of the pad too?

Thanks!
Title: Re: Strange VIN on orphan 69 L78 (?)
Post by: Fastcompany69 on July 27, 2009, 04:33:40 AM
The front pad stamping is: TO429JH 

Yes bcmiller, the block is a 4-bolt, large plugs on the side and the brass oil gauge fitting too. Inside is a 6223 crank, 3/8 bolt dimple rods and TRW 2242 pistons. Rebuilt in the 80's and never run; this is how I purchased it.

Thanks for the interest and fast replies everyone!
Title: Re: Strange VIN on orphan 69 L78 (?)
Post by: Mark on July 27, 2009, 10:54:08 AM
Last VIN on an LA built Camaro is 531163.  Can't be from an LA built Camaro.
Title: Re: Strange VIN on orphan 69 L78 (?)
Post by: bcmiller on July 27, 2009, 03:50:53 PM
If you could send me a picture of that area with the VIN stamp I would like to see it too.

bcmiller@creighton.edu
Title: Re: Strange VIN on orphan 69 L78 (?)
Post by: bcmiller on August 05, 2009, 04:44:36 PM
I never could figure out what the VIN was. 
Title: Re: Strange VIN on orphan 69 L78 (?)
Post by: Mark on August 05, 2009, 07:08:38 PM
It was 191355192  out of an Oshawa Canada built 69 Nova.
Title: Re: Strange VIN on orphan 69 L78 (?)
Post by: Fastcompany69 on August 06, 2009, 02:11:30 AM
Maybe the Mother, (Nova) to this orphan, (Engine) is still around.
Title: Re: Strange VIN on orphan 69 L78 (?)
Post by: KurtS on August 06, 2009, 06:01:54 AM
It was 191355192  out of an Oshawa Canada built 69 Nova.
I considered that, but can not find any souce that indicates St. Therese (or Oshawa) built any Nova's.
Title: Re: Strange VIN on orphan 69 L78 (?)
Post by: Fastcompany69 on August 09, 2009, 04:26:18 AM
So the mystery continues.......... :o
Title: Re: Strange VIN on orphan 69 L78 (?)
Post by: KurtS on August 09, 2009, 06:20:09 PM
My Nova buddy is baffled too. The pad is too late for that VIN (if the 1 was a W).
If that was 9N655092, that would almost make sense. Can you tell for sure what the digit is before the 55?
Title: Re: Strange VIN on orphan 69 L78 (?)
Post by: bcmiller on August 09, 2009, 09:50:50 PM
Right, if it was an N, that would tend to make more sense, but based on spacing it seems to be a 1.

OK, so I went back and took the "Joe Friday" approach to this.  What do we know?

JH code was supposedly only used for Camaro and Nova.

If the third stamped digit is a 1, then it would have to correlate with the Oshawa, Ontario Canada plant.

But from what we know, there were no Camaros or Novas produced at that plant.

JH was apparently not used for the Chevelle, and even if the stamping was 191355092 that still does not work
for a Chevelle (the JH code is not right for Chevelle either).

Full size cars ilke the Caprice were assembled at Oshawa, but nobody knows of any getting the JH engine.

Kurt, does anything look "disturbed" on the front pad stamping?   Do you think that mark between the 2 and the 9 is
just a contact mark?   I looked under high magnification and could not say anything looked "bad" on the front pad.
Title: Re: Strange VIN on orphan 69 L78 (?)
Post by: Fastcompany69 on August 10, 2009, 09:07:11 PM
I cannot be absolutlely sure of the digit. I can email every picture I have of the stamping but it is just tough to read; even with the naked eye.

Got an email from George Zapora at Vintage Vehicle Services and he says the engine is from an Oshawa-built Chevrolet product; but would need to do a VIN search to determine exactly what product.

Can't decide if I should spend the money on this or not.


I need to thank you guys again for your continued interest. This site is a huge source of exellent data!

AC.
Title: Re: Strange VIN on orphan 69 L78 (?)
Post by: Oregonjam on August 11, 2009, 06:11:07 PM
I would think that George Zapora will surely be able to give you an answer being that it is out of Canada. He is very helpful.

Just curious, what does GM charge for this now? $50 flat fee or a by the hour rate for research?
Title: Re: Strange VIN on orphan 69 L78 (?)
Post by: Fastcompany69 on August 12, 2009, 07:54:14 PM
The rate is $52.50 Canadian, which is going to fluctuate in relation to the US Dollar.
Title: Re: Strange VIN on orphan 69 L78 (?)
Post by: tar6569 on August 13, 2009, 12:26:56 AM
And they also charge a research fee to search for the vin (if no info is found on it).  It all used to be free... :(

Warren
Title: Re: Strange VIN on orphan 69 L78 (?)
Post by: Vintagez on September 22, 2009, 02:47:18 PM
I think I should update some info without this appearing as an advertisement. A history package from GM Canada is $57.75 CDN in general, a rush fax the same day if you need to know because maybe you are purchasing the car, is $10.50 extra. If no info is found I usually still send you the technical specs at no charge because I feel you should have something to read at least, but a minimum fee of $15.75 applies if we have no info. A search involves someone sitting on a microfilm reader for up to an hour getting their eyeballs sucked out of their heads.  ;) The hardest thing nowadays is dealing with old materials and equipment. The microfilm reader is over $1000 for a service call, toner is a killer for the old machine, and we must cover wages, computers, rent etc so unfortunately fees do apply, but I am sure that the increased value that has resulted from our packages on the many cars we have documented is well worth it.
It is difficult to answer your questions on the phone (905-440-7636) as we do many other things as well, but I do my best to respond to personal emails at george.zapora@cc.gm.ca
This is a great website and a good group, thanks for letting me be heard. By the way, on that JH engine ID, the vin sequence did not go as high as 355092 on the Chevelle line in 1969 at the Oshawa production plant.
Title: Re: Strange VIN on orphan 69 L78 (?)
Post by: KurtS on September 23, 2009, 04:18:11 AM
Thanks for posting the info George!