<VV> VV> Decoding 1968/1969 engines' 9- digit mini-VIN

[Dave Leonard]

Charlie asks a good question on production-line processes.  I understood the
VIN was not assigned to the body until the unit moved into final assembly -
with the body and engine already completed.  I have a hard time believing
the engines were serialized before being united with the body, as it would
seem to be too hard to keep track of.  On the other hand, stamping the VIN
on the engine and trans must have been a pain to do at final assembly.  Did
the engine/trans actually get the VIN "first" then it was assigned to a
body?

Anyone know how it was done?

Dave

> 
> Date: Sun, 2 Sep 2012 19:36:56 -0700
> From: "Charlie" <chaz at properproper.com>
> Subject: <VV> Decoding 1968/1969 engines' 9- digit mini-VIN ~ leading
digit = "mfgr"
>
> Aahh!  Finally we struck pay dirt!
> The leading digit of the "engine VIN" is the leading digit of the "Vehicle
> ID #" ?
> VIN digits 2, 3, 4 and 5 are "series" and "body" (model & style) are not
on
> the block/case because that data is unknown at the time of the engine's
> assembly (the engine can be put in ~nearly~ any model/style of that
"line")?
>
> OK, now that makes sense, and almost worth a gazillion emails to drill
down
> to that useful bit of information!
>
> And from this, it seems the VIN is assigned to the engine BEFORE that VIN
> knows if it's a Monza or 500, a coupe or a convertible, or is that
timeline
> too much to infer?
>
> Are engines and bodies isomorphic, one-to-one, or do they make a pile of
> engines and bodies, causing some engines to be shelves as "parts"
> (un-installed in any car, when GM runs out of matching car bodies to use
> them)?
>
> Or is this to be files as TMI ?
>
> Charlie