shockrebuild

Is there anywhere on the frame or body that Oldsmobile punched in the vin number of car besides the dash vin plate? This is for a 1970 Cutlass 2 door.

Thanks

1969w3155

On the frame, on the drivers side, usually behind the drivers door.

shockrebuild

Is this on the outside facing the door/qtr panel?

Thanks

rcorrigan5

No, it's on top of the frame such that you pretty much have to remove the body from the frame to see it. There are derivatives of the VIN stamped into the engine block and the transmission, though, if those two items are still original to your car. On the block, the VIN derivative is stamped into a pad just below the #1 cylinder (forward most, driver side). If your block is original to the car, the first number on the VIN derivative will be a 3 (which means Oldsmobile), and the last 8 figures will be the same as the last 8 figures of your VIN. This pad is covered by a power steering bracket, however, and will be hard to see is there is an oily dirt build-up. It can be seen, though, if cleaned and observed by strategically placing a mirror and a flashlight.

That same VIN derivative will be stamped into the transmission casing on the driver side if your transmission is original to the car. It can be seen from underneath the car. As well, if there is an oily dirt build-up, it will have to be cleaned off to see the VIN derivative.

Randy C.

jharsh

Found mine stamped on the side of the frame rail just below the Drivers door. It is a 1970. It was stamped near the top edge.

joe_padavano

This question comes up a lot. Once again, there is only ONE complete VIN on the car - the VIN tag at the base of the windshield. Later model years will have the typed stick-on tag on the door jamb. The VIN derivative stamps on the block, trans, and frame are only nine of the 13 characters of the VIN. If you are asking because some DMV is telling you that you need two VINs to title or register the car, that is not possible. Cars that old do not have more than one complete VIN.

rcorrigan5

The driver door jamb stick-on tag started with model year 1970.

Randy C.

joe_padavano

It's still just a sticker...

4speed455

California DMV wanted the sticker on the door for my 70 Cutlass because it was an out of state transfer. Since it was missing they made me go to the highway patrol to have it verified. The cop who inspected it looked at the cowl tag, I guess since the body style matched he passed it. If I had to do it again I would just get a repro sticker before trying, I bet the DMV would pass it then.

rcorrigan5

It's a very frustrating thing. When my parents moved to Washington State in early 1971 and they relicensed their (now my) '68 4-4-2, the state made a mistake on the model year number in the VIN and called it a "B" instead of an "8". When I went to license it in 2007 after it was restored, I noted the problem with them (that they created the problem clear back in 1971) but I still had to go to a Washington State Patrol vehicle inspection depot some 20 miles away to get the car "inspected". It was supposed to take 6 weeks to get an appointment but I forced the issue and got an appointment the very next day. I got an old man inspector that was out for my throat and was headed towards not passing my 4-4-2 because it only had one VIN location that was visible. Fortunately for me, there was a younger WSP inspector in the building (who owned a '70 4-4-2!) that straightened out the situation and I was able to get it corrected. It just seems like there is always some trouble if you have to get an older vehicle inspected.

I agree with you that, if you would have attached a replacement door jamb sticker, they would have readily passed your car. I don't believe a lot of the inspectors know the difference.

Randy C.

2blu442

Well, I'm not sure the reason your needing to locate the vin derivative on the frame. But here's an old thread with photos of the frame stampings. John


https://classicoldsmobile.com/forums...ped-frame.html

Junkman

By 1970, GM was stamping the engine blocks with the VIN, and they also had hidden stamping usually somewhere else, that was not disclosed to anyone other than law enforcement. I know this for a fact.
Below is a link on YouTube that proves this point.




http://www.vintageautomotive.net/?tag=hidden-vin


Now, for obvious reasons, I am not going to disclose exactly where to look, but if you are doing a complete restoration, you will come across it with some diligent inspection. There are also books the L.E. use to tell the inspector where to look. Starting in 1981, the NHTSA required all cars to have a 17 digit VIN. There are also books that decipher the 17 digit VIN number giving greater detail about the vehicle.

joe_padavano

That's still not the VIN, it's a nine character VIN derivative, as described in prior posts. Count the number of characters in your you tube photo. There's no big secret about this. There is only one complete metal stamped 13 character VIN on a 1970 (the sticker on the door is neither metal nor permanent).

oldcutlass

This a good read even though it says Chevevlle it also covers the other divisions. Concealed vin# for frames are covered towards the end. This info has been hit and miss across model lines:
http://chevellestuff.net/qd/partial_vin.htm

joe_padavano

I've taken apart a lot of Cutlii and I've never seen any VIN derivatives stamped on the firewall like this.

oldcutlass

Joe you posted a reply before I had a chance to edit the following into my post above, "the info had been hit and miss across model lines".

shockrebuild

I did find vins on the firewall but for Chevelles and Camaros only