Aaron12873

Hi guys, I have a problem with my car it is missing the RPO tag in the center counsel and the tag on the door the vin says its a 1984 camaro... BUT what I think it is is a 1987 IROC-Z convertible ASC conversion the transmission #'s are 87' and it has the rear spoiler that continues into the door so I was wondering if there are any hidden vin's on the car that I can confirm something is funny with this car thanks alot Aaron

yo soy el warg

Look on the cross member in front of the radiator for a vin tag. Some have one there and some don't.

Aaron12873

mine doesn't have one!

Aaron12873

Mine doesn't have one

TTOP350

iTrader: (8)

I'm thinking there is one stamped in the firewall behind the A/C or heater box and there is also another stamped one hidden inside a rear frame rail.

Slater126

iTrader: (1)

They had stickers on many body parts with the VIN on it but I think your car's too early. I think those came out for 1985 and were phased out around 1989 or so. Those are nice because you can tell if a particular panel is original or replacement.

yo soy el warg

Keep looking and you'll find your vin on it somewhere. Like I said, some have it there and some don't. I was taking parts off an 82 yesterday and the vin by the windshield was gone, but the vin tag was on the center of the radiator cross member. I just looked at my 85, 88, 89, and 92 all have both vin tags. Does it look like one was removed from the top of the radiator brace?

yo soy el warg

Just thought of another place for you to look. Check under both seats for the interior build sheet which will have the vin, model type, interior colors, and many other items on it if it is still there. It is usually tucked under the tension springs holding the upholstery on the foam.

Aaron12873

Is that under the front seats and the heater box/ac unit is that from the inside or the engine compartment how bout the frame rail is that the front by the nose supports or the back where it bolts to the body thanks for all the info!!

yo soy el warg

The interior build sheet is usually under one of the front seats. I have a few around that have what tires and wheels went on the car, electric seats, split rear seats, even have one out of a GTA that lists the L98 engine on it too.

sofakingdom

iTrader: (1)

Under the lower left corner of the windshield, where the dash pad, A pillar, and windshield all come together.

That's THE tag. It doesn't lie. Not least because, it's essentially impossible to buy the correct fasteners to put it back on with; so it's "tamper-evident" to put it mildly.

mantaguy

iTrader: (5)

How about checking the TITLE.

TTOP350

iTrader: (8)

You can find them just about anywhere.. If you don't mind flirting with the law here you go..
http://www.google.com/search?q=roset...I7ADSA_enUS376

scottmoyer

If the car is an '87 as you believe, there will be VIN stickers on the inside of the front fenders that are visible through the engine compartment. There are also stickers inside the rear 1/4s, but you will need to remove the interior plastics to see them. If you don't see them on the front fenders or in the rear 1/4s, start thinking the car isn't an '87.

As was already mentioned, what's the VIN on the dash thru the windshield? That is THE location for the THE OFFICIAL VIN number

82RZ

The last 5 or 6 charactors of the VIN are stamped on metal parts in various locations on the car. This was a Federal Mandate to help law enforcement ID a stolen, wrecked, burnt or otherwise unidentifiable vehicle. This mandate began in the early 1960s.

Its called a 'VIN Derivative' and often can be seen on the Rad core support, lower quarter panels, door jambs at the 'A' pillar and the cowl panel area.

Using these numbers is the way the Feds ID'd the rented van that the Oklahoma City bomber used to cause such massive destruction and death a few years ago.

Aaron12873

The vin in the dash yea I got that one and the title too, but if you saw what I saw about the year you'd think different no stickers in the fenders or1/4's I also forgot to mention it has the 20th anniversary map bag on the dash, the transmission says 87 so the #'s are ground off the engine block the tag under the hood where it tells you smog stuff it will tell you a year and the last digit of that is scratched out also the door pads I had off and manufacture date said April 1986 and I sent the original radio out for repair and that said may of 1986 so I guess I have to find #'s else where thanks alot guys for everybody's help still need alot!!!

Aaron12873

Thanks I'll check there next

Aaron12873

Still working on finding the VINs I found one partial one on a sticker in a front fender but its partially scratched out. and the other fender its been ripped off so we can pretty much tell this car has a sketchy past cause the vin plate in the dash states it's a 1984 and i'm 99.9% sure its a 87' next step is to take it to the michigan state police auto theft division and do a tear down. I gave them the vin plate # and it comes back clean so we'll see what they find, but it wont be till spring when she comes back out of storage if any body else has any other ideas i'm open to anything right now cause its a 3 hour ride to lansing and could be all day while they tear down my baby

jermdm

Can you post pics of the car? Alot of us can tell what year the car is just by looking at some of the parts on the car like interior parts, engine compartment and general appearance of the exterior. To everybody else, isnt 87 the first year for the convertible as long as its a real one?

Aaron12873

I'd like to just can't figure it out I have tons on my smart phone but I guess I'm not smart enough can you guide me I know I'm pretty computer illiterate

jermdm

Not forsure how to post pics straight from an iphone since I dont own one. I'm sure you can though. Only way I can think of is to send the pics from your phone to your email. Download them to your computer and then when you reply to this thread, you attach them using the attach files icon in the additional options area when you type your reply. You can also check here for info. https://www.thirdgen.org/forums/faq-...t-picture.html

Aaron12873

I posted those pics I think to my profile or somewhere, im gonna check my profile and see and ill get back to ya.

Aaron12873

Ok, I posted those pics go to my profile page then my album there is 18 pics there if you dont see something or want a specific place or what you want me to take pics of i will thanks again for helping me. everybody on this site is so great and man it sure is nice for all you guys to take the time and help just like family I love it!!!

wrinkin

where you able to find the "hidden" VIN locations?

I just bought a 1991 on Craigslist here in Albuquerque. The title is a Washington title and the VIN plate matches the title, however, when I went to title the car, they perform a "VIN check" and the sticker in the door was missing. After reading this post and several others, I have searched the fendors, front bumper and rear quarters for stickers. There are none. I read a post somewhere where they said to remove the dash pad to reveal a hidden VIN, but I couldn't find one. I'm wondering if my car is stolen or not so I would like to find one place on the main body that can verify my VIN. Can anybody help? Provide pics? I've heard there is a VIN stamp behind the heater box but I don't want to remove that if I don't have too.

Oh, and there is a "plate" in front of the radiator, on top of the core support. The plate looks factory riveted and says, 04 4871 - doesn't match my VIN plate

wrinkin

Can you post a pic showing where the VIN number would be on the support?

Aaron12873

No I haven't found one yet but I haven't looked under the heater box yet is your RPO sticker gone in your center counsel and did you look under your front seats in the springs I guess they put a partial vin and build sheet there good luck let me know what you find

wrinkin

Can you post a pic of the location?

Aaron12873

My tag was missing on the rad support should be on top and 2 holes about 2 inches apart that's where the tag suppose to be.

wrinkin

The console contains the RPO sticker and I haven't pulled the seat yet, but because both of these parts can be removed and replaced, I'd like to find a VIN stamp on the body, just to verify and give me piece of mind.

Tuesday, if time permits, I will make an appt with the state police so they can perform the VIN check.

wrinkin

Here is a pic of the core support plate. Am I looking in the right location? If so, what do these numbers mean? do they represent a part of the VIN?

jermdm

Hey Aaron12873. I did a little looking around and found a listing on ebay for a car that is similar to yours. Your car is going to be an 87. Here is the ebay listing. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/Chevr...item2c69a7a0a6.

scottmoyer

wrinkin, that plate has absolutely nothing to do with the VIN. That was a factory assembly line designation plate. What's wrong with the VIN number see on the driver's side of the dash through the windshield. Nobody should look for a VIN to verify a car by looking at a door sticker. The factory stamped plate is the definitive ID of that car.

wrinkin

scottmoyer - because this car has an out of state title, NM needs to verify the VIN from the left side of the dash (VIN plate) and the "Nader" sticker on the door. Since the sticker on the door has been torn off, this car didn't pass the VIN verification.

I agree with you about the door sticker because the door can be replaced. The lady wouldn't even consider the RPO sticker in the console. Now I have to make an appointment with the state police so they can verify this VIN.

I'm looking for a place on the frame/chassis where the VIN is stamped, so that I can verify it before I make the appointment.

vjgillespie

There is a "hidden" vin number under the passenger fender. You have to remove the bolts along the top edge of the fender (where the hood closes) and peel the fender back. There is a vin number stamped in the rail. I know this due to a friend buying a stolen 1984 that someone had used as a trade in on a new car. The sherrif let us watch them go over the car since he had all the paperwork from the car lot that he had just bought the car from.

shr00m

iTrader: (2)

There's a partial VIN stamped on top of the passenger fender rail. It was on a 1985 TA I parted out and was used to get a new VIN issued for my 1992 TA.

With a mirror, flashlight, and your head in the battery tray (or airbox tray depending on year) you can see this with the fender installed. You will need to removed the fender liner to get the mirror in there.

Far shot shows the area. Close shot shows some numbers for detail. It's a partial vin, but shows that entire build number.

Kevin D.

Aaron12873

wrinkin if you get pics or the police let you know where these hidden VINs are please post pics if you can, it would be a great help, and then I can run that VIN so maybe just maybe I can staighten out my baby..

shr00m

iTrader: (2)

Hah. You posted while I was editing my pictures. If you read my reply, you do not have to remove the fender. It's not easy and you have to read it backwards, but it is doable.

Kevin D.

wrinkin

[QUOTE=shr00m;5422156]There's a partial VIN stamped on top of the passenger fender rail. It was on a 1985 TA I parted out and was used to get a new VIN issued for my 1992 TA.

With a mirror, flashlight, and your head in the battery tray (or airbox tray depending on year) you can see this with the fender installed. You will need to removed the fender liner to get the mirror in there.

Far shot shows the area. Close shot shows some numbers for detail. It's a partial vin, but shows that entire build number.

Kevin D.


Thank you vjgillespie! and Thank you shr00m! I was able to remove some bolts and find the last 8 of my VIN stamped under the passenger fender.

I removed all the top bolts, the inner fender liner (all push tabs and bolts), the two nuts that hold the ground fx to the fender (between the fender and chassis), the one inner fender bolt (between the fender and chassis)and the one bolt under the car. I will post pics to help show where the VIN is located.

wrinkin

Thanks again for all your help with this. I now know that my car is legit and that I can title it and finally build the Camaro that I've always dreamed about!!

Here is a pic - shows the location of the VIN stamp - its under the fender



And here is a pic of me pulling the fender back far enough to take a picture. The stamp shows the last 8 digits of my VIN - I blacked out the last three digits

Aaron12873

Nice job wrinkin, I was wondering if there is a spot where there maybe the beginning part of the VIN

wrinkin

Aaron12873 - I'd like to know that as well. Maybe others with more experience or others that have camaro's stripped in their garage could share?

shr00m

iTrader: (2)

Doubt there would be. No need. Thousands of units would have the same first digits, only one would have the same last digits.

Kevin D.

Aaron12873

I know shr00m but i'm trying piece my correct vin and the only digit I would have a problem finding is the check digit i think its digit # 9 thats the only reason

bergey2001

Hi, As I have a lot of the same questions, I did a little more looking on finding hidden VIN #s. I have an all original, unmolested, 83 Cross-Fire Z-28. I've owned this car for close to 30yrs, (2nd owner). I have always planned to completely restore it, as they are getting harder and harder to find stock. Unfortunatly being on the Oregon coast, even with it being covered, condensation has all but dissolved the VIN plate on the dash. Anyway, I was also looking for other places to find matching numbers to "verify" that it is a match to the title. The cowl tag on the radiator support, the numbers on the engine block AND the ones under the pass. side front fender, ALL match the last nine digits of the VIN #. Again, because both my dash tag and door tag was unreadable. Thank you to all that had usefull info. I just responded to this thread because the cowl tag DOES have a partial VIN # on it, along with "other" build info. Thanks again.

scottmoyer

The cowl tag does carry a partial VIN on the earlier third gens. This post was regarding a possible '87. In 1987, the cowl tag does not represent the VIN at all. Up to 1984, the cowl tag provided the partial VIN, seat options, paint codes and type, roof options along with build date and a few other items.

bergey2001

Thank you again. I apparently didn't catch the part that it was regarding an 87. I'm always looking for any info on the CFI Z-28. It's really too bad how many of these cars were basically ruined by people removing the CFI, in favor of a carb setup, or even swapping out the engine all together. I have ALWAYS been a huge fan of this setup... I guess I'm in the small group of people that has had nothing but GREAT experiences with it. Thanks. Kris

scottmoyer

I had an 82 CFI car in 1985. The car was in the dealer service department more than it was on the road. The issues with the engine weren't fixable by most dealers then as they didn't know how to fix it. Today, mechanics are different and understand the technology that they didn't understand then. Chevrolet offered to replace my CFI engine with another engine due to the issues I was having. Unfortunately, the offer to replace came one month after I traded the car in.

bergey2001

I have to say, I absolutely love my CFI car. I'm not sure if I just ended up with one that was put together by the right person at the right time, but I've never had a problem with it. It's never left me stranded or scratching my head about "gremlins" I've been into cars since a very early age and have always kept up on the " new tech". Maybe that has something to do with it. Although there is a little bit of aftermarket for these cars, there isn't enough as far as I'm concerned. If ANYONE out there has any info or any leads on finding CFI Camaro specific restoration parts, I would be really interested in finding out about it. There is all kinds of 3rd gen Camaro/Firebird parts and catalogs out there, but very little on the CFI cars. Thanks for any info I can get ahead of time. Kris