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How to get the VIN# from the engine block

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Old 05-30-2005, 12:45 AM
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Default How to get the VIN# from the engine block

I did a search to find my VIN # from the engine block. The info I got was posted by LS1swap...

Actually you can tell the exact car the engine came out of. It is called a derivative vin. the first digit signifies 1 for chev 2 for pontiac. The second digit is the model year v for 97 w for 98 x for 99 y for 2000 and z for 2001( I am not sue what they did after that) the third digit is the assembly plant 2 for St. Therese ( where all f- bodies were built) I think y bodies are built in Detroit or bowling green. ( correct me if I am wrong). Bowleen green is 5 I don't know what Detroit is.. Digits 4-9 are plant sequence.
So if the third digit is 2. it is definitely out of an f-body the number is laser inscribed on the flange where the engine mounts to the trans on the drivers side. This is what they mean by numbers matching if the last 4-9 of the derivative vin match digits 12-17 of your actual vin it is numbers matching. Good luck in your search
here are some casting number ( located just under drivers side head)
12550592...350...97-up...crossbolted block, Gen.III, "LS1", aluminum
12559378...350...99-up...crossbolted block, Gen.III, "LS1", aluminum
12559846...350...98-up...crossbolted block, Gen.III, "LS1", aluminum
12560621...350...98-up...crossbolted block, Gen.III, "LS1", aluminum
12560629...350...99......crossbolted block, Gen.III, "LS1", aluminum
12561168...350...01-up...crossbolted block, Gen.III, "LS1", aluminum
12562174...350...98-up...crossbolted block, Gen.III, "LS1", aluminum
I can explain how to decode a vin I will use mine as an example. The regular vin goes as follows.
2G1FP22G0W2132624
Digit sequence
1 country of origin 1 for us 2 for Canada ( all f-bodies were made in canada)
2 manufacture G for GM ( all f or y bodies) ( y bodies are vettes)
3 division 1 for chevy 2 for pontiac
4-5 car line series YY for vettes and fp for camaro and fierbirds
6 Body style 2 for two door hatch 3 for convertible
7 restraint system 2 for drivers and passenger air bags ( all vetts and f bodies)
8 engine G for 5.7
9 check digit just insert a 0
10 model year v for 97 w for 98 x for 99 y for 2000 z for 2001
11 assembly plant 2 for all f-bodies 5 for y-bodies ( I think)
12-17 plant sequence
Derivative vin
1 position 3 of actual vin ( division)
2 position 10 of actual vin (model year)
3 position 11 of actual vin (assembly plant)
4-9 position 12-17 of actual vin ( plant sequence)

My derivative vin was 1 (so I knew it was a chevy) ( if it would have been 2 it would have been a pontiac) the second digit was W so I knew it was a 98. The third digit was 2 so I knew it was built in St. Therese Canada, and digits 4-9 were plant sequence.

So knowing that my actual vin would be
2 because I know it was built in St. Therese Canada
G because I know it is GM
1 because my first digit derivative vin told me so
FP because mine was out of an f-body once again because I know it was manufactured in St. Therese where all f- bodies are
2 because I guessed it was out of a hard top and not a convertible which would have been 3 instead
G because I know it is a 5.7 V8
0 Check digit ( I was told it is almost always 0)
W because my derivative vin told me it was a 98
2 because my derivative vin told me it was
132624 also because my derivative vin told me so

So it had to be 2G1FP22G0W2132624 if it was a hard top
Or 2G1FP32G0W2132624 if it was a convertible
Not too complicated LOL
Following this formula from my engine block # 2y2124139, I got VIN# 2g2fp22g0y2124139 for a non convertible car. I used this # on a carfax report and it was invalid. I did get a valid report for the car that I'm pretty sure the engine came from. It was VIN# 2G2FV22G2Y2124139. My question is...what does the "fv" mean in position 4 and 5? Also, my check digit (position 9) is a "2", not a "0". Anyone know why? Thanks.

P.S. The car is a 2000 Pontiac Firebird (T/A)

Last edited by chucklaw; 05-30-2005 at 12:53 AM.
Old 05-30-2005, 12:52 AM
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Well If You Have The Pcm From That Engine ..it Has The Vin Number In It ... I Think All F Bodys Had The 3rd Digit As A 1 ...most Likely Your Car Should Be A 2000 Ls1 Why Do You Need To Know ?
Old 05-30-2005, 12:58 AM
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Originally Posted by gEtyOPaPiOn
Well If You Have The Pcm From That Engine ..it Has The Vin Number In It ... I Think All F Bodys Had The 3rd Digit As A 1 ...most Likely Your Car Should Be A 2000 Ls1 Why Do You Need To Know ?
I bought the engine from a LS1tech member and he's starting to take money for parts and not ship them. I'm trying to make sure that the motor I bought is not stolen. I don't have access to a scanner, but I guess I could take the ECU to someone that has one.
What were to happen if the ECU is not from the original motor? Would a different VIN show up?
Old 05-30-2005, 01:02 AM
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the numbers on the block should match the last numbers of the pcm ...and the vin number...so you could tell right away if that computer is a non matching computer when hooking it up to a scanner ...as for stolen ...chp can tell you right away if you live in california ...i dont know about other states
Old 05-30-2005, 01:05 AM
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The car came from California, but I live in Nevada. The guy delivered the motor to me from Victorville.

Any CHP forum members in here???
Old 05-30-2005, 01:07 AM
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their website.... www.chp.ca.gov ....maybe you can do it over the phone
Old 05-30-2005, 01:08 AM
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I'll give it a try. I almost don't want to find out! I'll be out $3000.
Old 05-30-2005, 01:19 AM
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well its better to find out before and not when you get stop on a random traffic stop turned into a felony stop hehe .....do you have the whole motor ? did you pick it up from him or it was mailed to you ...may i ask what kind of car are you building ? ,,,i have a snap on scanner but you are no where close to me ..if not i would gladly help you out .
Old 05-30-2005, 01:30 AM
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I have the entire motor/4l60e trans. You're right about finding out now and not later. The guy actually dropped it off at my house. I took a copy of his license just in case, but that could be a fake too! Maybe I'm being too paranoid?
I'm building a 88 RX7 convertible.

http://members.***.net/chucklaw/RX7%20002.jpg
http://members.***.net/chucklaw/RX7%20017.jpg
http://members.***.net/chucklaw/RX7%20018.jpg
Old 05-30-2005, 01:41 AM
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well nice setup ....i doubt its stolen as it would be dumb trying to sell it on this website lol ...but you never know hehe
Old 05-30-2005, 01:44 AM
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Originally Posted by gEtyOPaPiOn
well nice setup ....i doubt its stolen as it would be dumb trying to sell it on this website lol ...but you never know hehe
He also listed it on ebay but it didn't sell. I was the only bidder and the reserve was not met. Thanks for the compliment!
Old 05-30-2005, 01:47 AM
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i wonder why he parted out the car ...maybe it was gonna get repo by the wife haha ....it looks like that person has problems with other people ...but others are happy
Old 05-30-2005, 10:35 AM
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Maybe best not to know. Seldom if ever will anyone check your block numbers to see if your engine came out of a stolen car. Besides, if it was stolen, you do realize they will keep it and you will be S.O.L. without an engine - AND THE COPS WON'T GIVE YOU YOUR MONEY BACK.
Old 05-30-2005, 12:40 PM
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The origin of the motor will never be questioned unless they have suspicions it may be stolen or if someone tips them off or something like that. If you bought the motor and it is what he says it is , year , miles etc and youre happy with it then stick it in the car and go. You will be hurting yourself if you let them run the #s and find it stolen.....you really shoulda done that before you bought it if it was a concern of yours.
Old 05-30-2005, 08:56 PM
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It wasn't a concern when I bought it. I checked him out on this forum and he seemed to be a good member. It's only become a worry for me lately, since he's taking people's money and not giving them the parts. Carfax says everything is fine. So I'll leave it at that! Thanks for all the help guys.
Old 06-28-2005, 02:36 PM
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I found this by the same guy, older thread but more clear, basically same sh!@. Ive had to go block shopping as of recently. Hope this helps.

By LS1swap

No problem all the info you will need is on the block, but it is not either of the numbers you have posted. You need the VIN derivative it is laser inscribed on the block. It is located on the side of the flange the opposite side that the starter mounts to. I will use mine as an example 1W2132624
1 represents GM division 1= chevy 2= pontiac
W represents model year in my case 98
2 represents assembly plant in my case St. Therese
The last six digests represent plant sequence
From this I was able to tell my was a chevy.....98 model year....built in st therese( all f bodies are).... And the last six digests of my actual vin are 132624

Vin derivative pos. Equivalent actual vin pos
1 3
2 10
3 11
4-9 12-17

So you start inserting these
X X 2 X X X X X X W 2 132624

Now to Finnish it up
The first digit of the vin represent country of origin 1= US
The second represent manufacture g = GM
The third represents division 1=chevy
The fourth and fifth represent car line yy= corvette fp = camaro
The six body type 2= hatch back 3 = convertible
The seventh restraint system 2= air bag and manual belts
The eighth engine g= LS1 I don't know the letter for LS6
The ninth is a check digit I used 0 and it worked for me
The tenth is model year v= 97 w=98 x=99 z= 2000 I don't know what they did after that
The eleventh is assembly plant from the derivative we know that is st therese in my case
The twelfth through seventeenth is plant sequence from the vin derivative we know that is 132624
1G1FP (just have to guess at this one I guessed 2 hatch back) 2G( I guessed 0 and it worked) W2132624
2G1FP22G0W2132624
I ran a car facts on this and it came up as a z28 camaro
Then I went into the dealer and had them run the vin to see what warranty work had been done
Hope this helps good luck
Old 06-28-2005, 08:27 PM
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You can take the last 8 digits of a VIN number to a GM dealer, and they can give you the whole VIN. I'll save you the trip and tell you that you got the VIN correct.

As for "FV",
The "F" represents "F-body", that should go without saying.
The "V" represents Formula & Trans Am as compared to "S" for Firebirds.

There is a formula used to derive the "check digit", to make it difficult to "fake" VIN numbers (a computer programmed with the formula can quickly detect bogus VINs). Changing one digit in the VIN will change the check digit.
Old 06-30-2005, 01:56 AM
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Originally Posted by SUPRYZE
You can take the last 8 digits of a VIN number to a GM dealer, and they can give you the whole VIN. I'll save you the trip and tell you that you got the VIN correct.

As for "FV",
The "F" represents "F-body", that should go without saying.
The "V" represents Formula & Trans Am as compared to "S" for Firebirds.

There is a formula used to derive the "check digit", to make it difficult to "fake" VIN numbers (a computer programmed with the formula can quickly detect bogus VINs). Changing one digit in the VIN will change the check digit.
Thanks for the info!



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