C3: VIN in frame

[Rob M.]

Hi all,

What is the location of the stamped VIN in the frame of a C3 (69) car (if any stamp is applied) ?

greetings,
Rob.

[lyndon sharpton]

Re: C3: VIN in frame

not sure on 69, but on the other cars it is on driver side. on the rear wheel frame on the top.

[Chuck R.]

Re: C3: VIN in frame

Just in front of the driver's side # 3 mount as well as on the driver's side kickup just in front of the #4 mount.

Both sets are stamped pretty deep into the steel so they shouldn't be hard to locate unless the frame's shot.

Chuck

[Pat K.]

Re: C3: VIN in frame

How large is the stamping? Is it larger than what you'd see on the block?

[Jack H.]

Larger...yes!

Font on the frame isn't constrained by available stamping space. Characters are typically 1/2-inch (maybe larger) in both of the stamping locations....

[Pat K.]

Re: Larger...yes! - One last question

Where is it located on the frame? Top, Bottom, Outside, Inside?

[Jack H.]

Prior posts addressed this...

Look on top of the LH frame rail behind the driver's seat AND look on top of the LH frame rail kick-up over the LH rear wheel. The depth of individual frame stamps varied considerably from car to car and you'll often see 'hopper' impressions where the stamp is double/triple embossed with 'ghost' rebounds.

If the frame has a healthy surface scale, you might have to look VERY closely or use a grinder/sander to remove some of the surface scale to get down to bare metal. Trying to see/verify the frame stamp with the body on the chassis is, at best, a 50-50 proposition with an aged/original car.... So, I don't recommend wasting time looking for your frame's stamps unless you're in a body-off restoration mode.

[Robert E.]

Re: Larger...yes! - One last question

Pat,

As Chuck previously mentioned, it's on the driver's side kickup just in front of #4 mount. It is stamped on the top of the rail. It's probably better visable whith the wheel removed.

Robert

[Pat K.]

Thanks you! *NM*

[Chuck R.]

Re: Thanks you!

Pat, if I remember correctly, the numbers on my 68 frame are about 3/8" in height. I have a digital pic. but I cannot post it on this board.

Send me a personal e-mail and I'll fire it off to you if interested.

Regards,

Chuck

[Gary B.]

Frame numbers on my '66 are 0.250" tall *NM*

[John H.]

Re: Frame numbers on my '66 are 0.250" tall

They look like this (this is the one about 12" forward of the start of the kickup that can't be seen with the body on the frame):

[Wayne M.]

For C2 owners, location of rear stamping shifts ..

... sometime in model year 1965 (feedback from boardees is welcome), from on top of LH frame rail, approx. above shock mount bracket, backwards to just forward of the #4 (rear-most body) mount. Dealer selling me my late '65, 17 years ago, warned me that some NCRS types had unsuccessfully tried to locate the VIN frame derivative -- turns out they were looking in the wrong place.

[Rob M.]

Re: For C2 owners, location of rear stamping shift

So, do I understand correctly that it can't be seen without the body-off ?

greetings and thanks for all the feedback,
Rob.

[John H.]

Re: For C2 owners, location of rear stamping shift

Rob -

The one in the photo above can't, but the other one that's located on top of the frame forward of the #4 body mount can be seen with the body on the frame; take the wheel off, clean the top surface of the frame, and use a mirror. Sometimes helps to wipe some white shoe polish (or "White-Out") on that surface after cleaning it, then wipe off the excess, and the white will remain in the stamped characters and make it somewhat easier to read.