When i purchased my Vette, it had a colorado state issued vin #, the previous owner told me it was stolen and the vin plate was and is missing. I am having difficulties accurately determining what year i have. In my pursuit of restoring this beautiful car, the original vin number is becoming increasingly important. Somewhere i heard that the original vin # was stamped elsewere on the car. If this is true, could anyone enlighten me upon the location of this seemingly innocent yet vital number !

If you know the engine is original then the serial # of the car is stamped on the block. The build sheet, often discussed on the forums(do a search for "Build sheet") would definatly have the VIN. I can't remember for sure, but would the door tag have a VIN on it? I can't think of anywhere else. Corvette Black Book would probably have more information than I do, and might also be able to identify features that would be on an 80 and not an 81.

Scot

Forgot to add! WELCOME TO THE FORUMS!!

|UPDATED|12/18/2002 7:08:37 PM|/UPDATED|

Welcome to the forums!!. Well I know where the "police VIN" is located, but I don't know if that will help you. It is on eitther side of the frame, stamped into the frame, but it is on the top side of the frame. You would have to lift up the body to see it.
Forgot to mention, they are on the rear of the car near the rear wheels

|UPDATED|12/18/2002 8:18:42 PM|/UPDATED|

Welcome,
There is also a vin on a sticker on the drivers side door. Sometimes these survive repaints. Also you can see the frame vin with a mirror. I believe it is just forward of the drivers side rear tire
Good luck.

Alex

Dan

There is one way to tell without taking the body off the frame. 1980 Vettes did not have a computer or oxygen sensor, 1981-82 do. Of course there is an exception to this, the 1980 Cal. 305 cars have computers. The computer is located inside the storage compartment area behind the drivers seat. It would be a flat silver tin like box. You have to take out the storage tray and look towards the battery, it will be located under the lip of the rear deck between the storage compartment and battery. There are 3 relays also in the area but more behind the pasenger seat these are present in all cars. Also if you have an oxygen sensor, it will be located in the exhaust pipe of the left hand side of the engine its an 81 (the Cal 305 exception also applies with oxygen sensors).

Hope this helps if I find any other ways of telling them apart I'll let you know. Let me know what you find out.

Thanks Glenn

Also some differences btn 80 and 81:
* 80 had cruise and 81 had cruise with resume
* 80 no power seat and 81 had power seat
* 81 oil pressure gauge
tank sticker between the gas tank and behind the aluminum cross member above the spare tire carries......
I hope this information may be of some use....

Is there a trim "pad" riveted inside of the drivers door jamb? that would help us a lot too

Thanks for all the great input... I was told that the engine was replaced with an '81, so if the engine is not the original the numbers wont help, however, the computer(not there), cruse control(no restore) oil pressure and other ideas you have thrown at me have helped a great deal...
it does have 2 oil pressure guages (1 was added) but.. i found that the intrument panel has been replaced with an '81(the panel has a low fuel light that the 80 didnt come with) also the wiring behind the panel is missing a wire or two which is required by some check system (i suspect the computer((which i dont have)) requires this extra wireing) I havent checked the build sheet but i have found additional info on its location and possible condition and its now a top priority project this spring.

So I Thank all of you for all the help! I am proud to announce that Im NOW the owner of a slightly abused but soon to be restored 1980 Corvette (pitures to follow)

Thanks everyone..

Dan

I do have the assembly manual for thr 80 Vette. Its a bad copy as you can see from the copy I sent you of the computer location. But if you need something just let me know, and Ill copy the section from the manual. Actually you can still get them, they arn't expensive and are a great source of info. I'll be restoring my 80 for the rest of my life, but I do have a lot of info. You can also call GM and get a free restoration packeage. There is some info but its more bad copies. Still it is nice to get something free from GM! You will find any parts you get GM far from free!

Thanks Glenn