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Finding the VINs on a 1st Gen Blazer

Huntermills

Huntermills

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Last year I bought a 71 Blazer to restore or build with my daughter,got it home got it register with DMV....all good. Turns out there is something henky with my VIN. My VIn starts with TKE182F509xxx. All badging on truck is Chevy or so it seems. Chevy Blazers start with a CKE but mine starts with a TKE like the Jimmy and the next part of my vin indicates it is a 72 not a 71. DMV is no help, CHP can only say it is not stolen AND it is a 72 GMC by the VIN. Of course CHPs want to take a look at it once it is off non-op to check out frame VIN. Long story to ask this simple question, where is the stamping for the Frame VIN and are there anymore places to check or cross check VINs on truck.
 
You won't find a VIN# stamped anywhere on the frame.

There is a number stamped into the frame, but I have no idea how it correlates to the model year or helps to prove anything about the origin of the truck. As far as I know on these old trucks the only place you will find the VIN is on the door jamb tag.

EDIT:

Here's an example of my 1972 frame stamping.... As you can see, it's not a "CKE" number sequence at all...


Frame%20Stamping.jpg




-G
 
Last edited:
thanks for the information

Greg72,
The CHP office stated it was on the frame BUT it is understandable he would not be knowledgeable about older trucks or for Blazers for that matter and that is the only reason why i posted the question. I thank you for the information, I will look for this stamping when I remove the body from the frame. Oh and I will be sure to use cross bracing on the doors before I remove the body as it seems to be the most offered advice by my fellow CK5-ers.:waytogo: Thanks for being such a great resource people, I have learned tons for scavenging the boards.
Sean
 
Huntermills said:
Greg72,
The CHP office stated it was on the frame BUT it is understandable he would not be knowledgeable about older trucks or for Blazers for that matter and that is the only reason why i posted the question. I thank you for the information, I will look for this stamping when I remove the body from the frame. Oh and I will be sure to use cross bracing on the doors before I remove the body as it seems to be the most offered advice by my fellow CK5-ers.:waytogo: Thanks for being such a great resource people, I have learned tons for scavenging the boards.
Sean
Click to expand...


No problemo! :waytogo:

You won't need to pull the body to find that stamping. It's right in the middle of the framerail on the outside edge.... Basically look below the door jamb area on the frame.... They tend to be pretty cruddy, so you might need a wire brush to clear away the oil and dirt.


-G
 
I guess I am just crazy but I have decided on a frame off restoration, maybe a resto-mod if I am really crazy so finding it will be no problem. I seem to have a lot more rust repair that I thought when I bought it by the Sacramento evening light. Thanks again for the assistance Ashman and Greg72. By the way I need to find myself one of those custom hood ornaments for my truck!:saweet:
 
I hunted all over my frame and could not find a # that had anything to do with the vin. Only things I found was the door jamb plate and the label on the trailing edge of the driver's door.
 
Supposedly GM did stamp the VIN on the frame,on the right hand rail on the top edge,not the flat part of the rail--somewhere between the area where the number shown above was stamped (which I think is a part number or assembly line reference maybe),and the motor mount crossmember.

We had a few state troopers come to the junkyard one day and they wanted to look at a '70 GMC Jimmy we had,to see if they could find a VIN on the frame,which was suspected of being stolen..they wouldn't let us watch or know if they found one--we couldn't see any..when I asked them where to look,because I owned 2 similar trucks and was curious,thats where they said to look..

I owned a '71 and '72 K5 and I couldn't find any trace of a VIN on my frames there,I did find the number like the one shown above ,that had no correlation to the VIN...all they had was the door post tags,and a sticker on the glove box door with the options list codes and the VIN and wheelbase listed..
So,I'd guess there might be quite a few first gens out there with swapped tags and glove box doors...the original engine is also supposed to have a partial VIN on its suffix also..(both of mine did!)..
 
thanks diesel4me, unfortunately the tag in the door is a replacement tag(go figure) and the glove box has no original build sheet as the truck has been repainted and quite poorly I might add. I will check the area you suggested when I get into this truck in the next few weeks.
 
This is where I found the numbers stamped on the frame of my '71........... and a pic of the door tag.....both are original to this vehicle.
The digits on the frame match the last 8 digits of the VIN......

IMG_0031.JPG

Location in relation to stearing gear
IMG_0034.JPG

Door VIN tag
IMG_0036.JPG

IMG_0031.JPG

IMG_0034.JPG

IMG_0036.JPG
 
Yep, was just gunna say how about over the steering box. Not sure about the SUVs but my '68 pick up has it there.

My numbers don't match though since the frame swap.
 
Good to know, i recently put headers on my 69' K5 and noticed numbers stamped on the frame and was stressed when my "all original" truck that I paid a premium for did not match the frame with the numbers in the glove box and door jam. I'll have to check by the steering box when I get home. Great info!!!
 
After much procrastination I have confirmed my VIN on the frame above the steering box. The first part of my 69' K-5 which is "BKE14" was not on the frame, but all the numbers that came after that were.
 
Hey!

Does anyone here ('69 - '72) have a VIN tag up in the windshield area? :dunno:

I've read that it is sometimes riveted to the dash pad, or the a-pillar on the drivers side. Allegedly, all vehicles built after 1968 have one. Not sure if this applies to trucks as well as passenger cars, but I can't recall ever seeing one.


-G
 
The '71 GMC K1500,"71 CST K5 Blazer and '72 K5 Blazer I had,only had the door jamb tag,and an "options" sticker on the glove box door with the VIN on it...nothing on the dash pad or up near the windshield--I think that didn't start till '73...
 
Newbie here :), sorry to intrude on this convo I did a search about the vin and this come up. here is my story: I just get a 72 k5 with no title just by a "bill of sale"...only to find out the vin on the body doesn't correlate with the chassis's numbers and also they were grinded and the CHP couldn't see what those number were. I was disappointed CHP officer told me, look! this thing looks like someone messed with it but if you can get another chassis with visible #s and same year come back and i can help. my questions is: should I go for it or just drop it and get me a another project with paper/title and make sure I can see both VIN and chassis numbers b4 I buy?

P.S. CHP used some sort of acids to be able to see those numbers on the chassis. he said they repainted it. he said "make sure if the chassis is painted to look for those numbers on the right side near motor mount otherwise someone is trying to hide something. he actually showed me where to look and I see A19971BLAZER posted pix :) thank you guys for any advise you can give...
 
zayne said:
Newbie here :), sorry to intrude on this convo I did a search about the vin and this come up. here is my story: I just get a 72 k5 with no title just by a "bill of sale"...only to find out the vin on the body doesn't correlate with the chassis's numbers and also they were grinded and the CHP couldn't see what those number were. I was disappointed CHP officer told me, look! this thing looks like someone messed with it but if you can get another chassis with visible #s and same year come back and i can help. my questions is: should I go for it or just drop it and get me a another project with paper/title and make sure I can see both VIN and chassis numbers b4 I buy?

P.S. CHP used some sort of acids to be able to see those numbers on the chassis. he said they repainted it. he said "make sure if the chassis is painted to look for those numbers on the right side near motor mount otherwise someone is trying to hide something. he actually showed me where to look and I see A19971BLAZER posted pix :) thank you guys for any advise you can give...
Click to expand...


Zayne,

Sounds like you are about to go through hell.... welcome to CA, I guess.

When I was still living in CA, I bought a '69 K5 tub from a guy in Arizona (no frame)..... I got a bill of sale and no title (just like you) and called my local police department (not CHP) to do a "VIN Verification" on it. The guy was really nice and checked the VIN tag and filled out his paperwork. Obviously he didn't have a frame to look at but it didn't seem to matter all that much. I got his completed documents and took them to DMV and got it registered and titled.

If I were you, I'd try to find a friendly local PD guy to work with you on this. Obviously, this is a 50-year old truck..... it's not like there's a HUGE market for "stolen" Blazer parts so it seems ridiculous that they are scrutinizing the frame stampings, cleaning off paint, etc. and looking for some kind of nefarious plot or crime. The frame may very well have been swapped for a nicer one at some point.... the 1972 frame was a 1-year-only design with turndowns at the front and rear sections that allowed the bumpers to bolt on directly. 1969 - 1971 had a more "blunt" cut of the frame on both ends. If the truck was in an accident and was severely damaged it probably would have made sense to swap in a "used" frame vs. trying to salvage a really bent one.

In any case..... I'd find a local cop who is more willing to work with you. If they want you to swap in a "correct stamping" frame and they are strict about it, you CAN still find them around. Being in LA, your odds are better than most. There is a shop in Fremont CA that sold me a really clean and complete 1971 frame for $500. I'm sure you could find a place that specializes in old Chevy trucks that might have a stockpile of old, straight frames. The main thing is to keep working with that same officer throughout the process..... if you find a good "donor" frame, take photos of all the stampings and show them to the cop..... make sure it's what it required for him to signoff on the title paperwork. You don't want to waste your time doing a frame swap only to find out that he STILL refuses to sign off after all that effort.

Hopefully the body is in good shape so that it's worth all of this effort. :dunno:


-G
 
Man, what a pain in the ass! I hope I never have to deal with that. I'm almost positive that my frame isn't a '72 although the body is. I don't have the rear turndowns on my frame, although I guess it's possible someone just cut them off. I've never bothered to verify that the vin numbers match, mostly because I'd rather not know for sure. :) Luckily I have a title, and it's now registered as an antique so no more inspections for me... as long as I stay in Utah anyway.
 
Greg72 said:
Zayne,

Sounds like you are about to go through hell.... welcome to CA, I guess.

When I was still living in CA, I bought a '69 K5 tub from a guy in Arizona (no frame)..... I got a bill of sale and no title (just like you) and called my local police department (not CHP) to do a "VIN Verification" on it. The guy was really nice and checked the VIN tag and filled out his paperwork. Obviously he didn't have a frame to look at but it didn't seem to matter all that much. I got his completed documents and took them to DMV and got it registered and titled.

If I were you, I'd try to find a friendly local PD guy to work with you on this. Obviously, this is a 50-year old truck..... it's not like there's a HUGE market for "stolen" Blazer parts so it seems ridiculous that they are scrutinizing the frame stampings, cleaning off paint, etc. and looking for some kind of nefarious plot or crime. The frame may very well have been swapped for a nicer one at some point.... the 1972 frame was a 1-year-only design with turndowns at the front and rear sections that allowed the bumpers to bolt on directly. 1969 - 1971 had a more "blunt" cut of the frame on both ends. If the truck was in an accident and was severely damaged it probably would have made sense to swap in a "used" frame vs. trying to salvage a really bent one.

In any case..... I'd find a local cop who is more willing to work with you. If they want you to swap in a "correct stamping" frame and they are strict about it, you CAN still find them around. Being in LA, your odds are better than most. There is a shop in Fremont CA that sold me a really clean and complete 1971 frame for $500. I'm sure you could find a place that specializes in old Chevy trucks that might have a stockpile of old, straight frames. The main thing is to keep working with that same officer throughout the process..... if you find a good "donor" frame, take photos of all the stampings and show them to the cop..... make sure it's what it required for him to signoff on the title paperwork. You don't want to waste your time doing a frame swap only to find out that he STILL refuses to sign off after all that effort.

Hopefully the body is in good shape so that it's worth all of this effort. :dunno:


-G
Click to expand...
Thanks for the reply G,
I think they changed that now, I asked if I can get a PD do the inspections and the guy I know says DMV will only except it by CHP now :(. I found a frame for 500 today in Riverside CA I'm going this weekends to check it out get the number take it to CHP officer and hopefully likes it :). I also, found a 73 that I'm thinking of getting just incase this 72 frame doesn't work. Either way I'm not giving up...I just don't wanna get burned again lol.
 
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