vin observations and questions

candyman · Posted: Tue Sep 02, 2008 8:06 pm Post subject: vin observations and questions

I am not sure how many of you are aware but, there is a vin# stamped to the chasis on a crossmember just behind passenger front tire on our vanagons. I always knew mine was there but it has been partially covered by years of grime and undercoating. Well, today I decided to clean up that area and check the numbers. Here is what I found the numbers match. Duh! Or do they? Well, it turns out the numbers match to a point. The first 4 match then 3 z's then the numbers match then another couple of z's then matching numbers to complete the vin #. My question is why the z's that don't match my numbers? Could it be that the z's were stamped to the chasis because the rest of the van was not decided on what it was finally supposed to be yet? Meaning when chasis was built it was still yet to be decided that my particular van was to be a syncro westphalia, that later would be assigned numbers that correspond to my actual vin# and not the chasis? Just an interesting observation. I guess the vin is code just like the mcodes on splittys is a total story to the bus. Any vin# detectives want to chime in here?

stevey88 · Posted: Wed Sep 03, 2008 8:57 am Post subject:

This is interesting. I can not find the numbers on mine. Can you post a picture of the cross-member ?
Thanks,
Steve
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Steve

87 Westfalia full camper 4 speed

devesvws · Posted: Wed Sep 03, 2008 8:59 am Post subject:

dmv has a book here in va that shows stamped vin# on cars. i think its a nada book. i was shocked just how many places are stamped on a vw. a lot more than you think. Shocked

candyman · Posted: Wed Sep 03, 2008 9:49 am Post subject:

candyman · Posted: Wed Sep 03, 2008 9:53 am Post subject:

iceracer · Posted: Wed Sep 03, 2008 12:05 pm Post subject:

Found mine on the crossmember after I had the van sandblasted due to ongoing restoration. Never thought to check it against the window plate and sticker but will do now. Mine is a syncro westy.
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86 Syncro Wolfsburg edition
63 Beetle (The Iceracer)

Witless Joe · Samba Member Joined: May 06, 2005 Posts: 460

Can anyone point out any other locations of the permanent VIN stamp on the chassis, besides the crossmember behind the front passenger wheel?

My crossmember has what looks to be a factory-cut 2" hole going straight through it, and unfortunately that effectively deleted the last six digits (ie. the "sequential production number") and also the right half of the "H" for "Hanover" from the VIN stamp there.

So my chassis VIN stamp shows the correct vehicle type, series, model and year, but not the sequential production number (which of course is still on the dashboard VIN tag).

I suspect that would not make customs agents happy if I took the van anywhere exotic, unless there's another chassis stamp somewhere else that I can point to.

kamzcab86

Sir Sam · Posted: Sat Jul 17, 2010 8:55 pm Post subject:

Thats pretty cool.

So where else do we find a vin? I know more modern vehicles I work on have them stamped in a million places. My Jeeps even have the vin printed on stickers on every body panel.

My nissan had the doortag vin, a radiator plate vin, and firewall vin, with another rumored above the gas tank.

So far this makes three that I know of for the van, seems like it would be pretty easy for someone to obscure those to steal a van, I feel like it would make sense to have a more hidden location.
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'91 Carat Westy

87' Syncro + '87 Westy conversion coming soon

keithwwalker · Samba Member Joined: May 30, 2005 Posts: 886

I don't know when they stopped it, but the ZZZ's are the chassis VIN and the complete VIN is on the dash.

I am Wildcat · Posted: Thu Apr 07, 2011 5:18 pm Post subject:

stevey88 · Posted: Thu Apr 07, 2011 5:40 pm Post subject:

On my 90 parts van, there is a plastic plate hidden on the left side of the inner bumper/impact barrier. it is sprayed over with the body paint. On my 87 Westy, there is a plate riveted behind the driver's seat vertically and covered by the carpet. You can only see it if you peel off the carpet that is glued over it. I still have not seen the VIN number on the cross member.
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Steve

87 Westfalia full camper 4 speed

kamzcab86 · Posted: Thu Apr 07, 2011 8:18 pm Post subject:

I am Wildcat · Posted: Fri Apr 08, 2011 10:46 am Post subject:

I think mine is too covered in dirt and grime to see. When I started scraping some of it away, some of it also looked like it could be the plastic looking undercoat on the van. Does that make sense? I was afraid to scrape too much away because I didn't want to remove it if I was indeed harming the undercoat in someway. Any suggestions?
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No more van. Wildcat has a new home.
1997 Land Rover Defender 90
2005 MB SL55 AMG
2014 Tesla Model S P85+

GMByers · Posted: Fri Apr 08, 2011 3:03 pm Post subject:

When I had my dash out of my doka, I added a dash VIN. I went to a trophy/plaque/engraving shop and had them make me a VIN plate. I drilled two holes and pop riveted it in place.

I plan to do the same with my double sliding door van.
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And then there were two...downsized to 83 Doka &
74 Thing.

I am Wildcat · Posted: Thu Apr 14, 2011 1:04 pm Post subject:

Any other ideas on VIN number locations?? I do not see one where kamzcab86 is showing in the photo and when my van was just in the shop, they couldn't locate a VIN number location that I could etch either!

He thought that there may be one stamped to the metal behind the headlights but they didn't see one there either. Any thoughts?
_________________
No more van. Wildcat has a new home.
1997 Land Rover Defender 90
2005 MB SL55 AMG
2014 Tesla Model S P85+

Ahwahnee · Posted: Thu Apr 14, 2011 3:47 pm Post subject:

I am Wildcat · Posted: Mon Apr 18, 2011 9:08 am Post subject:

Okay, last time I will bump this thread in hope of answers. Since my van isn't a factory Westy, that info doesn't help me. Any van owners, particularly those in Europe, that have any knowledge of VIN stamp locations, your knowledge would be greatly appreciated.
_________________
No more van. Wildcat has a new home.
1997 Land Rover Defender 90
2005 MB SL55 AMG
2014 Tesla Model S P85+

stevey88 · Posted: Mon Apr 18, 2011 9:24 am Post subject:

I posted this before. On my 90 parts van ( made in 10/89 ) located at the left front corner, there is a plastic plate covered with another plastic plastic plate and painted over with body paint. You need to remove the bumper to get access to it. In the picture, I just tape it at where I removed it.

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

_________________
Steve

87 Westfalia full camper 4 speed

I am Wildcat · Posted: Mon Apr 18, 2011 2:13 pm Post subject:

Thanks Steve! It looks like that VIN is flat as well, so I can't etch it which is what the DMV wants to see. It looks like I will have to submit several photos of the VIN locations without and etching and see what they say.
_________________
No more van. Wildcat has a new home.
1997 Land Rover Defender 90
2005 MB SL55 AMG
2014 Tesla Model S P85+


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