13- vs. 17-character VINs

[dguy]

Well I'll be damned, I think I found a local wrecker yesterday who isn't an agressive crusher.  They seem to have a good inventory of domestics that go back at least to the early 80s.

I think I found a couple of Caddys in the yard which have the e-brake hardware we want.  Body style says 80s, and a visual on the rear calipers says that they have potential.  The height of the weeds both around and in the cars says that they've probably been there since the 80s too.   

...but both cars have 13-character VINs.   

I was going to run the VINs to verify the model years, howver not only am I having trouble finding any info on decoding 13-character VINs, but I could swear that 13-character VINs were superceeded by 17-character VINs in the 70s.   


Does anyone know how to take a 13-Character VIN apart, or know when GM would have stopped using them?

VIN #1: 6L57B9E600400
VIN #2: 6L47S70237698

[87GT]

Sorry, can't help with the VINs, but could you get the rebuilt hardware from a supplier like NAPA?

(calipers at least, the e-brake maybe)

[FieroBUZZ]

Well I'll be damned, I think I found a local wrecker yesterday who isn't an agressive crusher.  They seem to have a good inventory of domestics that go back at least to the early 80s.

Share with the class............   

[dguy]

Sorry, can't help with the VINs, but could you get the rebuilt hardware from a supplier like NAPA?

(calipers at least, the e-brake maybe)

From past experience, it's a crap shoot with aftermarket rebuilds as to whether or not the e-brake cable brackets will be there.  GM won't sell the hardware separately from the calipers either, but claims that their rebuilds will have the brackets & levers with them.  Problem is they want $125 per caliper...  I'll do it as a last resort, but the thought of spending $250 to get $20-worth of stamped metal annoys me.   

Worst case I'm planning on taking one of my rear calipers with me to the yard, and doing a visual on whether or not the Caddys I found have the appropriate pieces.

Share with the class............   

After Saturday, sure.  I found a mildly coveted Fiero item there, and don't want to give away my secret until I've had a chance to find out what they want for it.   

[dguy]

After Saturday, sure.  I found a mildly coveted Fiero item there, and don't want to give away my secret until I've had a chance to find out what they want for it.   

Survey says... ouch.   

Stephen's Auto Wreckers on Fernbank, about 5 minutes west of Stittsville.

They have five 84s there in various conditions; one of them has the "econo"/3.32/MY8 four-speed in it.  Buddy who runs the place thinks the tranny is worth $400, which is about double what I would have paid for it.

For anyone looking for non-Fiero parts, this place really doesn't seem to crush anything.  I found Caddys as old as the mid-70s while looking for brake parts... there's even older stuff further back in the yard.

[JetJumper]

wow, hes got a large spot!

http://maps.google.ca/...=18&om=1

A URL shouldn't need a 20,000 pixel wide screen, mkay?

[dguy]

Does anyone know how to take a 13-Character VIN apart, or know when GM would have stopped using them?

VIN #1: 6L57B9E600400
VIN #2: 6L47S70237698

The "trick" for this BTW...

With a 13-character VIN, the 6th digit is the year.  e.g. "9" = 1979, "7" = 1977, etc.
With a 17-character VIN, the 10th digit is the year.  e.g. "A" = 1980, "B" = 1981, etc.

[JetJumper]

wow, hes got a large spot!

http://maps.google.ca/...=18&om=1

A URL shouldn't need a 20,000 pixel wide screen, mkay?

Sorry!

I am using a 22" Wide Screen monitor, it looks fine on mine.    1680x1050