70 Ls-5 Engine Pad Stamping

[Michael B.]

Hi everyone, my question is on vin#s on engine pads on early as in jan. 1970 built tonawanda motors, should the vin# start with a letter C or # 1 and then the year 0 and S and 6 digit number and should that same number be stamped on the right side of the m-21 trans. thank you, for your help in clearing up this matter. michael biehl (48202)

[Terry M.]

Re: 70 Ls-5 Engine Pad Stamping

The answer depends on how early the VIN is. First week of 1970 production had the VIN stamped by the oil filter -- not on the stamp pad. You might want to check the 1970-1972 TIM&JG for the full story.

[Greg Y.]

Re: 70 Ls-5 Engine Pad Stamping

When did the production of 1970's start. I have VIN 00504 produced January 9th 1970. The Vin and engine production numbers are stamped on the engine pad.

[Terry M.]

Re: 70 Ls-5 Engine Pad Stamping

I don't have those records here at work, but off the top of my head REGULAR 1970 production started Jan 5. I don't have a 1970 calendar here either. I'll look when I get home.

[Michael B.]

Re: 70 Ls-5 Engine Pad Stamping

hi terry, thanks for the response i have a stamped pad,the car was built in feb. of 70 but the engine was built a month earlier and my question is should the vin# on the pad start with a"c"for chevrolet or a # 1 for chevrolet being the the division of GM or should a "c"and#1 be on the pad. I'm seeing a lot of different things out there and the 70-72 corvette technical info manual & judging guide is saying it should be 70 for 1970 which is correct for early 1970, any help will be greatly appreciated.. thank you, mike

[Terry M.]

Re: 70 Ls-5 Engine Pad Stamping

Michael,
To answer your original question ... In the 1970 model year we believe ALL Corvette VIN stamps begin with 70S4xxxxx Just like the TIM&JG says. If you find a 1970 starting with a C or a 1, I would very much like a good photo of the stamp and pad surface.

Greg,
REGULAR 1970 production started with a trim tag date of Jan 5 -- a Monday. The first record we have of REGULAR 1970 production with the VIN derivative on the pad is a Jan 8 trim tag date, however some Jan 8 dated cars could have had the VIN by the oil filter. Thus the statement in the TIM&JG that the first three to five days of 1970 production had the VIN derivative stamped by the oil filter. Since we haven't seen ALL of the first week of 1970 production, and we likely never will, we must hedge our statements a little.

[Greg Y.]

Re: 70 Ls-5 Engine Pad Stamping

Terry, Thank you for the great information. I knew that January was the first month of 1970 production, however I did not know the day. I now know that my car was produced during the first week of 1970 production.

[Michael M.]

Re: 70 Ls-5 Engine Pad Stamping

There is a lot of good 1970 Vette info here:

http://www.1970corvetteregistry.org/