hi i'm helping my brother out with his 69 chevelle. need help with decodeing cowl tag and if it could be a SS ST69 13637 BAL248520 BDY TR7555151 PNT BL171725 thanks alot:noway:

All this says is that is a 1969 Malibu built at Baltimore assembly plant with a (755) black vinyl bench seat and painted one color (51 51) Dusk Blue. Other than that, we are cannot even tell if it came with a V8 without knowing the 3 digit of the VIN, if its odd number (5) it came with a 6 cyl, even (6) number means a V8.

From 1969 up the SS was just an option like radio, white wall tires or A/C, it not coded anywhere on the car. To know the options you need original documentation such as the warranty card, invoice, window sticker or if lucky, you find the assembly plant build sheet left over from production hiding under some part.

.... cannot even tell if it came with a V8 without knowing the 3 digit of the VIN, if its odd number (5) it came with a 6 cyl, even (6) number means a V8......

V.I.N. numbers did not include engine info until 1972 -

Dan

But they ALWAYS did tell if the car came with a V8 or a 6 cyl. which is important if wondering about being an SS

how could a three speed or 4 speed come with a 6 cyl.

ya thats what i was told to by alot of 1969 chevelle owners.

how could a three speed or 4 speed come with a 6 cyl.

You could get a 3 spd with either the 6 or the 8.

You could not get a 4 spd with a 6.

A 3-speed manual was the base transmission for every engine, including the 396. There were various 3-speeds used but a 3-speed manual was still the base transmission. All automatic and 4-speed transmissions were optional in 1969. One exception might be the L78; it may have mandated either the (normally optional) 4-speed or TH400 over the base H,D. 3-speed.