Friend of a friend may be selling his Chevelle. He has the build sheet somehwere but I have not seen it yet. Says it is an SS 396 with numbers correct engine and transmission. Pulled some codes tonight. Will post more when I see the build sheet. Is this a SS 396 car?

VIN:
136379Z355993

Cowl Tag:
69-13637BF28070
762B807171
06D486497120096

Engine:
T0514JK
53723550

You can't tell from the VIN and cowl tag numbers if a 69 is a SS or not. You need to see the build sheet to be sure.
James

The engine is coded correctly for a 69 396/325 w/TH400. Engine is dated 0514 (May 14) amd the body assembly date is June, 4th week. Is the '53723550' a casting or stamping? That's an odd number. :confused:

Check the front pad or the machined pad just rear of the oil filter boss for the partial VIN (http://www.chevellestuff.com/69velle/images/v8engine_stamp_location.jpg)...should read something like 19Z355993.

Is the car still Le Mans Blue (71 71) with a Dk. Blue Rior-Richmond Cloth bench seat interior (762)? Sounds like a pretty car!

The buildsheet will tell you if it's a real SS car or not. Be sure to check the body number on the buildsheet, it should match the '28070' on the body plate.

I know this is not the place to ask vehicle worth but seeing this may be my first investment in an older care, I will throw this out all the same.

Owner is a friend of a friend, going thru divorce. He's asking 12k, think he'll go 10.5k. Interior is original. Front seat needs work, drivers door panel needs replacement, rear driver side door panel needs replacement. Paint is about ten years old and still looks very good. Front driver side fender needs repair in lower section due to rot. Rear quarter at seem just below corner of rear window has a few thin, very small bubbles. Small chip in paint on the door where it meets the rear quarter. Other than those three spots the paint is almost perfect. Owner has original manifold, quadrajet and exhaust manifolds.

He has not produced the build sheet yet. If the build sheet cannot be found, how much value of the car is lost? What's it worth, with and without the build sheet?

Virtually guaranteed it's gonna be worth $10.5K. Decent small block Malibu's are bringing that money these days, so if it turns out to be a real SS396, that's just a bonus. Sounds like you won't get hurt on this car.

Any chance it has the Protecto-Plate (warranty card) in the glove box? That can provide information in lieu of a build sheet.

Guy selling said the previous owner had framed the build sheet for the car. Some of my friends have seen the framed build sheet. I'll ask about the Protecto-Plate.

I'm going over this week to take a closer look at the car. He said I can bring the car to a local shop and put it up on the hoist. That way I can easily pull numbers from the trans and rear diff as well.

Thanks for the help!

Steve

Here's info on ID http://www.chevelles.com/shop/ss_ident.html

Well, if the build sheet is available (i.e., not being held by the previous owner for ransom or sentimental purposes or something) and you're gonna look at it on a lift, I'd be taking $12K cash along with me. If it's the real thing and fairly solid underneath, that is a screamin' deal graemlins/thumbsup.gif

As of sunday, the car is finally in my garage. Build sheet matches the VIN and body codes. According to the build sheet it is an SS (Z25).

Will start digging further soon to verify more of the car. Looks like it still has the original shocks.

You may see much more of me since this is my first Chevelle...

Outstanding graemlins/hurray.gif graemlins/thumbsup.gif

You'll find plenty of help on here, so don't be afraid to ask questions. You are a step or three ahead already, since you have the build sheet. The original shocks have a spiral pattern stamped into the metal outer shell. They will also have a date code stamped into them around the bottom; may be visible if not too obscured or obliterated by rust.

And pictures - we LOVE pictures smile.gif

Steve,
Any chance this car came out of Lakeville? I do not know the car nor have I ever seen it but it sounds very nice. It heard about it through the rumor mill. Congrats on your purchase, welcome to TC and the best group of guys around.
Rick

Car has changed hands a few times since coming here from California. First MN owner appears to have been from Eagan, second was from Prior Lake, then Rosemount/Farmington. The car sat at a shop in Farmington for a bit last year. The owner was not interested in selling but was approached by many. I happened to be in the right place at the right time. Appears to have maybe 8000 miles since 1997.

Will eventually document owners, dates and locations of the car just for fun.

Per request, you can see some pics of the car here:
Photo Album (http://kickapooscout.com/gallery/69-Chevelle-SS-396)

Note: Click images for the next larger image or click slideshow in the upper right.

You stole that one. Nice car!

Steve,
I am normally not this verbal but......you suck! graemlins/thumbsup.gif Very nice car. I would like to see it in person some day soon. Do you think you will bring it to the Land O Lakes Muscle Car show?
Rick

If your talking about the show on top of the parking ramp, I'll probably be there. My neighbor was talking about going today.

The car needs a lot of attention before I bring it to a show. Though my neighbor said I would not feel out of place there.

Edit: Here's a link to the show for more info:
Link (http://www.autoswalk.com/aug614anlano.html)

Sweet car. Congratulations graemlins/thumbsup.gif

Steve,

The car looks great! Thanks for the pictures. You got yourself a screamin' deal. Cool to see a 69 SS396 with cloth & vinyl interior - most came with the optional all vinyl. Factory a/c is a nice plus, too smile.gif

If I may, some very minor constructive criticism: the panel between the tail lights is supposed to be painted semi-gloss black on the SS396, not body color. This is not unusual to see on repainted cars, as it is sometimes overlooked, or some people may prefer the looks of the body color.

Congrats again on a great find graemlins/thumbsup.gif

Bill--

Dean Ribich has asked me to bring the car over to his place next week so we can spend some time documenting the car. The most recent paint job appears to be about ten years old. Looks like it has been painted twice since new.

Dean is our accountant. Did not know he was into Chevelles until recently. He will be a great source for info.

There a many options for what I might do with the car. It really should be brought back to all original since it is so very close already. Problem is, I really want a day 2 car with upgraded suspension and etc.

Found what appears to be the black plate which was original to the car when it left the dealership in CA. Looks like the car was registered to the original owner in California until 94.

When I get everything straight and confirmed, maybe I'll post up if anyone is interested in that type of info.

This is going to be a lot of fun!

Steve,

Say hello to Dean for me graemlins/waving.gif Met him at Chevy Vette Fest in Chicago a couple years ago when he had his 'Benchmark' 70 LS6 car there. A great guy!

Hey, you can do suspension and engine upgrades and the like - it's your car, so do what makes you happy! Stuff like that is not irreversible, so it could always go back to stock if the urge ever got to you.

CA black plate for that car should start with a letter 'Y' or 'Z'.

Steve,

Excellent find graemlins/thumbsup.gif Thanks for posting the photo album.

Dean is our accountant. Did not know he was into Chevelles until recently. You must not have visited his office yet. Hard to miss his interests hanging on the wall. graemlins/thumbsup.gif

Bill--

Looking good. Black plate is "ZKJ-XXX".

smile.gif

Ok, more codes...

Build Sheet-Axle: CW-4
Axle Code: CW0515B (3.31 May 15)

Build Sheet-Trans: CC
Trans Code: CC-69-22959

Build Sheet Carb: EE
Carb Code: 29200 EE 1959

Getting better by the minute smile.gif

uh, wait...carb might not be original, but it's sure close. '1959' translates to the 195th day of 1969, which would be around July 13th :confused: '29200' is correct for a 325 hp 396 with T400.

The buildsheet will tell you if it's a real SS car or not. Be sure to check the body number on the buildsheet, it should match the '28070' on the body plate.
The way I read the Chevelle SS Identification (http://www.chevelles.com/shop/ss_ident.html) page is that big blocks were only available in SS cars in '69. If this is so, and the numbers match, would that not be sufficient proof of it being an original? I know this is a moot point for this thread, but I was just curious.

Originally posted by Neuman:
If this is so, and the numbers match, would that not be sufficient proof of it being an original? With the preponderance of restamped blocks in existence, I would need to see more proof than a block stamped with the VIN of the car before I was a true believer graemlins/sad.gif

With the preponderance of restamped blocks in existence, I would need to see more proof than a block stamped with the VIN of the car before I was a true believer Good point, but it seems that it would be very difficult to exactly match what an original engine VIN would look like. If you grind away the original and restamp, the VIN is on a smooth surface instead of the rough cast surface. If there's a way to properly "rough up" the block, I guess I'm just net deceptive enough to come up with it!! :rolleyes: