my first post so i will say hello all. trying to figure this one out wich seems to be almost imposible from what ive read on these boards. here goes cowl tag plate. 1st line-ST 13637 BAL 133915 BDY . 2ND LINE- TR 756 10 10 PNT . 3RD LINE-10D B L043897 . also even though that does not inform me if it is a SS what are some tell tale signs besides 3/8 fuel line with 1/4 return, power disc brakes, big rag joint, rear trailing arms, rad support 4 bolts, 2 bump hood, all SS emblems. i can not find build sheet looked doorpanels,fueltank,heaterbox,seats,and no luck with protectaplate at all what should be my next step to verify true SS. not original motor or trans but is a big block and turbo 400 trans. thanks for any info you can provide maybe you guys can point me in the next steps i must take. thanks again john

Welcome ! Read the decoding link just above your post and it expalains it all. Your first line 13637 indicates it's not a SS but instead a Malibu made in Baltimore.

In 69 13637 is a V8 Malibu, SS was an option!! Good luck, tough to prove it's an SS. Mike

1968 was the last year a SS was identified by the VIN (138xx). From 69-72, the SS was an option on the 136xx Malibu as Mike said. Does seem to have some of the SS optional equipment that most people wouldn't bother with when cloning like the rag joint and boxed trailing arms and possibly the fuel line. The rest are cosmetic and easily added.

One person who seems to know 69s passed this along (assuming the grille is original):
"This is what one reader has found out from his research. There were 4 different Grills sold for the 1969 Chevelle. One is the Malibu grill with a center bar that is about ½ inch out from the grill and is flat with holes to mount a center bar trim piece. This grill is also used on the SS except was blacked out on the SS grill. The bars are silver like the Malibu. There was also what I call the "300" grill sold that has the center bar about 1 inch out from the grill and no holes for the center trim. This came in silver/black for the "300" and blacked out for the "300" SS. All 4 grills have 2 holes to mount a center emblem. The correct Malibu or SS grill has not been available for many years. When you bought a grill since the mid 80’s they give you the "300" grill and tell you to paint it for an SS and drill the holes for the trim. The problem is that the grill center bar is not made to mount the trim piece. The trim sticks out about 1.5 inches from the grill when mounted on the "300" grill. It looks OK but is not correct. Many restored cars are like this today. Chevy stopped making the correct Malibu grill and only sold the 300 grill over the parts counter sometime in the 80s. I guess this was done because the 300 grill is a lot stronger with its thicker center bar."

the grill on the SS and Malibu are referred to as the "180 grill" b/c the last 3 digits are 180. They don't make them anymore.

actually i do have the grill also but the bracket is correct just didnt mention it in the above topic i posted and a few other things it has ... anything else parts wise that should also be there...and also i found today the turbo 400 switch at the gas pedal wich i hear is preety much the last part im looking for or am i missing some other things also ...anyway thanks for the info its greatly appreciated

Originally posted by 69ssmike:
In 69 13637 is a V8 Malibu, SS was an option!! Good luck, tough to prove it's an SS. Mike To clairify that, in 69 13637 is also the numbers on an SS

No sure way to prove or disprove what it was originally but sounds like it most likely was an SS.

one more question guys how can i prove if i go to sell the car 10 years down the road or maybe next year that this is one is there anything i can do like find original owner if so how do i do that im in need of direction .anything this numbers game is all new to me. performance wise im smart as a whip but this has me stumped am i hopeless i bought the car for an investment along with others i have but this chevelle is killing me cause i see all the right stuff and know it is one but without proof its just another look alike to me thats fine but on the marketplace thats a different story. and thanks again guys its much appreciated

Thanks Dean graemlins/thumbsup.gif Sounds like all the SS stuff is there,has this car had a recent resto?? Mike

No way to prove it now or 10 years from now without documentation.
Now IF you could trace down previous owners and get the original 396 engine with the VIN still stamped on it.
or
Have some proof made by some of those people that re stamp engines, make new-old looking "original" docs and such :rolleyes:
or
Have a new body tag made with one of the "SS only" paint codes stamped on it then paint it that color.
or
Find a build sheet

Have you looked on top of the gas tank?

no resto what so ever was painted and had a different 396 installed over 15 years ago besides that this things a virgin i paid alot of cash for this car because i know its a SS but without proof on paper its not ya know i never knew this 69 would be so much trouble to prove it now im starting to wonder if when i go to insure it without proof of true SS paperwork what wil its value be if it were stolen or totalled in a accident this is my # 1 priority to badge this car SS for life ... is there anything i can do i feel helpless

and yes i looked evry where gas tank heater box under all carpet and in all seat insulation even in headliner and doorpanels and decklid how to find the original owner i guess thats the new delema ? mmmmmmmm thanks again guys

Superwrench,what is a rag joint? What should the rag joints and the trailing arms look like on a 69SS?

Check here http://www.chevellestuff.com/69velle/misc_stuff.htm for Dean's photos of different 69 steering column "rag joints".

the big block rag joints are on your steering shaft under your hood they go to your steering box the small block 69 chevelles have pressed in styles (no bolts) while the big block ones are bolted to the shafts on both ends. the pics on the site are a little hard to see on the big block rag joint

If the trim tag show 2-tone paint that would automatically eliminate the possibility of being an SS right? AFAIK, all SS's were soild color.

totally false color means nothing if your trim tag said it was one of the 2 colors only available to SS then you have the right colour but without the p.o.p or buildsheet your still pissin in the wind.

Superwrench,

So if the trim tag says that the car is a 2 tone, the car could still be an SS?

from what i understand as a owner of an unducumented 69 SS because of no builsheet or p.o.p found in the car wich can be found but in mine it was not. ie: doorpanels,carpet,headliner,gastank even behind the heater box and headliner it is aa painfull process but if these papers are found they are the only thing that can legally document your car an SS i have every tell tale sign all brackets and acsseory available to a SS but without the paper its useless im trying to find the original owner now and hopefully he will have something that will help me with my venture for being able to hold a true SS emblem

two tone SS's were made

vinyl top SS's were made

IF a buyer wanted a different color top but not a vinyl top, that was ok