LOOKING AT A 1970 CHEVELLE FOR A FRIEND THE CAR IS SUPPOSED TO BE A SS 396 CAR BUT I HAVE NOT SEEEN IT EXCEPT PHOTOS HERE IS THE VIN 136370F185035 ANY HELP WITH OPTIONS WOULD BE GREAT

There is no way to tell from the VIN or trim tag if it is a true SS. The only way to prove it is a SS is with a build sheet or some other factory documentation.
James

If the car has the original engine check the numbers on the front pad to see if they match up with the VIN on the car.

jfkheat is correct!

1970 Chevelle
2 Door Coupe
Built at: Flint
Unit number: 185035

If you can, try to get the cowl tag. It will tell you about the options and such.

Note that a "1970 Chevelle" is either a "Malibu" OR an "SS"

Other clues to a true "SS" if the build sheet is not available (all can be "faked")
Rag Joint is different, I think bolted up on the SS.
Clear parking lamp covers
Round gauge cluster (idiot lights OR real gauges, but must be the round clusters)
Boxed lower rear control arms
Big Block Engine
Front Disk Brakes
Rear bumper pad
12 bolt rear axle
Cowl Hood (functional or not)
"SS" insignias inside and out
I don't think I missed any of the big items...

Note also that these cars are over 30 years old. Some of these items could have been replaced improperly, making a REAL SS not have all the correct parts anymore - the only real way to tell is with the build sheet, as already stated.

Originally posted by Xtreme70SS396:
Note that a "1970 Chevelle" is either a "Malibu" OR an "SS"

Other clues to a true "SS" if the build sheet is not available (all can be "faked")
Rag Joint is different, I think bolted up on the SS.
Clear parking lamp covers
Round gauge cluster (idiot lights OR real gauges, but must be the round clusters)
Boxed lower rear control arms
Big Block Engine
Front Disk Brakes
Rear bumper pad
12 bolt rear axle
Cowl Hood (functional or not)
"SS" insignias inside and out
I don't think I missed any of the big items...

Note also that these cars are over 30 years old. Some of these items could have been replaced improperly, making a REAL SS not have all the correct parts anymore - the only real way to tell is with the build sheet, as already stated. Extra rag joint bolt on big block cars, not just SS.

Disk brakes could be had on malibus

I believe boxed rear control arms was part F41 option, not standard on SS cars

In 1970 you could get BB without being SS. 402 engine was available in malibus.

I believe 12 bolt rear axle was standard on cars 300 hp and up to include small blocks.

Originally posted by BobFmTyler:
I believe boxed rear control arms was part F41 option, not standard on SS cars
F41 was standard in 70

See why you need the build sheet?? ;)

I don't think F41 was standard in '70 - it was standard on the SS only. I had an original malibu that didn't have it.

Originally posted by Xtreme70SS396:
Note that a "1970 Chevelle" is either a "Malibu" OR an "SS"

Other clues to a true "SS" if the build sheet is not available (all can be "faked")
Rag Joint is different, I think bolted up on the SS.
Clear parking lamp covers
Round gauge cluster (idiot lights OR real gauges, but must be the round clusters)
Boxed lower rear control arms
Big Block Engine
Front Disk Brakes
Rear bumper pad
12 bolt rear axle
Cowl Hood (functional or not)
"SS" insignias inside and out
I don't think I missed any of the big items...

Note also that these cars are over 30 years old. Some of these items could have been replaced improperly, making a REAL SS not have all the correct parts anymore - the only real way to tell is with the build sheet, as already stated. "SS" insignias inside and out, is not necessarily true. Depending on the build plant, some SS's reportedly have "Malibu" on the door panels. There was a long topic about it in the "Interiors" forum:

http://www.chevelles.com/cgi-bin/forum/ultimatebb.cgi/topic/21/3405.html?

Read the cowl tag, if it has the RPO Z25 you then have a Canadian built SS wih a 396. Check the vin #, if the seventh digit is a 1, it's a Canadian built Chevelle that can be further documented by GM Canada. The Line Tag (Canadian for Built Sheet) is 2 1/2" X 8 1/2." I found three of them, 2 under the rear seat and one behind the pasenger seat.

Canadian 70SS

Originally posted by Xtreme70SS396:
See why you need the build sheet?? ;)

I don't think F41 was standard in '70 - it was standard on the SS only. I had an original malibu that didn't have it. Sorry, I meant 70 SS

Originally posted by Xtreme70SS396:
Note that a "1970 Chevelle" is either a "Malibu" OR an "SS"
All 70 SS cars are Malibus. The SS option was just that, an option only available on the Malibu 2-dr sport coupe or convertible in 1970. From 1966 to 1968, the SS was a separate model from a Malibu although it was a *dressed up* Malibu, the SS model (138xx) was different from the Malibu (136xx).

FWIW, the last 6 digits of the VIN is the sequence built number of the car but the numbering for Chevelles started with 100001 in 1970 so subtract 100000 from the number. The Chevelle is the 85,035th Chevelle off the line at that particular plant.

If this car has the original engine -AND- the engine is an SS-only engine, then it is a true SS car. The SS only engines in 1970 were the 396/350, 396/375, and either 454. You have to keep in mind that engines can be re-stamped.