I have a 70 El Camino SS 396 that I've owned since 1973. I have always been under the impression, based on what the previous owner told me, that the transmission in it was not origional to the car. That it had been changed under warranty after a failure from frequently towing horses with it.

I'm not so sure. The date is too close to what it should be. I was browsing around on Dale's site last night, and found the stuff on TH400 tags. Here's a pic of mine (http://i462.photobucket.com/albums/qq350/DaveP6999/ElCaminodocumentation007.jpg). That's a "CF" which is correct (350H.P.)The color on my tag was yellow, but came off years ago in the jet-washer when the trans was overhauled.

Here are my questions.
>where are some locations for the VIN stamping on a 1970 TH 400? (Mine is not stamped on the LH side adjacent to the electrical connector).

>Does anyone have an idea of how the "transmission serial number" is assigned? Most of the examples on Dale's site have low numbers. For as many TH400s as were used in the 60s-70's these numbers almost look like they could be a daily serial number. Ie, starts over at zero each day.

>My trans ser # is 25482. That seems like a lot of production for one day, so it messes up my hypothesis above.

> My trans date is 460. = April 5, 1970. My Engine date is 4-20-70, and my Van Nuys assy date is May 04. So the trans is older than the car, which is OK, right?:p What is a general lead-time for trans date to veh date in 1970?

I'd love to find a vin on the trans, but it's been out of the car several times over the years, I'm pretty good at this kind of stuff, and I've never found one. So my final question is: Is there always a VIN stamping on the trans from Van Nuys?

Thanks for the time,
Dave
http://www.chevelles.com/forums/%5BIMG%5Dhttp://i462.photobucket.com/albums/qq350/DaveP6999/ElCaminodocumentation007.jpg%5B/IMG%5D

Dave, I sent you a PM.

Bryon:

I sent you two back. Sorry. I didn't have "save a copy to sent items" checked.

Thanks for the interest.
Dave

I've seen them stamped on the drivers side by the electrical connector as you say, and also along the top edge of the bellhousing flange.

Dave, it sounds like the transmission could be the original one. Maybe they just rebuilt it under warranty rather than putting in a new unit.

The two locations mentioned are the only places I know of where it could be stamped. I suppose it is possible that it just never got stamped. If your engine is stamped down by the oil filter, you might check the area on the transmission close to that area. It might be there.

Thanks for the responses. I don't think the trans got VIN-stamped. My car was built on a Monday. The engine VIN has only the last three digits, and they are faint, and almost off the pad. The guy doing the engine probably just didn't do the trans, because he didn't care, or was hung-over, if it's indeed the same guy.

The date is too good a fit for this car. I'm going with it being the origional. Too coincidental to be this close on date, if it was replaced 2 years after the car was built.

Thanks again,
Dave