[JDiaz]

Hey guys!
I’m new to Pontiac & Tom recommended me to join here.
So I just purchased a 78 Trans Am from the east coast. Tried to register the car but the CHP needs to find another VIN number since it only has on the windshield.
Looks like they removed the one inside the drivers side inside the hood. Anyone knows where I can find a hidden VIN?
Thanks

[72projectbird]

There's one stamped into the firewall, passenger side behind the hvac box. Unfortunately you're not gonna see it without taking stuff apart, especially if it's an AC car.

[johnta1]

The one under the driver inside the hood is the cowltag and has nothing to the VIN. (has color of car and interior codes and body number, etc)



But as said the hidden VIN is hidden enough that some work would be needed.

[b-man]

Skip the CHP and California DMV BS and use a title service.

https://boulevardregistration.onuniverse.com/

[tom s]

Bart,I have used Quickplates in Huntington Beach with great success.Magnolia and Adams where Donuts Derilics is located.Tom

[JDiaz]

Originally Posted by b-man

Skip the CHP and California DMV BS and use a title service.

https://boulevardregistration.onuniverse.com/

Thanks but I screwed up & went to the dmv which they referred me to CHP for missing vin.
Dam sho

[JDiaz]

Originally Posted by johnta1

The one under the driver inside the hood is the cowltag and has nothing to the VIN. (has color of car and interior codes and body number, etc)



But as said the hidden VIN is hidden enough that some work would be needed.

Thanks for the info. Unfortunately the car has AC. Wow I got work to do lol

[b-man]

Originally Posted by JDiaz

Thanks but I screwed up & went to the dmv which they referred me to CHP for missing vin.
Dam sho

Just call Liz at Boulevard Registration and she’ll likely fix you up.

Once I had a car trailer that needed a VIN and one DMV was making things hard for me. Took my paperwork to a different DMV office in another city / county and they got it done.

[Maxthe222]

I don't live in the US, and even I know for certain, that is not a requirement. I had purchased two different 1978 Firebirds in Cali, a W50 Formula and WS6 T/A. One did not have a title, and I required one in order to export the car. I was able to have come organized almost immediately with no kind of inspection like that needed, and the car had not been registered in over 20 years. It's ridiculous for them to ask you to disassemble your car to find the secondary VIN, because I can already tell what would happen next. They will say the VIN on the firewall doesn't match, as it's actually a shortened version of the VIN. Many older vehicles didn't have secondary VIN locations, so this should not actually be the legal requirement. Get a second opinion, or have another DMV look at this because it doesn't make sense.

[Skip Fix]

I have been under my 78 since it was new and have never noticed one. I do want to think there was maybe a sticker in the door jab that had one-but started to de-laminate.

['ol Pinion head]

With AC box off, or at least the blower motor removed, shine a light onto the cowl on the outboard side of the round hole stamped into the cowl. That is the easist to view one on my '79 VanNuys built W72 T/A project. Believe on '80 VN builds there were two of the Con VIN's, one by the round hole, one up & down next to the large rectangular A/C hole.

[wheels]

I have a 78 and this is where my partial VIN is located. Passenger side where the EVAP case is mounted.

[Skip Fix]

So is it visible with the box still in place? Seems like to be of help to the DMV it should be hidden but visible.

['ol Pinion head]

Originally Posted by Skip Fix

So is it visible with the box still in place? Seems like to be of help to the DMV it should be hidden but visible.

It can be viewed but not after some careful disassembly. The factory AC equipped Van Nuys built '78-81 F-bodies will have two confidentials stamped into the cowl, one up & down along the big rectangular hole, just like posted by wheels. The other one is similarly gangstamped to the outboard side of the round hole that the blower motor centers over.

On a project car with the engine installed, & one the owner does not want to remove the hood & fender, one can carefully unbolt the bottom of the fender. Def keep track of the fender shims. Then remove all the 1/2" headed bolts for the fender tp the inner fender & core support bottom rail. With car carefully jacked up in the front & barely up on jack stands, the front pass side tire wheel can be removed. One can then get to the larger headed bolts that attach through the back of the inner fender to the small stamped steel brackets on the cowl. Inner fender can then be carefully pushed out & lowered down. Next, with long 1/4" drive extensions & a taped up swivel, one can unbolt & remove the blower motor pulling it towards the front some, setting it on top of the partially removed inner fender. Last, one can inspect using a flex head lighted inspection camera. Inspector should have a version of these. Harbor of Chinajunk has them too. One needs to look up and down on the outboard side of the round hole stamped into the cowl. The second partial VIN will be stamped in that spot, viewable sideways just like next to large rectangular AC hole.

On early '70 VN built F-bodies, a confidential VIN will be stamped left to right underneath the round hole in the cowl. On Norwood built cars I do not have any '77-81 partscars or projects, but will keep my eyes open.

[burd]

Trans has one, partial stamped into the pass side head front.

[tom s]

Is there not a 3rd one back on a unibody rail somewhere?Tom

[Don 79 TA]

dont know if its the same as my 79 but had the issue in NM.
i did a google search and there were a few things...
right near the heater blower motor, but it was upside down, so bring a light and mirror, and don't try to do it in 105 degrees right after the engine was turned off lol.... or.... maybe that is your best bet.... the guy was like i'm not sticking my head in there.....
if your AC is hooked up and all thats gonna be a chore to see, i don't recall if its possible to see through the fender vent???

engine block was supposed to have numbers too, but mine was swapped
something on the drivers side frame rail was another spot
or and one or two other places, but thats gonna mean taking things apart, if i recall

the other option here in nm was to go to the state police police facility to get checked
try searching on google for hidden 2nd gen VIN locations...... there was a time when this information was supposed to be..... shall we say.... known.....

[Don 79 TA]

Originally Posted by tom s

Is there not a 3rd one back on a unibody rail somewhere?Tom

i want to say yes but i believe (at least) on my 79 you'd have to have the subframe down?
or.... maybe i am thinking the body is stamped but you'd need to frame down to see????

[Maxthe222]

Originally Posted by tom s

Is there not a 3rd one back on a unibody rail somewhere?Tom

No, there is no third stamp on the frame rails anywhere.

[burd]

There’s one on the rail, I remember reading that.