Thread: Build sheet and other specific info

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Hey i was just wondering about a company that can research your car. There is a company that can give you a copy of your build sheet and a lot of other information on your specific car if your give them a vin number and i think around 150 bucks. I was just wondering if anyone knew where i could get a report on my car like that and what the name of the company was.

What information do you want to know?

If it was a GM, you call up a dealership parts dept, give them your vin and they send you some repro documentation, assembly sheets, maby build sheets if they can refrence it, basicly anything they have on your car, maby ford has a simmilar service.

Originally posted by Matt167
If it was a GM, you call up a dealership parts dept, give them your vin and they send you some repro documentation, assembly sheets, maby build sheets if they can refrence it, basicly anything they have on your car, maby ford has a simmilar service.

Matt, that's on late model cars over the last 15 years. Some organizations such as the Pontiac Historical group or the Studebaker Museum have access to build sheet information. Mopars have all their equipment stamped on a plate affixed to the radiator support or fenderwell.

The only thing the VIN (serial number) on a '57 T-Bird will tell you is which engine is original. There are 4 choices. The Patent Plate on the firewall will tell color, trim, and build date.

Now I doubt Ford has kept anything on these, but there may be an organization outside of Ford that may be the keeper of the data (but I doubt it).

Originally posted by Swifster
Matt, that's on late model cars over the last 15 years. Some organizations such as the Pontiac Historical group or the Studebaker Museum have access to build sheet information. Mopars have all their equipment stamped on a plate affixed to the radiator support or fenderwell.

The only thing the VIN (serial number) on a '57 T-Bird will tell you is which engine is original. There are 4 choices. The Patent Plate on the firewall will tell color, trim, and build date.

Now I doubt Ford has kept anything on these, but there may be an organization outside of Ford that may be the keeper of the data (but I doubt it).

I read on a site that they ( GM ) just need the vin for verification you own the car, and they send you everything for the car that the car decodes to ( like my '51 Chevy, being a JK vin code, would decode to a '51 Styleline or Fleetline Deluxe ) so they would give you all the information on that model car that they had, and it even said Restoration parts information. I guess it's not for the car you have specificly because the body tag holds the info.

Im looking for the information on a 1961 plymouth fury. I would like to know if there is any way to find the codes for the trim tag for that year. I was told it was a police car but it is a 2 door hard top and it has a 413 engine and push button 727 but i havent been able to find any sites with that engine as an option for 61 and i would just like to find out if it was possible for the 413 to be original. I havent purchased the car yet so i dont have the vin or the trim tag info yet but i am just wondering about any web sites or places where if i did get the car i could order something like the build sheet or documentation for it. Any info would be appreciated because these cars arent too popular so its hard to find anything. Thanks.

'61 Plymouth breaks down like this;

FIRST DIGIT: Identifies the car line

2 = Plymouth 6 Cyl.
3 = Plymouth 8 Cyl.

SECOND DIGIT: Identifies the series

1 = Savoy (no hardtop Savoys)
2 = Belvedere
3 = Fury
8 = Taxi
9 = Special/Police
0 = Fleet
There are others, but they are for wagons



THIRD DIGIT: Identifies the model year

1 = 1961

FOURTH DIGIT: Identifies the assembly plant

1 = Detroit, MI
2 = Detroit, MI
5 = Los Angeles, CA
6 = Newark, DE
7 = St. Louis, MO

LAST SIX DIGITS: Represents the basic production numbers.

Starting number 100001/up

If this is a former police car, the serial number should start;

'391'

Of course, there is nothing stopping a police agency from buying a car off the lot.

A Belvedere serial number would start;

'321'

The 'BDY' number on the data plate should be 322 for a Belvedere V-8 hardtop

The 'TRM' codes for a Belvedere;

Maize = 514
Black = 511
Blue = 511
Green = 512
Turquoise = 514
Silver = 511
Red = 514
Lavender = 514
White = 511
Beige = 513

Unsure why codes duplicate each other, but this does so on other lines as well. Trim on a Savoy starts '50X'. Belvederes are the only line to start '51X'

Paint Codes for all Plymouth models;

A = Maize
B = Jet Black
C = Robins Egg Blue
D = Air Force Blue Metallic
F = Mint Green
G = Emerald Green Metallic
K = Twilight Turquoise
L = Silver Gray Metallic
P = Cardinal Red Metallic
R = Coral
S = Lavender Metallic
W = Alpine White
Y = Fawn Beige
Z = Bronze Metallic


ENGINE NUMBERS: Engine numbers are stamped on the boss on the top right side of the cylinder block just behind the water pump. Engine numbers for 1961 cars start with R. Other years use different letters (example, 1962 start with 'S').

+ = Short Ram
* = Runner (?)
** = Long Ram

R-36 = 361 (305 HP)
R-38 = 383 (325 HP)
R-38* = 383 (330 HP 2-4BBL)
R-38** = 383 (330 HP 2-4BBL)
R-38+ = 383 (340 HP 2-4BBL)
R-41 = 413 (350 HP)
R-41+ = 413 (375 HP 2-4BBL)
R-41* = 413 (375 HP 2-4BBL)

These might also have 'SP' for Special Police or 'HP' for High Performance

I didn't bother with 318's or slant six as these engines are rather obvious.

My past experience has shown the serial number to also be stamped on the data plate, but my oldest car was a 1962 (Dodge Lancer). I would expect all V-8 cars with automatics to have cast iron 727 Torqueflites (with push buttons). Sixes would have a 904 Torqueflite.

I hope this helps. I would think if this is an ordered police car that it would be visible on the serial number and engine number. Police car or not, nothing wrong with a 413 powered Belvedere.

So when do I get my check???

That is some really great information, Tom, had to keep that for some of my Mopar friends. Thanks a bunch!!!!!