1979 10th anniversary Trans Ams, combining two of them to make one perfect!!

[General]

Hello all, I may have the opportunity to take two 1979 10th anniversary Trans Ams and combine the parts to make one excellent TA . One is a stick and the other is a automatic. I want to be certain however that I keep the main car CORRECT. If I keep the power , engine, tranny and rears together, what on the car is serialized to a specific vin?

Sorry I do not know much about this, I know there is a Vin number, a firewall plate, but what else is specific? Can any of these be moved from one to another? I would assume a Vin cannot be moved but I have no knowledge one way or the other. Once again it is a messy story that at some point need to clarify but what are some of the basics on the serialization of these cars?
Thanks Ike

 

[melsg5]

I guess it depends what you are really trying to do, something for yourself or are you considering collectiblilty down the road when you try to sell it. The engine block has a partial VIN and engine code. The tranmission usually also has a partial VIN on it. Beyond that when it comes to collectiblilty people can obtain data today from www.phs-online.com to get original paperwork and see what it came with from the factory. Items such as heads, alternator, manifolds have casting dates on them. Rears have axle codes. Hope that answers your question.

 

[General]

Melsg5, thanks for the response!!! I plan on keeping the drive trains and frames together and and intake. Sorry I should have been clearer.

The question has more to do with the bodies themselves. Does the main shell (sorry I am not sure of the term) have any other numbers that need to match? I know there is a firewall plate and the Vin plate by the dash, can these be moved from one to the other? Fenders bumpers doors I assume have no "matching numbers" but will they have date codes that will not match?
My thought is to take the best from both cars and restore one. eliminating some rust issues and avoiding repairing some sections. It would bascilly eliminate the need for any rust repairs and no "bondo". I like that idea but I don't want to do it and sacrifice authenticity.
Am I just going about his with the wrong frame of mind?
Thanks Ike

 

[melsg5]

sheet metal has no codes and the car is a uni-body so there is no separate frame, only a front subframe. so it doesnt sound like you are keeping the uni-body and power train together. There is also another VIN location near the heater box on the firewall.

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[General]

Melsg5, thanks for the clarification, so the unibody design will not let you separate out the chassis from the frame so that ends my thoughts and plans. I guess it time to move to plan B. Thanks Again for your help!!!Ike