LET'S START FROM THE BEGINNING. YOU HAVE A COWL TAG DESIGNATING 1ST WEEK OF DECEMBER BUILD (12A) AND A NORWOOD SEQUENCE OF 130231. YOUR VIN IS 9N685148. 1969 WAS A LONG PRODUCTION YEAR WITH BUILDS IN DEC. 68 AND DEC 69. YOUR VIN SEQUENCE IS CAR NUMBER 185148 (STARTS AT 500000 FOR 1969. THIS JIVES WITH THE DECEMBER 69 BUILD (CHECK OUT PRODUCTION TOTALS IN YOUR RESEARCH). YOU SAY YOU CAN SEE A PRTIAL VIN DOWN LOW WITH N685???. IF YOU LOOK AT YOUR VIN THESE NUMBERS ARE PRESENT, THIS COULD BE REAL IF YOUR OBSERVATIONS ARE TRUE AND CORRECT. THE ONLY ODDITY I FIND IMMEDIATELY IS THE ENGINE WAS BUILT IN SEPT AND CAR BUILT IN DEC. THIS IS QUITE A SPREAD IN DATES, BUT NOT IMPOSSIBLE. DON'T FORGET, A LOT OF THESE ENGINES WERE BUILT AND 1970 INTRODUCTION WAS POSTPONED FOR A WHILE. ENGINES BUILT FAR AHEAD OF SLATED Z-28 ORDERS COULD BE VERY POSSIBLE IN THIS CONFUSING NIGHTMARE OF GM DEVELOPMENT. DON'T MISS THAT THESE CARS WERE BUILT IN NORWOOD AND LA (VAN NUYS). THE NOR SEQUENCE OF 130231 ALSO JIVES. LASTLY, THE REAREND IS NOT A BIG DEAL, LOTS OF THEM BROKE. NO AXLE HAD VIN NOTATION ANYWAY. HOPE THIS HELPS, ALL OF THESE ANSWERS CAN BE FOUND WITHIN THIS SITE WITH A LITTLE PATIENCE. DAVE
