VIN Derivative
All engines and transmissions are stamped or laser etched with a partial vehicle identification number (VIN), which was derived from the complete VIN. A VIN derivative contains the following nine positions.
VIN Derivative
| Position | Definition | Character | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | GM Division Identifier | 1 | Chevrolet |
| 2 | Model Year | 4 | 2004 |
| 3 | Assembly Plant | 9 | Oshawa #1, ON |
| 4-9 | Plant Sequence Number | - | - |
A VIN derivative can be used to determine if a vehicle contains the original engine or transmission, by matching the VIN derivative positions to their accompanying positions in the complete VIN.
VIN Positions
| VIN Derivative Position | Equivalent VIN Position |
|---|---|
| 1 | 3 |
| 2 | 10 |
| 3 | 11 |
| 4-9 | 12-17 |