NEED HELP PLEASE - 1996 MT Tahoe VIN Needed!!!

[moby33]

Hello guys/gals...I'm in desperate need of help and hoping the members of this forum can provide some info.

In a nutshell, I've been trying to locate a VIN for a 1996 Tahoe, 4x4 w/ a 5.7L WITH Manual Transmission. The MT obviously has been the toughest challenge. The reason for the VIN is a long story that actually involves a 5.7 Tahoe engine as the heart of a '83 FJ40.

The history is that I purchased a completely restored 1983 Toyota FJ40 a little over a year ago from a gentleman in MI (don't shoot me for the FJ...I've owned 4 Tahoe’s over the years, currently have a '09 Tahoe and actually own the "Grandfather" of the Tahoe w/ my 1972 K5 Blazer).

At any rate, The FJ had been restored with a 5.7L Vortec that came out of a police interceptor Tahoe that was totaled. It was fitted to a NV4500 MT. I knew it would be a challenge to get the vehicle approved via the crazy CA BAR (Bur. of Automotive Repair) Ref, but also knew it was doable. Here I am 12+ months later, have jumped through a ton of obstacles and literally at the finish line to getting my vintage FJ CA approved.

The vehicle is running like a top, emissions are better than my '09 Tahoe and everything works as it should except the Ref has refused to pass my ECU flash because I didn't use a Tahoe MT code. The only way I can flash the proper code is to find a 1996 Tahoe 5.7 MT VIN...and many, many months later (and countless hours on the internet) to try and find a '96 MT Tahoe in order to use the VIN for the flash has come up empty.

I know Chevy made a MT '96 Tahoe, but they are very, very, very rare...it's turning out to be my Moby Dick.

So I'm pleading for help & hoping someone out there has (or knows of someone) that has a '96 MT Tahoe that they could share the VIN with me so I can once and for all re-flash my ECU and get my rig on the road once & for all.

Thanks in advance.

Cheers,
Kyle

 

[lesterl]

You dont need a VIN, you need a .BIN file.....

 

[lesterl]

IDK about the chevy dealership, but maybe they can flash it for ya..

 

[moby33]

You dont need a VIN, you need a .BIN file.....

IDK about the chevy dealership, but maybe they can flash it for ya..

Per the BAR Ref, the only vendor he will approve to do the work is via an official CA Chevrolet dealership (I previously had it flashed by an independent Nevada vendor) and they want a VIN. It's frustrating, but that's where I'm at. Cheers!

 

[lesterl]

But the CJ's VIN wont match the Chev VIN, if he is reading the PCM you need a chevy 5.7l MT .BIN to match what they are looking for.....

 

[moby33]

But the CJ's VIN wont match the Chev VIN, if he is reading the PCM you need a chevy 5.7l MT .BIN to match what they are looking for.....

Not a Jeep, we're talking Toyota (FJ)...but that point aside, believe me when I say a VIN is the last piece of the puzzle I need. Nothing more, nothing less. This isn't about FJ VINs & Chevy VINs matching up...it's a long story that literally has me pulling my hair out because the CA BAR Ref's have got to be some of the biggest A-holes I've ever dealt w/ (makes DMV employees look like jolly Santa's Helpers). BAR Refs = A bunch of power hungry gov't workers that love saying "No" just to hear themselves pulling the power-trip card.

To give an example, I "failed" & had to correct the fact that the exhaust pipes that route from the manifolds to the cats to the tailpipe were not the exact specs of a Tahoe. :whymewhyme:

Never mind the fact that the emissions passed w/ flying colors (new stock manifolds, cats, O2 sensors, mufflers & stainless pipes) and the exhaust met every safety/exit law on the CA books (it was a basic routing from manifolds to cats to muffler to rear exit)...the Ref literally didn't like the fact that the pipes that connected everything together were not an exact replica of a '96 Tahoe (which we all know is laughable because we're obviously talking about different frames, suspensions, axles etc...crazyville stuff). That's literally failing me because hollow pipe is 43" from manifold to cat when it should have been 52" (not the exact #'s...but you get my point). :Whoa:

No offense, but I could write books on the process and what CA BAR "fails" on throughout this process (stuff that literally means nothing in the way of a compliant emissions conversion)...but at this point in time I don't have the patients to relive even a 10th of the crazy hurdles I've had to jump to get to where I am.

Bottom line is my OP still holds (no matter how much it may not make sense from anyone else's seat). I'm looking for a '96 MT Tahoe VIN plain & simple...if you know of someone that has one great...I would really appreciate any help.

CA is a CRAZY state when it comes to emissions laws and ANY type of vehicle mod...tackling this type of post 1973 conversion has been a challenge to say the least, but at this point in time I'm literally at the finish line and have one last hurdle to overcome...you may not understand why (welcome to my world for the last 13 months)...but believe me when I say it's a must. Thanks.

 

[lesterl]

I agree with you there on CA, state is insane.... Sounds kinda like the runaround I got on my tahoe. Good luck.....