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Don't often get in on the passenger side

Posted: Wed Apr 29, 2020 8:27 am
by Saraphi
But I did yesterday - and noticed the RP number, neatly stencilled as it should be:-
IMG_20200429_092343.jpg
But according to the factory VIN details my RP should be 6834.
Any ideas as to what's going on?

Re: Don't often get in on the passenger side

Posted: Wed Apr 29, 2020 8:48 am
by citroenxm
Change of cooling fan housing.. Unless your useing the bin stencelled on the inner wing top..

Not sure if an rp and vin are matched for same day or not..

Re: Don't often get in on the passenger side

Posted: Wed Apr 29, 2020 9:04 am
by xmexclusive
What are the VIN's on the car and how are they marked.
The front main cooling frame is easily swapped complete with VIN plate.
The chassis VIN on early shells was stamped on the cross panel behind the engine.
On later shells it is stamped on the chassis rail half way down above the front wheel position.
The wing pressing edge shape was modified with a gap so that the stamped number showed.
Think that was drivers side on RHD cars (will check).
There were problems with both these stamping positions.
The early cross member stamping had a habit of rusting out very quickly.
So much so that Citroen issued a dealer procedure for legal restamping.
With the later side stamping all was fine unless the car got retro fitted with an earlier wing without the edge gap.
If that happens you have to remove the wing to read the chassis VIN.

Previous correspondence has identified that your car has an interesting and confusing mix of Mk 1 and Mk 2 components.
I would guess that somewhere in its history there was a significant repair using bits from two cars.
It would seem from that painted chassis ORGA that the earlier of the two chassis was used for the rebuild.
If so there should also be some evidence of a cross rail stamped VIN which I suspect will be earlier than the one on the fan panel.

Re: Don't often get in on the passenger side

Posted: Wed Apr 29, 2020 10:48 am
by Saraphi
I should have said - the only place I know to look for an RP number is on the passenger side door frame

Re: Don't often get in on the passenger side

Posted: Wed Apr 29, 2020 10:55 am
by White Exec
5476 = 6 Nov 1991 = S1
6834 = 26 July 1995 = S2

Re: Don't often get in on the passenger side

Posted: Thu Apr 30, 2020 4:39 am
by Saraphi
It seems I have 2 VINs.
The number on the Chassis Rail is as the Log Book, The Cooling Frame (VF7Y4TR0000TR0878) is a whole new ball game to me. Never noticed it before!
VIN Chassis Rail (Medium).jpg
VIN Cooling Frame (Medium).jpg
Chris, would it be possible for you to chase down the factory info sheets for this new number in my life please?

Re: Don't often get in on the passenger side

Posted: Thu Apr 30, 2020 6:42 am
by White Exec
Well, Rex, you may have three cars there . . .

1: The RP5476 (6 Nov 1991) on the silver door jamb above
Unless some other number; it usually has a 2-letter factory code as well, eg CJ xxxx.

2: VIN ending ...0878 Y4 saloon 2.9i V6 12v auto = RP6546 (11 Oct 1994) Error in RP number and build date corrected.
VF7Y4TR0000TR0878_RP6546.pdf


3: VIN ending ...5509 Y4 saloon 2.0i 135 auto = RP6834 (26 July 1995)
VF7Y4TV0000TV5509_RP6834.pdf

Re: Don't often get in on the passenger side

Posted: Thu Apr 30, 2020 7:00 am
by xantia_v6
Chris managed to transpose the orga digits from the V6 VIN, it should be 6546, 11 October 1994.

I would guess that the V6 VIN is from an Asian spec car (LHD) as it had "hot country" specification and was exclusive trim, but with no factory fitted radio.

Re: Don't often get in on the passenger side

Posted: Thu Apr 30, 2020 8:36 am
by xmexclusive
The factory code letters were only applied to cars made other than the main factory.

Re: Don't often get in on the passenger side

Posted: Thu Apr 30, 2020 9:55 am
by White Exec
RP number and build date put right. Sorry about that.
Interesting that the small aluminium plate on the slam panel only contains the VIN, and no other data (eg dimensions, weights).