What mean these stickers?

[K-P Garage]

I saw someone else's post on sticker placement and in the course of finding pictures for them I came up with a question. The windshield sticker has two numbers on it, for example "J1-0958" and I understand that is part of the VIN( last four digits) There is another set of numbers and letters "ROT 2908". I have not gone back to look at the build book for this car to see if I can find out what these mean yet. I was wondering if anyone out there knew. We were at the Saleen SSV when our car was made and the pictures of cars in front of ours and behind it on the line do not have numbers in any sequence that I can tell. Just wondering? thanks, KO

 

[cobrajeff]

Kevin -

That is the "Rotation" number - sometime after the VIN was assigned, a "Rotation" number was assigned which represented the scheduled build sequence. Due to assembly issues and parts issues, even the Rotation numbers are not in exactly the same sequence that the cars were finished. The SVT package tells you the number within the model year build, the Rotation number represents the number in the entire (two Model Year) build.

Sorry I missed you at Waterford Lakes (I won some kind iof award, even though I had asked not to be judged?).

Jeff

 

[Specracer]

Hey Jeff, you know FAR more than me, but, I remember SSV showing us that the rotation was assigned before the vin. The rotation was established the second the frame came in the dock, and the book was started. The VIN followed later basically once the car was painted and the VIN tag was able to be installed, which was after the dash was in. Been a few years, but this is what I remember, but could be wrong.

 

[cobrajeff]

Andy -

I think we are talking two different scenarios here. I would agree that the VIN number is attached (and etched) into the car at later stages in vehicle assembly. However, I believe the VIN number itself is established by Ford when the vehicle order is created, and then a Rotation number is created later when the order is actually scheduled. So the shell runs through the assembly process with a Rotation number, and gets its already established VIN number applied at Saleen at the station where the dash (with VIN plate intact) is installed.

Jeff

 

[twobjshelbys]

Andy -

I think we are talking two different scenarios here. I would agree that the VIN number is attached (and etched) into the car at later stages in vehicle assembly. However, I believe the VIN number itself is established by Ford when the vehicle order is created, and then a Rotation number is created later when the order is actually scheduled. So the shell runs through the assembly process with a Rotation number, and gets its already established VIN number applied at Saleen at the station where the dash (with VIN plate intact) is installed.

Jeff

Aren't the VIN numbers etched in to certain body panels and stamped or laser etched on locations on the frame? How/when are those applied? (Indeed, this is a more global question in a volume assembly-line-based manufacturing process...

 

[PL510*Jeff]

Aren't the VIN numbers etched in to certain body panels and stamped or laser etched on locations on the frame? How/when are those applied? (Indeed, this is a more global question in a volume assembly-line-based manufacturing process...

As has been said prior - rot # was assigned without an initial relationship to the assingment of the vin#. There are many places that the vin's appear on components - in some pretty obscure places. Such as in the front and rear facia's, lower rocker panels, etc. Metal items have the stamped into the item, and the poly pieces have a "label" imbedded into them. And of course there are some electronic vin's in place too. I've not look for laser etched vin's, nor micro dot ones either. And there may be other forms of doing a vin tagging that is either proprietary or a trade secret, etc.

It would be interesting to have a definitvve list of all the GT pieces that have vin's on them. I'm quite sure that Ford has them inside a few items as part of their "hidden vin program". Which is standard manufacturer's practice for police investigation and insurance industry purposes.
As the various GT's get damamged and repaired, this vin/item list will be useful for future purchasers.

 

[RALPHIE]

One would logically assume the VIN number (not just for the GT) would be assigned to the initial order, defining how the vehicle is to be built, engine type, auto or manual trans, rear end ratio, the options to be included, etc. This will define the vehicle for its build. The rotation number would then assigned to determine the start date and schedule for the actual assembly of the vehicle. In other words, the VIN is the definition, the ROT is the schedule.

Thus, the various parts for the VIN can be impregnated, stamped, labeled, etc with the proper VIN prior to assembly, and then routed to the proper place at the proper time by the ROT.

 

[K-P Garage]

Thanks for the info everyone. Yes we did get a VIN assigned long before we went up there. My son actually got to fire the etching machine to engrave the VIN on the rear underside frame member. That was one of those GREAT days!

 

[Specracer]

I think we all are on the same page. I was not thinking of it from a virtual state, yes indeed VIN's were assigned before the car exists. I was thinking of the beginning of the car, was at the dock of SSV and how the ROT was assigned to the frame as it came in the door. So yes I guess the vin would have been assigned, as then moving forward, the options and colors would be married to the rot and the vin. I just distinctly remember SSV tour guide saying the 1St step of documentation in assembly was the ROT, which was then the coding used until the finish. Fun thinking about this again! Soooooo glad I went to rally 1!!!!!

 

[PL510*Jeff]

Fun thinking about this again! Soooooo glad I went to rally 1!!!!![/

Gosh we learned so much by being at Rally 1. . Wish I had a better memory and a tape recording. And didn't have the food flu (from the night before) when we at here at Saleen.

 

[Specracer]

Sure did, was info overload. I did the SSV tour twice, and found I took too long at each station, and changed groups.... Drove by SSV last summer, weeds in the parking lot, and it looked shuttered. Such a bummer.