Hi, I've just bought a 73 Corvette Convertible (my first one) and am a little puzzled by the VIN numbers... I have 1Z67Y3S400287 So using one of the online decoders I've worked out: 1 = Chevrolet Division Z = Corvette 67 = Convertible Y = ? I can only seem to find K,T, X or W. I know my car is a 350 Auto...but what doe the 'Y' mean 3 = 1973 S = Assembled in St Louis, MO 400287 = Production sequence (looks like it was the 286th car in 73) Many thanks in advance for any help Peter

Where are you finding this "Y"? On the title, on the VIN plate on the windshield,or the door sticker(or all 3)?
There is no "Y" engine code for the year...perhaps you are mis-reading it, or there is something very fishy about the title/VIN tag.
The only  engines available for that year are the base engine, with a "J" code, the L-82 with a "T" code, and the big block 454 with the "Z" code. If you see anything other than one of those 3 codes on the VIN tag, something stinks.
Please look at the VIN tag carefully, and make sure you are not mis-reading it. A "T" letter can sometimes look like a "Y", depending on the font used.
Does the engine have painted steel valve covers? If so, it is the base L-48 engine("J" code) If it has finned aluminuminum valve covers, it is probably the L-82("T" code), but valve covers can be changed easily....however, most folks don't change from the L-82 valve covers to the plain-jane L-48 covers.

There is also a VIN stamped on the top side of the rear frame rail, just slightly behind the driver side rear tire. It takes some cleaning, and a mirror/light to see it, but it will also give the correct VIN.
Please look at your VIN tag on the windshield again closely and let us know what it says, and also check the door tag if it is still there, and readable. The two VINs should match.....


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Joel Adams
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"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"

   THANKS! Mr. Apple. You answered my concern as to where the VIN was on the frame.

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 Frame VIN located HERE




Another view


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Joel Adams
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"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"

Also, didn't the L82 come with an aluminum intake manifold and emblems on the hood, vs an iron intake manifold and no emblems for the base engine?

Check the engine block stamping in front of the passenger cylinder head too.

|UPDATED|4/28/2014 11:02:24 AM (AZT)|/UPDATED|


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Yup....luminuminum intake also. Not all small block '73-'74 cars had emblems on the hood...very few, actually. The big block cars did get 454 hood emblems, but few small blocks(L-82 ONLY) did. Good catch Gary!

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Joel Adams
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"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"

Sorry for not answering sooner but I was on a flight. I've sent a message to the previous owner who will check the various VIN numbers on the car against the title document. He still has the car as I'm waiting for a couple of quotes to transport the car from Ohio to California. It might be just human error on the title as it really did have a 'Y'. But the engine has chromed finned covers (well they look like chrome under the dust and dirt). So my guess is the 'Y' is actually a 'T' and someone wasn't wearing their glasses when writing out the title! I'll know more tonight. Thanks again for all the help. Peter

|UPDATED|4/28/2014 11:58:44 AM (AZT)|/UPDATED|

  Mr. Apple, THANKS for the pics. That will make the search closer.

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IF the title VIN does not match the vehicle VIN, you may be in for some trouble a the registration office, or if you get stopped for some reason by law enforcement. It's definitely possible that someone at the DMV had a typo on the title, but...that really needs to be corrected....you certainly don't wanna loose the car over a discrepancy like that. You may need to have the car inspected by the local State Trooper or DMV to verify the VIN tag, engine, and frame numbers on the car match. IF at least two of those match, they can correct the title and everything will be good. The engine number isn't as important in this case as the frame and VIN numbers, since the engine could have been changed for all you know.
Here's to hoping it's just a typo on the title. When I got the '74, and changed the registration to my name, they did that...put the wrong number in....as soon as I got the title back and saw that, I immediately contacted the DMV, and they fixed it.

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Joel Adams
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"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"

Okay, I have the answer...the title was wrong, someone had written a 'Y' rather than a 'J', so it's a base engine with the chrome rocker covers...I was hoping it would have been the 'T'...but no worries, it's still a low milage convertible.

PIC 1

PIC 2

PIC 3


(modified large images to links-aapple)







|UPDATED|4/28/2014 7:35:19 PM (AZT)|/UPDATED|

HOLY MOLY!!! That's a big project! 
Are you getting all the parts to fix it, too? Looks like a lot of work! But then again....I'm lazy, so......

A21 is the body build date, which is August 21 of '72...1st or 2nd day of the '73 model year production. Sure hope the PO can get the title taken care of. Other than the front end, it's not a bad lookin car.


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Joel Adams
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"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"

I agree with Joel on both counts - good looking car other than the front end; and DON'T buy that car until the title is correct!!! As you said, it's going to be a lot easier for him to get it fixed than you

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I wanted a Corvette my whole life, but I never dreamed of all the wonderful people I would meet because of it!

|UPDATED|4/29/2014 4:21:19 AM (AZT)|/UPDATED|

Good news, the title has been corrected this morning and now matches the car...it wasn't as painfully as I thought it might be.

         

Looks like someone put L-82 valve covers on it...bonus!
Does the seller have any of the parts you'll need to repair it?

btw...for anyone that is wondering, THIS shot Interior pic 2  is the perfect view to show how far the engine is off-set to the passenger side on these cars.

|UPDATED|4/29/2014 9:31:11 AM (AZT)|/UPDATED|


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Joel Adams
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"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"

Hi Adam's Apple, yes, the previous owner has a lot of parts for the car. He bought a usable front end that needs a little work, but it's all there and can be repaired and used. He also bought a few NOS parts like the grill and nose to replace the damaged ones. I'm still going to have to source parts, plus I want to replace and fix anything that is past it's sell by date like weather seal, bushes...I may as well do it now while the car will be worked on and before I get it back on the road again.  

  Good to hear.....that'll save ya plenty of time looking! Good luck with the project, and we're all here to help with any questions.

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Joel Adams
C3VR Lifetime Member #56    
My Link


(click for Texas-sized view!)             NCRS

"Money can't buy happiness -- but somehow it's more comforting to cry in a CORVETTE than in a Kia"