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Topic: Matching Numbers? Help...

in Forum: C3 General Discussion


Matching Numbers? Help...

Posted: 11/15/01 9:34pm Message 1 of 10
Former Member
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Canada
Joined: 11/11/2001
Posts: 19
Vette(s): 1979 L-48 350 corvette, candy red 1976 L-48 350 stingray corvette, dark red
How can I tell to see if my corvette is matching numbers? The cars vin number does not even closly match the engines numbers on the passenger side of the block.

Thanks for the help.


My 79 vette, has lots of TLC now ;-)
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Matching Numbers? Help...

Posted: 11/15/01 10:33pm Message 2 of 10
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CHARLOTTE, NC - USA
Joined: 11/1/2001
Posts: 158
Vette(s): 1972 Mille Miglia Red Coupe * LS5 w/ 4 Speed * Loaded
Just to make sure...you are looking at the numbers located on the front passenger side on a flat surface just below the valve cover?


------------------------------------------ |B||I|Mark The picture below is my old '72 Big Block. She has found a great home in Jacksonville, NC!|/I||/B| |IMG|http://www.c3vr.com/member_uploads/1_100/3/FrontView|/IMG| |URL=http://www.corvetteforum.net/c3/qikstik|Click |B|Here|/B| To Visit My Home Page|/URL|

Matching Numbers? Help...

Posted: 11/16/01 9:47am Message 3 of 10
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CHARLOTTE, NC - USA
Joined: 11/1/2001
Posts: 158
Vette(s): 1972 Mille Miglia Red Coupe * LS5 w/ 4 Speed * Loaded
Your ID pad should have two sets of codes: 1)Engine ID code, and 2) VIN code. The VIN code should match the last numbers off of your VIN.

If the pad is blank, there is a chance that the numbers were machined off during a previous rebuild. There are numerous stories of this happening when the block was being decked. If the rebuilder didn't know ahead of time, he would remove the IDs from the pad!

You can also locate the casting number (your '79's should be 3970010 or 14016379 [late production])and casting date (alpha numeric). Both numbers were cast (raised numbers)into the block during manufacturing. They are located at the back of the engine on the top of the transmission bell housing mounting flange. Using a flashlight, look down between the firewall and the distributor. They can be very difficult to see if that area is dirty. Try to clean it off. I promise they are down there.

Post the numbers that you find and I will try to help some more if I can!




------------------------------------------ |B||I|Mark The picture below is my old '72 Big Block. She has found a great home in Jacksonville, NC!|/I||/B| |IMG|http://www.c3vr.com/member_uploads/1_100/3/FrontView|/IMG| |URL=http://www.corvetteforum.net/c3/qikstik|Click |B|Here|/B| To Visit My Home Page|/URL|

Matching Numbers? Help...

Posted: 12/5/01 9:54pm Message 4 of 10
Former Member
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Canada
Joined: 11/11/2001
Posts: 19
Vette(s): 1979 L-48 350 corvette, candy red 1976 L-48 350 stingray corvette, dark red
hey mark sorry for the long time to post, my computer crashed, now working.

The passinger side engine pad in the front says "ME28800", The driver side bell houseing says "Hechoen Mexico" and "3970010", the vin of the car is "1Z8789S451912".

That is about as much info as I can find on the engine.

Thank-you agian for all your help ;-)


My 79 vette, has lots of TLC now ;-)

Matching Numbers? Help...

Posted: 1/1/02 2:10pm Message 5 of 10
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HAMPTONVILLE, NC - USA
Joined: 11/5/2001
Posts: 169
Vette(s): 1978 INDY PACE CAR #3016 of #6502 built. Has original Pace car decals still in GM boxes the way it was delivered to GM dealers. per NCRS "UPDATE" Decals applied as of 3/8/02 (ALL ORIGINAL)
Recently, I posted a link to a article by Mike "Doc" Cobine about matching numbers over at the L81VR and it seemed to help out a lot. So I thought I would make it available over here. I didnt realize that there were so many numbers and date codes on a vette, all the way from the engine to the rear end. You all check it out!

http://www.geocities.com/motorcity/downs/3000/matchnos.html
Doug |blinkyeyes|


Matching Numbers? Help...

Posted: 1/16/02 12:56pm Message 6 of 10
Former Member
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Canada
Joined: 11/11/2001
Posts: 19
Vette(s): 1979 L-48 350 corvette, candy red 1976 L-48 350 stingray corvette, dark red
thank you for all the help. |wink|


My 79 vette, has lots of TLC now ;-)

Matching Numbers? Help...

Posted: 3/15/02 3:11pm Message 7 of 10
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HORSE CAVE, KY - USA
Joined: 12/3/2001
Posts: 45
Vette(s): 1968 convertible; 1980 L-82. Numbers match on both.
Chevy79 -- all original Shark small blocks were produced at Flint, Michigan; all the big blocks came from Tonawanda, New York. No original Corvette engines came from GM in Mexico. The pad at the front the of the right head should have two numbers stamped in it. The facility at Flint would have stamped VXXXXxxx. V is the code for the Flint facility. XXXX will be a numeric code for the month and day the engine was assembled. This should be about a month to six weeks (sometimes less) BEFORE the Time/Build date on your Trim Tag. Corvette engines were built and shipped to St. Louis before the cars were assembled. xxx will be a three character alphabetical designation for the specific engine and tranny combination the original engine was to receive at St. Louis. The second number on the pad was stamped on the assembly line at St. Louis. If memory serves, it will read 1S51912. The 1 indicates Chevrolet; S is the plant code for St. Louis. The remaining digits should match the consecutive unit number of your Corvette. If you do not find these numbers on the pad, they have been machined away if the engine is original. If you find numbers other than these, in all likelihood the engine in your Corvette is not original.
|wink|

|UPDATED|3/15/02 3:11:15 PM|/UPDATED|



Matching Numbers? Help...

Posted: 5/12/02 11:28am Message 8 of 10
Former Member
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Canada
Joined: 11/11/2001
Posts: 19
Vette(s): 1979 L-48 350 corvette, candy red 1976 L-48 350 stingray corvette, dark red
thank-you for the help, maybe when i get a few bucks, i'll buy anothere big h/p engine then check to see if this is the orginal, thanks alot.


My 79 vette, has lots of TLC now ;-)

Matching Numbers? Help...

Posted: 5/16/02 6:42pm Message 9 of 10
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moro, IL - USA
Joined: 2/11/2002
Posts: 406
Vette(s): 1979 Black coupe. 11256 original, documented, miles on it when I bought it in April of 2000. It now has 13100 on it. Oyster interior, like new. Everything original, everything works, except the clock. Paint has a couple of minor flaws.
Posted by: blk79
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on: 5/16/2002
at: 1:31:56 PM
I am almost sure that you have a crate engine in your vette. Almost all of them were made in Mexico. if it was original, it would be something like this:
mine is a 79 and the first set of numbers, which are about 1/4 in. tall, are:V0718ZAH. which means, V stands for Flint, Mi engine plant. 0718 means that it was built on July 18. ZAH means that it is a 195 hp with an auto trans.
The smaller numbers which are about 1/8 th in tall. Mine are 19S447896. The 1 stands for Chevrolet, the S means St louis, Mo. 447896 is the sequential number of the vette.
Hope this helps,
blk79


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Matching Numbers? Help...

Posted: 5/20/02 11:09am Message 10 of 10
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Annapolis, MD - USA
Joined: 11/7/2001
Posts: 225
Vette(s): 1965 white with red stinger Coupe HotRod 1970 Bridgehampton Blue Convertible - NCRS / Stock 2019 Sebring Orange Coupe 3LT Gone but not forgotten: 1987 Yellow Convertible 2003 Yellow Convertible 2007 Atomic Orange Coupe 2007 Lemans Blue coupe
3970010 is the casting number for a chevy 350. I'm not sure what years it was used from the factory, but I know it's the casting number for '70.... I have some photos of the engine stamp pads on the '70 Registry web site. It might help you determine if you're at least looking at the right numbers in the right location. http://corvetteforum.net/c3/1970registry/1970Registry.html


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