VIN, Actually Engine, Decoding
Thread Starter
1st Gear
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1
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VIN, Actually Engine, Decoding
Hi,
I bought a project 67 Vette Roadster in about 1983. It had no engine in it, paint was hurt and the interior pretty beat up. The guy who sold it to me insisted on drilling off a little aluminum tag located below the glove compartment. He said it was not the VIN tag, it was a trim tag. He would not sell the car without keeping that. He assured me taking that tag was legal while taking the VIN tag would be illegal. He took that trim tag and did leave the VIN tag on the car. I was young and wanted the car bad, so I said take it and bought the car.
Now I actually want to restore the car and can't figure out what the car was. It has big block front springs, a heavy duty rear end, but a small block hood. Is there any way to tell if this was a big block or small block car? What about color?
There was no Protectoplate tags with the car. The tank sticker was dissolved, I pulled it out to check. There has to be another way to check on those things. Is there some place that I can check my VIN against and possibly get a build sheet?
Thanks,
Wishing I was smarter when I was younger.
I bought a project 67 Vette Roadster in about 1983. It had no engine in it, paint was hurt and the interior pretty beat up. The guy who sold it to me insisted on drilling off a little aluminum tag located below the glove compartment. He said it was not the VIN tag, it was a trim tag. He would not sell the car without keeping that. He assured me taking that tag was legal while taking the VIN tag would be illegal. He took that trim tag and did leave the VIN tag on the car. I was young and wanted the car bad, so I said take it and bought the car.
Now I actually want to restore the car and can't figure out what the car was. It has big block front springs, a heavy duty rear end, but a small block hood. Is there any way to tell if this was a big block or small block car? What about color?
There was no Protectoplate tags with the car. The tank sticker was dissolved, I pulled it out to check. There has to be another way to check on those things. Is there some place that I can check my VIN against and possibly get a build sheet?
Thanks,
Wishing I was smarter when I was younger.
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 4,068
Likes: 27
From: St. Joseph Mo
Wishing I was smarter when I was younger.
Nothing in the vin will tell you anything about what options came on the car.
The tank sticker was dissolved, I pulled it out to check.
Where you at boy? Fill in your profile!
(The official newbe welcome to the forum)
Last edited by 67L36Driver; May 12, 2006 at 08:30 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 3,113
Likes: 4
No way to really tell for sure if it was a big block car. However, if it has the rear sway bar, heavy duty thicker front sway bar, big block springs, and the heavy duty rear end with a code from a 427 car and you purchased it back in 1983 then i would say it probably was a BB car originally. Unfortunately you will never be able to say for sure.
Now, as far as the Trim tag is concerned-pick whatever color combo you like and then start looking around for an original trim tag that meets your needs-ebay, swap meets, etc or, attempt to figure out what interior/exterior color the car originally came with by sanding etc.
Now, as far as the Trim tag is concerned-pick whatever color combo you like and then start looking around for an original trim tag that meets your needs-ebay, swap meets, etc or, attempt to figure out what interior/exterior color the car originally came with by sanding etc.
