Matching Numbers???
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 1,139
Likes: 109
From: B'ham Alabama
Matching Numbers???
I hear and read a lot about "matching numbers". How does the engine number "match" with the vin of the car? Is it just an engine number that fits within a a batch or series, or is the engine number coded or matching to the cars VIN#?
Burning Brakes
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 763
Likes: 0
From: FBO Florida
The VIN number is assigned to the car during assembly. It can be found on the inside drivers windshield pillar as viewed from the outside and is on your auto title. This VIN number is stamped into the engine block on the pad just below the front passenger side head on the assembly line. It is what is most commonly referred to as matching numbers. It is lost when the block is "decked" during rebuild machining or when the engine is swapped. Matching numbers may also refer to almost all major components which are date coded as to date of eachs manufacture such as carburetor, alternator, radiator, belts, wheels etc. These do not have a VIN but have numbers and letters which most often fall into a 1 to 6 month window preceding the date of assembly of the car.
Last edited by 68AIR; Jul 3, 2006 at 09:22 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 5,236
Likes: 898
From: Myrtle Beach SC
Originally Posted by Vet76te
I hear and read a lot about "matching numbers". How does the engine number "match" with the vin of the car? Is it just an engine number that fits within a a batch or series, or is the engine number coded or matching to the cars VIN#?
Team Owner
Joined: Jul 1999
Posts: 26,545
Likes: 46
From: Huntersville NC
Originally Posted by Vet76te
or is the engine number coded or matching to the cars VIN#?
1Z37L6S412345
The part that makes the vin unique to a specific car is "12345"
For this car, the original engine would be stamped, "16S412345"
and the number 12345 would be on both the engine and the car's vin tag.
