engine numbers...
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 1,684
Likes: 156
From: Miami, FL
engine numbers...
Guys,
I was getting serious about a car a long distance away, and not sure I want to go see it anymore. It all sounded very good until I found out the engine numbers either do not match or were scratched off. I'm looking for an investment quality car, so I'm pretty put off by this.
Is there another place on the block to check numbers? Or is this just casting date codes? I've got to re-evaluate whether or not to spend more time on this one.
Greg
I was getting serious about a car a long distance away, and not sure I want to go see it anymore. It all sounded very good until I found out the engine numbers either do not match or were scratched off. I'm looking for an investment quality car, so I'm pretty put off by this.
Is there another place on the block to check numbers? Or is this just casting date codes? I've got to re-evaluate whether or not to spend more time on this one.
Greg
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
Where on the block did the guy get the numbers or the report that it had been scratched off?
The best place is that pad right in front of the passenger head. What he may have meant by scratched off is that if the motor was rebuilt and the block was decked those numbers might have been ground off in the milling process.
Is the engine the only part with a no number situation?
The best place is that pad right in front of the passenger head. What he may have meant by scratched off is that if the motor was rebuilt and the block was decked those numbers might have been ground off in the milling process.
Is the engine the only part with a no number situation?
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 1,684
Likes: 156
From: Miami, FL
I don't have a clear picture, so bear with me, but the numbers on the number pad are not legible. The engine has been in the car for at least 27 years, but the car is 36 years old. The seller does not have prior history.
So, he acknowledges the engine numbers are "illegible". Is there any way to identify the type of block and date of manufacture?
How were replacement engines handled by GM (not that this is the case necessarily).
So, he acknowledges the engine numbers are "illegible". Is there any way to identify the type of block and date of manufacture?
How were replacement engines handled by GM (not that this is the case necessarily).
Administrator
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 53,920
Likes: 6,178
From: About 1100 miles from where I call home.
If we knew what year the car was, it would be interesting.
What is the part number of the block, and what is the casting date? And, in what format is the casting date (Y? YY?)
Issues like price, car, what you mean by "investment quality", how far you are travelling and more all affect the decision to get on the plane.
What is the part number of the block, and what is the casting date? And, in what format is the casting date (Y? YY?)
Issues like price, car, what you mean by "investment quality", how far you are travelling and more all affect the decision to get on the plane.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 1,684
Likes: 156
From: Miami, FL
The car is described as much as I know in this post:
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1813145
It's a '71. I don't know what if anything is showing on the stamp pad. I need to travel 750 miles to look for myself. It's in southern Michigan. The mystery seems to be in the years between '71 -'80... Otherwise the car is very clean and appears representative of a low mileage LT-1.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show....php?t=1813145
It's a '71. I don't know what if anything is showing on the stamp pad. I need to travel 750 miles to look for myself. It's in southern Michigan. The mystery seems to be in the years between '71 -'80... Otherwise the car is very clean and appears representative of a low mileage LT-1.
Instructor
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 112
Likes: 1
From: Chadds Ford PA
The engine casting number and casting date are facing upward on the back of the block on the flange that bolts to the bell housing. The casting number is on one side, the casting date is on the other. The seller should be able to photograph them from under the hood. The numbers will tell you if it is the correct type of block for an LT-1. The casting date is a clue as to whether it's the block that came with the car. Typically, the engine cast date should be within 8-10 weeks prior to the body build date on the trim tag, although, smaller and larger gaps have been documented.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 15,892
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Price this as a non-original engine car.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 1,684
Likes: 156
From: Miami, FL
Yeah, that is probably the wise thing to do. It would be good to understand what type of engine is in the car, though. By all other accounts this appears to be a legit low mileage LT-1 car, but is now NOM.
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Le Mans Master
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 5,485
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From: Peekskill NY
I've been told you can put mecuric acid on the pad and it can sometimes reveal the numbers on the pad even if the heads were decked for a rebuild and you can't see them. I agree with the other commentes re; the casting info on the rear of the block. Have pics sent of the entire car as well in more detail then in those pics on your earlire post.
Last edited by GD70; Sep 17, 2007 at 01:35 PM.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2001
Posts: 15,892
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The casting number for an LT-1 is 3970010 - but that's the same casting number for every other small block built by GM. All cars lines not just Corvette.
There's probably thousands of blocks around that would show the same casting number and reasonable date code range.
There's probably thousands of blocks around that would show the same casting number and reasonable date code range.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 1,684
Likes: 156
From: Miami, FL
The casting number for an LT-1 is 3970010 - but that's the same casting number for every other small block built by GM. All cars lines not just Corvette.
There's probably thousands of blocks around that would show the same casting number and reasonable date code range.
There's probably thousands of blocks around that would show the same casting number and reasonable date code range.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2001
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Instructor
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 149
Likes: 0
From: jarrett north carolina
engine numbers
hi! i have a 76 project car that i think the motor and trans. have been replaced. here are the #'s i found on the block. VO9IZCLS. can anyone identify this engine?--many thanks!!---john
Administrator
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From: About 1100 miles from where I call home.
In specific, I believe the Flint blocks, used in the Corvettes, used a single-digit casting date year ("9") as opposed to the Tonawanda casts (non-Corvette) which used 2 digit formats ("69"). This is helpful indetermining a Corvette block as well as pad numbers and codes.
Last edited by vettebuyer6369; Sep 17, 2007 at 11:05 PM. Reason: more detail
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2003
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From: Fernandina Beach FL
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If your looking for an Investment-then do what I do when considering an investment- Pay someone more knowledgeable to check it out.
I'm sure there are many forum member that would be glad to help you out, look over the car, etc.
I don't consider my cars as an investment-they are a hobby and I'm happy to break even.
Richard
Administrator
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 53,920
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From: About 1100 miles from where I call home.
Right, I don't believe you can definitively prove the engine is right, but you can avoid ruling the motor out as wrong by verifying the casting format. And, if the format as well as the comparative dates line up, the car will judge well at NCRS which does affect the overall value, which is what he's concerned about.
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2001
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I'm not sure a car that gets judged with a big deduct for a poor pad will do much for value- in a positive sense.
Shame on people who get their cars judged just to boost the value anyway.
