Numbers help ??
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Joined: Jul 2012
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Numbers help ??
Thinking about selling the c4 and getting a c3, I am looking at a low mileage 78.. It is supposed to have a L82 motor in it and the vin matches,,,,,,,, The number on the motor is 3970010 , can someone tell me how to decode the number so I will no if it is a numbers matching car are not ?? Thanks for your help...
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From: About 1100 miles from where I call home.
Thinking about selling the c4 and getting a c3, I am looking at a low mileage 78.. It is supposed to have a L82 motor in it and the vin matches,,,,,,,, The number on the motor is 3970010 , can someone tell me how to decode the number so I will no if it is a numbers matching car are not ?? Thanks for your help...
On the same pad there should be a VIN derivative, a portion of your VIN which includes the production number of your car (the last 5 digits) which would "match" your VIN plate and title.
Safety Car
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 4,458
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From: Indy Indiana
That is the cast code of the engine.. cast in the back of the engine behind the distributor. they made millions of them and yours is not necessarily the same one that came with the car.
also in the back is a date code x yy zz for month date and year the engine was cast, if it is close and not past your car build date then I may be the original engine. then look at the numbers and letter stamping on your front engine block pad and look for numbers that also have a date code and the last 6 or so numbers should match your VIN on your pillar post and title. then there is a greater chance the engine is original to you car..
also 'numbers matching car' is a vague term.. what does it mean to you.. does it mean original engine.. plus trans, plus rear end, plus all other original parts in a list of several hundred parts? or just a subset of the list?
if these issues are important to you and the car is presented to you that way, then you owe it to yourself to understand them in order to not overpay for the car.
post all the numbers you find and we can decipher for you...
also in the back is a date code x yy zz for month date and year the engine was cast, if it is close and not past your car build date then I may be the original engine. then look at the numbers and letter stamping on your front engine block pad and look for numbers that also have a date code and the last 6 or so numbers should match your VIN on your pillar post and title. then there is a greater chance the engine is original to you car..
also 'numbers matching car' is a vague term.. what does it mean to you.. does it mean original engine.. plus trans, plus rear end, plus all other original parts in a list of several hundred parts? or just a subset of the list?
if these issues are important to you and the car is presented to you that way, then you owe it to yourself to understand them in order to not overpay for the car.
post all the numbers you find and we can decipher for you...
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 2,520
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From: Hinckley OH
The last 5 digits of that partial VIN is the sequence that the car was built during that year. 00001 would be the first car for that year etc. They should match the last 5 digits of the VIN on the pillar post if it is a "numbers matching" car.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 3,225
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From: Northeast
This is my 78 4spd L82
Built in Flint April 20th CMR
Yours looks like Feb 16th and could that o be a C? which means it is for an auto. Those the last 5 digits of your VIN? if so the engine matches.
Built in Flint April 20th CMR
Yours looks like Feb 16th and could that o be a C? which means it is for an auto. Those the last 5 digits of your VIN? if so the engine matches.
Last edited by BKarol; Jul 9, 2013 at 02:54 PM.
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Yes, I think it is a C and it is a auto. trans.. And the last five numbers match the vin. It has 41000 miles on it and is great inside and out, everything works power windows, locks even the clock.. Only thing I could find at all was the radiator or a hose might have a very small leak,, Asking price is 13,999 , I don't know if this is a little high, or since it is low mileage in very good condition it is a good price any suggestions ??
Last edited by c-4guy; Jul 9, 2013 at 07:25 PM.
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From: Southbound
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CMS is the correct suffix for a 78 L-82 with automatic transmission. Your second zero is likely to be an alpha C.
The 5 is an alpha S. 18S423918 would be correct.
The fifth character of the VIN will be a 4 for 1978 Corvettes with the optional L-82 engine.
...185423918...
The fifth character of the VIN will be a 4 for 1978 Corvettes with the optional L-82 engine.