Decode a C3 VIN
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 388
Likes: 54
From: Sparta New Jersey
Decode a C3 VIN
Would anyone care to provide their input about the car with this VIN. I decoded it myself and arrived at a conclusion but someone else disagreed with my conclusion. I'd appreciate comments from the folks here that are undoubtedly more knowledgeable than I.
1Z37X7S418290
Thanks.
1Z37X7S418290
Thanks.
Last edited by rusty76; Feb 22, 2017 at 07:32 PM.
Melting Slicks
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1Z = Chevy Corvette
37 = Coupe
X = L82
7 = Last digit of model year (1977)
S = St. Louis
418290 Build sequence number
http://corvettec3.ca/vin.htm
37 = Coupe
X = L82
7 = Last digit of model year (1977)
S = St. Louis
418290 Build sequence number
http://corvettec3.ca/vin.htm
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 388
Likes: 54
From: Sparta New Jersey
1Z = Chevy Corvette
37 = Coupe
X = L82
7 = Last digit of model year (1977)
S = St. Louis
418290 Build sequence number
http://corvettec3.ca/vin.htm
37 = Coupe
X = L82
7 = Last digit of model year (1977)
S = St. Louis
418290 Build sequence number
http://corvettec3.ca/vin.htm
Care to comment on what a '77 L82 4spd would be worth as I described above?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 388
Likes: 54
From: Sparta New Jersey
Team Owner
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Posts: 38,923
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From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
Team Owner
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 31,218
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From: Westminster Maryland
Hi 76,
"It's really rough"
When a Corvette gets to the point that it can be described as "really rough" it doesn't have much value.
This is because it will take lots of time and expertise, and at least some outlay of cash, to make it a car again.
It sounds like you'll supply the labor but will still need to come up with cash along the way.
I'd LIKE to say he should give you the car and $1000 to get you started, but he probably won't do that.
So maybe $1500?
With the minimal info and no pictures it could be more or less than that…. but not much more.
Regards,
Alan
Here's the location of the stamps 7T1 mentions in the next post.
"It's really rough"
When a Corvette gets to the point that it can be described as "really rough" it doesn't have much value.
This is because it will take lots of time and expertise, and at least some outlay of cash, to make it a car again.
It sounds like you'll supply the labor but will still need to come up with cash along the way.
I'd LIKE to say he should give you the car and $1000 to get you started, but he probably won't do that.
So maybe $1500?
With the minimal info and no pictures it could be more or less than that…. but not much more.
Regards,
Alan
Here's the location of the stamps 7T1 mentions in the next post.
Last edited by Alan 71; Feb 23, 2017 at 09:21 AM.
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,116
From: Crossville TN
Ask him to provide the engine code numbers (on the right cylinder head-front) from the stamp pad. An L-82 w/auto should have CLF in the code along with the last digits of the S/N. An L-82 w/manual should have CLD in the code.
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Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 388
Likes: 54
From: Sparta New Jersey
Interesting. So in the car world non-matching #s functionally changes the VIN. The gov'ment doesn't care about matching #s but to the folks to whom it matters in the community it is sacrosanct? (Hey look, I remembered a big word)
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 388
Likes: 54
From: Sparta New Jersey
Hi 76,
"It's really rough"
When a Corvette gets to the point that it can be described as "really rough" it doesn't have much value.
This is because it will take lots of time and expertise, and at least some outlay of cash, to make it a car again.
It sounds like you'll supply the labor but will still need to come up with cash along the way.
I'd LIKE to say he should give you the car and $1000 to get you started, but he probably won't do that.
So maybe $1500?
With the minimal info and no pictures it could be more or less than that…. but not much more.
Regards,
Alan
Here's the location of the stamps 7T1 mentions in the next post.
"It's really rough"
When a Corvette gets to the point that it can be described as "really rough" it doesn't have much value.
This is because it will take lots of time and expertise, and at least some outlay of cash, to make it a car again.
It sounds like you'll supply the labor but will still need to come up with cash along the way.
I'd LIKE to say he should give you the car and $1000 to get you started, but he probably won't do that.
So maybe $1500?
With the minimal info and no pictures it could be more or less than that…. but not much more.
Regards,
Alan
Here's the location of the stamps 7T1 mentions in the next post.
I'd even enjoy assembling the heads if I had a spring compressor. One of my memories from my teens is standing at my dad's work bench using his hand cranked valve lapper, lapping valves. I'll never forget the sound of that lapper and the valves rotating as the compound cuts the seats. To me there was something immensely satisfying about lapping valves, guess I always had issues.
Anyway, if I take the plunge into the corvette swamp, I KNOW I'll never get my money back out of whatever I end up with. I'm definitely NOT in it to make money or even break even. It's the same with my shovelhead, not a money making endeavor. I'm going into this with my eyes open, chanting "You're an idiot, you're an idiot, you're an idiot . . . ."
Team Owner
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 38,923
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From: Southbound
Cruise-In II Veteran
Not at all. Nothing changes the factory assigned VIN. You posted the seller told you the car was an L-48. Engine code in the VIN indicates it was originally an L-82. Either the seller does not know what he/she has, or he/she is telling the truth and the engine has been swapped.
Have you looked at the codes stamped on the pad?
Have you looked at the codes stamped on the pad?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 388
Likes: 54
From: Sparta New Jersey
The only way I'd contact him again is if I decided to look at the car. Since the car is 2 states away I doubt I'll ever see it in person. For the reasons we already know it's not worth having a service inspect the car and I'd also have to have it shipped. Given that the guy wants too much for it the car will likely sit till it rusts into the ground which is a shame if it actually has good steel.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 388
Likes: 54
From: Sparta New Jersey
Not at all. Nothing changes the factory assigned VIN. You posted the seller told you the car was an L-48. Engine code in the VIN indicates it was originally an L-82. Either the seller does not know what he/she has, or he/she is telling the truth and the engine has been swapped.
Have you looked at the codes stamped on the pad?
Have you looked at the codes stamped on the pad?
Team Owner
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 37,637
Likes: 3,116
From: Crossville TN
If you are interested in the car...whether it has an L-82 or L-48, don't take anything the seller says personally. It's just business. He has something that he thinks you may want. He wants to sell it, but doesn't want to 'play his hand' too quickly.
There is nothing wrong with calling the guy and asking him if he can record the engine stamp pad info and e-mail that info to you. He either will...or he won't. If he won't, then you can call it a day on that car. If he will, you will get more info and know more about the car. That means you can make a better decision as to whether it will work for you or not.
Worth a try...
There is nothing wrong with calling the guy and asking him if he can record the engine stamp pad info and e-mail that info to you. He either will...or he won't. If he won't, then you can call it a day on that car. If he will, you will get more info and know more about the car. That means you can make a better decision as to whether it will work for you or not.
Worth a try...