Need some serious help figuring this thing out... with a non-standard VIN nobody can seem to tell me anything about this car.

Is this a standard chevy 350? The title says 86 but everyone has told me its a C3... I have no idea but I am going to figure it out and fix this thing up.

It runs well and I put new tires on it... there is a lot of moisture in these pics so if you all can give me some hints on what I might have issues with PLEASE let me know... looking for a mechanic to diagnose everything then I will work on it myself!

 

Defiantly a C3. 1978 to 1982 vintage.

 

Later model C3 between 77 and 82...looks like Bubba had some fun with this one!

 

I thought C3 last year was 82? This came from my grandfather and he told me the title was correct as an 86... so just a custom body and possibly original engine???

 

Look at the diff. Cast iron is up 79, aluminum is 80-82

 

Sounds like the title is for a rebuilt vehicle if it says 1986. Which would also explain the non-standard VIN, as the DMV probably assigned a new VIN.

 

Definitely 78-82, but looking at the horn button, Im going to guess 80-81. You might find the original VIN on the frame if its not replaced.

I'm also going to guess that it has a state-issued VIN, so look for that VIN plate to verify. It was either wrecked, totaled, stolen, rebuilt, junked, or something, and it probably was re-titled in 1986, resulting in that date. The car is a very typical 80s type custom (I know, believe me) with the Greenwood body panels, wheels, chromed engine, Recaro seats and simple digital gauges.

Its kinda cool, really. Id bet its a 350, quite possibly the original.

 

I’m with Vettebuyer on this one. I betting 80-82, heavily modified. If that is an 86, someone did a LOT of modifications!!!

 

That car is definitely a C3. If I had to guess, 80-82 model. It appears as though the trim tag in the drivers door jam is missing ( can see the 2 rivets) Had it been there one could determine the color and narrow down the year...possibly. If the car has a re-assigned vin, the vin plate is generally quite different from the original. Every state seems to have their own style/design and or location. In any case, looks to be a fun toy...Enjoy!

 

If the interior's original, then it's likely an 81, or more specifically a late 81 built at Bowling Green.

The slate gray interior was only available on 81's built at Bowling Green starting in June 81, and 82's. Earlier 81's built at St Louis were available with oyster or silver interiors, but not the slate gray. The horn button has the 80-81 emblem, not the 82, so I'm guessing it started life as a Bowling Green built 81. I see in the last picture that the trim tag is missing, which is unfortunate since that might have helped identify the year.

If any of the glass is original LOF glass, it will have a 2 letter code identifying the month and year of the glass. If the second letter is an "X", the glass and likely the car, is 1981.

 

I think you found a very cool wide body C3/C4 combination.
There is another member here on the forum who is currently building a 75 C3 wide body and using C4 suspension and portions of the C4 Chassis.
Its a super interesting thread with lots of pictures of professional work.
The thread is: 75 Greenwood Wide Body Pro Touring Build.
Is it possible that C3 you have was modified using 86 C4 suspension and chassis components and a new Special VIN was assigned?
I would take the VIN number, license plate number, and documentation you have and contact your local motor vehicle department and ask for a VIN history for the car.
They will be able to provide you with all the information you need and the vehicle’s history.

 

Or, remove the left rear wheel. Get your head up in there with a bright light. On the top side of the frame near the back edge of the wheel opening should be the original vin. Stamped into the frame. THIS.this will confirm everything. Also the numbers on the stamp pad on the engine, just in front of the passenger side head. Clean off the block that sticks out just at the base of the head. These numbers will tell you if engine is original and or what it was originally in.
post photos of these numbers. People on here will tell you exactly what you have.

 

I LOVE those Recaro seats!


If you ever get sick of them and want to get rid of them, hit me up!

 

From the little bit we can see of the front suspension, it appears to be stock or stock-like stamped arms for a C3. Possibly painted with silver paint. It doesn't look like the wishbones of a C4, to me.
Also has the stock steering box location, C4 has a rack & pinion.
Seems like a regular C3 with customized body to run wider wheels.

 

Wraith? Heck thats what I would do:

 

Tag is there, posting the pic of it below!

I live in Maryland... the DMV here is a joke... definitely wont help me at all.

I cant get to that now but I will absolutely next time I have this thing at a shop.

Im going to post an under the back shot, maybe that will help?

Getting this information is SUPER cool! Thank you guys. I am going to find those numbers referenced in these posts and report back!

Please check out these picks in the next post.. numbers on windows seem meaningless though. I cannot see any info/tag near the passenger side header at all... any more detail on the location I should be looking?

 

 

From looking at the picture it's ether a 80 or 81. 82 had a mono spring. You can further narrow it down down by checking the rear axle ratio. The 80's came with a 3.07 axle ratio, 81's came with ether a 2.72 or 2.87. Of course anything could have been changed. Most likely it hasn't, most people are lazy bastards.

 

Ah yes, because you know most people... that would be, like 151,000,000 in the U.S. alone?

 

The VIN tag and number is a state issued VIN, in this case by Missouri, it is not a GM VIN. State VIN's are usually issued to recovered theft cars, where the original VIN was removed and/or destroyed by the thief. State VIN's have been issued for other reasons, like a reconstructed wreck or when the original VIN tag was lost for some legitimate reason, but theft recoveries are probably the most common. Unlike the original GM VIN, a state issue VIN rarely has any correlation to the car's year of manufacture. It's quite possible the car is titled as an 86, because that was the year Missouri re-titled the car????

The the glass tops are PPG's, so they're not OEM or original to the car. The second glass pictured appears to be the rear window, and is dated "AV", which is September 82. The third glass pictured looks like it might be the windshield (?), is marked "YJ", and decodes as October 78.

The rear under the car is clearly an 80-82 Corvette rear. While 82's did have a fiberglass single leaf rear spring, as stated above, it was only used with the base suspension. 82's with the optional Gymkhana suspension used a steel multi leaf spring. 80 Corvettes all used a steel multi leaf spring, automatic 81's came with the fiberglass spring too, but 4 speed and Gymkhana suspension 81's, also used the steel multi leaf spring.

The suspension is clearly from an 80-82 Corvette, the interior is from a late (Bowling Green built) 81 or 82, and the glass is a mix of various years, but there's a good chance the rear window is original. Without looking the car over for things like the fuel pump, trans or frame VIN stamp, I'd guess the car may be an 82.

Do you know what trans is in the car? 81's used a three speed auto and the console shift indicator is marked P-R-N-3-2-1, while the 82 came with an overdrive 4 speed automatic, and the shift indicator was marked P-R-N-D-3-2. There was no "1", or first gear on the 82 shift indicator.